FTC rules against NC dental board; how to pick the right gloves

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

It took more than a year, but the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has finally issued a ruling in its conspiracy case against the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners.

In a decision issued July 19, the FTC found that the board's efforts to block nondentists from providing teeth-whitening services constitute an illegal anticompetitive conspiracy.

But the dental board says it is being punished for doing what it was set up to do in the first place: protect the public. Click here to read more in this latest Cosmetics Community news feature.

In other news, many dental practitioners spend more time contemplating restaurant menus than choosing the right gloves for their dental team. Finding a glove that fits well, reduces hand fatigue, and ensures good grip can be a challenge, but Dr. Moe Anderson offers some tips to make the process easier.

Also in Hygiene Community news, a study in the Journal of Periodontology found that hospitals are spending millions of dollars to treat patients with periodontal disease who go to the emergency department for treatment. Read more.

Finally, in his latest Ask Marty Q&A, Dr. Marty Jablow responds to a reader's question about his preferences when it comes to long-term provisional restorations.