EHRs help reduce health disparities; last chance to vote for Excellence awards!

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

Switching to electronic health records (EHRs) may help close health gaps between black and white Americans, according to a new study in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The study was based on a survey of doctors across the U.S. and included more than 17,000 primary care visits. Read more in this latest Practice Management Community feature.

Meanwhile, in Hygiene Community news, a New Orleans start-up has leveraged 30 years of research to create a toothpaste that eliminates the need for fluoride by using a naturally occurring compound found in, of all things, cocoa. Click here to read why supporters call this product a major step forward in oral health maintenance and prevention.

And in our ongoing Dental Heroes series, we talked with Dr. Mark Doherty, executive director of the DentaQuest Institute, about his efforts over four decades to help overcome access-to-care barriers in financially challenged communities. Read how DentaQuest is helping community clinics all over the U.S., and how one former patient in particular touched Dr. Doherty's heart.

Finally, only three days left to vote in the 2012 DrBicuspid Dental Excellence Awards. Don't miss this opportunity to honor dentistry's best and brightest! Click here to begin casting your votes, or go to dentalexcellenceawards.drbicuspid.com. Voting ends midnight, January 13; winners will be announced January 23.