Calif. town ends 10-year fluoride debate; MRI aids oral surgery planning

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

Politics and a funding shortfall have ended attempts to implement a water fluoridation system in the city of Watsonville, CA.

On February 2, the California Dental Association -- which had offered city officials $1.6 million to help build the system -- decided not to move forward with the project after the construction bids came in well over the original design estimate. Read more.

In other news, an edentulous woman in Pennsylvania was so desperate to obtain a set of dentures that she robbed a bank. Her plight reflects the struggles many are having when it comes to affording dental care in the current economy. Read more.

In clinical research news, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can provide more detailed visualization of anatomical structures and variations prior to oral surgery, reducing the risk of surgical complications and exposure to ionizing radiation, according to a new study in the Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography.

And oral individualized hygiene instruction is more effective than written or oral standardized instruction in reducing gingivitis, according to a study in the Journal of Periodontology. Click here to read more.

Finally, our Dental Heroes series pays tribute to Dr. Grant McGann, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon who has volunteered hundreds of hours performing reconstructive surgeries for patients with facial deformities and other conditions through Fresh Start, a San Diego-based charity.