Another U.S. city eyes fluoridation; ADA library debate heats up

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

The metropolitan community of San Jose, CA -- population 970,000 and growing -- moved a step closer to fluoridating its water supply when the water board last week approved a financing plan for the program.

Unfortunately, while $2.4 million from outside sources will help cover the cost, the remaining $4.6 million will have to come from surcharges paid by the public -- a plan opponents of the fluoridation proposal say could be its downfall. Read more.

In other dental news, two U.S. start-ups are banking on the growing "eco-friendly" trend with toothbrushes that utilize unique materials and designs meant to help reduce the amount of plastic that goes into landfills. Click here to read more in this latest Hygiene Community feature.

Meanwhile, in response to growing discord over the ADA's plans to scale back services offered through the ADA Library, ADA Executive Director Dr. Kathleen O'Loughlin offers her perspective on the ADA's decision-making process and what it will mean for the library starting in 2013.

And in his ongoing Beyond Practice Management series, Dr. Don Deems continues his look at effective hiring and interviewing, with an emphasis on how to ask the right questions to find the answers you really need to know before offering a position to a potential employee.

Finally, practice management consultant Tom Climo wonders: When it comes to earnings, is dentistry out of touch with business concepts such as "net income" and "cost of capital" -- concepts that are paramount in understanding the value of companies and their stock market or private equity pricing? Read more.