Texas lawmakers mull new DSO regs; how did dentistry fare in 2012?

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

A Texas senator is taking the bull by the horns in the escalating debate over dental service organizations (DSOs).

On December 21, Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound) introduced SB 151, which would require DSOs in Texas to register with the state dental board to help ensure that dentists working for these organizations provide care without interference from corporate management. Read more.

Meanwhile, in an exclusive video on the future of dentistry posted last September on DrBicuspid.com, Dr. Gordon Christensen lamented the difficulty of prognosticating about what may happen in the future. Our annual year-end review attempts to make sense of all that happened in dentistry in 2012, with a few predictions for 2013 thrown in as well.

Over in the Restoratives Community, with its emphasis on 100% clean, dry, oil-free air; more usable cubic feet per minute; and the ability to handle the growing number of dental devices requiring clinical air, the RAMVAC Osprey may represent a shift in compressor technology for the dental industry. Read more.

And the scientific evidence linking type 2 diabetes with a significantly greater risk of periodontitis continues to mount, according to long-term data published in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice.

Finally, 2012 definitely had its ups and downs, but the last few weeks of the year held some pleasant surprises for Dr. Sheri Doniger and her practice outside of Chicago. And she is certain this is a sign of things to come in 2013.