CBCT ups risk of incidental findings; CAL + PD key to perio assessment

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

As increasingly sophisticated imaging technologies make their way into dentistry, the likelihood of incidental findings showing up on a 2D or 3D study such as from cone-beam CT (CBCT) increases as well -- along with potential medicolegal issues for practitioners who miss them, according to a systematic review in the current Journal of the American Dental Association. Read more.

Also in this month's JADA, it seems there's no escaping the need to assess clinical attachment loss (CAL) in at least some teeth of patients undergoing periodontal treatment. Researchers from the University of Minnesota have confirmed that measuring probing (PD) depth alone is unreliable in all but the most severe periodontitis cases for determining whether the disease is progressing or not

And oral health has become an important component of a physician assistants program at the University of Colorado, reflecting a growing trend toward interdisciplinary collaboration among health professionals that is helping to reach underserved populations. Read more.