Dear DrBicuspid Member,
The next paradigm for dentistry will be more personalized care, and scientific advances such as genomics and oral biomarkers will play a key role in better addressing head and neck cancer, orofacial pain, and oral infectious diseases, according to several leading U.S. researchers.
While some dental practitioners may take offense at the notion because they already provide personalized care, others contend that advances in science and technology are making it possible to enhance patient care by getting even more personal. Read more.
Meanwhile, in Practice Management Community news, a Montana dentist has come up with a novel solution to a chronic shortage of experienced dental assistants: He started his own training program. The first class of 15 graduated last month, and there's been so much interest in the program that a second course slated for the fall has already sold out. Click here to read more about the Brewer Dental Education Center in Billings.
And over in the Restoratives Community, longevity is one of the most important aspects of a restoration. A new study in the Journal of the American Dental Association examines predictors of early amalgam and resin-based composite restoration failures, and the findings could help practitioners make treatment choices and manage patient expectations.
Finally, in the current economic climate, should your office participate in one or more dental insurance plans, or can you afford to focus only on fee-for-service patients? That's the question practice management consultant Linda Miles takes on in the latest episode of "15 Minutes to Excellence." Click here to watch the video and to submit your practice management questions for Linda.
