Changing Medicaid landscape; implant review; teeth whitening worth it?

Dear DrBicuspid.com Member,

There's little question that the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the increase of those eligible for Medicaid will continue to be one of the bigger stories of this and coming years.

In the first of a two-part series, Dr. Michael W. Davis looks at the changing face of dental Medicaid and studies the enrollment eligibility for potential patients and finds that it does not necessarily equate into actual patients having access to dental care.

The introduction of dental implants has proved to be a pivotal technology in dentistry. In a profession that strives to help patients keep their dentition, the point when it becomes necessary to opt for dental implants is a judgment call. Now, a new critical review published in the Journal of Dental Research comparing the long-term survival of implants and teeth that have been treated endodontically can help clinicians gain perspective on the two options. Read more of Rob Goszkowski's article here.

Teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures. But a new study has found that although it has a positive impact on patients' quality of life, it also has downsides. Read more of Rabia Mughal's story here.

Compared with squamous cell carcinoma, basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) is not an independent adverse prognostic factor for head and neck cancer patients, according to a new study in JAMA Otolaryngology -- Head & Neck Surgery. BSCC is a rare type of squamous cell carcinoma that may develop in a variety of head and neck areas, including the oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx. Donna Domino's article is here.

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