Keller on your hiring process; orthodontists sue Ark. board; new treatment for periodontitis?

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

Does your practice have trouble finding and retaining top staff? If so, you're not alone, and there is a good reason this is happening. Practice management expert Jan Keller looks at how you can improve your hiring process.

Two orthodontists have filed a civil rights lawsuit against the Arkansas dental board seeking to change the state's Dental Practice Act, which prevents dental specialists from providing teeth-cleaning services. They claim that the board's actions violate their 14th Amendment rights. Read more here.

Pennsylvania researchers have found a promising new treatment for periodontitis using a component of the immune system called complement, according to a new study in the Journal of Immunology. Read Features Editor Donna Domino's story here.

Wikipedia is one of the most popular sites on the Internet and is used by tens of millions of people each month. But an examination of the 10 most costly medical conditions in the U.S. found that medical students and patients should think twice about relying on Wikipedia entries for information and decision-making. Read Associate Editor Rob Goszkowski's article here.

Have you been following the healthcare and treatment scandal at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)? It's easy to join the chorus calling for reform, but any reform of the VA must also include a reform of dental coverage for America's veterans, which is underwhelming, at best. I'd encourage you, and organized dentistry, to let your elected officials know that it's not reform without dental reform.