Greg Kelly

Canada's dental industry is being re-shaped by a wannabe "Walmart of Dentistry." That story tops this week's DMD Critical List. Also on the list: Gold is falling out of favor in dental offices, and a new alert about flash drives sent by the ADA to its members.

Corporations Swallowing up Canadian Dental Practices

“Corporate dentistry is a relatively new phenomenon in Canada,” but one firm, Dental Corporation of Canada, has grown to more than 160 dental practices nationally since 2011. Will these “Walmarts of the dentistry world” put patients or profits first? Here’s a report.

Until a decade ago, more than $2.7 billion worth of gold was used every year to fill, cap, and crown teeth worldwide. In the last five years, though, gold demand has plunged almost 60%. According to dentists, it's all due to teeth-whitening. "We're in a fad in dentistry where people have to have 'triple-A, Dulux-white' teeth.”

The ADA, the nation’s largest dental association, inadvertently sent some members USB drives infected with malicious software loaded onto it, according to this independent report. “The ADA told journalist Brian Krebs the drives were manufactured in China and 37,000 had been distributed.”

The sadistic Dutch dentist, Jacobus Van Nierop, has been sentenced to eight years behind bars for harming patients in a small rural French town badly in need of dental care. Prosecutors said his “aim had been to earn money through claims on patients' medical insurance schemes and to take pleasure at causing pain.”

Caring Hands Brings Dental Care to Veterans

Here’s a feel-good report on an Oregon-based faith group that is helping America’s worthy warriors with free dental care. Four volunteer dentists saw that “about 30 veterans received dental exams, fillings and extractions inside a 40-foot semi-truck trailer parked outside” a church.

Nearly Half of Americans Pay No Federal Income Tax

An estimated 45.3% of American households—roughly 77.5 million&mdash;will pay no federal individual income tax, according to the Tax Policy Center. The top 1% of Americans, who have an average income of $2.1 million+, pay 44% of all the federal income tax.

Indiana Kids Need Time In Dentist's Chair

Joining an already long list of presumably affluent states that report a poor state of oral care among its youth is Indiana. “The Indiana Youth Institute reports that more than half of Hoosier children have a history of tooth decay in their permanent teeth, and a recent federal report shows Indiana kids on Medicaid are not getting the recommended care.”

Q&A with the Head of California’s Troubled Dental Program

In response to California’s dental program for low income people being called an “outright mess,” the head of the program offers up this thoughts on troubling the Little Hoover Commission report. “All 13.3 million beneficiaries are important to us, and it is our duty to provide them with the benefits they deserve and that we are required to provide,” says,” Dr. Alani Jackson.

Opposition to ADA Sedation and Anesthesia Guidelines

Some respected dental leaders are claiming there is a lack of science behind proposed revisions to the ADA's Sedation and Anesthesia Guidelines. A pioneer in the education of general dentists on sedation dentistry techniques and safety protocols, wonders “whether we will be a profession guided by science, or by emotion and politics.”

“Using dental stem cells to grow new teeth and jawbone would have advantages over existing tooth-replacement techniques, and could even be used to reconstruct a patient’s jaw after a severe injury or disease, according to a researcher at the Tufts School of Dental Medicine.”

Articles

This week's list of must-read news stories for dentists.

The DMD Check-Up: Canadian Dentists Being 'Swallowed Up' By Corporations

Is children’s toothpaste really worth the higher price? A new study answers that question in this week’s DMD Check-Up. Also in our news roundup, New York gets a new dental school, and an Illinois county is ordained the best place for dentists to work.

British researchers are reporting that “children's toothpaste is a big con”—while sometimes triple the price of normal paste, it does no more to protect teeth. Experts also are concerned that children may be tempted to eat the flavored toothpastes.

Oral Bacteria May Lead to Pancreatic Cancer

The presence of specific bacteria in the mouth indicates an increased risk for pancreatic cancer, according to new NYU Langone Medical Center study. Researchers believe the results suggest a fresh way to detect this form of cancer which will kill more than 40,000 people this year.

New York state's first new dental school in nearly 50 years will open this fall—Touro College of Dental Medicine will be established on the campus of New York Medical College in Valhalla, NY. Jay P. Goldsmith, DMD has been appointed the founding dean and capacity enrollment will be 440 students.

Lake County, IL was ranked as the best location in the nation (with at least 500,000 residents) for dentists, according to a recent study by ValuePenguin. The study examined dentist’s salaries, area affordability, and the job opportunities. Other top spots were Port St. Lucie, FL, Colorado Springs, CO, and Prescott, AZ.

Did you hear the joke about … oh no, it’s true: A snake handler with a lifelong fear of dentists is smiling again after spending over $38,000 on new teeth. The terrified UK resident had let his teeth rot because of his phobia. He handles a wide collection of scary animals, “including pythons, scorpions, lizards and bearded dragons.”

Turning Back Dental Health in Connecticut

Dental health officials think that Connecticut, which leads the nation in the percentage of kids covered by Medicaid who go to the dentist, could be damaged under the governor’s proposal to cut Medicaid payment rates for children’s dental care. “Fewer dentists will treat Medicaid patients,” says the Connecticut State Dental Association president.

Poor oral health that impacts daily function are important risk factors for well-being and depression among older adults. And gerontology researchers must more deeply consider this connection. “The compartmentalization involved in viewing the mouth separately from the rest of the body must cease.”

According to a new ADA Health Policy Institute report, Considering Large Group Dental Practices as a Vehicle for Consolidation in Dentistry, “large group dental practices account for a slightly higher share of the total number of dental practice employees.” And the researchers concluded that “medical practice is not a good model for dental practice."

The National Association of Dental Laboratories has released its latest Business Survey and updated numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to share with dentists the latest dental laboratory trends and statistics. Among the findings: Dentistry must focus less on price and more on quality and artistry.

Our weekly round-up of top dentistry-related stories.

The DMD Check-Up: Is Children's Toothpaste a Con?

A new survey finds a stunning lack of awareness of oral cancer among patients. That story tops this week’s DMD Check-Up. Also making the list: A fugitive wanted for the murder of a Texas dentist is caught.

Oral Cancer Survey Reveals Shocking Statistics

A new national survey finds that 58% of US adults know “very little or nothing at all” about oral cancer and only 37% report being screened for oral cancer at their last dental check-up. There’s a need to educate “consumers on the risks and provide clinicians with simple, accurate and cost-effective tests that can help detect oral cancer before it is too late."

In this week’s viral “bad-dentist” story, “an Indiana man who went to the dentist expecting to have four teeth pulled woke up in hospital with all his teeth missing.” The dentists explained that all of “Don Grisby's teeth had to be pulled due to an abscess that threatened to spread throughout his mouth.”

Tooth Decay Most Common Reason for Day Surgery on Children

“Rotting teeth is a public health issue affecting an increasing number of Canadian children, according to University of Calgary researchers. “Early Childhood Caries, or baby bottle decay, is sending 1 in 100 children younger than 5 to hospital for day surgery.”

‘Mastermind Murderer’ of Dentist Caught

The fugitive dental hygiene student, on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list for the murder of a dentist, has been apprehended. Brenda Delgado, only the ninth woman to make the FBI list, was arrested in Mexico. A love triangle led to the cold-blooded murder in a posh neighborhood. An extradition battle looms.

Doctor Tops List of Prestigious Occupations

Nearly all Americans—9 in 10&mdash;think that being a doctor (physicians and dentists?) is a prestigious occupation, according to an annual Harris Poll. That’s tops. Other professions that are held in high esteem include scientists, firefighters, and military officers.

Final 2015-20 Dietary Guidelines for Americans

While nutrition is a relatively young science, dentist can play an important role in finding and preventing eating disorders. These guidelines are extremely influential and heavily lobbied—forming the basis for all federal nutrition policies. Lots of worthwhile info here.

A Child’s Death and the Power of the Dental Lobby

Hit job or point made? A potent essay about the tragic death of 6-year-old California boy during a dental procedure and a subsequent effort to change state law. “Dentists and related professional organizations are also big political donors, pouring at least $12 million over the last five years into California races.”

The hand-held PhotOral is “a novel oral hygiene device that uses smart light technology and blue LEDs to combat pathogenic bacteria in the mouth.” Forsyth Institute researchers say that “unlike brushing, flossing or using an oral antiseptic, which can kill the good bacteria along with the bad, the PhotOral device only kills harmful bacteria.”

“Unaffordable dental care and poor diet choices, not lack of fluoride, are the biggest causes of severe oral decay in children,” according to Canadian researchers. But Calgary dentists are blaming the removal of fluoride from the city’s water supply five years ago for the sharp increase in tooth decay among children.

Our weekly check-up on the latest news for dentists from around the web.

The DMD Check-Up: Oral Cancer Education Lacking

A bipartisan commission in California finds the state’s dental safety net is dangerously dysfunctional. That story tops this week’s DMD Check-Up. Also making the list: How a dog makes pediatric appointments run more smoothly, and a new report on activated charcoal.

The nation’s most populous and powerful state has a “dysfunctional” dental health system for the poor, a bipartisan oversight commission has found. Says the Little Hoover Commission chairman of the Denti-Cal program: “in California we have kids' teeth rotting out of their heads. That's utterly inexcusable.”

A 6-year-old golden retriever, “a trained comfort dog,” is offering a helping paw to nervous visitors at a pediatric dentistry office in Illinois. JoJo is “so integral to the team that she's on the dentistry's staff page on its website.”

Activated Charcoal: Teeth-Whitening Secret or Total Scam?

Is black the new white? A report on recent Internet claims that “brushing with activated charcoal is an all-natural way to remove surface stains caused by coffee, tea, or red wine without bleach or abrasives.” An ADA dentist-spokesperson says: “there’s no scientific indication that it actually works and there are better options out there that do work.”

A Miami father and son have been arrested for pretending to be licensed dentists. One victim “was told by the men that she needed two root canals and several teeth pulled in order to get dentures.” The 81-year-old father faces similar charges from for 5 years ago.

A gloomy report about the Alaska Mission of Mercy started by a husband-and-wife dentist team. The free dental services program for the low-income is having a hard time raising money, putting its future in doubt. Also a lack of dentist-volunteers for an event that helps 1,600 patients.

Caring for Baby's Teeth Starts Before Birth

“A child's dental health begins at the time of conception, says an expert who recommends mothers-to-be visit the dentist before, during and after pregnancy.” A Baylor College of Dentistry professor explains that “cavities are 'contagious,' because germs in the mother's mouth and family's mouth will be in a baby's mouth.”

Average Pro Baseball Salary Rises to $4.4 Million

Just a game? With the 2016 Major League Baseball season just underway, the AP reports that the average player’s annual salary is $4.38 million. The minimum annual salary for a player in now $507,000. LA Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw is the highest paid player at $33 million/year.

Still Don't Have EHRs for Your Dental Practice?

Some worthwhile information about the growing need and requirement for electronic health records in dental offices. In 2016, “Medicare-eligible dentists who have not successfully switched over to EHRs and demonstrated meaningful use will be subject to a payment reduction.”

The salivary gland secretes saliva that helps us chew and swallow the food we eat. A new Science Signaling journal study “uncovers a previously mysterious process that makes these secretions possible.” And it’s “better knowledge of the mechanisms that control the flow of calcium in and out of cells that will advance research on new treatments for many diseases.”

Our weekly round-up of dental industry news from around the web.

The DMD Check-Up: State's Dental Safety Net a 'Failure'

A New Jersey college student has dentists warning crooked-teeth patients not to try dentistry at home. That story tops this week’s DMD Check-Up. Also making the list: How to solve the opioid abuse problem, and what connection does Low-T have to oral health?

College Kid Spends $60 to Straighten His Teeth

A New Jersey college student has received wide attention after publishing an account of straightening his own teeth for $60 (by 3D-printing his own braces). Some orthodontists warn that Amos Dudley’s “methods were risky and could backfire, ultimately leading to a need for more expensive professional help.”

In a case of mindless savagery, Dr. Pankaj Narang was forcibly removed from his house in west Delhi's Vikaspuri by an angry mob, dragged him into the street, and beaten to death with hockey sticks, bats and rods. All from a “heated argument” over a near-miss traffic incident.

Dental Patients Overprescribed Pain Pills Too

 “finds that US dentists may be prescribing too many pain pills to patients when they have teeth pulled.” Improved dentist monitoring and cutting back could be one way to reduce the opioid abuse problem.

Young Texas Girl Dies After Dental Procedure

A 14-month-old girl has died after “a routine cavity filling” procedure at a dentist’s office in Austin. None of the dentists working at the practice have been disciplined in Texas for any action before. The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners, which only heard of the case from media reports, is investigating.

Low Testosterone Contributes to Poor Oral Health

A Baylor College of Dentistry study of primates found that low sex hormones may lead to oral health issues in men. As diagnoses for low testosterone become increasingly common and testosterone replacement therapy increasing, “dentists may want to ask about TRT when documenting their male patients’ health histories.”

The Jungle Book Actor Wants to be a Dentist

Neel Sethi, the young actor staring in the new The Jungle Book film, says he wants to be a dentist like his parents. The Indian-American actor will portray “the popular fictional character Mowgli in the upcoming Hollywood film based on Rudyard Kipling’s book.”

No wonder there’s an addiction problem! Nearly all US primary care doctors routinely prescribe potentially addictive opioid painkillers for longer than the three-day period recommended by the CDCP, according to a new National Safety Council survey. Dentists too?

Controversial Dental Carve-Out Law Approved in Florida

Gov. Rick Scott has signed a bill that removes dental services from the list of minimum benefits under the state’s Medicaid managed care plans. It also calls on the Office of Program Policy Analysis & Government Accountability to study how effective managed care plans are at providing dental care. The Florida Dental Association backs the governor’s action.

Rockefeller University researchers have brought us closer to understanding the biology of eating. They've identified a set of neurons that are activated only when flies eat a very sweet solution—especially when they’re hungry. The findings may have implications for diseases related to food intake such as obesity.

New Infection Control Guidelines Checklist

Dentists can access resources designed to help them follow infection prevention guidelines thanks to new materials from the CDCP. A “comprehensive, user friendly resource” that “can help dental healthcare personnel maintain proper infection prevention practices.”

“In the years following the global economic crash, private patients became more reluctant to spend and the average net income for their dentists ($201,498), over a few years, dropped below those of colleagues working in the NHS ($185,856).”

Our weekly look at the Internet's must-see news for dentists.

The DMD Check-Up: Student Becomes Internet Celeb with 'Risky' DIY Braces

A new survey finds a significant gap in pay between male and female dentists. That story tops this week’s DMD Check-Up. Also making the list: A new technique to calm “dental anxiety” and a look at how fathers could be setting a bad example when it comes to dental health.

A “deep dive into salary data” by Glassdoor shows that the gender pay gap is very real in some august professions. Although the lead here is that male computer programmers make far more than their female counterparts, a big split also exists among dentists—a 28% adjusted gender pay gap.

An interesting report from the American Psychological Association about patient fear of dentists. It’s about a new technique called “Dental Anxiety Intervention.” To prepare a frightened person for a certain procedure the dentist shows the patient three videos.

According to an American Dental Association report, “the federal government has begun auditing some dental practices to ensure they are complying with patient privacy laws and healthcare information security laws.” Steep consequences for those practices not in compliance.

Dentists might want to start prepping for next year? Here’s a humorous Irish spin about a media report on how American dentists had a 77% leap in emergency dental visits in the few days immediately after the holiday. “Teeth take the brunt of March 17 revelry.”

In response to criticism, a top official from the Americans for Tax Reform makes the case for Dental Support Organizations. “The DSO model has been beneficial to both consumers and caregivers, yet recent years have seen legislative attempts to impede or take away dentists’ ability to contract with them.”

Dental Care Access for Adults on Medicare

Some interesting and alarming information about the state of government dental care for poor adults in the US. The prevalence of dental disease and tooth loss is disproportionately high for them. Will “new models of care present potential for increasing access to dental care”?

A survey of fathers in Finland by toothpaste manufacturer Pepsodent finds they “don’t take dental health seriously enough, with some 43% with children under 12 brushing only once a day or even less often.” And single parents are more diligent about their child’s dental hygiene.

Doctors More Likely to Misdiagnose “Difficult Patients”

 study “has found that the likelihood of being misdiagnosed dramatically increases when a doctor is presented with a “difficult” patient who obstructs the clinician’s efforts by being aggressive or questioning their competence.”

The respected (22,000+ dental professionals attend) and venerable (the first meeting was held in 1912) Thomas P. Hinman Dental Meeting was held last week in Atlanta. Have a look at some background info, meeting highlights, and perhaps plan to attend in ’17.

Our weekly look at the can't-miss stories for dentists from around the web.

The DMD Check-Up: Big Gender Pay Gap Persists

Dental schools are optimistic about the prospects of a drill-free future. That story tops this week's DMD Check-Up. Also on the list of must-read stories: The British blast a marketing campaign that suggested chewing gum prevents oral health problems, while a new study claims probiotic pills may do the same.

A report about the state of dentistry in America and the push for more and better preventative measures in oral care. “Two-thirds of US dental schools teach some kind of disease management model based on a thorough risk assessment. And at some point all dentists will follow a preventive protocol.”

This week’s weird tale in dentistry: Naples Police have arrested Flores Orgaz Tuesday after reports that he tried to extract two molars from a woman who paid $100 for the procedure. In past year, there have been 45 investigations and 13 cease and desist orders issued for the unlicensed practice of dentistry.

 shows that probiotics can help balancing the mouths’ acid levels. In pill form, probiotics (also known as “good bacteria”) can be taken on a regular basis as a maintenance to fight off cavity build-up.

Every March 20, the World Dental Federation sponsors “an international day to celebrate the benefits of a healthy mouth and to promote worldwide awareness of the issues around oral health and the importance of oral hygiene to looking after everyone old and young.” Broaden your horizons.

survey found that 70% of British dentists would not recommend dentistry as a profession to their family. One official was “unsurprised but nonetheless sad to learn that confidence levels are so low among dental team members across the board.”

A hard-hitting editorial lambasting a recent Wrigley Company pitch: “Chewing sugar free gum could save the NHS £8.2 million a year.” The UK media and academia fell for it too. Not the first wayward marketing work from the American chewing gum giant.

Tooth Plaque May Hold Clues About Ancient Life

American Journal of Physical Anthropology

 report, “researchers have successfully sequenced DNA from fossilized plaque on 700-year-old teeth. And solidified plaque—called calculus—contains a whopping 25 times more DNA than ancient tooth or bone.”

CDC Issues Tough New Guidelines on Painkillers

Hoping to stem an epidemic of drug abuse tied to narcotic painkillers, federal officials issued new prescribing rules to the nation’s doctors and dentists “stressing they should try to avoid these addictive “opioid” painkillers whenever possible for patients with most forms of chronic pain.”

Our weekly roundup of must-read news stories for dentists.

The DMD Check-Up: A Drill-Free Future?

This week's list of must-read news stories for dentists includes a state-by-state listing of toothlessness among senior citizens. Also on the list: A shocking case of malpractice from France and a possible link between regular tooth-brushing and a decrease in Alzheimer’s progression.

It’s a national disgrace—“approximately 25% of Americans over age 65 have no remaining natural teeth.” Using CDC data, the top 25 states with the most toothless seniors were identified. West Virginia (34% toothless) and Kentucky (24% toothless) seniors were worst off.

A former fugitive Dutch dentist is now on trial in France accused of having mutilated the mouths of more than 100 patients. Dr. Jacobus van Nierop is alleged to have ripped out healthy teeth and to have left dozens of patients with broken jaws, abscesses, and septicemia.

America’s dentists got an honorary day (March 6) this week. According to this report, though, the nation’s dental professionals can ill afford to stop and celebrate. The ADA informs us that “more than 100 million Americans fail to see a dentist each year despite the fact annual checkups can help prevent most dental diseases.”

Here’s a new report on how “regular teeth brushing may slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease” after British scientists “found that gum disease speeds up mental decline by six times.” Dr. Mark Ide explains that “having few teeth, possibly as a consequence of earlier gum disease, is associated with a greater risk of developing dementia.”

University at Buffalo researchers report that “dentists can tell sleep-related disorders more than physicians by virtue of their more frequent attention to the patient's mouth. “Dentists are in the unique position as healthcare professionals to pinpoint signs of obstructive sleep apnea”—which too frequently goes undiagnosed.

Domestic Violence Soothed by Caring Dentist

A life-sustaining story about a Canadian dentist who launched Project Restoring Smiles—a program that provides free dental treatment to survivors of domestic violence. Dr. Tina Meisami “changed my life, saved my life, and I’m forever grateful,” said one abuse victim.

Antidepressants Linked to Tooth Implant Failure

University of Buffalo researchers have found that “the use of antidepressants increases the odds of tooth implant failure by four times. Each year of antidepressant use doubled the odds of failure.” With antidepressant drug usage up 400% over a 20-year period, “their benefits must be weighed with the side effects.”

A new National Bureau of Economic Research study “suggests that the threat of malpractice lawsuits may shape behavior well beyond the clinic, pushing doctors to buy fancier, more extravagant homes in states where those assets are excluded from bankruptcy.” This behavior includes dentists.

Mount Sinai Hospital researchers are asking lower Manhattan residents to send them their kids’ baby teeth—“which they will use to study the spread of pollutants after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and its effects on pregnant mothers and their children.”

“Ultra-Processed” Foods Hurting America’s Diet

“Researchers who have analyzed America’s eating habits say they can sum up what’s wrong with our diet in just two words: ultra-processed foods,” according to this report. These unhealthy foods make up nearly 60% of all calories Americans consume in a typical day. Perhaps some diet guidance from wise dentists is warranted.

Our weekly look at must-read news stories for dentists.

The DMD Check-Up: The States with the Most Toothless Seniors

Infamous terrorist Osama bin Laden apparently thought his wife's dentist was part of a plot to track him down. That story tops this week's DMD Check-Up. Also making the headlines this week: A plan to allow dentists to prescribe medical marijuana, and a call for more female dental leaders.

Osama bin Laden Feared Wife’s Tooth Tracker

The paranoid rantings of 9/11 terrorist attack villain—he feared an Iranian dentist had planted a tracking device in his wife’s tooth—were among the information in thousands of pages of documents seized by Navy SEALs during the 2011 deadly raid on Bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan.

ADA President Wants More Women Dental Leaders

"There are needs that are unique to women; there are differences between men and women dentists," explains Carol Gomez Summerhays, DDS. “We really need to get more women in the pipeline for leadership positions.” Overall good profile of the 152nd president of the American Dental Association.

Dentist Invents Method to Get Kids off Pacifiers

As a pediatric dentist and mother, Dr. Alene D'Alesio knew how bad the long term effects of pacifier usage can be for youngster’s teeth, so she came up with the Lily Method. It’s a series of five color-coded pacifiers that gradually get smaller and smaller. Until the child is “pacifier-free in just five days.”

Dentistry has one of the highest burnout rates of all professions. So it should help to know that “the happiest people focus a lot more on what they do, not on what they have.” Also: “They don't compare themselves to other people” and “They aren't afraid to be themselves” and more …

Harry Potter Author Wanted to Be a Dentist

JK Rowling, one of the world’s most successful authors (the Harry Potter brand is worth $15 billion+), “has revealed she would have had a career in dentistry—but didn’t get the grades.” Her career choice came up during an online discussion among top writers.

Kentucky’s Oral Health Struggles Persist

The Center for Health Workforce Studies finds that Kentucky “is second in the nation in the incidence of oral and pharyngeal cancers and fifth highest for adults 65 or older who have had all their natural teeth extracted.” Causes include remote geography, low education and oral health literacy, and poverty.

Maryland Dentists Could Prescribe Medical Marijuana

A bill that would allow state dentists (along with nurses, midwives, and podiatrists) to prescribe medical cannabis has passed the Maryland House of Delegates. “These additional practice groups are trusted and in a position to make that call for their patients,” said a legislator. The bill now moves to the state senate.

The Role of Tiny Bubbles in Teeth Cleaning

“Research into the science behind ultrasonic scalers used by dentists to remove built up plaque, has identified that the formation of tiny bubbles around the head is key to the cleaning process.” The findings published in PLOS ONE “will help to make the tools as effective as possible.”

The Chicago Dental Society just completed it 151st Midwinter Meeting last week. Nearly 7,000 dentists attended the annual show. Here’s the CDS website which offers meeting highlights, photos, and info about the 2017 gathering.

Our weekly roundup of the top dentist-related news of the week. 

The DMD Check-Up: Bin Laden's Dental Conspiracy Theory

A new study finds a link between gum disease and death from chronic kidney disease, though researchers say the link is still more mystery than answer. That story tops this week’s DMD Check-Up. Also on the list, a new high-tech electric toothbrush, and the Tooth Fairy tightens her belt.

Severe gum disease increases the risk of death from chronic kidney disease by 10%, a new British study warned. “We are just beginning to scratch the surface of the interplay between gum disease and other chronic diseases,” reports the 

World’s First Electric Toothbrush that Sees What You Don’t

Calling it the “most intelligent brushing system available to-date,” Oral-B is out with its Oral-B GENIUS electric toothbrush—“that combines cutting-edge motion sensor technology located in the brush, and video recognition using the smartphone’s camera, to track areas being brushed so that no zone is missed.”

Dentists Prioritizing Patient Care Over Corporate Dentistry

A hard-hitting editorial from the president-elect of the Washington State Dental Association: “In healthcare, high-quality patient care is the greatest measure of success in a competitive environment. Allies of corporate dentistry offer lucrative contracts that can explicitly prey on new dentists’ need to rapidly pay off student loans. Addressing student debt and prioritizing patient care should never be placed in opposition to each other.”

Digital Scans Make ‘Goop’ Outdated in the Dentist Chair

“Virtual reality is here in dentistry.” A report about “the first dentist in Michigan and one of few in the country” to use an intraoral scanner that makes digital impressions. The system is more accurate than impression material which can be distorted by varying temperatures.

There's another indicator that the economy is softening, and it can be found under a young boy or girl's pillow at night—Tooth Fairy giving. According to a Delta Dental poll, average parent giving for a lost tooth was down to $3.91. This giving has served as a good economic indicator, historically—the annual poll has tracked with the S&P 500 for 12 out of the last 13 years.

An estimated 45% of American households paid no federal income tax last year, according to data from the Tax Policy Center. The top 20% of American earners (which includes most dentists) paid the most taxes, “forking over nearly 87% of all the income tax collected by Uncle Sam.”

Dentists Have 3 Months to Enroll in Medicare or Opt Out

US dentists who prescribe Part D covered drugs to Medicare beneficiaries have until June 1 to enroll in Medicare or opt out. “Any way you slice it, dentists have to take action or their patients may suffer the consequences,” said the ADA Council on Dental Benefit Programs chairman.

Dental Schools Adopt Strategy to Combat Opioid Abuse

In an effort to combat the state’s opioid crisis, several Massachusetts dental schools will teach skills in managing pain, prescribing painkillers, and detecting improper drug usage. “The curriculum will train and encourage dentists to counsel patients and collaborate with other health professionals, two areas relatively new to dental practice.”

A Simple Rule for Our Ancestors' Molar Size

Some ancient dental history: “You might not think you could extract much about a whole species from a single tooth, but Australian researchers now show how our pearly whites are information goldmines—and reclassify one of our oldest relatives.”

Periodontal Disease Linked to Breast Cancer

Postmenopausal women with periodontal disease are more likely to develop breast cancer, according to research published in 

Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention

. Female smokers are particularly affected. One possible explanation for the link is that bacteria enter the body's circulation and ultimately affect breast tissue.

Our weekly look at the top news stories for dentists. 