ADA convenes Red Flags coalition

Washington—An ADA-convened coalition of 29 health care and business organizations urged Congress to exempt small health care practices from FTC's Red Flags Rule. The coalition letter urges passage of legislation introduced during the ADA's May 11-13 Washington Leadership Conference by Rep. John Adler (D-N.J.) to provide an exclusion from Red Flags guidelines for health care practices with 20 or fewer employees. Go to full story

Student-run clinics offer real-world experience
Supervision, funding needed, but there's no shortage of volunteers

Dental students are finding a taste of business management, community service and wet-gloved practice through dental clinics that they themselves manage. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry has one of the country's oldest programs, known as the Student Health Action Coalition, which was founded in 1968 to bring dental care to underserved patient populations and get students involved in community service early in their careers. Go to full story.

New York State Dental Association alters governance structure
Adopts House of Delegates, Board of Trustees

Saratoga Springs, N.Y.—Members of the New York State Dental Association have spent the last few months weighing a historic proposal to change the association's governance structure to mirror that of the ADA. Go to full story.

ViewPoint
Free advice for the recent, and not so recent, grad

There's an old saying that practice makes perfect, but after three decades doing dentistry, I've learned one truth: perfection is a noble goal, but far from achievable in private practice. However, I've observed and absorbed several common themes that seem to run through all successful practices in our profession. Go to full editorial.

ADA members suggest marketing tips

Dentists are pursuing changes in the way they market their practices in response to the recession, findings from the most recent ADA Survey of Economic Confidence show. Some are sharing their ideas and experiences with the ADA through responses to the quarterly economic surveys with assurance of complete anonymity. Go to full story.

EBD champions hone their skills at second conference

There was "a fervor" to get the job done at the second annual EBD Champions Conference last month. That's because when it comes to spreading the word about evidence-based dentistry, there's no better place to start than with dentists themselves. These passionate leaders act as funnels of information for the profession and on May 29-30, more than 100 such conduits gathered at ADA Headquarters. Go to full story.

Council on Scientific Affairs issues two statements
One looks at HPV link to oropharyngeal cancer, the other at lasers

Growing evidence linking oral infection with human papillomavirus as a risk factor for oropharyngeal cancer prompted the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs to approve a new statement on the topic at its April meeting. Go to full story.

New ADA standards and report available
First standards for oral hygiene products approved by committee

Seven new standards and one new technical report from the ADA Standards Committee on Dental Products have been approved and are now available from the ADA. They include the first three standards for oral hygiene products approved by the SCDP. Go to full story.

OralLongevity initiative wins Shils Award

Philadelphia—The OralLongevity initiative, a joint effort of the ADA, the ADA Foundation and GSK Consumer Healthcare, received the 2009 Shils Award "for its commitment and dedication to improving and maintaining good oral health for older adults throughout their lives." Go to full story.

Sports dentistry goes beyond treating superstars

Their patients could be little league sluggers or college gridiron stars, Olympic athletes or professional basketball players. But the 164 dental professionals who attended the 2009 Academy for Sports Dentistry Annual Symposium in Chicago May 7-9 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago found common ground when discussing topics like dental trauma treatment, on-field injury management, mouthguards and more. Go to full story.

Enter new preventive care competition, present in Hawaii at annual session

Honolulu—A new annual session competition launching during the ADA's 150th anniversary will showcase dental practices that have designed and implemented practical preventive care strategies to treat adult patients. Go to full story.