Dental bill fight continues with little compromise in sight

Two factions of dentists are continuing to battle over S 655, which would tighten rules on dental service organizations. The argument breaks down roughly between large-group dental practices whose dentists affiliate with bigger companies and smaller, more traditional dental offices allied with the N.C. Dental Society who says there are opportunities for abuse in the large group dental practices.

Both sides claim to be on the side of better patient care. The large-group practices say they're providing service at a low cost to more people. Dental Service Organizations allow them to see more patients while others take care of paperwork. The Dental Society claims investor-owned dentistry practices present a threat to public health. They says service organizations in other states have exerted too much control over patient care.

Along the way, both the FTC and national Republican luminaries have weighed in on the bill, urging lawmakers to vote it down.

"I think it's going to get done," said Rep. Bert Jones, R-Rockingham, who has been trying to get the two sides to compromise all spring. "I think there's an honest attempt from both sides to come up with something they can both live with."

Those on both sides of the debate confirmed they've been talking, but the Alliance for Access to Dental Care, the large-group dentists fighting the bill, held a news conference this morning that sounded like compromise was the last thing on their mind.

They brought dentists and patients from around the state to the legislative building to speak out against the bill. Arthur Smith, a Durham man whose family goes to Dental Works at the South Point Mall, said the dentists there help identify a serious health issue his wife had caused by dental work gone wrong.
"Without Dental Works, I don't know what she would have done," Smith said. "It's been a life saver for me and my family."

As currently drafted, the bill would give the N.C. Dental Board power to investigate dental management agreements and would limit how much control the corporations could exert over their practices. Dental management companies said the bill would keep them from forging agreements that would let them earn back their investments.

"They give us more time to spend with patients," said Dr. Bruce Gray, a Durham dentist who works in a large group practice. He said the bill "does nothing to improve the quality of dental care."
Susan Vick, on of the organizers of the alliance, said that there are parts of S 655 where the two sides might come to agreement. But, she said, the overall bill still raised concerned for group dental practices.
"We don't think anybody can cobble together a bill that will allow dental management groups to continue operating," she said. "There are so many problems with it we frankly at this point would rather see it go away."

Alec Parker, a dentist and the executive director of the dental society, said his side was equally resolved to see the measure pushed through.

"We had thought there might be room for compromise," Parker said, but then noted today's news conference, which he watched. "It seem like the message out there was kill the bill."
Both Parker and Vick said that people from across the nation were watching the North Carolina battle. This state has the only active dental management bill and both said North Carolina could set a precedent for other states.

"What happens here may be a hint for what they can do," Parker said.
For More information:- Teeth Treatment Thailand
Source:- WRAL

Dentists to parents: Tots need tooth care, too

 The dental advice to parents is simple - the earlier, the better.
"Tooth decay is nearly 100 percent preventable, but to help prevent cavities, it's important to begin good oral health habits, like visiting the dentist, when children are very young," said Dr. Ed Schooley, dental director for Delta Dental of Iowa.

The "Dentist by 1" campaign aims to get very young children in to see their family dentist within six months of getting their first tooth, and no later than their first birthday. Only about 8 percent of Iowa children see a dentist by age 1.

The campaign is supported by the Iowa Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Iowa Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Iowa Academy of Family Physicians, Iowa Department of Public Health and University of Iowa College of Dentistry.

Here are five things to know about young children and oral health.

1 Earlier is better than later
"We want to prevent decay from happening in the first place," said Dr. Karin Weber-Gasparoni, associate professor of pediatric dentistry at the University of Iowa. "If we see them so early in life, we have the opportunity to help parents to establish good oral health habits that can be carried over time. It's hard to change bad oral health habits."
Waiting until all the baby teeth emerge to see a dentist is a common myth.
"That's too late sometimes," Schooley said. "We have learned a lot from well-baby visits on the medical side."
Similar to well-baby care, early dental care can provide children with a base for good oral health.
Studies show that early preventive dental care costs less than future dental treatment.
"In some studies, if you wait until age 5, the treatment costs can be as much as twice as much," Schooley said.

2 Treat oral health seriously
"People don't realize that tooth decay is a communicable disease," Schooley said. "You can pass it on, typically from the parent to the child."
A child is born with a cavity-free mouth, but parents can pass the bacteria that can cause cavities to an infant by sharing eating utensils or by cleaning off a pacifier by mouth.

3 Helpful initial steps
Clean a baby's gums with a damp washcloth after eating and drinking and use a soft toothbrush and water to brush a baby's teeth and gums twice per day.

4 Avoid bedtime bottles
Bottles of milk in bed at nap time or at night can harm teeth and gums.
"Sometimes kids will only go to sleep with a bottle," Schooley said. "It's what you put in the bottle that makes all the difference. Use water. Sugars in the milk act as food for the bacteria in the mouth and can cause acid that can cause tooth decay."

5 Lessen fears
Parents can ease a child's anxiety about dental visits by playing "dentist" with a
stuffed animal or doll and by visiting the dentist's
office before the appointment.

Copyright 2012 Woodward Communications, Inc.
All Rights Reserved  

Dental Clinic Bangkok

 

Source:- dentistryiq