Editor's Note Carol Murphy, Executive Editor
carol@dentaltown.com

What were you doing Christmas Eve? Many of the DentalTown Townies were passionately involved with an online discussion concerning access to care. The posts on this topic currently number over 212 and still continue to increase daily.

The initial post, by Townie, JGrammer, raised the question as to why there is an access to care problem in the United States today. The discussion quickly began to evaluate if access to care really was an issue. Townie, Mike Barr, DDS, stated, "The major obstacle to dental care is lack of perceived need and an unwillingness, due to an increasing entitlement mentality, to pay any amount, no matter how small, for dental care. While I am not a heartless guy, I don't feel any obligation to help those who refuse to help themselves." Another Townie, Boomersooner, quickly added that dentists are not to blame for any perceived access to care problem. He added an interesting point that the $1,000 annual maximums for dental insurance plans set in the late 60's and early 70's may be to blame. If that $1,000 maximum were to follow the present value of the dollar it would be close to $4,840. Tom Endicott, DDS, commented, "Patients will find a way to pay for the treatment that they want! It is not my job to talk them into something they do not want nor is it my duty to give my services away because they say they can't afford it, or I charge to much."

As this debate continued, other issues were introduced such as oral health education–who is responsible and the entitlement attitude seemingly perpetuated by dental insurance. If you missed this discussion, I encourage you to read some of the direct threads we have provided on page 28. Obviously, with a post of this size, we are only able to provide highlights so, I encourage you to log on to the website, www.dentaltown.com and continue reading the posts on this enlightening discussion.

Two major dental shows are coming soon–the Chicago Mid-Winter meeting and the annual AACD meeting in Hawaii. For those of you who are unable to attend, we have included a special preview of new products that will be debuted at these shows. We will continue this presentation in our March issue. Please take advantage of obtaining more literature about these products by circling the Fast Facts number directly under each description.

Don't forget to sign and return the card on the front of this magazine for a chance to win a FREE trip to Hawaii to attend the AACD meeting courtesy of the AACD and Ultradent.