Editor's Note By: Carol Murphy, Executive Editor

Your entry may include the following:

• Photo sets and commentary
• Articles, with/without photos, slides and illustrations
• Testimonials
• Clinical/Case studies
• Usage Techniques
• Videos of Technique, Procedure/Study

This contest is open to any practicing dentist, dental academician or dental student. All materials must be submitted to GC America by 5 p.m. (CST), February 28, 2003 to be eligible to win. Contest winners will be determined on April 15, 2003, by academic and a panel of glass ionomer experts. The judging will be made on the basis of originality, quality, accuracy and consistency.

The Grand Prize winner will receive a trip for 2 to the 2003 Federation Dentaire International (FDI-World Dental Federation) in Sydney, Australia. The prize includes airfare, hotel and a cash allotment. In addition, the winning entry will be showcased in the April 2003 issue of DentalTown Magazine, with a complete biography of the prize winner.

In addition to the Grand Prize, five (5) first place prize winners will receive a trip to Chicago for two (2) to attend the 2003 MLB All Star Game at Comiskey Park. There will also be twenty (20) $1,000 cash prize awards.

To obtain a registration form and complete information on how to enter, visit GC America’s website at: www.gcamerica.com, or call the company at (800) 323-7063.

One of the major hot topics from the online message boards at www.dentaltown.com, has been on the discussion of how long to schedule for a prophy. In this issue, we’ve included snippets of the exchanges from boards on this highly debated topic. In addition, Scott Perkins, DDS, the Houston, Texas dentist known as ‘Dr. Efficiency’, shares his technique for providing a comprehensive prophy that is good for your patients and profitable for your practice.

This year those Hollywood superstars lucky enough to attend the Academy Awards received a unique gift in their infamous basket of goodies—a certificate to ‘brighten’ their smile with a BriteSmile whitening session. As you will see after reading their corporate profile this month, BriteSmile’s awareness IQ with consumers is phenomenal. If your patients listen to the news, radio or watch any amount of television, they are probably very aware of BriteSmile’s patented one-hour whitening technique. From the company’s inception in 1999, they have focused on improving tooth whitening by increasing speed, efficacy, safety and building the business with dentists who have become dental partners.