In this edition:

• 🔻 370k Hoosiers lost dental coverage

• 🚰 Fluoride being removed from water

• 🚔 NY man arrested for impersonating dentist

• 4️⃣1️⃣ DSO enters 41st state

• And more!

MB2 Dental enters 41st state

MB2 Dental, known for its rapid expansion in the dental partnership industry, has recently partnered with Montshire Endodontics, its first affiliated practice in Vermont, marking the organization's presence in its 41st state. Led by Drs. Timothy Meyers, Mikilena Hall, and Joshua Gailey, Montshire Endodontics operates two locations across Vermont and New Hampshire. Dr. Hall expressed excitement about the new partnership, emphasizing their commitment to maintaining high-quality endodontic care while embracing modern advancements in dental practice. This announcement follows MB2 Dental's recent entry into West Virginia in February, demonstrating the organization's ongoing growth and appeal to dental practice owners seeking support and opportunities for expansion. CEO Dr. Chris Steven Villanueva looks forward to fostering relationships with new partners in Vermont as MB2 Dental continues to expand its presence in the northeast.

More and more cities removing fluoride from water supply

Fluoride, a standard additive to municipal water since the 1940s, was hailed for its cavity-fighting properties and initially adjusted to 1.0 ppm. Now capped at 0.7 ppm, its distribution remains consistent, with 72.7% of the U.S. population receiving fluoridated water. Despite assertions of safety and cost-effectiveness by the CDC, concerns over potential health risks persist, spurring community divisions and legal battles.

The ongoing debate questions the necessity of fluoridated water alongside readily available dental hygiene products, with some advocating for individual choice and others pushing for regulatory intervention at the federal level. Meanwhile, bans on fluoridated water continue to multiply across U.S. communities, reflecting an evolving public sentiment on the matter.

Some areas of the U.S. have been more aggressive than others in riding its community waters of added fluoride. The Fluoride Action Network data reported 16 states without any bans or removals of fluoridated water on record. The rest of the states saw varying levels of rejection, with some like Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming only reporting one or two counties in which fluoride had been removed from water.

MLB star battles through dental pain, gets fixed with emergency oral surgery

Cal Raleigh's toughness was on display again recently. After experiencing discomfort while eating breakfast, he discovered a broken tooth. The pain worsened, and by the next game, it was unbearable. Despite this, Raleigh refused to be sidelined and even managed to hit a home run. The discomfort was so severe that he required emergency surgery to remove the tooth, leaving him unable to eat solid food and with facial swelling.

This isn't the first time Raleigh has battled through pain. Last season, he played the final months with a broken thumb that required surgery afterwards. Even after a sleepless night following the oral surgery, Raleigh lobbied to play in the following game, showcasing his dedication to the team. He was praised for his toughness, both physical and mental, highlighting the leadership he brings by example to the team.

370,000 Hoosiers lost coverage last year

Nearly 370,000 Hoosiers lost dental insurance last year, according to a study by a nonprofit that tracks access to dental care. Indiana's steep drop in insured families came after a national pandemic-era policy ensuring Medicaid dental coverage ended, according to Dr. Kaz Rafia, chief health equity officer at Boston-based CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, which released the study.Nationwide, 12 million people lost dental insurance.

Dental problems are common across the country. One in four adults has untreated tooth decay, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Low-income individuals and people of color are more likely to lack access to dental care, leading them to go untreated.

One possible fix, Rafia said, is to automatically enroll eligible people in government insurance so paperwork problems won't stand in the way of coverage. Another solution would be to reduce the frequency of the renewal process for Medicaid.

"Can you imagine if your driver's license was due for renewal every year?" he said. "Can you imagine how many of us would get pulled over and how many of us would end up losing the privilege to drive because it has to be renewed every year?"

Are pensions poised to make a come back?

Total rewards strategies are constantly evolving, with new benefits emerging and older ones being phased out depending on economic factors. However, one of the oldest benefits offerings, pensions, is now becoming a topic of conversation among total rewards experts in a way that it hasn't been in recent years. IBM's recent decision to switch to a defined benefit plan, essentially a pension plan, has sparked discussions about the future of retirement benefits. This move, along with the increasing number of fully funded pensions in the U.S., suggests a potential shift towards pensions as employers seek to address retirement challenges more effectively and attract and retain talent with appealing benefits.

While pensions may not overtake 401(k) plans anytime soon, they are gaining renewed interest due to growing concerns about financial insecurity in retirement. Employees are facing challenges such as market volatility and inflation, prompting employers to reconsider the role of pensions in their total rewards packages. Although the trend towards pensions may progress slowly and depend on various factors, including the decisions of other companies, it signifies a broader shift towards more meaningful retirement solutions for employees. Ultimately, employers are recognizing the importance of designing retirement programs that adequately prepare employees for the future, reflecting a significant investment in their total rewards offerings.