Sunday 24 February 2013

Dentist and reviewer battle it out in court


Dentist and reviewer battle it out in court

Yvonne Wong, D.D.S., sued the parents of a young patient after the father posted a negative review on Yelp.com. Dr. Wong contends that the review defames her by implying that she didn't inform the boy's parents about alternatives to the use of amalgam and nitrous oxide and didn't spot other cavities needing treatment.

The key issue in this case is whether the review stepped over the line from discussing a topic of public interest to defamation.

Dr. Wong's lawyer, John Ter Beek, thinks it does.

He argued that the review did not serve public interest on the topics of amalgam or nitrous oxide use and only defamed Dr. Wong.

He called the use of amalgam fillings a "supposed controversy" and noted that even the ADA approves its use.

Reviewer Tai Jing's lawyer, Mark Goldowitz, argued that his client's review merely informed people that it is unnecessary to use mercury or nitrous oxide for dental procedures. It is a matter of public interest because his clients did not know other options were available until they went to another dentist, he stated.

In an interview with DrBicuspid.com following his court appearance, Ter Beek said that in fact Dr. Wong provided Jing's wife with a dental material fact sheet containing information about mercury fillings. The law requires dentists to discuss such matters, he added.

"Now they are saying that they were not told," said Ter Beek. "This is defamation. If people are allowed to do this, you might as well throw away the defamation law."

Goldowitz reiterated that his client's review did not cross the line.

His purpose as a parent through that post was to tell other people that some dentists don't use amalgam fillings or nitrous oxide at all, he told DrBicuspid.com.

Defamation is when provably false statements are made, and that is not the case here, he added.

There is a controversy surrounding amalgam fillings, and new cavities were found by the child's new dentist, he said. It's all true.

With regard to the issue of defamation, Judge William Elfving asked Goldowitz to clarify exactly who wrote the review, since both Tai Jing and his wife Jia Ma are named in Dr. Wong's lawsuit. Goldowitz stated that Jing wrote the review and that his wife had no part in it whatsoever.

However, Ter Beek noted that Jia Ma accompanied the child to most of the dental appointments and that when she came home she had told Jing what happened, which means they worked together to defame the dentist.

Goldowitz dismissed any charges of conspiracy.

Jing was the one who was present at the appointment when Dr. Wong administered the nitrous oxide and mercury fillings, and there is no reason to believe that just because they are married she was involved in a conspiracy, he said.

Jing ultimately removed the review from Yelp.com -- leave a one star rating up to indicate his dissatisfaction with the dentist -- when he found out that someone had complained because he did not want to be mixed up in a controversy, his lawyer told DrBicuspid.com.

Goldowitz said this case violates free speech.

"That you can get sued just for putting up your opinion has a chilling effect," he said.

Judge Elfving is now considering the arguments. If he doesn't grant the original anti-SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation) motion, Dr. Wong's attorney will have a right to appeal. If he does approve it, Jing's attorney will have the same right.

Syneron to create new dental laser


Syneron to create new dental laser

Syneron Dental has finalized an OEM contract with a Western organization to produce and spread a dental laser system using Syneron's Laser-in-Handpiece technological innovation, according to the organization. Details of the contract have not yet been revealed.

The Laser-in-Handpiece idea is already integrated into the Syneron LiteTouch erbium dental laser system, which was presented in 2006. It is the first dental laser system with the laser system device in the dental handpiece, rather than in an nearby unit linked by a roughage optic wire, according to the organization.

"We welcome this opportunity to integrate Syneron's dental laser system technological innovation according to the demand of a well known Western dental laser system device producer who desired to provide our unique technological innovation to their set up base," said Syneron Dental Chief executive Eyal Cohen in an argument. "We believe that having our technological innovation used and marketed by their dental customers will increase its exposure worldwide."

Ronald J. Search, D.D.S., M.S., dean of the Va Earth School (VCU) School of Dental care, was set up as obama of the United states Dental Education Organization (ADEA) on April 18 at this year's ADEA Yearly Period in Arizona.

Dr. Search invested the past year providing as ADEA president-elect and has provided on other ADEA committees and with other dental companies, according to confident ADEA Chief executive Charles Bertolami, D.D.S., DMedSc.

Dr. Search has been dean of the VCU School of Dental care for nine years, and was previously the dean of academic matters at the School of Northern Carolina at Church Mountain School of Dental care. He has released more than 40 peer-reviewed articles about epidemiological reviews, medical analysis, health services analysis, and academic analysis. Dr. Search also has been active in the United states Organization for Dental Research (AADR) and was area official in geriatric dental analysis.

My epiphany with Mrs. Z


My epiphany with Mrs. Z

Removable prosthetics have always been a thorn in my part. Why do some of these situations come returning for improvements when I see no signs for it using PIP? I verify the closure and it looks excellent. I see no noticeable platter sores on the mucosa. The storage looks excellent. We run through the figures 60-70 and the affected person recites them like she is the celebrity student in the category. Yet, she requirements that they need modifying.

This issue is enough of a hassle that I choose to try compressing detachable prosthetics out of my exercise. I increase the fee from $800 to $1,200 per device. But still I stay active with veneers and sufferers that I cannot convert away.

But one day I realized it out, thanks to Mrs. Z. She was my "road to Damascus" encounter. I created her the most ideal CD over RPD, but she ongoing to come in for improvements. I examined for sores but could not look for the damaging. Lastly, as I was going over her situation for the umpteenth time, I kept in mind she had a cat. Out of disappointment, I requested her how Waffles was.

A large grin came over her encounter. The overflow gateways started out, and I discovered out more about that cat than any individual should know. I was prepared to take it and get into it in the Bob Letterman ridiculous pet techniques section. I also discovered out that her daughter was premed. I observed a lot about her hammer toes and arthritis joint parts too.

With a little laugh on my encounter -- not enough for her to get noticable -- I modified the nonexistent painful identify she had been stressing about. She smiled again and said it sensed much better.

I have a whole new strategy to veneers now. I still dislike them, but I allow endless "Waffles the cat" modification sessions. I even put notices in the individual's chart: pet's name, granddaughter's name, in premed, etc. to help keep factors going along. Sometimes it's been a task, like when Mrs. Z is sandwiched between only one top and an anterior veneer situation. But that's when I take a take a phase returning and calm out for a few additional moments with her.

This market of our individual platform is very alone. They look ahead to their oral sessions. They look ahead to capturing up with my front part workplace ladies. Mrs. Z was so thrilled the day she was able to tell me that her daughter approved the MCAT with traveling shades. Even the seniors men like arriving in just to discuss the old car they're repairing or discussion a little state policies. These sessions have become as essential to them as their mid-day link activities with buddies.

Mrs. Z approved away lately, but it's awesome ... she was a satisfied woman, and her veneers were relaxed.