Where the women are or where are the women?

Article Abstract:

Women made up 38 percent of the entering freshmen in dental schools in 1990, a substantial increase over the 3 percent in 1971. It is likely that 20 percent of practicing dentists by the year 2000 will be women. However, in spite of this trend and others, such as the election of Geraldine Morrow as the first female president of the American Dental Association (ADA), dental leadership is likely to remain predominantly male. Slightly more than 4 percent of ADA officers are women, a proportion lower than the proportion of female ADA members (6.3 percent). The trustees of the Association are all men, and only one state president is a woman. Nine of 161 appointed council and commission positions are occupied by women; most of these are on the Commission of the Young Professional or the Council on Dental Research. A smaller proportion of female (1.4 percent) than male (2 percent) dentists are politically active, with an even larger difference for younger practitioners. This is of particular concern in light of the increasing number of young female dentists. The situation could discourage potential female members of the ADA from joining. ADA members should make strong efforts to recruit females. This may be difficult because of factors unique to women dentists, such as family responsibilities and the costs of membership. Since 30 percent of female dentists are married to dentists, one membership per family may be the norm. Women may have less time for ADA activities because of their roles in childrearing. They should be considered for council and commission positions whenever possible, and female members should take on leadership roles more often. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Demographic aspects, Associations, Dentists, American Dental Association, Women dentists

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The marketplace will decide

Article Abstract:

Informed dentists and patients will evaluate the quality and costs of dental managed care plans and determine the success of these programs. Managed care companies are attempting to expand their foothold in the dental marketplace. Their profits in medicine result from cost-shifting from specialists to generalists. Because dentistry is dominated by generalists, cost-shifting depends on the presence of sufficient numbers of auxiliary personnel. Controlling the costs of dental care by reducing dentists' overhead expenses is a difficult prospect. Dentists who participate in managed care programs can earn financial rewards by attracting new patients and working longer hours. Managed care programs may not predominate in dentistry because only about half of all people carry dental insurance and dental patients may forego managed care programs if their dentists are not participating providers.

Forecasts and trends, Contracts, Dental insurance, Dental care Utilization

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Putting choice back into the health care equation

Article Abstract:

Dentists should actively endorse medical savings accounts (MSA) and urge their congresspersons to enlarge the program. MSA allow consumers to set aside tax-free money to pay for their medical bills. The deductibles are high, but consumers can choose their own physician. This is not the case in many managed care plans, which require members to use a network physician and penalize them for going outside the network. One dentist recounts his own experience of being forced to use network physicians despite his desire to go outside the network.

Analysis, Medical savings accounts, Preferred provider organizations (Medical care)

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