Week in Review: Orthodontist under fire for TikTok trend | Drop in dental assistant satisfaction | Extremely rare molar impaction

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

An orthodontist in the U.K. went viral on TikTok for popularizing a technique to reshape the jawline of children. Now he's facing a misconduct hearing from the organization that oversees dental professionals in the U.K. Our top story of the week explains why.

The orthodontist isn't the only dentist facing regulatory troubles this week. In Florida, two dental patients submitted complaints to the state health department alleging that a dentist in Pensacola inappropriately touched them. Just two weeks ago, a jury found the same dentist guilty of inappropriately touching a former employee.

Depression, dissatisfaction among the dental team

About 4 in 10 dental hygiene students in the U.S. reported moderate or severe levels of depression, according to a new study that was published in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene. What's more, nearly 1 in 10 reported thinking about suicide in the last year.

Also, job satisfaction for dental assistants has dropped 20 percentage points since 2016, according to new data from the Dental Assisting National Board. Only 6 in 10 dental assistants say they're satisfied with their jobs, with wages being the top factor affecting satisfaction.

Imaging aids in rare impaction case

A dental x-ray and cone-beam computed tomography imaging aided in the diagnosis of a 20-year-old man's bilateral kissing molars, an extremely rare form of impaction. The patient had his molars extracted due to the risk of nerve damage and had a successful recovery.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Last but not least, I want to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! To mark the occasion, DrBicuspid.com will not publish new content next Thursday or Friday or send out a newsletter next Saturday.

If you're in the U.S., I hope you get some time to rest, recharge, and celebrate with friends or family. I am so grateful for you and all of the DrBicuspid.com readers, and it's a joy to bring you the latest news and updates throughout the year.

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