Dentists

Dental hygienists in Maine and Colorado can operate independently from dentists, according to local NBC affiliate News Center Maine.

A potential like between P. gingivalis, the bacteria associated with gum disease, and Alzheimer's has periodontists on alert, according to a study published in Science Advances and cited by the American Academy of Periodontology.

Whaley Children's Center and Mott Children's Health Center, both in Flint, Mich., teamed up to open a private dental and medical center, according to local NBC affiliate WEYI.

Henry Schein reported a slight dip year over year — 0.1 percent — in dental sales, totaling $1.5 billion for the first quarter for 2019.

Five dental companies and organizations making headlines:

A pediatric dentist in Greenville, S.C., has been accused of handing out opioids and other drugs without prescriptions, according to local NBC affiliate WYFF.

A federal judge on May 2 ordered a Murfreesboro, Ten., dentist to forfeit nearly $1 million, which he collected by committing insurance fraud, according to the Daily News Journal.

A federal judge on May 2 sentenced former MetroHealth dentist Yazan Al-Madani, DDS, to 10 years and one month in prison for his role in a fraud scheme at the Cleveland-based hospital, according to clevaland.com.

A Phoenix dentist who was accused of using false credentials to obtain an anesthesia permit has pleaded guilty to multiple felony charges, ABC15 reports.

The Florida House and Senate have passed a bill that would repay dental students' loans up to $250,000, according to WJCT.