Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Two Washington dentists, who a judge said were fueled by "pure greed," were sentenced to prison for seven days and ordered to perform 400 hours of community service for participating in an approximately $460,000 tax-cheating scheme.
The American Dental Association (ADA) has announced that it has filed a class-action lawsuit against Delta Dental plans and the Delta Dental Plans Association.What are you thankful for?
Many of us are studying for finals and looking forward to the holidays as this year starts to wind down. Over the past 11 months, we have grown astronomically, pushed ourselves to overcome obstacles, stretched our minds and (hopefully) taken a step back when we needed to remind ourselves what the bigger picture may be. While it’s necessary to reflect on the things that make you happy all year-round, in the spirit of the season, the ASDA Editorial Board shares what we are thankful for — from family, friends and post-graduation plans, to pets, food and cold brew.
Jeannie Binder, Editor-in-Chief, Texas-Houston ’21: “There are so many things I’m grateful for: making it through this semester, Cat hasn’t had an accident on the bed in 48 hours, the 17 pies scheduled to be at my family’s Thanksgiving, incredible friends and family in my life, new connections and cold-brew coffee on tap at the dental school café.”
Shilpa Kudva, Electronic Editor, Texas A&M ’21: “I’m thankful for my family and friends, who have helped me get through a stressful third year, especially with the transition into clinic. I’m grateful for the opportunity learn new clinical skills. Dental school is hard but made so much easier by the amazing faculty we get to learn from every single day. I couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunity to help people with the skills we’re learning now!”
Mari Liestman, Contributing Editor, Marquette ’20: “I am thankful for my support system that continues to grow as life takes its many twists and turns — sometimes surprising ones, but always bringing me to where I’m supposed to be. Besides family and friends having my back, my cat Al is always prepared to snuggle away the stress of dental school. Without him, I’d be a lot more stressed and my clothes would be a lot less furry.”
Isabel Pennings, Contributing Editor, Creighton ’20: “This year, I am thankful that graduation is just around the corner. I’m also thankful to ASDA, to my fellow editorial board members and for the opportunity to help lead Contour for a great two years. I’ll miss working on this amazing team! Here’s to hoping I become a dental celebrity after I graduate so people will still want to read the fascinating articles I write about teeth.”
Casey Rhines, Contributing Editor, Detroit-Mercy ’20: “I look back on this last year with adoring eyes and a full heart. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to work with the rest of the editorial board — my personal cheerleaders spread throughout the country. I’m giving thanks for the hundreds of yoga poses, the thousands of steps and the millions of deep breaths my body has pulled me through this year; youth and health are beautiful wonders that I am not often enough grateful for.
“I also am thankful for the boyfriend I broke up with, the books I didn’t finish, the “molar endo” that was actually a vertical root fracture, the delayed flight that stuck me in Pittsburgh for an extra day and all the failed mock board exams because my #14 access was too big — no, too small — no, definitely too big. Each experience brought me closer to my end goal of success and happiness. I give thanks for all the learning I did this year and all the chapters in my life that are coming to an end. As a fourth-year student, I know 2020 will be the conclusion of a bittersweet (but like 40% dark chocolate, it’s mostly sweet) era of my life. Bring on graduation!”
Jessica Rudman, Contributing Editor, Connecticut ’20: “This has been one of toughest, yet best years of both my life and dental school. It was filled with many struggles but even more successes. I am thankful for my family and friends who helped support me throughout the year. I am thankful for ASDA for allowing me to make the connections I have with national, district and chapter leaders. Serving on the editorial board has been my favorite experience throughout dental school.
“I also am thankful that I was offered a position in an endodontics program this year at Texas A&M in Dallas, starting in July. Although it was tough getting to this point, I am thankful beyond words for the opportunity to become an endodontist and help preserve patients’ natural teeth. I could never have done this without friends, family and patient, caring faculty members. I also recently traveled to Israel with my dad to visit my brother who is living there. I am thankful for not only the pounds of hummus consumed, but that I was able to see him this year, as he will not be returning home for a long time and who knows when I’ll have the chance to visit again.
“This has been an incredible year, and I am continually thankful for everyone who has supported me and stands by me as I finish up this chapter. Now bring on the turkey!”
Callista Schulenburg, Electronic Editor, LECOM ’22: “Gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. I can’t remember where I heard that before, but it stuck with me for a long time. It is a great reminder, too, because even though second year of dental school has been challenging, I am grateful for the opportunity to write, edit and collaborate with the editorial board, as well as with other ASDA leaders and students from all over the country. I am thankful for my family, because we’ve been through a lot this year, and it has brought us closer and reminded us of our strength when we’re together. I am thankful for my friends, my roommate and my dental school colleagues who bring joy and light and laughter into each day. I am thankful for the beach sunsets, the ocean waves, the swaying palms, a cozy hammock and a book in hand, for sometimes you have to kick your feet up and be grateful for exactly where you are.”
Emily Williams, Contributing Editor, Georgia ’20: “This year marks a season of transition for me. I just took my last exams of dental school and will be graduating in May, and then starting a periodontics residency at LSU in July, so I am thankful to officially be halfway done with my dental education! I am thankful for the experiences I have had as a contributing editor for Contour and the wonderful people I have met through ASDA, as well as my opportunity to write about some toothier facets of art history. I am thankful for my relationship with my wonderful grandmother who passed away in September, as well as my relationships with the rest of my family, friends, faculty and patients — I couldn’t have made it this far without them.
“Lastly, I don’t know where I would be without the excellent cheese selection at the fancy Kroger, the Vivino app, the nature trail along the Augusta canal and Ina Garten.”
What are you thankful for?
Could this app shake up the dental industry?
Technology company Bento has launched an app designed to bring accessible, affordable, and transparent oral care to every American. Could it be an app that impacts the dental industry?
Related Reading:
Radiologists at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center's Naval Postgraduate Dental School in Bethesda, MD, failed to examine about 2,000 dental cone-beam CT (CBCT) scans during a seven-year period, resulting in at least one treatment delay, according to news reports.Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Dentists in the U.K. reached an out-of-court settlement, agreeing to pay approximately $51,000, with a former patient who lived with "unbearable" pain because his tooth decay was never detected or treated, according to news reports.
It's a wonderful time to be an entrepreneurial dentist, whether you're a junior dentist looking to buy into a practice or a senior dentist looking to sell or expand your practice. In this column, William Barrett and Casey Gocel of the law firm Mandelbaum Salsburg look at minority interest transactions -- better known as buy-ins. These types of transactions can be extremely advantageous to both sellers and buyers.
Nearly 40% of the U.S. population is now classified as obese, but the rate of obesity varies widely across different U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Personal finance website WalletHub compiled nutrition and obesity data in the U.S. to better map the differences among the states.Monday, November 25, 2019
Riders of standing electric scooters (e-scooters) commonly experience head and face injuries due to multiple factors, including the troubles they have breaking their own falls, according to a study published in the November issue of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.Becoming a ‘Rising Leader’
My path to #ASDAfever is a wild one. I believe dental students are “wild” in so many diverse ways — we are wild about Friday nights, wild about advocacy, wild about self-reflection and wildly focused on creating a brighter future. Together, we are all wild about dentistry. As the 2019 ASDA Rising Leader Award recipient, I desire to contribute to something greater than myself and continue encouraging students in a positive, inspirational role as we create memories by building upon our leadership skills.
Prior to attending University of the Pacific, I was an event coordinator in Las Vegas where I directed international conferences for interior floral designers. I developed marketing strategies for large conventions that led to an increase in sponsorships and company net worth. Additionally, I managed a Greek food booth selling gyros at music festivals across California. Operating this business drilled a strong work ethic in me, providing a solid foundation of leadership and management qualities that has brought great value as class vice president for 2018-2019, chapter president and district 11 secretary for 2019-2020.
Earlier this year, I attended my fourth ASDA Annual Session. It was a pivotal opportunity to be mentored by experts and acquire strategies for positive social change. My ASDA role models (Dr. Christian Piers, Dr. Dan Hammer and Letitia Edwards) inspire me by modeling sterling examples of leadership efforts highlighted in outstanding national service. As a team leader, I enjoy opportunities to listen and provide a greater sense of direction for unifying others in the pursuit of a common goal. I always encourage peers to attend ASDA national conferences to meet the movers & the shakers of organized dentistry.
I am constantly involved with ASDA because it supports dental students in impacting in dental health care. I plan to apply for a national leadership position within ASDA, and I want to be involved because I thrive in being part of a team that has a vision that can impact so many people.
I hope to continue involvement in organized dentistry after graduation. I look forward to opening my own practice and traveling the country giving talks for continuing education and playing a role with the American Dental Association. I love to travel, so doing that while being involved with dentistry would be amazing. ASDA encourages dental students to expand their leadership potential and become passionate advocates. The Rising Leader Award and the National Leadership Conference highlights ASDA’s commitment to creating a powerful foundation for positive change.
~Anthoula Vlachos, Pacific ’21
Many patients looking for ways to economize have decided they can skip hygiene visits and go to the dentist only if there's a dental problem. They undervalue preventive care and overestimate their ability to detect an issue that needs professional attention. With education, practices can overcome these misconceptions and build value for regular hygiene visits, according to Dr. Roger P. Levin.
Make it easier for potential patients to find and contact you and also retain the regulars you already have by using three powerful digital marketing tools. These tools can help you revamp your digital presence and quickly expand your practice's reach.
Regardless of your role in the dental practice, you have the opportunity to be kind to your patients and fellow team members. There are many ways to randomly act kind, and Dr. Sheri Doniger shares how to bring random acts of kindness to your practice.Friday, November 22, 2019
In the latest Dental Assistant Nation podcast, Kevin Henry talks with one dental assistant about how technology has played a big role in her professional growth, and they discuss the importance of embracing and learning new technology.
Clinicians removed a glass bottle stuck to a 7-year-old boy's tongue by injecting air into it, which was a technique inspired by the doctor's unconventional method of opening a wine bottle, according to a case report published as a letter in the December issue of the European Journal of Anaesthesiology.
Instagram has begun testing the "hidden likes" format across many accounts. Dr. Mikaeya Kalantari shares her thoughts on what it means for dental practices and offers some advice on dealing with this change. It may just let you focus on the truly important things in life, she notes.Thursday, November 21, 2019
Plenty is happening in the legal world right now involving Delta Dental, and the results could have a big impact on your practice and our industry. Dental insurance expert Teresa Duncan helps break down what is currently going on and what it could mean for you in this podcast.The five paths to practice ownership
A lot of time is spent talking about the “why” of ownership, and although this is critical to keep in the forefront of your mind, looking for answers around the “how” is the next logical step.
During ASDA’s National Leadership Conference earlier this month, Christy Ratcliff of National Dental Placements and Charles Loretto of Cain Watters & Associates had the opportunity to talk about ownership and the five paths new doctors can take to get there.
- Civil service: Civil service is something you must have in your heart. It can provide flexibility and financial opportunities, yet with a trade-off of being an employee. You’ll be ready for ownership when you are discharged. Your biggest hurdle will be determining where to go and being able to plan accordingly.
- Associateship: This is the most common path. An associateship — whether private or corporate — can be a great avenue to build up personal savings, clinical skill and speed. Keep your eye on the ownership prize, and don’t get stuck in this phase. When you join a practice and discuss your intentions on the front-end, the more likely you will be to get the opportunity when promised.
- Start-up: A start-up is difficult because of the time it takes to build the patient base and cash flow from scratch, versus an established office. There are exceptions (certain specialties and locations, etc.), but you will need to understand your unique case and be prepared with a detailed business and marketing plan.
- “Walk away” purchase: Buying 100% of a practice and having the seller work back is the traditional route to ownership. Most will have the ability to do this in one to two years post-graduation. Ensure you have built up your clinical skill, and have enough money saved to get lending. Having the support of a good team of dental professionals — both inside the office and out — can also ensure you know what you are buying and help make the practice profitable and productive.
- Partnership: Most are ready for partnership one to two years after graduating. Partnership offers the ability to share the wealth and responsibility of ownership, at the cost of sharing control. Much like marriage, a partnership with the right person can be a desirable experience; but partner with the wrong person or set up your partnership without consideration of the future, and it can lead to a bumpy road.
With student debt looming and the business side of dentistry daunting, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. There will be hurdles but have confidence that you can own a practice. Regardless of the path you choose, the goal is ownership. Get started early. You can do it.
~Christy Ratcliff, National Dental Placements
Cain Watters is a Registered Investment Advisor. Cain Watters only conducts business in states where it is properly registered or is excluded from registration requirements. Registration is not an endorsement of the firm by securities regulators and does not mean the adviser has achieved a specific level of skill or ability. Request Form ADV Part 2A for a complete description of Cain Watters investment advisory services. Diversification does not ensure a profit and may not protect against loss in declining markets. Past performance is not an indicator of future results.
This blog post is sponsored by Cain Watters.
A 5-year-old girl in Utah required emergency surgery after she fell off the bed while doing her evening toothbrushing, causing the brush to puncture her throat. The force of the brush left a 1-inch hole in her throat, according to news reports.
What is the best way to overcome artifacts in patients wearing metallic orthodontic devices? The authors of a new study recently published in Radiology recommend slight modifications in functional MRI and diffusion-tensor MR imaging sequences to complete the task.
Human teeth that were worn as pendants were unearthed from the ruins of the 9,000-year-old Turkish city Çatalhöyük. This is the first documented case of human teeth being made into jewelry in the Near East, according to a new study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science.Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Chewing sugar-free gum may help reduce the further development of dental cavities in children, according to a systematic review published November 19 in the Journal of Dental Research Clinical & Translational Research.Ideas for increasing advocacy from Alabama ASDA
November is ASDA’s Advocacy Month, which means that chapters across the country are busy planning and executing plenty of lunch and learns and ADPAC drives. It is events like these where students learn about issues important in dentistry and how they can become more involved, spreading awareness about the issues that impact dentistry the most.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s (UAB) advocacy efforts are focused into a single week, with back-to-back events for dental students. This year, UAB’s Advocacy Week kicked off with a visit from the Advocacy Molar Bear. The bear serves as a mascot for ASDA’s advocacy initiatives, and each chapter has the opportunity to sign up to host her at their school.
The highlight of the week, “Fight Night,” is focused on making advocacy fun, bringing students and faculty together to learn, debate, engage and “fight out,” so to speak, the nuances on a variety of topics. This is our version of a debate, themed after an MMA fight, which allows students to see their chosen faculty representative discuss current hot topics in dentistry. Some of these topics include opioids, midlevel providers and more. The winner of each round is chosen by the students through online polling, and the final winner takes home the championship title belt (and bragging rights). Students engage with Fight Night by learning about issues impacting the field of dentistry in an amusing and creative way.
UAB’s Advocacy Week winds down with an ADPAC drive and a “Pizza and Politics” lunch and learn. A panel of leaders from the Alabama Dental Association share insight with students, discussing how we can advocate for our profession by participating in state or national lobby days.
Chapters interested in increasing advocacy initiatives at their school can start by signing up for the Advocacy Molar Bear. Use the molar bear as a prop for your social media pages to represent Advocacy Month, or encourage students in your chapter to post their own photo with the bear, using #advocacybear, for a chance to win freebies.
Creating a fun event that brings students and faculty together to discuss key topics is an innovative way to bring attention to the major advocacy issues in organized dentistry. Plan your own “Fight Night” as a way to increase student involvement in your chapter’s advocacy initiatives.
Lastly, hosting an informative lunch and learn with dentists in the community is a great way to inform students on how they can participate in advocacy initiatives themselves. Pair this lunch with an ADPAC drive to further encourage students to contribute.
Advocacy can seem like an intimidating endeavor when thinking about how your entire chapter can get involved. However, preparation is key, and simple, fun events throughout the month of November will power students with knowledge about the current issues, allow them to engage with faculty and dentists in their community and teach students how they can further get involved in protecting our profession.
~Emily Roig, Alabama ’20
Dental service organizations (DSOs) aren't going away and are a part of our industry's present and future. But what do dentists really think about them? The results of a new survey reveal some interesting statistics, including some changing feelings and opinions dentists have.
Is a picture worth a thousand words? Or is it worth far more? A picture is worth at least $2 million of revenue when you have a system for success and a system to stay accountable, according to Dr. David Rice. He explains the important role photography plays in your practice's success.Tuesday, November 19, 2019
New ADA guideline on antibiotic use for dental pain and swelling
Updates in the dental community can happen overnight, so staying up-to-date on dental news will help you now and throughout your career. The American Dental Association (ADA) makes it easy to find the latest in evidence-based dentistry, such as the new clinical practice guideline on antibiotic use for dental pain and swelling.
The evidence-based guideline contains five recommendations that address the appropriate use of antibiotics when dental treatment is — or is not — immediately available to a patient for the urgent management of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis, symptomatic apical periodontitis and localized acute apical abscesses. Explore the ADA’s suite of related evidence-based resources:
- The full guideline, published in the Journal of the American Dental Association
- Two downloadable chairside guides for quick reference during exams
- An easy-to-use online tool to help direct prescribing practices
- Patient resources, including brochures and a MouthHealthy article, to help your patients better understand antibiotic stewardship
- A short video to show your patients to support why you are not prescribing antibiotics
The guideline is part of the ADA’s commitment to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Antimicrobial Resistance Challenge to limit unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions and keep antibiotics strong.
Don’t have time to read the full guideline? Check out the recent Facebook Live video on ADA’s Facebook page where guideline coauthor Dr. Erinne Kennedy and third-year dental student Hannah Cho highlight what you need to know. Join us in keeping antibiotics strong.
Download the guideline and more free resources at ADA.org/antibiotics.
This blog post is sponsored by the American Dental Association.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)