Alliancebernstein L.P. reduced its holdings in shares of Patterson Companies, Inc. by 2.5% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 138,060 shares of the company's stock after selling 3,577 shares during the quarter.
Saturday, March 31, 2018
Stop the Rot: Concerns raised over the impact of rising dental charges
From tomorrow, charges for a basic check-up will rise to A 21.60 and charges for items like crowns or dentures to A 256.50. Bradford South MP Judith Cummins, who recently mentioned the Telegraph & Argus's Stop the Rot campaign in Parliament, has slammed the increase.
Brookstone Capital Management Increased Patterson Companies (PDCO)...
Brookstone Capital Management Increased Patterson Companies Holding by $5.23 Million; Shares Declined; As Automatic Data Market Valuation Declined, Shareholder Adell Harriman & Carpenter Has Lowered Its Stake Adell Harriman & Carpenter Inc decreased its stake in Automatic Data by 0.59% based on its latest 2017Q4 regulatory filing with the SEC. Adell Harriman & Carpenter Inc sold 43 shares as the company's stock declined 3.95% with the market.
DPS Intern Helps Gaitros Dentists
March 30 - The Decatur Public Schools InspirED Internship program has brought high school students through many different Decatur businesses, including Gaitros Dental Center. Jakya Pealer, a senior at MacArthur, said she has enjoyed her time learning the in's and out's of the dentist office.
Children in county are failing to see their dentist
MORE than 10,000 children in Herefordshire did not see their dentist last year, which experts say has contributed to the nationwide problem of childhood tooth decay. Yet in Herefordshire 15,221 children did not visit the dentist at least once in 2017, putting them at risk of rotten teeth and gum disease.
Friday, March 30, 2018
Fear factor or not, the robotic dentists are coming
A new survey says dental patients, by and large, don't want to see a white-coated robot wielding a drill any time soon - but they will take a 'bot before human for certain procedures, particularly if it saves them money. Hmm. Not a bad idea - unless, of course, you're one of the bazillions of the world who absolutely fears the dentist chair, to the point of putting off even the most routine of appointments until the very last, oft-off-putting painful second.
Court of Appeals Rules Against HISD in Case of 5-year-old Who Had His Jaw Broken at School
The attorney and father of a young boy who had his jaw broken in 2016 when being carried to the principal's office got good news Thursday.
War on tooth decay in the Bay
Free dental care was provided in the Eastern Bay township of Taneatua recently in a New Zealand Defence Force exercise with the Bay of Plenty District Health Board and Tuhoe iwi. Exercise Wisdom Tooth saw the 25-member NZDF team providing dental treatment at a temporary clinic set up in the town over two weeks.
Are you paying a visit to the dentist? It could hurt your wallet in unexpected ways
Over the past three years the NHS has sent almost 30,000 penalty notices to people in Cumbria , Northumberland, Tyne and Wear demanding payment for their dental treatment plus a penalty of up to 100. The British Dental Association blamed an indiscriminate approach to issuing the fines, and said it was 'ludicrous' that the rate of successful appeals was so high.
Dental Implants Market 2018 a " Driven by Advanced & Cost Effective Technologies - " By 2022; Asserts
MarketResearchFuture.com published a Cooked research report on "Global Dental Implants Market Research Report - Forecast to 2022" reports to its database. - Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2022.
TREATMENT: There are lots of options should you fall ill over the Easter break
GPs and health professionals across Somerset are asking members of the public to help themselves and their local NHS this Easter Bank Holiday but getting the right treatment for their level of ill health. Dr Ed Ford, a Minehead GP and Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group's Chairman, said: "Remember, you can save yourself a lot of time and effort when you get the right treatment for your level of illness or injury.
The number of opioids prescribed by dentists appears to be increasing over time, according to a new study in the Journal of the American Dental Association. Dentists prescribed more opioids in 2015 than they did in 2010, the researchers found.Thursday, March 29, 2018
Food Bank clients to benefit from free dental work
Blunston Dental Group is offering free dental check-ups and cleanings to clients of the Airdrie Food Bank April 6 as part of the Give Back Smile Back event. The Blunston Dental Group has a commitment to giving back to the community and will be doing just that April 6 when it hosts the Give Back Smile Back event.
North Vancouver dentist Sharnell Muir warns about dangers of avoiding a snoring fix
Snoring often makes for jokes in the family. It sounds funny, but there are times when things get so bad that it's no longer a laughing matter.
Not much to smile about in Ontario dental plan, Ottawa dentist says
Dr. Jonathan Mayer, former director of the Ottawa Hospital Dental Clinic and now in private practice, said the Ontario budget proposal falls short of a comprehensive dental plan for uninsured persons. An Ottawa dentist has spotted plenty of gaps in plans by Ontario Liberals to win over smiling voters with dental and drug benefits as part of their 2018 budget.
Area dentists ready to take on opioid epidemic
Dr. Eric Barnes with Dental Center of North Iowa won't deny his occupation is known to play a role in the opioid epidemic. "Dentists are a huge role almost one of the most common providers or opioids is dentists," Barnes said.
Is Income-based Repayment Right For You?
Before you settle on a loan repayment program, you’ll need to understand if you operate at a cash surplus or deficit, This requires understanding all of your monthly expenses. Once you know that, you’ll be able to plug in the potential loan payments and see what will work best for your specific situation.
Income Based Repayment (IBR) may lessen your load in the early years.
Your first year IBR loan payment will be based on your adjusted gross income and your family size for the previous year. Say you graduate in June, and get licensed by August. By the time the year is over you’ve worked five months at the most. This is not a lot of income, and will result in a sweet deal for you in Year One!
The low monthly payment gives you the ability to stop living like a college student and build up an emergency cash reserve – which you absolutely MUST begin to do. It allows you to do other financially responsible things like obtain disability income and malpractice insurance.
As your income increases, IBR may no longer be the best solution.
While IBR makes sense as a ‘starter program,’ it’s not optimal for the long run as your income increases. We typically recommend IBR as a short-term solution for a person who’s in the process of building a cash reserve. Once your emergency fund is full you’ll want to get on a 10 or 25-year repayment plan (as your cash flow allows.)
Speaking of refinancing
Refinancing is the privatization of your government loans. For example, you might go to a bank and say: “I’ve got $300,000 in student loans to the government at 7.9%; I’ve been practicing for over a year, and have some real income to show. What can you do for me?”
As an aside, most folks will have loans with several different rates ranging between 6.4% and 7.9%. Provided you have good credit, a bank may make you an offer that’s way more favorable than your current arrangement. Refinancing often requires 1 to 2 years of tax returns with full work unless you have a high guaranteed contract coming out of your program. There are banks that specialize exclusively in refinancing loans for dentists.
Are there other options?
The sweet spot is the 10-year repayment, if cash flow allows. If you need a little cushion look at using the 25-year, it will provide you with a little lower monthly payment, but comes at the cost of more interest expense.
Ultimately, you want to make sure that your loans don’t run your life. You need to come up with a solution that’s going to allow you to build a future.
~ Christian Pearson, SE Financial Services Professional/National Director of Dental Partnerships
More than half of Australians failing to brush their teeth twice a day | Poll
NEED TO BRUSH: Charles Sturt University's dental and oral health clinic director Heather Cameron with her dental assistant Jess Gough. Photo: JUDE KEOGH BRUSH your teeth twice a day: That's the advice we are all given when we go to the dentist as children but alarming statistics from a national survey have revealed that half of Australians aren't doing it.
What is your practice's mission? You likely studied and practice dentistry because you want to help people live healthier lives and provide care to the ailing, but have you articulated that to your team and your patients? Practice management consultant Jen Butler suggests one way to get everyone in your practice pulling in the same direction is to create a mission statement that reflects your values.
Tooth-related factors are linked to periodontal disease but systemic factors aren't, according to research presented at the recent 2018 American Association of Dental Research meeting. Results indicated that older patients are still vulnerable to bone loss, but minimally invasive treatments may reduce this risk.The snitches in your kids' dental office
No name. No childs name. No diagnosis or prognosis. No "date of last apt"nothing.
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Teacher facing murder charges in 2016 gang retaliation killing of brother and sister
A metro Atlanta teacher was arrested at school Friday and taken out in handcuffs , charged with killing a brother and sister in a deadly home invasion in 2016. Michael De'Sean White, 26, a teacher at Toney Elementary School in DeKalb County, is charged with four counts of murder, Clayton County Police spokeswoman Sgt.
What dental students should know about risk management
Risk management is our best defense to ensure a healthy and prosperous dental practice. Ranging from malpractice claims to employee claims, becoming familiar with common lawsuits in dentistry is critical. It is also vital to practice risk management in your dental practice. Risk management is significant in combating and defending yourself against claims and lawsuits. Outlined are essential details to recognize when considering risk management in your dental practice.
Recognize problem patients
A common mistake that dentists make, especially recent graduates, is not recognizing “problem patients.” These individuals may harbor characteristics that include unrealistic expectations, lengthy care histories and issues with different dentists, bouts of care primarily on emergency cases, perpetual dissatisfaction, histories of failure to pay and non-compliant attitudes. Often, these characteristics are observed in plaintiffs and litigious patients. Be aware and alert. Wise dentists will discern these features and choose to discharge or not accept these patients. This action will save you valuable time, money and any unanticipated aggravation. If you decide to treat these patients, be judicious in documenting all aspects of care, including all discussions, consent and behavior.
Have proper documentation
A failure to take consistent and complete documentation is another major risk management error many dentists make. The best defense to most dental lawsuits is accurate and detailed documentation. As one of my professors said, “If it’s not documented, it didn’t happen.”
Having your dental staff informed and calibrated to provide accurate documentation can ensure proper coverage for your practice. All documents must be timed and dated, and state all actions, care, instructions and communication delivered. All responses received and missed appointments must be
documented as well. As dental students, comprehensive documentation is something we can start practicing and making a habit now, starting with our patient care at school.
Learn four more ways dentists should practice risk management by reading the March issue of Contour.
~Imran Rauf, North Carolina ’19, Chapter Webmaster
Patients more likely to accept robotic dentistry for non-invasive procedures
You're waiting to get your teeth cleaned, half-dozing in a chair with your mouth propped open when a robot appears to do the job. Would you be willing to undergo a dental cleaning performed by a robot? How about a root canal? Autonomous gum surgery, anyone? In an online survey of 502 individuals , participants were "significantly less willing to undergo more invasive procedures, such as gum surgery and a root canal, and significantly more willing to undergo procedures such as tooth cleaning or whitening performed by a robot," said Stephen Rice, associate professor of human factors at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Dentists seek 7-day limit on opioid prescriptions Source: Cox Media Group
And now, the American Dental Association is advocating its support for the statutory seven-day limit for opioid prescriptions , a renewed stance that comes at a time when dental prescriptions were on the rise as opioid prescriptions were declining across the country. "As president of the ADA, I call upon dentists everywhere to double down on their efforts to prevent opioids from harming our patients and their families," ADA president Joseph Crowley said in the Monday announcement .
Does providing postoperative local anesthetic in addition to intravenous analgesics improve comfort in children undergoing dental surgery under general anesthesia? Research presented on March 24 at the 2018 American Association of Dental Research (AADR) meeting in Fort Lauderdale, FL, took a look.
When creating aesthetic restorations with CAD/CAM blocks, finding a close match to the shade and color of a patient's teeth is crucial. Researchers tested the aesthetic values of three novel, hybrid CAD/CAM blocks and found the differences in the materials offer choices when it comes to patient restorations.Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Prescription only drugs stolen during burglary at Bedcford dental practice
A large quantity of prescription only drugs was stolen during a break-in at a dental practice in Kimbolton Road, Bedford. The burglary happened overnight on Tuesday, March 20, when intruders forced entry into the Dental Care Centre, Bedford Health Village Officers have released CCTV images of a man seen in the area who they would like to speak to in connection with the investigation.
A Year to Celebrate for the ADA
1. Saving members money
$34.1 million total average savings for ADA members who refinanced their student loans with Laurel Road® in 2017*
2. Serving millions of children
Give Kids A Smile celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2017 and has served more than 5 million children since its inception.
3. Tackling oral cancer
The ADA published an updated Oral Cancer Clinical Practice Guideline, a collaborative effort between the ADA and MD Anderson Cancer Center.
4. Helping fellow members in need
The ADA Foundation donated more than $1 million to dentists affected by natural disasters in 2017.
5. Exploding growth of Find-a-Dentist tool
The ADA Find-a-Dentist tool garnered 1.7 million visits, with 740,000 profile views.
6. Connecting in new ways
There were 12 million visits to ADA web sites last year, a 22% increase.
7. Taking advantage of resources
The ADA answered more than 6500 calls about third party payers, CDT codes and benefit claims in 2017.
8. Working to advance your interests
The ADA’s advocacy team worked to simplify Medicare Part D and Part C enrollment requirements for dentists.
9. Staying current
ADA News and JADA are once again the two most-read dental publications by dentists.
10. Growing the ADA Seal of Acceptance
29 New ADA Seal options are on the shelves – including first-in-category products, and 200 products now have the Seal.
This is the ADA. Your ADA. To learn even more about your 2017 impact, check out the video and subscribe to the ADA’s YouTube channel for the latest instructional videos, member profiles, news and more.
~American Dental Association
*Savings calculated based on DMD and DDS degree holder loans refinanced from 1/2017 to 12/2017 where the borrowers’ previous rates were disclosed. Assumes same loan terms for previous and refinanced loans, and payments made to maturity with no prepayments. Actual savings for individual loans vary based on loan balance, interest rates, and other factors
This content is sponsored and does not necessarily reflect the views of ASDA.
Dentist group puts teeth in push to curb opioid painkillers
This Aug. 15, 2017 file photo shows an arrangement of pills of the opioid oxycodone-acetaminophen in New York. American Dental Association on Monday, March 26, 2018, said it is pressing for seven-day prescription limits and mandatory education that encourages using other painkillers.
Dentist group puts teeth in push to curb opioid painkillers
The association announced a new policy Monday that "essentially says eliminate opioids from your arsenal if at all possible," said Dr. Joseph Crowley, the group's president. The Chicago-based group represents around 161,000 dentists.
Potassium iodide improves the appearance of teeth treated with silver diamine fluoride, but does it reduce its effectiveness? Researchers reported mixed results of its effects on dentin demineralization and bonding strength in a March 23 presentation at the 2018 American Association of Dental Research (AADR) meeting.Dentists say they support limits on opioid prescriptions
During the time when opioid prescriptions were declining across the board nationwide, dental prescriptions were on the rise, according to a new study published Monday in the Journal of the American Dental Association. But the American Dental Association has now released a new policy saying they now support statutory limits of seven days for dental opioid prescriptions.
Monday, March 26, 2018
Dentist Group Puts Teeth in Push to Curb Opioid Painkillers
This March 23, 2016, file photo shows oxycodone pain pills prescribed for a patient with chronic pain in Norwich, Connecticut. The American Dental Association on Monday, March 26, 2018, said it is pressing for seven-day prescription limits and mandatory education that encourages using other painkillers.
Dental clinic offering free dental exams, cleanings to Oklahoma City teachers
As the deadline for a teacher walkout approaches, many people in the community are doing their part to support teachers.
Chesapeake, Virginia Dentist Selected to the "America's Best Dentists" 2018 Directory
CHESAPEAKE , VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES, March 26, 2018 / EINPresswire.com / -- Chesapeake, Virginia dentist , Dr. Jayme A. Oliveira Filho has been selected to the "America's Best Dentists" registry for 2018. Selections were made by the National Consumer Advisory Board, an organization that identifies top professionals in their fields.
Club news for March 25, 2018
Beverly Olson, president called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. on March 15. She led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. Barbara Withee introduced the speaker, Andrea Bozarth, state AARP community outreach officer.
Polyphenols in wine found to improve mouth health
You've heard about how moderate amounts of red wine is good for the heart. Now, a new study says that red wine can be good for oral health as well.
The ADA has announced a new policy on opioid pain medications in an attempt to address the ongoing opioid epidemic in the U.S. The policy has three key components: mandatory continuing education, limits on duration of opioid use, and registering with prescription drug monitoring programs.Houma, Louisiana Dentist Selected to the "America's Best Dentists" 2018 Directory
HOUMA, LOUISIANA , UNITED STATES, March 26, 2018 / EINPresswire.com / -- Houma, Louisiana dentist , Dr.Jan Villemarette has been selected to the "America's Best Dentists" registry for 2018. Selections were made by the National Consumer Advisory Board, an organization that identifies top professionals in their fields.
Why we need more dentists treating special needs patients
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) defines a patient with special health care needs (SHCN) as an individual with “any physical, developmental, mental, sensory, behavioral, cognitive or emotional impairment or limiting condition that requires medical management, health care intervention, and/or use of specialized services or programs.” Historically, children and even adults with SHCN have been treated by pediatric dentists because of the behavioral management necessary for many of these patients.
According to the AAPD, treating adults with SHCN “requires specialized knowledge, as well as increased awareness and attention, adaptation, and accommodative measures beyond what are considered routine.”
Pediatric dentists are specially trained to manage behavioral issues in patients through two or three years of residency training beyond dental school. However, pediatric dentistry is age-dependent, and when these SHCN patients transition into young adulthood and are transferred out of pediatric units, they often experience a drop in continuum of care. According to Ambulatory Pediatrics, there is a lack of care opportunities for adult SHCN patients in the medical and dental fields, with dentistry being the most common category of unmet health care for this population.
An article in the November 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association said that most pediatric dentists help SHCN patients transition into adult care, but the biggest challenge is the availability of general dentists and specialists who will accept these patients. In a survey published in the Journal of Dental Education, 10 percent of general dentists said they treated patients with SHCN often or very often, while 70 percent reported rarely or never.
So, where do these patients go? They are staying in their original dental home with pediatric dentists. A survey of AAPD members, according to the May/June 2002 issue of Pediatric Dentistry, reported that 95 percent of them routinely treated patients with SHCN. Although this may seem like a viable solution, SHCN patients staying with their pediatric dentists rather than transitioning to a general dentist leads to another issue regarding access to care for these patients.
There are about 14.6 million children with SHCN under 17 years old, representing 19.8 percent of all U.S. children. According to the AAPD, there are approximately 6,000 pediatric dentists. An article in the March 2007 issue of Pediatric Dentistry says that because of this, more involvement by general dentists is necessary to address access to care challenges. This provider deficit can lead to adult SHCN patients not receiving the oral health care they need.
Part of this issue can be attributed to lack of education, starting in dental school. In the 2005 “Annual ADEA survey of dental school seniors,” treatment of patients with special needs was among the top four topics in which senior dental students felt the least prepared. While it is difficult for dental school to include everything a general dentist may encounter, there is a gap in the curriculum for treating this patient population. Continuing education courses and participation in programs such as the Special Care Dentistry Association’s fellowship can help those interested in treating SHCN patients attain increased comfortability and expertise.
In addition, change needs to be initiated within dental schools. One example of a positive change within a school is at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, which started a chapter for the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD). It organizes seminars focusing on how all fields of dentistry can treat patients with SHCN, and students have been able to have more visibility into treating this population.
As dentists, we should be treating as many patients as possible to the best of our ability. Dental students can demand stronger education in treating this population; however, education is only the beginning. It will be up to the individual provider to decide whether or not he or she wishes to treat a certain individual, including a person with special needs.
~Alec Robin, Pennsylvania ’19
Police secretly recorded conversation with Algonquin dentist facing sex assault charges
ALGONQUIN - Evidence leading to the arrest of a dentist who is accused of sexually assaulting a woman at his Algonquin office included a secretly recorded conversation captured by police, according court records. Less than a week before Eman Shirazi was confronted with sex assault charges , officers received court permission to record a conversation with the dentist, unbeknownst to Shirazi, according to a Jan. 23 court order.
Practices should review patient insurance participation each year, according to Dr. Roger P. Levin. They should be aware of important data, such as what percentage of total practice collections is generated by insurance and which insurance plans pay the highest and the lowest reimbursement rates. This information will help practices make the best decisions regarding insurance participation.
Patients aren't motivated to floss, according to research presented at the 2018 American Association of Dental Research (AADR) meeting in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Here's what you can do about it.
Losing at least two teeth in middle age is linked to an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, according to new research presented at a 2018 American Heart Association meeting in New Orleans.Sunday, March 25, 2018
Patterson Companies, Inc. (PDCO) Receives Consensus Recommendation of ...
Patterson Companies, Inc. has received an average rating of "Hold" from the eighteen brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, nine have assigned a hold recommendation and two have given a buy recommendation to the company.
Leighton dental practice is all smiles as it re-opens
A dental practice invited loyal customers to join them as the deputy mayor cut the ribbon to mark the practice's re-opening after improvement works. Dr Vimal Patel and his team from Whole Tooth Dental Practice celebrated the re- opening of the practice, in Grovebury Road, Leighton Buzzard, earlier this month after extensive improvements had been made over the past months.
Teeth are precious! - Managing oral health in teens
March 18-24 is being recognised as Global Teen Health Week, aimed at raising the profile of adolescent health. Below is an article from the Paediatrics Association of Jamaica.
What foods can I eat after wisdom tooth extraction?
After wisdom tooth removal, the best diet will include liquids and soft foods because they require no chewing. Avoid firm foods.
States developing solutions to - dental deserts' problem
Access to dental care is a serious and worsening health problem in rural America.
Costa Rica & Guatemala Dental Clinics Offer Discount for US Military Veterans
To support America's military veterans, Goodness Dental in Costa Rica and Guatemala offers special discounts on dental care services to US military veterans. We provide an additional discount for US military veterans.
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Rachel Rose: Whanganui dentist extracts himself for sabbatical
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Parents 'too busy' to take their children to the dentist
Meanwhile, 43 per cent of children are encouraged to brush their teeth because they do not want to be shouted at, and nine per cent are bribed with pocket money.
Dentist who sued NHS Ayrshire and won faces huge legal bill despite victory
A RESPECTED dentist who successfully sued her health board after she was victimised for exposing misconduct has revealed that her legal costs outweigh her compensation despite a damning judgement against the NHS . Dr May Hendry and her solicitor, Stephen Miller, said the case underlines how difficult it is for ordinary members of the public to pursue legal action against the "unlimited budgets" of the NHS.
Whistleblower Rab Wilson forced NHS Ayrshire and Arran to disclose reports into patients' deaths
IT was May Hendry's job to alert the health board to potential dental fraud and misconduct in order to protect both patients and the public purse. In doing so however, she became the target of "untrue vexacious complaints" by two Ayrshire dentists suspected of wrongdoing, and was increasingly isolated as senior NHS executives closed ranks to "appease" them.
Dental practice donates $6,000 for smile makeover
Dental practice donates $6,000 for smile makeover Las Cruces Dental Solutions is giving away a life changing smile makeover. Check out this story on lcsun-news.com: https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/2018/03/23/dental-practice-donates-6-000-smile-makeover/453370002/ One person will receive all the treatment necessary for a fitted denture, which can be completed over a span of just two days.
Visit to dentist leaves man with bizarre lump on his hand, deadly
A normally-routine visit to the dentist left a 27-year-old Vancouver man with a gross-looking lump on his hand that turned out to be a sign of a life-threatening heart infection. According to a report published in the New England Journal of Medicine , the man went to the emergency room six weeks after the dental checkup, complaining of abdominal pain and "a pulsatile, painful lesion on the right hand."
Access and utilization of dental services for Medicaid children 2013-2015
At the 47th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental Research , held in conjunction with the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research , Natalia I. Chalmers, D.D.S., Ph.D. of the DentaQuest Institute, Westborough, Mass., presented an oral session titled "Access and Utilization of Dental Services for Medicaid Children 2013-2015." The AADR/CADR Annual Meeting is in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., USA from March 21-24, 2018.
Friday, March 23, 2018
Dr. Bert Smulders honoured with dental award of merit
Dr. Bert Smulders receives an Award of Merit from registrar/CEO Jerome Marburg and CDSBC president Don Anderson. Sunshine Coast resident and dentist Dr. Bert Smulders was honoured with an Award of Merit at the College of Dental Surgeons of BC's annual awards ceremony on March 8 in Vancouver.
Medicare doesn't offer dental care, which leaves seniors without
A dentist's office in Nuevo Progreso, Mexico, Nov. 10, 2017. Some American seniors who can't afford dental insurance travel abroad to get treatments in places where it's cheaper.
Defining your vision for the future
If you’re like us, you’ve always wanted to be a health care provider because of the desire to care for others. While that may be the answer to why you chose to practice dentistry, you also have to decide how and where you will practice. Once you’ve made these decisions, you will have the roadmap to your future — or your vision.
But making these choices might be difficult. To start, think about where your passion, as well as your ability to sustain yourself and contribute to society merge. Herein lies your vision.
To dig a little deeper, let’s start with determining how you want to practice. While you’re in dental school, you’re presented with many opportunities to explore all facets of dentistry. Can’t figure out if you want to specialize? Rotate through the post-graduate clinics on your own time. Not sure if you’re interested in community outreach? Volunteer with a program or start one of your own. If you don’t know whether private practice or corporate dentistry would work best for you, shadow a dentist in these different settings.
You will need to make some lifestyle decisions as well. Do you want to focus on productivity, or is your goal to have more free time? Do you want to be a team leader? Or would you rather join a team? Now’s the time to decide what your definition of personal fulfillment entails. And if you’re not sure, just think about decisions you’ve made in the past and how you felt once you made those decisions. Remember that the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior, so if you were uneasy with decisions you’ve made before, it might be time to rethink them.
What else can you do? Visit hospital residency programs before applying. Speak to your colleagues and senior peers, and ask for their opinions about whether or not their goals were met in their program and if they enjoyed the environment. Ask what they liked about their program and what they found challenging.
In addition, refine your thoughts and plans with your mentors and advisers. Try your best to form a plan. Record this plan so you can track your progress and determine if you need to make adjustments as issues arise (and they most likely will). It also might be helpful to keep a journal of your dental school experiences and the emotions they elicited. Most dental schools have incorporated this into their curriculum in the format of formal self-reflective entries in e-portfolios.
Where you want to practice is easier to figure out than how you want to practice. You will most likely be able to conduct a simple process of elimination. For example, do you want to be close to your family? Is your licensing exam only accepted in certain states? For those with few limiting factors, the decision of where to practice can be based more heavily on demographics such as dentist-to-patient ratio, cost of living, job opportunities, etc.
One of the most important considerations in defining your vision is determining how you measure success. If your measure of success is having free time to spend with your family and enjoying your life outside of work, you will make different decisions about your future than someone who measures success by the accumulation of material goods and wealth. These decisions must be based on your value system and what is best for yourself and your family.
Why you want to practice is what got you into the profession in the first place. Perhaps you want autonomy. Maybe it was the ranking of the dental profession as one of the best professions in the United States. Most likely (and hopefully) it had something to do with caring for others. Whatever your why, keeping your original motivating factors in mind will help ground you when you need it.
We ask our dental students in practice management lectures to raise their hands if the reason they entered the profession was to help people. Nearly all hands are raised. Then we ask them to raise their hands if they’re worried about making enough money to pay their debt and nearly all hands are raised again. Once the pressures of life outside of school set in and you are faced with ethical dilemmas, it’s important to remember why you chose this esteemed profession.
Once you have your how, where and why, you’ve defined your vision. And with planning and determination, your vision will become your future.
~Drs. Ivy Peltz and Eric Studley, Doccupations
Torrington dentist becomes dean of dental faculty
Ian Mills a partner at Torrington Dental Practice, has been elected as the next Dean of the Faculty of General Dental Practice . A Torrington dentist has been elected as the next dean of the UK's only professional body for general dental practice.
Man who collapsed at dentist thanks crew who saved him
A 75-year-old retired furniture maker whose heart stopped at the dentist's has been reunited with the ambulance team who helped save his life. Sandy Williams, of Perry Street, Northfleet, collapsed in the reception area of a dental surgery in the town, and needed CPR along with four shocks from a defibrillator to restart his heart.
Does breastfeeding after introducing other dietary carbohydrates place children at greater risk for early childhood caries? Current recommendations are inconsistent. New research presented on March 22 at the 2018 American Association of Dental Research (AADR) annual meeting in Fort Lauderdale, FL, examined this issue.
Ultrasonic toothbrushes appear to effectively remove plaque and boost gingival health, according to pilot study presented this week at the 2018 American Association of Dental Research (AADR) meeting in Fort Lauderdale, FL.Ask the Expert: What are sealants?
Dr. Jinu Kurian is a general dentist at Hamburg Family and Cosmetic Dental Group LLC. The office can be reached at 973-209-6252. A: A sealant is a thin, plastic material placed onto the chewing surfaces of teeth to prevent decay from developing.
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Do I really need to brush my teeth for 2 minutes twice a day?
Some things feel like they're going to take forever , even if they actually won't take long at all. Think: standing in line to go to the bathroom when you really have to pee , waiting for the train to come when you're running late, and brushing your teeth for long enough to make your dentist proud.
Lightning Strikes, Ransomware, and Electronic HIPAA Violations
Are You Protected Against Cyber-Attacks?
It’s not a matter of if…but when. These are the words that any healthcare professional is bound to hear throughout their career in regards to cyber-attacks, ransomware, and electronic HIPAA violations. Malicious or criminal attacks account for 48% of data breaches in the United States which includes hacking, viruses and malware, phishing, spear phishing and network intrusion. Additionally, no matter what state you decide to practice in, 47 out of 50 states require breach notifications. As a dental student, you need to understand cyber risks, ransomware and how dental malpractice insurance can protect you.
What are the cyber risks for healthcare?
Ransomware and hackers have the ability to gain access to not only lock you out of your own computer, but they can also steal your patient files. If ransomware occurs, your office cannot properly operate without your computer system or patient files. Ransomware hackers have the ability to stay in your system for months and can steal data at any time. Even if you pay the ransom the first time, they will come back for more money after stealing additional files. Examples of companies that were hacked include Anthem Insurance with a loss of 80 million patient files and Premera with a loss of 11 million patient files.
Why would a dental office be a target?
I know you’re thinking, why would they target me? But the statistics are revealing:
- Stolen health credentials are worth $10 per patient
- Most offices have 1,000 to 2,000 active files
- Information is then used to create fake IDs
- Fake IDs can be used to submit fake claims to insurers and get prescription medications
How can I prevent this from happening?
$80K is the median claim payout for a covered dental cyber claim. Will you be able to cover that cost plus any additional costs if it happens to your office? While data breaches can occur even with the best possible cyber security in place, you can protect yourself by purchasing a cyber insurance policy. A cyber insurance policy will cover forensic IT to determine the cause of the breach and the number of patient files affected; the legal aspect to cover notifying patients that have been breached; public relations and crisis management; and risk management services. Make sure you protect yourself from cyber threats with cyber insurance.
Why do you need Malpractice Insurance?
Cyber coverage is just one important coverage that is offered to protect your practice. The Professional Protector Plan for Dentists is here to protect you, your patients, your employees, your assets, and your reputation from dental school to retirement. We offer a student liability policy for dental school training, externships, and volunteer/MOM events for only $25 per year. We also offer a student equipment policy for lost or stolen dental equipment, supplies and textbooks for $100 per year. And, once you have graduated, we can offer you a claims-made policy for only $50! Check out www.protectorplan.com for more details and to buy online!
~Randy Flem, Professional Protector Plan for Dentists® State Administrator
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