Naked Dentist goes to the dogs; Madow Bros. and the 80/20 rule; associate contract tips

Dear DrBicuspid Member, In his latest Naked Dentist column, Curtis Marshall draws an interesting parallel between well-known dog trainer Cesar Millan’s methods and what a dental practice needs to do to thrive. As Marshall helped a practice in Utah understand, a practice can’t stop once its numbers start to improve. The Pareto principle, or the 80/20 rule, might have started out as an economic observation, but it can be a

Ethics & Dentistry

Trust is the belief that someone is reliable, good, honest and effective. This definition couldn’t be more true, that when speaking with a health professional. When speaking to a health professional you need to trust him/her; if you are unable to trust this professional, then would you allow the health professional treat you? The American Dental Association (ADA) is America’s leading advocate for oral health. The ADA is the nation’s largest

Boston Univ. dental school receives $3M bequest

The Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine has received a bequest of more than $3 million from the estate of alumni and faculty member Oreste Zanni, DDS. Dr. Zanni, a former clinical associate professor and clinic director in the department of periodontology, died in 2013 at age 66, according to the dental school. “We are so very grateful for this generous bequest, which speaks to Dr. Zanni’s love of

J&J commits $25M to Operation Smile

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has committed $25 million in financial and product contributions over the next five years to Operation Smile, the company announced. Operation Smile is a medical charity that provides free cleft surgery and care. Johnson & Johnson has provided nearly $25 million in monetary and product donations to the organization over the past 27 years. “Thanks to Johnson & Johnson and their continuing commitment to our work,

Levin on disappointed patients; Doniger on complaints; McKenzie on treatment coordinators

Dear DrBicuspid Member, No matter how hard you and your team try, you will sometimes disappoint patients. Complaints may be unfair, but your reaction must nevertheless be controlled. Think of any criticism as a clue to how you can improve the quality of service you provide, and try not to take it personally, advises Dr. Roger P. Levin. In her latest Sheri’s Solutions, Dr. Sheri Doniger relates something that has

ADHA responds to CDC adult caries report

The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) said the new report on the results of the National Health Center and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2011-2012, demonstrates the need for more preventive oral healthcare. The survey found that 91% of U.S. adults ages 20 to 64 have dental caries. “This report reinforces the need for greater attention to prevention as it relates to oral health,” stated ADHA President Kelli Swanson Jaecks, RDH,

A Healthy Smile gives you a Healthy Heart

How old are you? Well if you are a men age 45 or older and women age 55 or older; then you are at a higher risk of developing a heart attack than are younger men and women. Yes, there are several methods to prevent, but did you know that there is simple way to prevent heart problems and have a beautiful, strong smile. Recently, research has been conducted and

Great Expressions adds DoseSpot e-prescribing

More than 240 Great Expressions Dental Centers have integrated the DoseSpot platform into their practices. This platform allows dentists to e-prescribe controlled and noncontrolled prescriptions to more than 65,000 U.S. pharmacies. The platform meets the e-prescribing needs of general dentists and specialists and also provides dental service organization (DSO) management teams with tools to configure DoseSpot to meet the needs of the organization, according to the company. “We are excited

Fluoride and its Dental Benefits

Toothpaste, whether we use it as a paste, gel or powders, can help us prevent gingivitis, bad breath, dry mouth and many other oral diseases. Everyone who has used toothpaste might have notice this ingredient in it: Fluoride. However, what is Fluoride? After conducting an investigation this is what we discover. What is Fluoride? Fluoride is a natural mineral that can be found in food or drinks and can helps

Survey: About half of teens think braces are embarrassing

About half of teenagers think wearing traditional braces is embarrassing, according to new survey results by Align Technology. The company commissioned the survey with Kelton Global to better understand the psyche of teens and their moms and also the impact of social media. The Invisalign Teen Confidence survey included more than 3,500 U.S. teenagers ages 13 to 17 and more than 2,100 U.S. mothers of teens, along with an oversample

CDC report: Older adults are keeping their teeth

While 91% of U.S. adults have dental caries, fewer than 2 in 5 experience complete tooth loss, according to a new report released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The report authors believe that general dentists will begin to see more patients who want to save their natural teeth. This report comes two months after another CDC brief that analyzed caries in children’s primary and permanent