Conor Killmurray

At some point you’ve probably come across an email that sounds a little bit like this, “Are you Available? I need you to personally run a task for me ASAP. I am caught up with an emergency. Just reply to my Emails. Let me know if you can get this done right now. Regards, (your employer)”. And it probably has an address that looks similar to the person you would expect this sort of email from, but something doesn’t quite feel right.

That’s because it isn’t right, the email you received is actually a phishing attack looking to steal your information. It’s easy to think you would immediately recognize this for a phishing attack, but the reality is that lots of people have fallen for these attacks.

 2018 Data Breach Investigations report, 4% of people will click on a phishing link and according to 

 their original research shows that healthcare has a 12% click rate when it comes to phishing emails. Furthermore, in April of this year alone 

 sensitive records were exposed from 56 reported data breaches many of which were the result of successful hacking.

These attacks may often seem insignificant, but one slip up can lead to your systems being compromised and your patient’s data breached. This can then result in not just lost revenue for your practice as you spend money to mitigate the effects of the attack, but also your patients trust leading to them leaving your practice.

Below are 3 of the best ways to keep your patients’ information safe!  

For more insight on protecting your patient’s data, read on 

Articles

Phishing is one of the most common forms of hacking attacks, and it works too well in healthcare. Make sure you're keeping your patient's information, and your own information, safe.

3 Ways to Stay Safe from Phishing attacks

One of the leading DSO's in the nation expanded its reach to Cincinnati, Ohio and is looking to expand more in the state.

 announced the opening of their first supported dental practice in the state of Ohio, which will be operating out of Cincinnati. 

 is owned by Bach Nguyen, D.D.S and is advertising a patient centric approach as they are looking to provide specialty services like endodontics, oral & maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, periodontics, hygiene, and pediatric dentistry, all under the same roof. 

The new practice is also offering “modern dentistry” with new technologies such as Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT), digital x-rays, laser, online scheduling, and the VELscope® Enhanced Oral Assessment System. This continues a trend among dental groups, and dental support groups, of focusing on new modern technologies but also finding a way to integrate 

 into their practice, despite the dental industry being behind in this regard compared to other medical industries.           

Dr. Nguyen commented on the opening of the new practice saying, “I’m pleased that the opening of Dentists of Westwood will allow us to provide comprehensive oral health care to patients in Cincinnati. Our new dental practice will provide patients customized treatment plans using the latest dental technology, as well as multi-specialty services. We look forward to serving the people of Cincinnati and providing the Perfect Patient Experience

Practices supported by PDS® also look to focus on the link between oral health and whole-body health. This holistic approach to dentistry is not PDS specific as many leaders in the dental industry look to educate patients on the link between oral health and overall health, and ultimately, how better overall health starts with the mouth. Furthermore, maladies of the mouth, including periodontal disease, may be linked with other medical conditions including oral cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and more based off 

“Expanding access to care for patients in the state of Ohio is an incredible milestone,” said Stephen E. Thorne, IV, Founder & CEO of Pacific Dental Services. “We’re excited that there is such a strong demand for our services in Ohio. Already, we have plans to help dentists to open three more offices in the greater Cincinnati area in the coming months. Although PDS’ network of supported dental practices has expanded to 21 states throughout the U.S., our organization remains uniquely local. Within their neighborhood practices, each owner dentist remains focused on providing comprehensive oral health care, one patient at a time.”

For more recent news on DSO supported practices, read on 

One of the leading DSO's in the country, Pacific Dental Services, extended its reach and access to care to 21 States by opening a new supported practice in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Pacific Dental Services Opens its First Supported Dental Practice in Ohio

Managing your loans can be tricky but paying off your auto loans first is essential.

Auto loans, for most people, are the number one payment they need to make. Without use of a car getting to work, getting children to school, getting food, getting medical care, and many other essential day to day tasks all become much harder. This is a major detriment, and the norm, for too many Americans now.

A recent report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York 

 that 7 million Americans are about 3 months or more behind on their auto loan payments. Furthermore, overall performance of auto loans has been slowly getting worse. In 2018 loans heading for serious delinquency, late payments of 90 days or more, went up to 2.4%. A seemingly small, but ultimately major leap from the 1.5% of loans heading for serious delinquency in 2012.

 don’t fall behind on your payments and keep your car? Here are 4 tips to keep in mind.

This is the most obvious tip, but also the most essential. You can plan any way you want to pay off your loans, but if your payments are not on time you simply will not be able to pay your loan back. Each payment will also become more expensive with each day late, depending on the interest rate and late policies of where you took the loan out. This will only add on to your debt, and if you are already struggling to pay your loan paying late might make it impossible.

You can avoid late payments by making payment due dates a regular reminder in your calendar or to-do list. Most loans will also give you the option to create an auto-payment where they take the money directly from the account you want to pay your loan from. These payments are sometimes calculated in a way that could take you quite a while to pay off, so adjust the plan according to how you fast you want to pay the loan off.

Your credit score is vital to know before you apply for a loan to help pay off your car. This number will determine what potential loans you could be in line for from a lender. This is because your credit score determines for the lender your capacity to pay back the loan. With a good credit score the lender becomes willing to give you the loan you want because they can trust you’ll pay it back.

A study from financial literacy website Wallethub found that in the first quarter of 2019 the difference some with fair credit will spend on their auto loans versus someone with excellent credit is about 

. The worse your credit score is, then the more likely the terms of your loan won’t be in your favor, or you just won’t be given an auto loan to begin with.     

With an uneven payment you have the option to round your payment up, and potentially knock off your loan sooner. While you will be adding more money to each loan payment you make it doesn’t have to add up to an bank breaking amount. Take for instance an 

 of $264.12 a month rounded up to an even $300 month. Per month that’s an extra $35.88, and over the course of 12 months that’s an extra $430.56 you’re paying without adding a drastic amount to your monthly payment. Little by little this can help you chip away at your loan faster than you originally intended.       

Refinancing your loan can be a great way to speed up your loan repayment and make the most of your credit score, especially if you find yourself with a better credit score then when you first took your loan out. Often, refinancing your loan doesn’t have to be through a third party as you can go back to the original lender to refinance.

Just ensure that you have all proper documentation and proof of a better credit score than when you first took the loan out. In most cases you will get a lower interest rate that is fixed and will not change through the course of your repayment. However, be careful of the interest rates on the market, in some cases they will work out in your favor and in others it might be better to just keep your current loan plan.

Four Financial Faux Pas and How to Avoid Them

2019 Credit Card Trend and Tips to Handle Them

7 million Americans are about 3 months or more behind on their auto loan payments, a trend that continues to grow. Hereâ€™s 4 ways to make sure that you arenâ€™t a part of this trend.

4 Tips to Paying Your Auto Loans on Time

Stress is not exclusive to your home or work life and finding balance between the two is key to success in both. Start with making sure you keep work at work.

 46% of American workers reported that their workload is the main cause of their stress. Stress that can follow you home and affect your social and family life in negative ways, and sometimes vice versa. Which is ultimately why finding a proper balance is crucial to both your social life and productivity at work, and that balance starts by doing your best to leave work at work. Here are just a few ways to make yourself more productive at the office and able to step away from the desk when the day is over.  

We live in an age where you’re never really away from the proverbial desk, in fact, with the push of a button or touch of a screen you’re back and connected to your email or work documents from just about anywhere you have an internet connection. This makes the urge to answer a work email and go down an unwanted rabbit hole easier to indulge.

Unless it’s an absolute emergency, it’s best to not indulge these impulses but that’s hard when screens are an everyday part of our lives. This makes the only solution to unplug while you’re at home. Take the time to set up a do not disturb on your phone or setting to limit screen time for the hours you plan on taking to yourself and your family. Walk away from your computer when you can and fill your free time with activities that don’t require an internet connection of any sort. Read a book, see a movie with your family, go for a walk, etc. just make sure you’re unplugged and staying present.    

While there are many ways to try and make yourself more productive there are times where it’s simply too much, and that’s ok. Learn to recognize when you might be in over your head and communicate to your manager or team member that you could use some help.

It is also important to recognize when you have the choice to say no. No one wants to be that person that doesn’t take on their share of the load, but no one wants to have to do all the work by themselves. By saying no to tasks, you feel can be handled elsewhere you can free up space to tackle larger challenges and keep your plate from overflowing.

Before you head off to work for the day set a firm time of when your work day is going to end. If you work on an hourly basis then this is easier, if that isn’t the case then it can become very easy to lose track of the day. Not only will working overtime when it isn’t needed cut into potential free time you have at home with your family, but also can run you down and cut into future productivity.

Now a finish line doesn’t have to be for any specific project, just for when the day ends, and you leave the office. Setting this finish line will allow you to help create a boundary between home and work as well as provide motivation throughout the day to stay focused. If you know you have to leave by five instead of lingering till six, then you’ll make sure to get everything done within your time limit. Just make sure not to put too much pressure on this finish line in the case you have to be flexible and stay late or didn’t hit everything on your to do list. It’s supposed to help not to hinder.    

Every once in a while, it’s good to take a break, breaks are built into most work situations and it’s best to utilize them when you can. It’ll allow you to fuel up, take a breather, and reset yourself for the rest of the tasks ahead of you. If you keep pushing through every item on the to do list without stopping, you’ll find yourself moving slower by the end of the day and potentially suffering later on.

Now, sometimes a non-stop day is unavoidable but string too many of those days in a row and you will be looking at a decrease in productivity and energy at home. Even if you feel pressured not to take a break go ahead and take that break, just a short moment to collect yourself can mean all the difference in the world to your health and the patients you see.

The main cause of stress for many people is their workload, and dentists are no stranger to this. An overburdening workload can not only help to ruin your productivity at work but also negatively impact your home life. In order to work towards a proper balance of the two it's best to try and keep work at work. Here's 4 tips to do just that.

4 Tips to Help Ensure Work and Home Life Balance

Dental Health across the country is not equal for everyone, and where you live may impact the way patients perceive your practice.

When it comes to dental care prevention is 

 than treatment of a major complication. Yet for some people they aren’t able to get to the dentist before it’s too late, and according to the CDC 

 will go over a year without even seeing the dentist.

Some of the reasons that keep people away from the dentist chair include, but are not limited to, poor insurance coverage, inability to pay for routine visits, and fear of pain from treatment that sometimes can lead to a 

 of going to the dentist in the first place. These conditions are not, however, the only factors creating a disparity of dental health across the country.

 investigated which states have the best dental health overall based on two major categories, “dental habits and care” and “oral health”. These two categories were given individual scores which were combined for a total score out of 100 to determine which states had the best dental health based on their findings.

These two categories were also broken down by a number of key indicators. For instance, “Dental Habits & Care” had key indicator factors such as share of adolescents who visited a dentist in the past year, dental treatment costs, dentists per capita, and free or low cost dental clinics per capita. For “Oral Health” this was broken down into factors such as poor or fair oral condition, share of elderly population with no natural teeth, pain due to oral condition, and reduced life satisfaction due to oral condition.

After all the calculations the rankings might surprise you. Below you can take a look at the top 5 states with the best dental health and a further breakdown of key factors that helped get them there.  

Wisconsin came in as the top state with the best overall score between dental habits and care and oral health, which it ranked 1 and 6 in respectively. Wisconsin also has the fourth lowest percentage of adults with low life satisfaction due to oral condition.   

North Dakota ranked second overall for dental habits and care and just kept itself in the top 10 in oral health by landing in the number nine spot. North Dakota also tied for third with Iowa as the state with the lowest percentage of adults who experienced oral pain in the past year, as well as, being the top state for lowest percentage of adults with low life satisfaction due to their oral condition, with a difference of seven times more than the worst state.   

Minnesota also remained in the top ten for the two main metric categories. It is also the only state in the top 5 overall states to rank in the top 5 for highest percentage of adults who visited a dentist in the past year and the top state with the lowest percentage of adults with a poor or fair oral condition.   

Connecticut is the first of the top 5 states to get knocked out of the top ten for one of the two major metric categories, in this case, dental habits and care. The state also stands out for having the lowest sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and ranking third in lowest percentage of adult smokers.  

 for dental habits and care it is the number one state when it comes to oral health. Illinois is also tied for first with Connecticut for lowest percentage of adults who experience oral pain in the past year.

The bottom five states with the worst dental health, based off this study, are Arkansas, Mississippi, West Virginia, Alabama, and Louisiana. None of these states scored below 30 points overall but none of them made it above 40 points as well. However, Alabama and Mississippi are tied for first in lowest dental treatment costs.

The top 5 states also did not show up in the top 5 list for most dentists per capita. Those states were Hawaii, Massachusetts, Montana, California, and New Jersey, New Jersey and Montana were the only two states from this list that are in the top 10 states with the best dental health overall.

While the study did not display state rankings for oral health knowledge index, a key metric under dental habits and care, it is important to note that education of oral health remains one of the best ways to help patients prevent major problems down the road. Ensure the dental health of your patients, regardless of the state you’re in, by helping them to understand just how important they play a role in tackling their own dental health.

Take the Time to Address Patient Concerns

Office Redesign Can Impact Business Success

Dental health across the country is not equal, for a variety of reasons that a recent study broke down. We break down the key takeaways from this study and why the states considered to have the best dental health were ranked that way. 

States With the Best Dental Health in 2019

After 2018 we found ourselves over $60 billion in the hole when it comes to our nationwide credit card debt. A disturbing trend best avoided.  

 from 2017 leading into 2018 based on analysis from personal finance site WalletHub. For 

, WalletHub updated its study and found that while Americans repaid $40.8 billion in credit card debt during the first quarter of 2018 we also added back $108 billion in credit card debt over the next three quarters.

The country’s total outstanding credit card debt now sits at $1.034 trillion, the highest it has been since 2008. WalletHub’s projections also show a likely $60 billion increase to our credit card debt by the end of 2019.

This does not necessarily project doom for the future of the economy, nor does it necessarily show that consumers are weakening financially, but it is cause for concern as it shows an overdependence on credit card debt that is only getting worse. In order to avoid further credit card debt, it’s important to understand some of the trends leading to increased debt and how best to handle them.

Trend: The Charge-Off Rate is Up 2% Year Over Year 

Last year the charge off rate was up 2.7% year over year, and while the slight decrease to this year’s 2% is a good sign, the steady increase of the charge off rate is still worrisome as a rising charge-off rate is a sign of an economy under duress. A 

 itself is when you ultimately miss too many payments and the creditor stops your account from making any new charges and will look to recoup their loss through a lawsuit, in some cases, if you do not pay as soon as possible.  

It is nowhere near the highs of an 11% charge off rate in 2010 but making sure your credit card isn’t considered a charge-off is crucial before your creditor looks to you to repay them with money you may not have.

Tip: Keep your credit card payments consistent

Make sure your credit payments are on time every month and at the minimum payment that is needed to avoid interest from accruing, no matter the situation. Some creditors will allow you to set up an automated payment to avoid the hassle of having to make the payment yourself. If the credit card in question doesn’t allow you to automate your payments, then you can do your own form of automation by setting a monthly reminder to make your payments before their due date. It is also important to keep the payment amount consistent with each month in order to not disrupt your budget too much. You can adjust the payment amount accordingly depending on your financial situation, just make sure it’s never below the expected minimum.   

Trend: The average household’s credit card debt is $327 over being sustainable 

According to the data, the average household debt in Q4 of last year was at $8,788. The highest it has been since 1986, and steadily going over being sustainable. While $327 is not an insurmountable amount of money, it isn’t a small amount. Leaving many households constantly fighting off their debt when dealing with their finances.

If you’re already looking at a lot of credit card debt this may seem counterintuitive but adjusting your credit score for the better will ultimately lead you to paying off outstanding loans faster. This is because with a better credit score you can look to 

 one of your loans. This means you can go to your previous borrower, or a new borrower, and show your better credit score to them and receive a more affordable loan. One that the borrower will have more confidence in you paying back giving you a more favorable interest rate to handle. As you pay off your other outstanding debts faster you can turn back to your credit card debt with more financial room to maneuver.

These are only a couple of the ways you can look to handle your credit debt in the face of some disturbing nationwide trends. However, there is no one solution fits all scenario because your financial situation is uniquely your own. Looking to improve your credit is a long-term solution that you might not have time for in the short term, thus it may be best to stick to making consistent payments but adjusting your savings elsewhere in your personal finances. Ultimately, the solution that works for you will have you avoiding joining the growing majority of those in insurmountable debt and give you financial peace of mind.    

What Are the Best Credit Cards for Dental Students?

How Dentists Benefit By Integrating Financial Fitness into Holistic Wellness

Americaâ€™s total outstanding credit card debt now sits at $1.034 trillion, the highest it has been since 2008. This is the result of an over reliance on credit and some disturbing new trends. Here are some tips to handle these trends and keep your credit card debt from becoming insurmountable. 

2019 Credit Card Trends and Tips to Handle Them

Tax Day 2019 is fast approaching, in fact, it’s this upcoming Monday, April 15

. If you’re one of millions of Americans waiting to the last minute to file your tax return (the IRS estimates about 20-25% of all Americans do this) then it might be time to reassess how you’re going about getting your taxes done. Especially because you don’t want to miss out on an average 

 this year. Here are 4 tips to help give you the push you need to finish your returns and get the proper refund you’re owed.

No matter what stage of the tax return process you’re in, having the necessary documents to file your tax return is crucial. You simply won’t be able to do the return without the requisite paperwork. The most vital of these documents include your social security card, income statements (like a W-2 or 1099 form), the previous year’s tax return for comparison, health-coverage statements, and your bank account information. Other items include receipts for deductions you plan to make, such as charitable donations or business expenses.

You’ll want to keep all of this organized and easily accessible for yourself, or the accountant or service you’re working with to file your taxes. Don’t go out and try to adopt a complicated filing system with only a week to go, but make sure everything is organized in such a way that it makes sense to you and you won’t have to constantly hunt for the right bit of paperwork.    

 hour it’s important to have a plan, adjust where you need to, but still follow it to the finish line. It can keep you focused on the necessary steps you need to take to finish out your tax return, whether you’re doing it all yourself, through an online system, or working with an accountant. With confidence in knowing where you’re going, you will get to your destination.  

In the heat of the moment you may want to skip going through every itemization deduction you are able to make and stick with the standard deduction. Don’t miss out on savings just because you have to rush. This is especially true if you own the practice or a partner, because you can 

 such as travel, meals, accommodations, office equipment, medical equipment, CME expenses, board exam fees, and more.    

, an assistant professor of accounting at the University of Cincinnati, “many individuals do not realize that certain items touted as deductions, such as charitable contributions, are in fact only deductible if the taxpayer is eligible to itemize on their return.” Meaning, you won’t get most of the deductions you were hoping to get unless you take the time to itemize them.

It’s usually inevitable, but something might go wrong or throw you off while filling out your tax return. A deduction you’re not sure you can make, income numbers you’re not sure add up, receipts or paperwork you lost in the shuffle, and a whole host of other issues. Don’t panic. Make a note of what’s going wrong and how you overcame it so that next year you aren’t running into the same problem again and again.

This can be as small as a filing system change to become more organized or be as big as doing your taxes differently next year. Maybe next year you research and buy an online system to use. Or let your accountant work more hands on with your paperwork. Either way, making a note of what’s going wrong now may not save you time this weekend, but it will save you time for many more tax returns to come.

It's estimated that the average American will spend about 11 hours to fill out their tax return. However, 20-25% of all Americans will wait to the 11th hour to file their taxes. Are you one of those Americans? If so, here are 4 tips to help you navigate tax return crunch time. 

2019 Tax Day Last Minute Tips

29.1 million people in the United States are living with diabetes. Meaning, 9.3% of the population is at risk for serious gum disease and other oral health threats.

Held on every fourth Tuesday in March to provide a “wake-up call” for the American public to the seriousness of diabetes is 

While this day has come and gone the threat of diabetes affecting your patients oral care hasn’t. In 2017, the CDC reported that 

 of the U.S. population has diabetes and the report also confirms that new diabetes diagnoses remain steady and on the rise. This can directly impact your dental practice as diabetes and oral health issues go hand in hand.

 notes, people with diabetes are more susceptible to periodontal disease and people with periodontal disease are more likely to have their blood glucose control affected, which contributes to the progression of diabetes. Nearly 

 of patients with diabetes are affected by periodontal disease and continuing poor blood sugar contributes to the risk of gum diseases. Ultimately, it’s a two-way street that only gets worse without proper care and attention.

There are also other specific oral health issues for those with diabetes, whether it’s Type 2, Type 1 or gestational, that include such things as gingivitis, periodontists, and dry mouth, and with less saliva patients are at higher risk of getting cavities. Another major complication to watch out for is burning mouth syndrome, which is somewhat rare, but the condition can be caused by diabetes-related damage to the nerves that control pain and taste.

People with diabetes are also more susceptible to developing Thrush. This omnipresent yeast fungus (

) grows excessively in the mouth lining creating painful white or red patches inside the mouth. These are only some of the major complications that patients with diabetes can expect when it comes to their oral care and they must remain vigilant in maintaining good oral care.

You should also make sure that your patients with diabetes are making regular visits to your practice, and you are continually educating them on how to best care for themselves outside your practice. This includes controlling their blood sugar, changing to a healthier diet, exercising more, avoiding smoking, brushing their teeth twice a day, etc. Create a plan that best suits them that you and your practice will be able to support on a regular basis.

Oral Cancer Awareness is Crucial for Dental Practices

Texas Hygienist Advocates on a Serendipitous Journey

Diabetes is a major disease in the United States and itâ€™s more than likely that some of the patients that visit your practice have diabetes. This means you will have to be extra vigilant in their oral health care, as diabetes leads to many oral health complications.

Oral Health and Diabetes Make for a Two-Way Street

Oral health is connected to overall health, making the mouth a gateway to knowing whether or not your patient is healthy and safe from disease.

The month of April marks Oral Cancer Awareness month, a major push for awareness on a form of cancer that an estimated 

 will be diagnosed with this year alone. And an estimated 10,860 of those diagnosed will die of oral cancer.

, are pushing for more dentists to make screening for oral cancer a regular part of any dentist visit. They are also hoping to not only make dentists aware of the seriousness of oral cancer, and the part they play in preventing it, but make patients aware of its seriousness as well.

Repeated studies have shown that oral health has a strong connection to overall health. So much so, that poor dental hygiene is a 

 of oral cancer as much as smoking or tobacco use is. Research also shows that harmful bacteria and inflammation in the mouth can indicate and even cause systemic conditions throughout the body. Maladies of the mouth, including periodontal disease, may be linked with other medical conditions including oral cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and more. Other risk factors for oral cancer include, a family history of oral cancer, tobacco use, alcohol use, patients with Human Papilloma Virus, advanced age (most cases are diagnosed over the age of 40), and gender, as men are twice as likely to get oral cancer.   

Oral cancer itself can present on the cheeks, lips, tongue, hard and soft palate, floor of the mouth, sinuses, and pharynx, and can sometimes be visible to the naked eye after a simple examination. Other symptoms that dentists can look out for include mouth sores that do not heal, white or reddish patches inside the mouth, one or several growths in the mouth, one or more loose teeth, pain in the mouth and ears, and difficulty swallowing.

Technology has changed the foundation of healthcare forever, and while dentistry is only starting to 

, there are new tools for dentists to use in the detection of oral cancer. For instance, 

 is a handheld scope that uses natural tissue fluorescence to enable clinicians to visualize oral mucosal abnormalities before patients are able to see or feel them. This device also allows dentists to capture the images on their phone and send them with ease.    

“I consider VELscope a standard of care,” said 

. “It’s like fluoride to me. We offer the VELscope exam to all patients over the age of 21, regardless of pre-existing conditions. What made me change my mindset about the exam was when I learned oral cancer is one of the top 10 cancers leading to death.” The device has been used by over 15,000 dental practitioners and according to its manufacturer LED Apteryx, the device has been “backed by more clinical studies than any other adjunctive device for tissue fluorescence visualization.”

With oral cancer threatening thousands of patients it’s more important than ever to stay educated on oral cancers and how to prevent and detect them, as well as making sure your patients are educated on their own role in preventing oral cancer. Stay on top of your patients’ routine dental visits and make oral cancer screenings a regular part of your care plan.

For more practice management news and advice read on 

April is Oral Cancer Awareness month. A time meant to bring awareness to one of the deadliest forms of cancer and the ways dentists play a vital role in preventing it.

Pictured above is PDS' new sensory room used for the dental treatment of patients with special needs.

, 2019 the Pacific Dental Services® (PDS), a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization, opened a brand-new clinic. This new clinic is not focused on ordinary patients but is instead designed for providing dental care to patients with special needs, entitled the 

Pacific Dental Services Foundation Dentists for Special Needs

This new clinic will treat both adult and pediatric patients with special needs and is headed up by Jack Dillenberg, DDS, who will serve as the Clinical Director; and Jacob Dent, DDS. This is just one of a small but growing number of dental clinics and practices making sure dentists are equipped and properly trained to provide care to patients with special care needs.

“As a parent of a child with special needs, I understand the stress and anxiety that comes with going to doctors’ visits,” said Dr. Dent, who will serve as the clinic’s practicing dentist. “Together we will work to create an individual plan that best fits each patient’s needs and we will help everyone reach their goals, both at home and at the dental office. I treat all of my patients and their parents/caregivers with the same compassion and understanding as I do with my own family. I look forward to seeing the positive changes we can make together.”

, estimates in the United States show that about 15% of children aged 3 to 17 have one or more developmental disabilities, which are defined as “impairment in physical, learning, language, or behavior areas.” Furthermore, there are more than 52 million people with developmental disabilities in the United States, but only 10% of dental professionals are considered prepared for treatment of patients with special needs. This is in large part due to how many patients with special needs react to dentistry in a way that is often not containable for dentists without the proper training and equipment for their practice. This in turn makes it increasingly difficult for parents with children with special needs, and adult patients with special needs themselves, to find dentists that have the proper experience and willingness to accommodate them.

The issue of coverage also comes into play for patients with special needs as many with dental insurance are not properly covered to begin with. Many patients that use Medicaid don’t have any dental coverage because Medicaid does not cover dental care nationwide. And according to 

, 1.5 million developmentally delayed adults rely on Medicaid. This makes special needs patients’ options limited compared to the average patient. This limitation has led some patients to turn to hospital dentistry, a form of dentistry usually attached to a larger well-funded and recognized clinic. For instance, the Hospital Dentistry Clinic at the UCLA School of Dentistry provides invaluable relief to the special needs community in southern California, providing a clinic setting with the tools to sedate patients, if necessary, along with clinicians that have experience in serving special needs patients proper and affordable care. Yet, this does not mean this type of clinic comes without its challenges to keep the clinic operating efficiently. According to 

, associate clinical professor in the Section of Hospital Dentistry, “training dentists in the Hospital Dentistry specialty and, specifically, to treat special needs patients is complicated. Dentists need to be willing and comfortable to do things such as sedation and must be familiar with developmental disabilities.”

 Annually the UCLA School of dentistry only awards six advanced education certificates to dentists who completed the special needs program in general practice residency. At the clinic itself there are six residents, two full-time faculty members, and several part-time faculty members, mostly volunteers, who see special needs patients. Coupled with the high demand of this undeserved community, wait times range anywhere from 6 to 12 months before a patient can be seen.

Treatment for special needs patients also presents a range of physical challenges and sometimes can be accommodated by informing the dentist ahead of time, such as a patient who uses a walker or wheelchair, but most of the time cannot be accommodated unless the practice is prepared for it. Children with special needs may have sensory issues that make routine cleaning impossible unless done in a way that is sensory sensitive, or provides restraints, and in some extreme cases sedation. These options make things difficult for not just patients but dentists as well, leading many of them to decline treating patients with special needs.

 clinic will include multiple features necessary for care of special needs patients including a sensory room for sensory friendly treatment, customized schedule to accommodate all patients, and a clinical team trained to serve the at-risk special needs community. These are all necessary components for any practice looking to serve patients with special needs, but perhaps the most important component is making sure patients have a plan for dental care outside of the office. Giving them and their caregivers the right tools and skills to keep their teeth and mouth clean and avoiding complications that will require more intensive procedures.

This is to be a major focus for the PDS clinic according to Dr. Jacob Dent. He says, “Our sensory friendly office will provide patients with a relaxing environment, and our dental team will provide comprehensive care that focuses on each patient’s individual needs. In addition, building a foundation of long-term self-help skills for each patient will be one of our main priorities. We will take a collaborative approach to each individual’s dental health that includes the families and caregivers, as well as the medical and therapy teams who work with them.”

While there are not nearly enough clinics readily serving the special needs community, organizations like the 

  are pushing for more training to every clinic. Making sure every practitioner has the chance to learn how to properly treat special needs patients if they don’t already have the training. They also provide a database for patients seeking these specialty clinics and practices in the case your practice cannot currently handle special needs patients.

For more programs for special needs individuals read 

There are over 52 million people with developmental disabilities in the United States, but only 10% of dental professionals are considered prepared for treatment of patients with special needs. A sobering statistic due to many challenges that both patients and clinicians face.