DMD Staff

Quip includes a subscription to a new toothbrush bristle head every three months.

If you have been on social media in the past year, then you have probably seen advertisements for Quip, the aesthetically pleasing electric toothbrushes being marketed to a millennial audience.

The Best Compensation Package for Hygienists

Oral Health in the Heart of Opioid Country and Beyond

At first glance, it’s easy to dismiss Quip products as needless, ineffective marketing ploys that put beauty over function. They can’t possibly hold a candle to Sonicare, a longtime favorite of dentists, right?

Wrong. In fact, Quip began with one New York dentist’s suggestion that co-creator Simon Enever use any electric toothbrush, even a cheap one, to avoid brushing too hard. Enever and product designer Bill May took this suggestion to heart to provide an electric toothbrush option that kills the game with its minimalist, polished design, creative ad campaign and interactive website, where dentists can connect to patients.

And with price options starting at $30, it’s only a fraction of the cost of most dentist-recommended toothbrushes, so you can feel comfortable talking it up to all your patients. Quip, unlike other brands, is focused solely on design, providing a product that’s not only affordable, visually stunning and efficient but cuts through the fluff to give consumers what they need without gimmicks.

“We soon realized that there were three main causes behind the core problems: over complex and confusing functionality, over designed and clunky products and a total lack of services to cater to the modern lifestyle,” Quip’s website says. “So, we set about creating a more honest, accessible and simple oral care line that would cut out the excess to help focus on the basics that really matter.”

Dr. Mark Burhenne, a family and sleep medicine dentist who advises Quip, notes that any soft bristle brush, when used correctly, can provide the same cleaning as an electric toothbrush.

“It’s the honest toothbrush company that tells you when a brush is worn and no longer safe to use. But Quip takes it one step further by actually doing something about it,” Burhenne wrote on his blog, 

. “I think it’s high time that we get some help with such an important habit, so much in fact that I agreed to come on as an advisor for Quip, which I’m very excited about.”

Besides its modern design and metallic colors (rose gold is all the rage, and Quip knows it), Quip electric toothbrushes also appeal to younger generations for their portability. Rachel Wilkerson Miller of Buzzfeed said that during other attempts to make electric tooth brushing a part of her routine, she found herself discontinuing it because it was too bulky for overnight trips.

 more convenient for traveling, or just if you schlep across town a few nights a week to sleep at your significant other’s place. (That schlep is, I’m pretty certain, what led me to stop using my second Sonicare several years ago,)” Wilkerson wrote in her consumer review of Quip.

Quip defines itself as a health care startup dedicated to innovating design so consumers can get down the brushing fundamentals. Like any good electric toothbrush, Quip alerts users when it’s time to switch quadrants every 30 seconds and keeps them brushing for the full two minutes. The company consults dentists for their approval, and New York University’s College of Dentistry officially endorsed the product.

If you want to get involved with Quip, sign up 

 to connect with new patients and invite your existing ones to learn more about these products. 

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Looking for an electric toothbrush your patients can be as excited about as you are? Brushing isn't exactly glamorous or exciting to most patients, so it can be difficult to instill in them the importance of proper technique and tools. What's more, many patients are deterred by the high cost and bulkiness of dentist-recommended electric brushes. Quip products might just be the solution dentists and consumers have been searching for. 

The Electric Toothbrush You Didn't Know You Needed

More than 50,000 U.S. citizens died due to overdose in 2016, the highest ever recorded.

Thanks in part to an onslaught of over-prescription of licit opioid medications, overdose deaths kill tens of thousands of Americans a year. It is now up to doctors to heal the problem the medical industry helped create, but the prevalence of addiction has turned notions of what an addict is on its head. Parents, white collar workers and even health care professionals themselves are among the masses of opioid abusers.

 suggest that dentists are a part of the problem due to longtime reliance on pain pills like oxycodone and Percocet for their patients’ extraction-related pain. Decreasing this reliance can help curb future addiction and abuse rates. But for patients who are already opioid dependent, dentists must learn to recognize their drug-seeking behaviors and respond with compassion. DMD spoke with Dr. Dan McNeil, principal investigator for West Virginia University’s Center for Oral Health Research in Appalachia, to find out what dentists should know to help addicted patients.

 What should doctors and hygienists look out for? How can they recognize drug-seeking behavior, especially if it is covert? Anecdotes are helpful in answering this question.

 “Patients who ask for extraction of a restorable tooth, and also ask for a specific opioid medication by name, may well be ones who have addiction or other drug-related problems. Additionally, those who ask for a full prescription (e.g., 30 tablets) when the dentist writes a prescription for six or eight tablets may have addiction-related problems as well.  Post-operatively, after an extraction, patients who repeatedly contact the dentist for more pain medication may be drug-seeking, although dentists never should simply dismiss patients who are reporting pain.”

 How can they help these patients get referred to drug and psychological treatment?

 “Dentists can have a list of local referral agencies, with contact information, on paper, and listed on their web sites, to give to patients.  They may also wish to have public statements in their offices and on their web sites that they support efforts to curb problems with addictions in our society, and want to fully address patients’ problems with pain, but also not put them at risk for addiction.”

 What if a patient is not covered or cannot afford the cost of rehabs or detox? What affordable options are available?

 "This depends on the locality. Local mental health and addiction service agencies can provide this information to dentists. There often are resources available to truly invested patients. Sometimes, patients can use the presumed cost of treatment as an excuse to not even considering addiction treatment, which is a frightening possibility to them." 

 How can doctors have a positive impact on drug-seeking patients without getting over-involved? In the case of insistent or agitated patients who come in seeking prescriptions, what strategies can dental professionals use to resolve the situation?

 “Dentists, hygienists, and dental staff can educate themselves about addictions, and go beyond enforcement issues, and become familiar with treatment options, so they can discuss them knowledgeably with patients. Getting CE related to addictions would be an excellent idea. ‘Motivational Interviewing’ is a method that is available to oral health professionals and has been specifically applied to dental situations. It is a humane, caring, but forthright way of working with patients who have ambivalence about changing their addictive behaviors.”

 Some dentists are more familiar than others with drug abuse. The life of an oral health care provider that treats populations like the one your team studies can seem very different on the surface. But seeing that the opioid epidemic knows no boundaries, should all dentists be prepared to respond to potential overdoses? If so, how can they prepare themselves?

 “In today’s world, dental offices and clinics should be prepared to deal with potential overdoses, as any health care providers.  Again, CE about overdoses, but also about Motivational Interviewing and the nature and treatment of addictions would be helpful.” 

 What do you wish dentists understood better about addicts?

 "I hope that dentists, hygienists, and dental staff can look beyond the often perplexing, annoying, and worrisome behaviors of drug-seeking patients, and see the human being who is suffering with an addiction disorder." 

: Can practices be implicated legally for prescribing opiates to someone who abuses them, or even overdoses as a result of their prescription? If so, how, and what impact can this have on a practice’s reputation and finances?

 "This question is a legal one, and would best be answered by an attorney, or a state dental agency or dental society. It is state-specific. My understanding is that in 

West Virginia, persons who become addicted to prescribed drugs can seek legal action against the prescribers.

 But, I am not an expert in this area, and so urge you to seek further information, and again, this is specific to the state in which one practices."

, patients in most states have a case if they can prove a physician was negligent in their prescription of opioid painkillers. Click 

 to find out more about the criteria for negligence. 

The opioid crisis in the U.S. affects a diverse population. As doctors with the power to prescribe, dentists should be aware of the giveaways of a drug-addicted patient seeking opioid medications. Continue below for a Q&A with Dr. Dan McNeil, principal investigator for the West Virginia University arm of the Center for Oral Health Research in Appalachia. 


Recognizing and Addressing Drug-Seeking Behavior in Your Practice

Dental therapy, the worst countries for oral health and a business-minded prosthodontist: These stories are among the most popular on our website this week. Catch up on what you missed while you were filling cavities.

Dental Therapy: It's Advantages and Downfalls

 The role of dental therapy in dentistry is a contentious issue that has policy makers and dentists at odds with one another. While dental therapists can help in the effort to provide care to the underserved, many experts say that they can be used inappropriately by DSOs looking to save on dentists' salaries, among other problems. Continue below for DMD's comprehensive look at dental therapy and what it can — or cannot &mdash; offer in the United States.

 Oral disease is a health crisis that leaves its mark on communities around the globe. Though staggering regional oral health disparities exist in the U.S., its overall rate of toothlessness and decay comes nowhere close to these five countries. Take a look below to find out which nations are affected the most by poor oral health.

From Accounting to Dentistry, Prosthodontist Benefits from Business Acumen

 Chicago-area prosthodontist Anthony LaVacca, D.M.D., F.A.C.P., F.I.C.O.I., has built a successful practice by creating a full dental destination for his patients. But it’s his undergraduate degree in accounting that has afforded him the business background to effectively grow his practice.

 The business side of dentistry can be a struggle to get a handle on for many practice owners, and when patients aren't flowing in, it can lead any dentist to self-doubt. What am I doing wrong? Why aren't my patients returning? Dr. Mike Abernathy, a veteran of dentistry, has a few pointers on how to fix your patient problems.

 Life is full of unexpected surprises, and unfortunately, death is one of them. Though you may not be ill or expect it to come, death does not cater to our plans. That's why it's important to make sure your assets are taken care of in the event something happens to you. Continue below for crucial estate planning tips.

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Dental therapy, the worst countries for oral health and a business-minded prosthodontist: These stories are among the most popular on our website this week. Catch up on what you missed while you were filling cavities.


The DMD Top 5 for the Week Ending August 3, 2017

This is the latest in the world of dentistry.

A new report outlines how the sugar industry affected federal research on tooth decay in the early 1970s. That tops this week’s news so far in the world of dentistry. Also making the list: digital dentistry, an ADA committee chair opening and a shortage of dentists in Arizona.

The Sugar Industry Shaped Government Advice On Cavities, Report Finds

 reveals that the sugar industry heavily influenced federal research—as well as the guidelines that resulted from that research. Tooth decay 

 despite being preventable. One simple fix is cutting back on overall sugar intake. But a new report published in the journal 

 reveals that the sugar industry greatly influenced the U.S. National Institute of Dental Research (NIDR) 1971 research by shifting the group's focus away from dietary changes.

Digital Dentistry Program Takes Root At SBU

Break out the intraoral scanners: Stony Brook University is sinking its teeth into a groundbreaking digital dentistry curriculum. The university’s 

 is one of five U.S. dental schools (there are only 66 total) selected to pilot a new 

. Stony Brook joins dental schools at the University of Kentucky, Rutgers University in New Jersey, A.T. Still University in Arizona and UCLA.

Arizona needs more dentists, U.S. rankings say

As the dean of the Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health in Mesa, Dr. Jack Dillenberg has spent the last 10 years turning out dentists who deal with more than just crowns, bridges and teeth cleaning.

Committee chair sought for instruments-related standards development

The ADA Standards Committee on Dental Products is seeking a dental professional who knows a lot about or is interested in standards development and dental instruments to chair a subcommittee focused on dental instruments. 

A new report outlines how the sugar industry affected federal research on tooth decay in the early 1970s. That tops this week's news so far in the world of dentistry. Also making the list: digital dentistry, an ADA committee chair opening and a shortage of dentists in Arizona. 


DMD Checkup: How the Sugar Industry Manipulated Government Research

A dentist who died protecting the wounded, shark week’s shark teeth and hidden factors that affect your performance: These stories are among the most popular on our website this week. Catch up on what you missed while you were filling cavities.

After 5 Decades, One Army Dentist's Valor is Recognized

 Captain Ben Salomon, a commissioned dental officer, served in the 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division, during World War II. He was recommended for the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in defending wounded soldiers under his care on Saipan on July 7, 1944. Fifty-eight years later, he became the first dentist to receive the award.

 Technology is quickly transforming dentistry. From digital record-keeping to machines that seem straight out of a SciFi feature, the 21st century has gifted the medical industry some amazing devices. Dentists are especially proactive about adopting new technology in their practices, so DMD is bringing you a weekly spotlight on some of the best products on the market. Continue below to read about this week's focus, software.

What Sharks Reveal About Tooth Regeneration

 Sharks are known for their ability to regenerate thousands of razor-sharp teeth in their lifetime. But according to a new study, everyone’s favorite ocean predator can tell us something about our own species. Continue below to learn more.

Everything You Need to Know About Red Wine

 Red wines are bold and bright — making them a great addition to a lunch outing or dinner out at a restaurant. But the type of red wine you buy accentuates different flavors in your meals, so it’s important to pair wine with your meal accordingly. Continue below for an informal education on some crowd-favorite crimsons.

 Credit is necessary to accomplish your goals in life and in dentistry. Be it to pay employees, purchase new technology or equipment, absorb a practice, attend industry conferences or earn continuing education credits, a credit score is a determining factor in getting approval for funding.

A dentist who died protecting the wounded, shark week's shark teeth and hidden factors that affect your performance: These stories are among the most popular on our website this week. Catch up on what you missed while you were filling cavities.


The DMD Top 5 for the Week Ending July 28, 2017

Thousands of children from Kiwi, New Zealand were admitted to the hospital to have teeth pulled from 2015-2016. That tops this week’s news so far in the world of dentistry. Also making the list: hairless dogs, diabetes and a giant megalodon tooth.

More than 6600 Kiwi kids admitted to hospital with rotten teeth in one year

More than 6600 children under 12 wound up in the hospital in the 2016-16 year to have one or more rotten teeth pulled under general anesthetic. After respiratory conditions, dental treatments were the second-biggest cause of hospital admissions that year, the latest for which figures are available. The rate was the highest among under-10s.

FOXI3 gene is involved in dental cusp formation

Hairless dog breeds differ from other dogs not only by lacking a coat, but also in the number and nature of their teeth. Scientists studied the skulls and teeth of pedigreed hairless dogs from the collection of the Phyletisches Museum of the University of Jena. Thus, they furthered our understanding of the involvement of the FOXI3 gene in the development of teeth - not only in hairless dogs, but potentially also in other mammals including humans.

Diabetes causes shift in oral microbiome that fosters periodontitis, Penn study finds

A new study led by University of Pennsylvania researchers has found that the oral microbiome is affected by 

, causing a shift to increase its pathogenicity. The research, published in the journal 

, not only showed that the oral microbiome of mice with diabetes shifted but that the change was associated with increased 

Man Who Didn’t Brush His Teeth For 20 Years Has An Amazing Smile Now

	The story of a 21-year-old man named Jay who went his entire life without brushing his teeth or flossing is going viral. He says that his parents never encouraged him to take care of his teeth, which ultimately resulted in the need for massive dental repair work. Jay was featured on the British reality show, “Embarrassing Bodies” in January, but 

 started picking up the story on Thursday.

7-year-old boy finds massive prehistoric shark tooth at South Carolina beach

	A young shark enthusiast vacationing with his family in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, stumbled upon the find of a lifetime -- a tooth belonging to the largest shark to ever exist.

Thousands of children from Kiwi, New Zealand were admitted to the hospital to have teeth pulled from 2015-2016. That tops this week's news so far in the world of dentistry. Also making the list: hairless dogs, diabetes and a giant megalodon tooth.


The DMD Checkup: More than 6600 New Zealand Children Admitted to Hospital for Tooth Decay

The fourth annual Dykema conference was crawling with knowledgeable lawyers, dental professionals and entrepreneurs looking to share their knowledge about Dental Service Organizations. Arlene Steinfield, senior counsel JD specializing in labor employment law, met with DMD to talk about her area of expertise and under what circumstances she works with DSOs. Watch or read below to learn more about how to deal with internal discrimination complaints.

How Dental Hygienists Can Benefit from DSOs

Why DSOs Should Consider Specialized Legal Counsel

Struggling to Promote Your Practice Online? Time to Strategize

Interview Transcript (Modified for Readability)  

"If an employee comes forward internally and says, "I believe I'm being discriminated against on the basis of my age or my gender or some other protected characteristic or protected activity," the first thing to do would be to thank them for coming forward. Even though it's frustrating, it means that they have come to you internally and not yet gone to the government. [You must] ask them the basis for their claim and what has happened to lead them to believe they were treated impermissibly or discriminatorily. It's also very important to understand that in most states, it is not unlawful to treat somebody unfairly. What is unlawful is to treat them unjustly on account of that protected characteristic, such as gender, if you are treating men better than women. 

But the most important thing that I think an employer can do in that scenario is to listen and to hear it, and then try to establish a communication channel with the employee to get them to understand why their perception is not necessarily fact-based. But it's got to be done very respectfully, because the best way to get an employee to go running to a governmental agency is to treat them in a condescending manner or to pooh-pooh their complaints. There are some employees, however, who simply want to let you know, and they are intent on suing the company. In that case, you should definitely get counsel involved to guide you through the steps so that no one in management will say something they will later regret in a deposition." 

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The fourth annual Dykema conference was crawling with knowledgeable lawyers, dental professionals and entrepreneurs looking to share their knowledge about Dental Service Organizations. Arlene Steinfield, senior counsel JD specializing in labor employment law, met with DMD to talk about her area of expertise and under what circumstances she works with DSOs. Watch or read below to learn more about how to deal with internal discrimination complaints.


Ask an Expert: Dealing with Internal Discrimination Complaints

A Des Moines, Iowa dentist pleaded guilty to charges that he used and improperly prescribed drugs to patients. That tops this week’s news so far in the world of dentistry. Also making the list: DIY dentistry, public health policy and pre historic dentists.

Dentist pleads guilty to drug, gun charges

“A dentist who operated clinics in West Des Moines and Des Moines has pleaded guilty to drug and gun charges. Court records say Shawn Kerby pleaded guilty Wednesday to obtaining a painkiller by misrepresentation and being a user of a controlled substance who also possessed firearms. Prosecutors dropped several other charges in return for Kerby's pleas. His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 17.”

Oral health should be part of public health policy

“I’ve given birth to three babies, shattered my wrist, broken my tailbone twice, gotten tattooed, and, once, when I was suspected of having contracted West Nile Virus, had two consecutive spinal taps — one failed – in the name of advancing medical students’ knowledge while securing a diagnosis.

But never have I suffered worse from deep, bone-rattling pain — the kind of pain where you just want to die to end the misery – than when I had tooth issues.”

Neanderthals attempted dentistry 130,000 years ago, believe scientists

“A Neanderthal who lived 130,000 years ago appears to have carried out some “prehistoric dentistry” in an attempt to deal with an impacted tooth, researchers have said.”

Dentist in toddler death case sues multiple national media outlets

“The Austin dentist involved in the accidental death of a 14-month-old Daisy Lynn Torres in 2016 is suing multiple national media outlets over their coverage of the case.”

A Des Moines, Iowa dentist pleaded guilty to charges that he used and improperly prescribed drugs to patients. That tops this week's news so far in the world of dentistry. Also making the list: DIY dentistry, public health policy and pre historic dentists.


The DMD Check-Up: Dentist pleads guilty to drug, gun charges

Medical billing, stressed-out cities and advising for your personal finances: These stories are among the most popular on our website this week. Catch up on what you missed while you were filling cavities.

4 Misguided Myths About Medical Billing in Dentistry

. Dental practices and medical billing tend to be mutually exclusive. But according to dentist and consultant Dr. Olya Zahrebelny, the misconceptions that keep dentists from using this payment practice are often erroneous. Continue reading to find out how you can translate your services into billing claims.

The Most and Least Stressed Cities in the U.S.

 The analysts over at WalletHub are back at it again. This time, the personal-finance website studied the stress levels of 150 U.S. cities using more than a dozen criteria, including work hours and personal issues like divorce. Continue reading to find out if your city makes one of the lists.

Look for Advisors Committed to Doing No Harm

 As health care professionals committed to ethics, it may not occur to dentists that their financial advisors don't adhere to the same principles. Advisors serve the best interests of their clients, and if you are not on top of the nuances of the financial advice industry, you may find yourself in a conflict of interest. Continue reading to learn more about finding advisors who care as much about ethical practices as you do.

The 10 Most Interesting Dentists Practicing Today

 Dentists are many things, but you cannot call them boring. As pillars of their communities, they become close to their patients and have a gift for remembering birthdays, family milestones and even patients' favorite toothpaste flavors. Our contributor put together a list of the most charismatic dentists around the United states, so continue reading to see if you or a friend made the list.

The Worst Positions for Dentists' Musculoskeletal Health

 Ergonomics has become a buzzword in dentistry in recent years, and for good reason. One of the main causes of the prevalent muscular imbalances and problems among dental care providers are the awkward positions and repetitive movements that remain an inherent part of providing care to patients. Continue reading to find out which activities are the most harmful and what you can do to prevent symptoms.

Medical billing, stressed-out cities and advising for your personal finances: These stories are among the most popular on our website this week. Catch up on what you missed while you were filling cavities.


DMD Top 5 for the Week Ending July 21, 2017

A Miami man was arrested for practicing dentistry without a license after groping one of his patients. That top’s this month’s news so far in the world of dentistry. Also making the list: Opioid prescriptions in dental offices, a free dental clinic in Indiana and more.

Inability to keep his hands to himself takes a bite out of fake dentist’s freedom

“Davie resident John Collazos got arrested June 24 for practicing dentistry without a license. Collazos has been on double not-so-secret probation for practicing dentistry without a license since last year. And it’s possible nobody would know about any of this if mouths were the only place Collazos’ hands went where they shouldn’t.”

'I can get my smile back': IU dental students get $100k grant for free clinic

“Three years ago, Annetta Wimbley lost her insurance. Even though the 50-year-old has a job at Fort Harrison State Park Inn, she said it has been impossible to find affordable dental health care to fix her jagged and missing teeth.”

Breaking the Opioid Habit in Dentists’ Offices

“In October, 2014, Tu, director of the division of oral and maxillofacial surgery at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, was visiting Washington, D.C., with his wife. Tu was there to attend an oral surgery conference. Their son-in-law, Dr. Andrew Kolodny, a psychiatrist and addiction specialist, was speaking at a rally of 

, an organization working for a national response to the opioid epidemic. Kolodny asked his in-laws if they would attend.”

Children at Risk? Kids and Sedation at the Dentist’s Office

After a string of recent deaths, NBC News’ Kate Snow explores the risks associated with sedation in dental offices. A growing chorus of advocates including pediatricians and lawmakers are calling for change.

 published its 2017 “100 Best Jobs” list earlier this year, and guess which job was first on the list? Dentist! This is great news, and we should be celebrating. But if you talk to dentists every day like I do, one question comes up over and over again: why is it that being a dentist doesn’t 

 like the best job to those who practice?”

A Miami man was arrested for practicing dentistry without a license after groping one of his patients. That tops this month's news so far in the world of dentistry. Also making the list: Opioid prescriptions in dental offices, a free dental clinic in Indiana and more. 