DMD Staff

Ancient teeth, geriatric care and positively Medieval dental care: These stories are among the most popular on our website this week. Catch up on what you missed while you were filling cavities.

5 Amazing Things Anthropologists Learned from Teeth

. Once upon a time long, long ago, prehistoric man roamed the earth. Thanks to the teeth they left behind, anthropologists have made huge strides in recent years in uncovering their customs and way of life. Teeth are often the only surviving remnants of the prehistoric past, and using modern analysis and DNA extraction methods, researchers’ understanding of human history is becoming more sophisticated. Read on to discover what stories teeth have to tell.

Stay Ahead of The Curve by Improving Geriatric Patient Care

. In many medical fields, geriatrics make up a large portion of a patient base. Dentistry is no exception. As people age, not only do conditions like dry mouth emerge, but physical ailments like arthritis can make dental care difficult. Now that the elderly represent more than 14 percent of the U.S. population, doctors everywhere need to step up their game to accommodate this growing demographic. Read on to find out how your practice can cater to patients 65 and older.

. Understanding what motivates consumers in the competitive dental industry is a top concern for practice owners, who rely on new and returning patients to survive. With all the options available in states like California, Texas and New York, practicing dentists in areas with high concentrations of dental care providers would be wise to practice some active listening. Continue below to find out how to be the perfect dentist in the eyes of patients.

. 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, lasers.

Horrifying Ways Dentists Used to Treat Patients

. Medical science has come a long way in the past 100 years, dentistry included. But prior to regulations, laws and, well, actual peer-reviewed knowledge, what physicians and dentists did to their patients was nothing short of absurd by today’s standards. In fact, a visit to the dentist in bygone eras could often do more harm than good. Continue below to see how dentistry has advanced.

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Articles

The DMD Top 5 for the Week Ending July 14, 2017

Robert Pick, D.D.S., M.S., is the principal of Progressive Periodontics & Implants, as well as the dental consulting firm, the Pick Group. Pick has made his career in dentistry by becoming a dental entrepreneur. As a result, he has learned a few lessons along the way. In this clip, Pick explains why relationships are everything in building a practice. Watch or read below to continue.

What Young Dentists Need to Know about Private Practice

A Reading List for Entrepreneurial Dentists

The Biggest Challenge Facing the Dental Business Today

"'Relationship' is a great word. We were talking earlier about my lecture on powerful secrets, one of the things that came up is powerful secret no. 4: developing the relationship. When you have a relationship, the whole bar raises. Patients are going to be more apt to go through treatment when they have a relationship, and when you have a relationship with your team, you have better team dynamics and better team development. The relationship is something that doesn't come easy: It's built over time, it's built with trust, it comes from starting at the website with proper videos to talk about what you do, what you're about and your brand. So, the relationship is key." 

Videos

Robert Pick, D.D.S., M.S., is the principal of Progressive Periodontics & Implants, as well as the dental consulting firm, the Pick Group. Pick has made his career in dentistry by becoming a dental entrepreneur. As a result, he has learned a few lessons along the way. In this clip, Pick explains why relationships are everything in building a practice. Watch or read below to continue. 

What Relationships Mean in Dentistry

When acquiring multiple practices, dentists traditionally rely on private equity firms and landing gigs with large companies. At the Dykema conference in June, David Lopez, an entrepreneur and president of Tralongo, told DMD this system needs a facelift. Watch or read below about how Tralongo is changing the game for multiple-practice ownership.

How Dental Hygienists Can Benefit from DSOs

Why DSOs Should Consider Specialized Legal Counsel

Interview Transcript (Modified for Readability)  

"If I'm a dentist, and I want to expand and buy multiple practices, the norm that people follow is: They're going to buy a few practices and sell them to a private equity firm or a private equity firm-backed group of practices. It's kind of just the thing to do 

 you go to college, then you come out of college and you want to get a degree and hope to get a job for a big company. That's the norm, and that's kind of the environment and the landscape that exists today with the dental practices. I don't necessarily agree with that, I think there are better ways to go about it. If I'm a dentist, what I'm actually looking for are solutions so that I can go from one practice to 10 practices, and the reason I would sell to a private equity firm is to have a liquidity event, or to take money and put it away in the bank accounts so I can have financial security for my family. If you just take those challenges that the dentists actually have and you focus on building a solution to what they need, that's what Tralongo has done. We've figured out a way to help them grow so they don't need to worry about the operations, or answering the phones, or the insurance or the billing and the accounting and all the other stuff that comes along with acquiring multiple practices. We do that, and then instead of having to sell your entire company to a private equity firm, when they're ready to sell, we'll buy the practice and work with them to continue to do the same thing over and over again instead of requiring them to work for us with an employment contract." 

Discover more Dentist’s Money Digest® videos here

When acquiring multiple practices, dentists traditionally rely on private equity firms and landing gigs with large companies. At the Dykema conference in June, David Lopez, an entrepreneur and president of Tralongo, told DMD this system needs a facelift. Watch or read below about how Tralongo is changing the game for multiple-practice ownership. 

Growing Your Practice with DSOs

Oral health in the rural U.S., aesthetic smiles, improved ergonomics and more: These stories are among the most popular on our website this week. Catch up on what you missed while you were filling cavities.

 Back problems abound in dentistry, but according to ergonomic specialists, this does not have to be the case. Loupes, a longtime favorite of dental professionals, need to be properly configured just like the rest of your equipment. To learn more about how long lenses can improve your posture and prevent future musculoskeletal issues, continue below.

Oral Health in the Heart of Opioid Country and Beyond

 There is no doubt that drug addiction, particularly addiction to opiates, is a public health crisis that crosses regional, racial and class boundaries in the United States today. While it is expected that “less-urgent” matters take a backseat as doctors, researchers, police and governments on every level scramble to address sky-rocketing overdose deaths, less trendy issues — both new and old &mdash; are becoming worse. In Appalachia, long-neglected dental health affects people of all ages, and while the region may be infamous for its poor oral hygiene, it is hardly the only one suffering from this health care emergency.

Done Right, Cosmetic Dentistry Offers Financial Rewards

 In today’s visual generation of selfies and social media, people are increasingly cognizant of their smile. Cosmetic dentistry is the beneficiary to the tune of $2.75 billion spent each year. But before simply integrating cosmetic dentistry into your practice, understanding the aesthetics is critical. Continue below to learn more.

4 Common Mistakes Dentists Make When Planning for Retirement

 It takes a lot of hard work, plenty of studying and no shortage of determination to become a dentist. Those are the same skills needed to successfully save for retirement, and yet, many dentists struggle to build up enough savings to live the lifestyle they desire in retirement. CPA Douglas Fettig sat down with DMD to share his insight regarding retirement planning for dentists in particular. Continue below to learn how to manage your retirement plans.

ADA Grants Seal of Acceptance to Crest 3D White 'Glamorous White' Whitestrips

 Consumers have always looked for affordable at-home solutions to teeth whitening, but many of them come with a set of risks. Even with the continual use of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, a whitening trick passed down for generations, damage to tooth enamel outweighs the benefits of a more attractive smile. Now with the ADA’s seal of approval, Crest 3D White “Glamorous White” Whitestrips are providing a safe and effective do-it-yourself product for those looking to whiten their smiles.

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The DMD Top 5 for the Week Ending July 7, 2017

Chris Bentson it comes down to the industry's modern-day challenges, Bentson understands the details of consolidation and converting a practice to digital. 

The Biggest Challenge Today for Orthodontists

Chris Bentson is a partner at Bentson Copple & Associates, a consulting firm that specializes in orthodontics. When it comes down to the industry’s modern-day challenges, Bentson understands the details of consolidation and converting a practice to digital. Watch or read below to find out what Bentson says orthodontists should focus on.

What Matters to Today's Orthodontic Patients

Assessing the Financial Outlook for Orthodontics

How Independent Orthodontists Can Compete with Corporate

“The biggest challenge facing orthodontists today, I would say, is twofold. One is, how do I deal with the consolidation that's happening around me, and how do I respond to it as a practice owner? Do I drop my fees, do I compete in a different way, do I go to TV and radio, do I spend more money or less money? So, there are some challenges around what's happening on the consolidation side. The other big challenge is, how fast and how deep do I want to go in the digital workflow model? We're moving in orthodontics from analog to digital at an accelerated pace. Analog has lost every fight in business in the last 20 years, and in dentistry, they’ll lose this one too. What does that mean? Do brackets go away totally? No, but they'll become less relevant, and plastic will become more relevant. That means I have to have a deployment of scanners and digital printers, and I have to have machines that talk to each other, and I have to learn to treat with plastic versus metal. I think some people have very strong feelings about whether that's a good idea or bad, but the ones that don't go there and don't go there fast will leave growth and opportunity on the table.” 

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Chris Bentson is a partner at Bentson Copple & Associates, a consulting firm that specializes in orthodontics. When it comes down to the industry's modern-day challenges, Bentson understands the details of consolidation and converting a practice to digital. Watch or read below to find out what Bentson says orthodontists should focus on. 

Hilarious anesthesia reactions, investing tips for the younger generations and five new tips for choosing your next car: These stories are among the most popular on our website this week. Catch up on what you missed while you were filling cavities.

 It is no secret that dentists love cars. DMD put together our top considerations specifically for dental professionals looking to make a change. If you’re thinking about purchasing your next ride, check out our top tips before you make a decision.

The Best Wisdom Teeth Anesthesia Videos on the Internet

 They laughed, they cried, they became Internet famous. Between the fluctuating emotions and absurd utterances, everyone loves a good post-wisdom teeth surgery video, and it’s easy to see why. DMD put together a definitive ranking of YouTube’s most hilarious anesthesia reactions for your viewing pleasure, so scroll down to enjoy.

 Millennials are a generation of young people who draw debts from credit cards and student loans. While it is a priority to pay back your debts, saving for retirement, spending wisely and creating strategies are also imperative. Let’s look at the ways young investors can get started on a path to financial security.

Dentist Builds Career Through Ownership, Doctor Development

 Life does not always stick to the plans we have for it, and no one knows this better than Lauren McDonough. The Aspen Dental owner aspired to be a world traveler, but after careful consideration, chose a career in dentistry, where she combines her passions for photography and writing with her desire to help others. Continue below to learn about McDonough’s journey.

Professional Referrals Between Primary Care Physicians and Dentists

 Though referrals may be routine in the dental world, the American Dental Association’s research reveals this is a far less common practice between physicians and dental care providers. The issue, according to a study, lies partially in the tedious process through which physicians must make the referrals. Continue below to find out more.

The DMD Top 5 for the Week Ending June 29, 2017

1. David after the dentist. This is the one that started it all, and it still makes us laugh nearly a decade after it was uploaded.

Twinning : A two for one of gut-busting hilarity.

3. He’s mean, she’s emotional, they’re both hysterical.

siblings get wisdom teeth pulled together

Ellen Degeneres’ personal favorite. Who’s in the house? JC.

Wisdom Teeth Aftermath: I'm Adopted Aren't I

Girls wisdom teeth removal aftermath

They laughed, they cried, they became Internet famous. Between the fluctuating emotions and absurd utterances, everyone loves a good post-wisdom teeth surgery video, and it's easy to see why. DMD put together a definitive ranking of YouTube's most hilarious anesthesia reactions for your viewing pleasure, so scroll down to enjoy.

Posting a picture of your smiling patients on your practice’s social media accounts may seem benign, but according to our experts, you could be in violation of HIPAA standards. Under HIPAA’s stipulations, social media is treated the same as any other form of public record, so written consent to use patient images is a must. To learn more about HIPAA requirements and how to protect yourself from legal trouble, watch or read what Rita Zamora and Brian Colao advise.

Careful What You Post: Social Media and HIPAA Compliance

Interview Transcript (Modified for Readability)

“I think people have to treat social media as the same [as any type of media]. We've gotten, in society, very casual often with social media, and I’ve seen at some dental offices, they'll have patients smiling on Facebook or Instagram, and everybody thinks it's innocent fun that this patient enjoys the practice, is smiling, wants to have their picture taken. But that counts — you're technically disclosing that to the public, and often you're not allowed to do that without the patient's consent. If they patient consents, you're allowed, but you have to be scrupulously careful, because I think as a society, just the way social media has evolved, there seems to be a casual view. For instance, we would never publish a patient record in the newspaper, or put a patient record in the public domain, but on Facebook we can all smile and hug each other. Well, no! Actually, HIPAA applies to Facebook equally, and the equivalent of putting a patient on Facebook smiling without a consent form is putting their patient record in the newspaper. It's treated as a violation the same way as if you literally put it on TV, or something like that. 

Maybe with the dentist it's not as big a deal as it is with psychology or other [physicians], but HIPAA protects the identity that you’re even a patient of that particular health care provider. If you're [revealed as] the patient of a dentist, maybe that's not the end of the world, but it's still a violation. You can imagine in some other fields, like [oncology], people clearly want their identity protected, and HIPAA doesn't discriminate. It doesn't say, ‘Just because it's the dentist, it's OK.’ If you disclose the mere fact that a patient goes to an office, or they're a patient of a given dental office, that can be a HIPAA violation.” 

“When it comes to utilizing patients' images, whether it’s a picture of the patient's partial face, really it comes down to any identifiable part of a patient's body or their smile. It's my understanding that you really need to have that signed consent from the patient. That's a legal form, so you need to make sure — especially if you're using it on social media &mdash; that it contains that specific language that the patient would give consent to share that particular photo or any image of themselves or their name. Any protected patient health information, you need to have signed consent from that patient in order to use it. Also, I've heard from some practices, ‘I'm not really sure if the patient would be able to identify this,’ or ‘It would still maintain their privacy.’ But if a patient does happen to see it and recognize it, that could also turn into a PR nightmare for you if they say, ‘We didn't want that to be shared.’ Just to prevent any misunderstanding, and certainly to prevent any HIPAA violation, you want to make sure you have that signed consent. Oftentimes, local or state associations are going to have a consent form that’s been vetted by a risk management expert or an attorney, so you know that it's an iron-clad, safe and secure consent form for you practice to use.” 

Posting a picture of your smiling patients on your practice's social media accounts may seem benign, but according to our experts, you could be in violation of HIPAA standards. Under HIPAA's stipulations, social media is treated the same as any other form of public record, so written consent to use patient images is a must. To learn more about HIPAA requirements and how to protect yourself from legal trouble, watch or read what Rita Zamora and Brian Colao advise. 

Dykema, a law firm offering practical, results-oriented counsel to Dental Service Organizations (DSOs), holds its fourth annual conference in New Orleans June 15 to 16. Litigation attorney Brian Colao sat down with DMD to discuss real estate considerations for dental professionals ranging from DSOs to sole practitioners. Watch or read below to see what Colao advises.

“The consideration that you always see with real estate is, “Is this a location that’s conducive to putting patients in the seats?” People pay a lot of money to do demographic research on this, and you have to often weigh the benefits as to whether paying a rate at the top of the market is worthwhile for an ideal location, versus getting bargain rent in a location that's not quite as ideal as the more expensive one. These are just the considerations you would have. I don’t think they are any different if you're a DSO, a group practice or a sole practitioner.” 

Real Estate Considerations for DSOs and Practices

Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) may be gaining new popularity, but many dentists remain skeptical about joining one. Heidi Ardnt, a dental hygienist and owner of Enhanced Hygiene, provided some insight at the fourth annual Dykema conference for those on the fence about utilizing DSO services. Watch or read below to see what Ardnt has to say.

“A dentist that wants to go into DSO but is unsure, I think the thing they have to understand is the great thing with being in a DSO is that you can really focus on patient care. You don't have to try to run your business worrying about payroll, worrying about all those other management things. You have a team of people that takes care of that. You're in charge of taking care of your patients. Yes, you should be seen as a leader, because everyone automatically looks to a doctor for leadership. I think you are always going to be a leader as a doctor, but the patient care is truly the focus of that individual. You do have to give up a little bit of autonomy, but most DSOs are very, very good about protecting the autonomy of each doctor.”