Greg Kelly

A list of five tips for dentists to pay off their student loans tops this week’s DMD Check-Up. Also making the list: a newspaper in New Jersey calls for mandatory eye protection during dental procedures, and does good oral health increase the likelihood of a patient having irritable bowel syndrome?

How to Repay Student Loan Debt If You're a Dentist

Among all professionals, “dental grads face the highest student loan debt, according to the American Dental Education Association, graduating with $241,000 in education debt.” There are a number of things they can do to ease the repayment process. Here are five tips.

At the Dentist, the Eyes (Need to) Have It

An editorial from New Jersey about a recent sad dental care case. “After a patient received a Novocain injection at her dentist, the needle was fumbled and dropped into her right eye.” The next morning, it was red and swollen.” She lost the eye. The newspaper is calling for mandatory usage of patient eyewear.

Swedish researchers have observed an inverse association between poor oral health and the risk for developing inflammatory bowel disease. How can it be? “Our data on a negative relationship between poor oral health and later IBD supports the ‘hygiene hypothesis,’” they explained. The effects of “excessive oral hygiene”?

Cavity-Fighting Liquid Lets Kids Avoid Dentists’ Drills

An in-depth report from the paper of record about silver diamine fluoride, or SDF. No more drilling and filling—“now there’s an alternative: an antimicrobial liquid that can be brushed on cavities to stop tooth decay&mdash;painlessly.” And “dentists are increasingly using it off-label for those purposes.”

6 Things That Will Make Dentistry Less Painful

A worthwhile review of the upcoming changes that the nation’s dentists and their patients face in the coming years. A brave new world? Yes—“the same technology that helped humans design car bumpers and airplane wings can retool teeth.”

According to a report from Ireland, “the average price of a dental consultation varies by as much as €20 (about $22), depending on which county you live in.” County Louth was cheapest; Galway most expensive. The average price of a consultation was €38.50 (about $43).

 British Warn of Tongue Piercings Dangers

The leading dental charity in the UK, the Oral Health Foundation, is urging public awareness of the dangers of tongue piercings. About the now most common oral piercing, the foundation CEO said it: “increases the risk of dental diseases, as well as carrying a risk of injury to the teeth and gums.”

Dr. Carol Gomez Summerhays, the leader of the nation’s top dentist group, addresses the growing national crisis brought on my prescription painkiller abuse. Dentists everywhere must to take several specific steps to help prevent opioid pain medications from being inadvertently misused and abused.

“Children who suck their thumbs or bite their nails are less likely than others to have allergies later in life,” according to a new study from New Zealand—more “hygiene hypothesis”? However, researchers were clear that the results do not suggest that kids should take up these habits.

Articles

Our weekly roundup of the top dentistry-related news from around the web.

The DMD Check-Up: 5 Ways to Repay Your Dental School Debt

Stem cell technology holds the potential to someday eliminate the need for root canals, according to scientists working on just such a project. That story tops this week’s DMD Check-Up. Also making the list: Access to care is a major issue for seniors, and a program in Los Angeles makes major inroads in children’s dental health.

“What if damaged teeth could heal themselves? That's the inspiration behind a new project from Harvard and the University of Nottingham to create stem cell stimulating fillings. A filling made from synthetic biomaterial that can stimulate the growth of stem cells in the pulp of the tooth.”

State of Decay: The Oral Health of America’s Seniors

“More unsettling news about the nation’s dental health condition. Oral Health America is out with a state-by-state report of the oral health of the country’s 65+ population and the success or failure of states to address those needs.” About 60% of lower-income older adults have no dental insurance.

Benefits of Integrating Dental Care with Medical Visits

A Colorado pediatric dentist believes the nation is “facing a silent epidemic. The CDC reports that cavities, which are largely preventable, are the most common chronic illness among American children. And the state’s Medical Dental Integration Project is a promising new model of delivering dental and medical care.”

Healthcare Professionals Get Billions From Drug and Device Makers

Drug and device makers paid doctors and teaching hospitals nearly $6.5 billion last year, according to new CMS Open Payments database figures. And doctors or their family members held $1 billion in ownership or investment interest in those companies. Novartis topped the list with over $539 million in honoraria.

Child Oral Health Program Triples Preventive Visits

From LA, “an innovative program that serves low-income and uninsured children, called the UCLA—First 5 LA 21st Century Dental Homes Project, has more than tripled preventive dental visits for children from birth to age 5, according to this report from UCLA health scientists. Progress with “methods that can be applied universally, said Dr. Jim Crall.

App Can Help Dentists Remain HIPPA Compliant

“Thousands of today’s dental professionals are breaking HIPAA rules by texting patient data—and many don’t realize they are doing so,” explains the application’s Boston-based CEO. The issue is certainly worth some education for those dentists who are uncertain of their own compliance.

The vapor from electronic cigarettes contains toxic compounds and nanoparticles that destroy the outer layer of skin cells in the mouth, according to a new study published in the journal PLOS One. UCLA researchers show the devices, whose usage has doubled among middle and high school students, are not without risk.

Answering Patients Questions About “Dental Insurance”

A former dentist, Texas rancher, and current career coach asks and answers the more pertinent payment questions that patients ask when they come to the office for oral care. First of all, “dental insurance is not the same as medical insurance. In fact, it’s not really ‘insurance’ at all.”

Dental Risk Assessment Can Help Improve Care

Taking patients' risk of developing dental caries into account can help dentists effectively tailor individual prevention and treatment efforts, according to a recent study by UC San Francisco School of Dentistry researchers. “Dental caries, like so many chronic diseases, follow a social gradient.”

Coalition to Dentists: Quit the American Dental Association

 holiday, TEAM 1500, a group of dentists and other concerned healthcare professionals, is calling on all general dentists in the United States to drop their membership in the American Dental Association. "The ADA has effectively segregated and economically oppressed general dentists—and their patients&mdash;for more than a decade.”

Our weekly look at the top dentistry-related news from across the web.

The DMD Check-Up: The End of Root Canals?

Dentists are taking a big chunk of the blame for the opioid addiction crisis, and a new report claims dentists are chronic over-prescribers. That story tops this week's DMD Check-Up. Also making the news roundup: a big loss for organized dentistry, and huge gains for one of the industry's biggest names.

The Deadly Triangle: Dentists, Drugs, and Dependence

A hard-hitting report from a national media outfit about a national crisis. “Dentists are among the leading prescribers of opioids, particularly for surgical tooth extractions. And the highest number of these painkiller prescriptions were for teenagers. “Maybe 50% of the patients need a prescription … we just don't know which 50%.”

Poll: Oral Health Impacts Quality of Life

A report from New York about the sorry condition of oral health there and across the nation: “Nearly 30% of Americans across all income levels say dental problems affect the quality of their life.” Costs are the big issue “with low, middle, and high income. It’s always a battle: what is covered vs. my needs.”

Serious Miconazole-Warfarin Interaction Warnings for Dentists

British dentists “are being reminded of the potential drug interaction between the antifungal miconazole (Daktarin, Daktacort) and the blood thinning medication warfarin,” according to the British Dental Association. The recent death of an impacted patient in Wales brought on the alert.

“Warren Buffett of the Dental Industry”

A quick piece about the outstanding leadership of Stanley Bergman, the CEO of Henry Schein, Inc. “Since taking the company public in 1995, Bergman has produced a 1,400%-plus return for investors, more than double that of Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway,” a Barron’s profile finds.

Alarming Number of Doctors Busted for Bribery

A troubling news report from New Jersey on malpractice: officials say that healthcare professionals (including dentists) “have been in front of judges in federal and state courts with alarming frequency this past year. Officials have also raised concerns about the unusually large scope of some of the cases and the widespread extent of the problem.”

Dentist Wants $9 million for Hamptons Home

Just in time for summer! Celebrity dentist Dr. Marc Lowenberg —who has made a fortune taking care of the teeth of Heidi Klum, Martha Stewart, the Rolling Stones, and more&mdash;is selling his Hamptons home for $9 million. “The 9,400 square feet seamlessly intertwine on three custom designed levels of living space,” explains realtor Douglas Elliman.

Can Your Mouth and Gum Disease Really Cause Heart Problems?

A useful report from one of nation’s top cardiac care institutions. “No research is strong enough to link gum disease and cardiac disease, heart attack or stroke … but people who brush and floss regularly have better overall health with less gum disease and less periodontal inflammation.” Good patient education piece.

A hatchet job on official US dentistry over the issue of dental therapists. “The underdog is celebrating a huge win. One so big, in fact, that it most certainly will embolden groups in other states to take on the same adversary—organized dentistry.” Right or wrong? You decide.

Feds Increase Funds to Improve Oral Health

The US Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $156 million to increase access to integrated oral health care services and improve oral health outcomes.” Funding will go to 420 health centers in 47 states for patients who participate in the Health Center Program.

Our weekly roundup of the industry's biggest news from around the web.

The DMD Check-Up: Dentists, Drugs, and Dependence

Michigan could soon join the bandwagon of states that allow mid-level practitioners to perform tasks previously restricted to dentists. That story tops this week's DMD Check-Up. Also on the list: a lawsuit in Canada over bad web reviews, and do providers wash their hands more often when patients are watching?

Michigan Moves to Expand Access to Dental Care

New legislation in Michigan would authorize midlevel dental providers to perform common procedures, such as filling cavities. The move follows the lead of Alaska, Minnesota, and Maine. The state is one of at least 15 states that are considering adding these types of providers to help address dentist shortages and increase access to care.

Canadian Dentists Sue Website for Bad Reviews

Vancouver dentists Andrew Seebaran and Kevin Brougher are taking the medical review site RateMDs to court for reviews that they claim are defamatory and hurting their business. The website allows people to rate doctors and dentists and asks users to post truthful and non-libelous posts.

Celebrities Paid Millions to Endorse Bad Stuff

 describes the lucrative endorsement deals of 65 music celebrities—including Britney Spears, Maroon 5, Justin Timberlake, and other stars popular with teens. Each gets paid big bucks to promote teeth-rotting brands, ranging from soda to energy drinks to pizza, Pop-Tarts and candy.

A report from the British Dental Association on the dental impact of the June 23 British referendum on whether to stay or leave the European Union. “Whether the UK votes to stay or leave, there will be implications for dentistry and the dental market.”

A new study presented at the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology finds that hand hygiene compliance at a California medical center differed dramatically when healthcare professionals knew they were being evaluated, versus when they did not.

More Federal Funding for Dental Needs in 2017

The US Congress has approved bipartisan legislation that would provide increased funding for many key advocacy concerns affecting oral and overall health, according to the American Dental Association. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research got a $17 million increase.

A Dental Hygiene Perspective on Kissing Diseases

Whom have you been kissing? Though it comes as no surprise, kissing can spread disease (even caries). Most of these diseases in question are minor, but dental professionals should be aware of a few changes in treatment that may be necessary. Here’s an interesting report.

New American Dental Hygienists’ Association President

Betty Kabel, of Fort Walton Beach, FL, was installed as the organization’s 2016-17 president during the American Dental Hygienists’ Association’s 2016 Center for Lifelong Learning at the 93rd Annual Session held in Pittsburgh this week. She joins a new slate of officers for the upcoming year.

Journal of Dental Research Tops in “Impact Factor”

The International and American Associations for Dental Research announced the 

 holds its highest Two-Year Impact Factor in the “Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine” category. The Impact Factor is a measure of the frequency with which the average article in a journal has been cited in a particular year.

With the national championship of golf being contested this weekend in Pennsylvania, it might interest readers to know that a dentist won the US Open. Dr. Cary Middlecoff, the famed golfing dentist, won the title in both 1949 and 1956. He learned the game from his dentist-father.

Our weekly look at the web's top stories for dentists.

The DMD Check-Up: Michigan Considers Mid-Level Provider Bill

A new study suggests oral hygiene may have benefits far beyond a healthy smile. That story tops this week’s DMD Check-Up. Also making the list: A shocking number of Americans say they never floss, and the world’s first dental school has its first black valedictorian.

Oral Hygiene Linked to Reduced Head and Neck Cancer

“Daily tooth brushing and annual dentist visits may reduce the risk of some head and neck cancers by a small margin,” according to a recent study in the 

. “These are common grooming habits that take very little time in the long-run and certainly couldn't hurt, whether one is at increased risk for head and neck cancer or not,” said the study leader.

New data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey find that 32% of US adults report never flossing their teeth, 37% report less than daily flossing, and 30% report daily flossing in the past week. When it comes to proper flossing, "everything goes back to education,” said the study author.

Burned by negative reviews on rating sites like Yelp, some healthcare providers (including dentists) are casting their patients’ privacy aside and sharing intimate details online as they try to rebut criticism. Most poor reviews “aren’t about the actual healthcare delivered but rather their office wait, the front office staff, billing procedures or bedside manner.”

First Black Valedictorian at the World's First School of Dentistry

“Established in 1840 as the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, the University of Maryland School of Dentistry is known as the first dental college in the world. This past week, the school again made history when it graduated the first black valedictorian in its 176-year existence. Congrats to Dr. Tera Poole.

An uplifting story about Dr. Terry Schmidt, who went from Chicago Bears defensive back to chief of dental services at a Tennessee Veterans Administration hospital and now, “he and his wife have gone on more than 30 missionary trips, combining his dental skills with evangelism, sometimes seeing hundreds of patients in a short span.”

Dentist Admits to Offshore Laundering of Millions

Dr. Robert Bandfield, “who ran an incorporation services firm in Belize, has plead guilty to conspiring to launder $250 million in proceeds from securities fraud, marking the biggest conviction yet in a new wave of investigations into businesses that help hide money offshore.”

Groundbreaking HPI Report Details State of US Oral Health

Low-income adults are 10 times more likely to rate the overall condition of their mouths as “poor,” and one-third of American adults consider their oral health “fair or poor,” according to a new report from the American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute.

Dentin Nanostructures: “Super-natural” Phenomenon

“Dentin is one of the most durable biological materials in the human body. German researchers were able to show that the reason for this can be traced to its nanostructures and specifically to the interactions between the organic and inorganic components.”

Dr. William Ayer, Pioneering Dentist and Psychologist, RIP

Dentist and psychologist William Ayer, who conducted groundbreaking research to help dentists understand patient anxiety and was also a leader in helping dentists understand how to manage the risks of treating HIV/AIDS patients, has died at age 71. Interesting obit.

Rebranding Your Dental Office for the 21st Century

“Even as society begins to understand how oral health affects total wellness, many dental practices are stuck with 20th century branding. Are you ready to bring your practice into the 21st century with a total branding transformation? Here’s how to get started.”

Our weekly look at the top dentistry stories from around the web.

The DMD Check-Up: Oral Hygiene Could Lower Risk of Head and Neck Cancers

Minnesota and Florida seniors have the best oral health, according to a new survey. That story tops this week’s DMD Check-Up. Also making the list: Pot’s effect on periodontal health, and a dentist aims to tackle the high cost of dental school.

State of Decay” - Senior Oral Health Nationwide

In a report from the Association of Health Care Journalists, the State of Minnesota has earned top marks in a new report card that ranks the oral health of elders in states across America; Florida does well too. But the news is not so good for seniors in many other states—especially in the South.

 finds that “smoking marijuana didn't influence blood pressure, cholesterol levels, or inflammation, but it did significantly worsen people's periodontal health.” Does this “latest study marshal up some convincing evidence that marijuana's toll on physical health may be far less than once feared”?

 report tells of “a nationwide push to get dental schools to help fight opioid addiction.” Also, a Harvard research team reported recently that "dentists are among the leading prescribers of opioid analgesics," particularly for surgical tooth extractions.” All from habit?

Tennessee Dentist Pulls Teeth … and Trucks

A nice slice-of-life story: Memphis dentist Tim Messer doesn’t do all his pulling in the office; he competes on the pro truck pulling circuit. One of his trucks is named Wide Open; his first truck was The Driller. “I like the noise,” he said. “That’s part of the adrenaline, to hear that motor.”

Dr. Bill Dickerson Wants to Rejuvenate Dentistry

An informative Q&A with the dentist-CEO of the Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Dental Studies (LVI Global), who has built a business determined to change the image of dentistry. How is it that “67% of dentists wouldn’t go into dentistry if they could start over again?”

Average Annual Family Healthcare Costs Reaches $25,000

The average total cost of healthcare for the typical US family of four will top $25,000 in 2016, according to the Milliman Medical Index. This includes the average cost of health insurance paid by employers and employees, as well as deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses for the most common type of health plan.

Many Adults with Dental Insurance Don’t File Claims

More than one-third of adults with private dental benefits did not have a single dental claim within the year, according to a new ADA Health Policy Institute analysis. And “for the majority of adults, total copayments, coinsurance and premiums exceed the market value of their dental care.”

One of the internet’s better websites geared toward millennials offers up some financial wisdom: “there are several ways to save money on dental care, and some may surprise you.” Dentists could be well served by educating themselves on how the patients in this category think and act.

“What happens in the bedroom may have a lot to do with what happens in the bathroom,” finds a new Delta Dental survey—nearly 75% of women consider good oral health one of the sexiest qualities in a man.

With the average dental school graduate having nearly $250,000 in student debt, Dr. Douglas Carlsen, founder of a financial consulting firm for dentists, offers a plan on how to dig out and prosper. “Dentists have not, in many instances, been prepared well for the real world of employment and possible business ownership.”

Our weekly roundup of the top dentistry-related stories on the web.

The DMD Check-Up: Minnesota Seniors Have Best Oral Health

A new smartphone-paired, video-enabled toothbrush will set your patients back about $400, but its dentist-inventor thinks it will improve patient compliance with oral health recommendations. That story tops this week’s DMD Check-Up. Also making the list: Native Americans challenge bans on dental therapists, and a high-profile murder case involving a dentist gets underway in New York.

Developed by Illinois dentist Craig Kohler, the Prophix is a new toothbrush with a miniature video camera that lets users see inside their mouths with a smartphone app while they brush. “When people understand, they usually take better care of things," explains Dr. Kohler, who has invested more than $1 million in the product.

‘The American Dental Association Is No Friend to American Indian Tribes

A report in the paper of record on the “poor oral health that has plagued tribal lands across the nation.” Facing a scarcity of dentists, Native American tribes in Washington State are using dental therapists. Since the state won’t pay for care by dental therapists, the tribes are raising private funds. “We had to take matters into our own hands,” explains Brian Cladoosby president of the National Congress of American Indians. The ADA says it understands the tribes’ intentions, but maintains that dental procedures should be performed by trained dentists.

New York Dentist in Sensational Murder Trial

A rather in-depth report on the murder trial that began this week of a New York dentist charged with fatally poisoning his lover’s husband nearly five years ago. The “lovesick” Dr. Gilberto Nunez allegedly used the dental sedative Midazolam to deadly effect.

 “Proper Dental Care Should be a Human Right”

So says one of the nation’s more prominent dentists—Dr. Donald Berwick, president emeritus at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. “Tooth decay does not make headlines, but the downstream consequences of poor dental care are severe, such as poor nutrition, serious infections, degraded school performance, and acute and chronic pain.”

“Would you like to see more patients not only accept treatment but pay for it before or at time of service?” All dentists would. A veteran dental consultant offers many thoughtful, practical, and helpful tips that will make you “wish you had started sooner.”

Orthodontist, innovator, dental professor, Ironman athlete, motivational speaker, world traveler, family man, and humanitarian—this California dentist accomplishment so much during his all too brief life. Here’s a thorough biographical-obit. He was “like watching perfection softened by the kind glow of humility.”

In the “that’s no fun” department, new paleontology research from the University of Toronto “suggests that theropods—those "beast-footed" terrestrial carnivores&mdash;had lips and gums that covered most of their teeth, challenging toothy ideas of what they looked like.”

Baby Teeth Could Be Key to Good Health Later

Medical University of South Carolina researchers “are on the forefront of a major medical discovery—harvesting stem cells that one day could be used to regenerate tissue, other cells, and even entire organs.” Look at baby teeth, “like an investment or as insurance on your own health or your children's health.”

6 Nutritional Rules That Everyone Can Agree On

The FDA announced this week that it will reevaluate its definition of what is “healthy,” a move that could change how many common foods are marketed and labeled. With that, here are six eating rules that are mostly undisputed.

Half of US Cancer Deaths Due to Bad Habits

As many as 40% of cancer cases, and half of cancer deaths, come down to things people could easily change, according to a Harvard Medical School research team. “If people quit smoking, avoided heavy drinking, kept a healthy weight, and got just a half hour a day of moderate exercise” most cancer could be prevented.

Our weekly roundup of the top dentistry-related news from around the Web.

The DMD Check-Up: The $400 Toothbrush Arrives

A dentist lays out the thing he wishes he’d known before stepping into the profession. That story tops this week’s DMD Check-Up. Also making the list: Should dentists restrain children during procedures?

12 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Became a Dentist

A California dentist offers up personal insights on his chosen profession. From: “get ready for everyone to constantly tell you how much they hate dentists” to  “[E]ven if people hate coming in, it's worth it when they leave smiling.”

Musculoskeletal issues Most Common Problem for Dentists

“Dentists claim musculoskeletal and psychiatric disorders are the biggest health problems for the profession,” according to a Dentists’ Provident report. “One day you’re happily caring for patients, the next day the pain hits and you’re barely able to move.”

Which Is More Important: Streaming TV or Brushing Your Teeth?

Think it’s a problem? According to a recent Roku survey, 21% of Americans said they would rather give up brushing their teeth for an entire week than not be able to stream television.” And “40% said they’ve cancelled plans just to stream a program.”

Controversial Dental Restraint Sparks Debate

“Some parents claim their kids were tortured and traumatized during a trip to the dentist, and they blame a controversial restraint device,” according to this report from Boston. “There are psychological ramifications after having used that. It's kind of a dental PTSD," says one dentist.

Mixing Dental and Medical Care Would Reduce Cost and Pain

A report about a Massachusetts “initiative of Health Care For All's Oral Health Advocacy Task Force. The project is based around the idea that incorporating oral health in accountable care organizations and more closely aligning medical and dental care can both save money and improve a patient's overall well-being.”

Dentist Accused of Fraud Puts US Global Cop Role at Risk

A report about Robert Bandfield—“a US citizen who practiced dentistry in Canada decades ago, is accused of masterminding a $250 million financial fraud in Belize that allegedly sold sham companies to investors from the US and elsewhere to facilitate illegal trading, tax evasion, and money laundering.”

Rural South Carolina’s Oral Health Crisis

“Five times more common than asthma, tooth decay is the most common chronic disease for children and is almost completely preventable,” according to this story authored by some top state dentists. When it comes to “untreated decay and treatment urgency needs, disparities between rural and urban communities remained pronounced.”

“Acetaminophen, the most common drug ingredient in the United States, can reduce a person's capacity to empathize with another person's pain, whether that pain is physical or emotional,” according to new research in the journal 

Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience

Our weekly roundup of the top stories from around the web for dentists.

The DMD Check-Up: 'What I Wish I'd Known Before I Became a Dentist'

Millennials are embracing cosmetic dentistry, even asking for “dental bling,” according to a new report. That story tops this week’s DMD Check-Up. Also making the list: A new study says dentists prescribe too many opioids for too long, and legislators in Texas investigate sedation dentistry.

Millennials Looking for “Dental Bling”

The state of dentistry? A news video report out of New Jersey about how cosmetic dentistry care is soaring across the United States—reaching some $16 billion last year. “Dentists say around 60% of their patients are millennials who come in for everything from Invisalign to “dental bling.”

A new study has found that dentists’ prescriptions for opioids after tooth extractions are often for too long and for too many pills. “We have gotten away from thinking about opioids as dangerous medications,” explains the co-author from Harvard Medical School, “and dentists may not be as conservative as they need to be with respect to using them.”

Dental Health Lacking in Communities of Color

“Dental care is one of the nation’s greatest unmet health needs,” according to a new study by the Pew Charitable Trusts. “In particular, communities of color have much higher rates of tooth decay and tooth loss and fewer dental visits and preventive treatments than white populations.”

The Dangers of Being Put Under at Dental Offices

A detailed news report from Texas about problems involved with the growing field of sedation dentistry. “A state lawmaker is demanding changes after an investigation discovers little oversight on dentists putting patients under sedation.” Plus, the state’s board of dental examiners rarely disciplines wayward dentists.

In news from Florida, “the number of dental-related visits to state emergency departments is surging,” according to a new study in the 

. "The emergency department is about the least appropriate, most expensive place you can go for dental care," explains a University of Florida dentistry professor study co-author.

According to the latest Oral Health Survey among the British, 21% of 5-year-olds will have tooth decay when they begin the new school year. That’s down from 25% four years ago, a drop the director of dental public health at Public Health England calls “great news.”

Two Out of Three Connecticut Adults Visit the Dentist

The American state that is first in per capita income ($45,877), is second best at going to the dentist (76.1%). They trail only “Massachusetts by 0.1%, according to a survey from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.”

They can indeed, according to this compelling profile of Dr. Kate Brown—a practicing California dentist who says “what other people get from yoga or meditation, I get from boxing.” The “dentist by day, boxer by night” mix is about “always wanting to do something with my hands.”

Medical Error a Leading Cause of US Deaths

 “shows that ‘medical errors’ in hospitals and other healthcare facilities are incredibly common and may now be the third-leading cause of death in the United States—claiming 251,000 lives every year.” Dentistry isn’t immune.

Here's a look at this week's top dentistry-related news stories from across the web.

The DMD Check-Up: Millennials Drive Demand for 'Dental Bling'

A dentist in California has pleaded guilty to stealing around $1 million from a Teamster-sponsored healthcare plan. That story tops this week’s DMD Check-Up. Also making the list: scrutiny of dental clinics in Texas and a new report on the business climate for dentists.

California Dentist Scams Teamsters for $1 Million

Dr. David Lewis “for a while seemed as resourceful in his billing as he was in his drilling. But in the end, the Sacramento dentist was too clever by a half.”  He recently pleaded guilty in federal court “for defrauding a Teamster-sponsored healthcare plan for UPS employees out of at least $1 million in unnecessary or nonexistent work.”

A troubling new CDC study shows that most people ignore dentists' advice on flossing. “The first nationally representative analysis found that those who floss daily amount to just 30% of the population.” Lead study author Duong Nguyen says: “We need to increase education.”

Medicaid Dental Clinics Accused of Overtreatment

A very troubling report from Texas: “lawyers, dentists, and pediatric patients' parents have alleged the clinics, often propped up by corporate entities, overbill Medicaid and put at great risk the most vulnerable patients—children.” This dental malpractice, “principally at corporate 'Medicaid clinics' seeking to maximize profits, is a disaster."

Relocating? Consider Setting Up Shop in Port St. Lucie, FL

Here’s a quality summary of the 2016 Best Cities for Dentists list recently compiled by ValuePenguin. Florida Focus: “The city boasts an average annual salary of more than $225,000 for dentists, yet its cost of living is less expensive than average.”

With the top of the ticket mostly settled for 2016 (Trump vs. Clinton), down ballet candidates are now coming into the picture. Two Republican dentists—Dr. Drew Ferguson of Georgia and Dr. Fred Costello of Florida&mdash;are seeking seats in the US House of Representatives this November. They men hope to join the three other dentists already in Congress.

2016 American Dental Hygienists’ Association Annual Meeting

If a member of your dental staff needs more or new training (plenty of CE) or just deserves some work-outside-the-office time, then it might be worth looking into attendance at the nation’s largest gathering of dental hygiene professionals set for June 8-14 in Pittsburgh Here’s a report on the event.

Dr. Robert Randolph, Dentist and Investor, RIP

Nice obit. A professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry by day. At night, “in his basement workshop, he crafted garden sculptures out of recycled materials. He patented other creations. He produced a portable “Trailside Dentistry” kit designed to help people in developing countries and the dentists who treated them.”

Several myths about bad breath (which affects up to 87% of us at some point) have been debunked, according to a new published in the journal 

. The study identifies gum disease as the most common cause of halitosis and a person’s mood can also make a difference.

Our weekly look at the top dental industry news from around the web.