Joe Hannan

	— Dentist'sMoneyDigest (@DentistsMoney) 

Dentist Extracted Tooth While Riding Hoverboard, Authorities Say

 Yes, you read that right. An anchorage, Alaska dentist is accused of performing a tooth extraction while standing on a hoverboard. If you’re going to do something like that, naturally, you would film it and share it with all your friends — as this dentist is accused of doing. The dentist also allegedly billed Medicaid for about $2 million in unnecessary sedation.

Lock In These Summer Travel Deals While You Still Can

 Go to the beach for less. These three deals offer you more for your money at popular all-inclusive properties in Mexico, a luxury resort in Nevis and a trendy hotel in Miami’s South Beach. But you need to act quickly. Each of these ideal summer vacation deals has an expiration date.

 What services are you getting in return for the state taxes that you pay? In its latest analysis, WalletHub looked at the return on investment taxpayers are getting in each state. Dentist’s Money Digest® previously reported on the study, highlighting 

. Unfortunately for residents in these states, this is where it’s the worst.

Dentists are Bullish on Growth, Technology Investment, Survey Shows

 After several years of lower expectations, dentists once again are opening their checkbooks to make investments in overall practice health, according to a recently released survey from TD Bank. That’s a reflection of the overall optimism dentists feel regarding revenue growth in the coming years. About two-thirds of respondents said they expect their practice revenue to grow in the near term.

The DMD Check-Up: Clear Coffee to Fight Tooth Stains

 Two brothers from the U.K. who grew tired of dealing with coffee stains on their teeth have developed a clear variety. This new coffee tastes like the real deal, with the duo comparing it to a strong cup of cold brew. In other dental news, another fluoride battle is raging in Virginia and Texas is looking to further regulate dental anesthesia. 

Discover more Dentist's Money Digest® news here

Articles

A dentist is accused of performing a tooth extraction while standing on a hoverboard and videotaping the stunt to share with his friends. A few travel websites have announced last-minute deals for summer vacationers. And taxpayers in these states aren't getting much in return of the money they pay. Find out what other stories were among our five most popular last week.

The DMD Top 5 for the Week Ending April 28

AUSTIN DENTIST WON’T FACE DISCIPLINARY CHARGES IN TODDLER’S DEATH

An Austin dentist will not face Texas state dental board censure in the death of a toddler who died under anesthesia during a procedure.

CBS Austin updates us on the status of Michael Melanson, D.M.D., who was under review after 14-month-old Daisy Torres died under his care at Austin Children’s Dentistry. Dentist’s Money Digest® previously reported on this tragedy after Daisy’s parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit was filed against Melanson.

Texas board examiners dropped the investigation after saying they lacked sufficient evidence to continue, the report says.

In the lawsuit, Daisy’s parents say they were first told she needed two fillings. Then, after the procedure began, they say they were told Daisy would need four root canals and four crowns. Later, Daisy would die after complications from anesthesia.

The parents’ lawsuit says that the procedures were “painful” and “unnecessary.”

The U.S. trade debate may have some implications for dentistry. A recent 

 highlights the fact that nearly 40 percent of restoration products that are used in the U.S. originate in China or Mexico. Bloomberg notes that these cheaper restorative materials sell for a fraction of the price of their U.S.-made equivalents, and help boost profits for group practices and larger corporate entities, such as dental service organizations.

The article details how DSOs have been able to capitalize on their corporate buying power, coupled with overseas mass-production abilities.

“The voracious market for discount choppers, along with industry consolidation and technology advancements, has contributed during the past decade to the closing of about half of U.S. dental labs,” Bloomberg reports.

The article explores the question of whether policy that pushes dentistry away from foreign-made restorations will be a boon for labs in the U.S., and/or whether it will make dental visits more expensive for patients.

A Miami dentist took community service to a higher level this week when he performed free reconstructive surgery for a woman who lost five teeth after her husband allegedly beat her and threw her from a moving van.

 on Steven Roth, D.M.D, who replaced five of Kariza Fernandes’ missing teeth. Fernandes says her husband trapped her in a van and began striking her. Eventually, her husband accelerated and she was thrown from the vehicle. She was then hospitalized with a broken jaw, nose and the five missing teeth, CBSMiami reports.

“I looked like a dead person walking, totally destroyed,” Fernandes said.

A friend referred her to Roth, CBSMiami reports, who then offered to do the surgery for free.

“Dentistry is an interesting art, and when you have the reward of making somebody smile and making them feel good about themselves, there’s nothing better,” Roth says in the report.

CBSMiami reports that Fernandes has documented every step of her journey in hopes of inspiring other battered women to come forward.

Prepare for more patients to start asking you about banking baby teeth and wisdom teeth for their stem cells.

 this week on how the trend, which is based on preliminary research, is gaining acceptance in developing countries. The thinking is that the stem cells in the teeth can be saved for later in life when they might be needed for potentially life-saving procedures.

The report, however, highlights the scientific divide over the procedure. Many say it’s just too early to know whether or not we’ll be able to harness these stem cells’ healing abilities in the future.

The Texas dental board has cleared Michael Melanson, D.M.D., of any wrongdoing in the death of 14-month-old Daisy Torress, who died while under anesthesia in the doctor's practice. A wrongful death lawsuit, filed by Daisy's parents, is still pending. In the lawsuit, the parents allege that Daisy was given treatment that was excessive and unnecessary, which ultimately led to her death.

DMD Check-Up: Board Clears Dentist in Toddler's Death

A new Dentist’s Money Digest® readership poll shows how dentists feel about Dental Service Organizations.

It seems that dental service organizations have an image problem.

 revealed that more than three quarters of surveyed dentists believe that DSOs have a negative impact on the field of dentistry.

Dentist’s Money Digest® distributed the survey to dentists on its electronic mailing lists, circulated the poll on social media, and posted it on its 

. To be counted in the survey, participants had to self-identify as dentists. The survey included a sample size of 64 dentists and was intended to glean insights about the perception of DSOs among our readers who are practicing dentists.

Survey respondents were asked to rate their perception of DSOs on a scale of one to seven, with one being negative and seven being positive. The findings:

		77 percent thought that DSOs had a negative effect on dentistry.

		21 percent felt that DSOs were positive for dentistry.

In an open-ended portion of the survey, dentists were asked to explain their reasons for disliking DSOs. Some of those reasons included:

		“They are forcing small business people out of the field because we can’t compete with advertising and other money-pooling gimmicks.”

		“I have worked for a few and they are not patient-focused.”

		“Too much money is directed away from dental care; the patient is not the focus.”

The business of dentistry is currently at a crossroads with many dentists having to choose between the traditional, small-business model of dentistry, and partnering with the larger, corporate entities known as DSOs. Both approaches have their advantages, since, as 

Dentist’s Money Digest® reported in its debut February print edition

, the debt load carried by current dental school grads is changing the game.

“You come out of school and you own $300,000 bucks in student loans or more,” Patrick Wood, founder of Wood & Delgado, a dental legal firm in Mission Viejo, California, said in that report. “You can go into the corporate world and right off the bat do fairly well.”

Coupled with that debt load is an unfamiliarity with the skills required to run a dental practice. The survey also looked to determine how prepared dentists are for practice ownership. Using the same one-to-seven scale, with one representing no training and seven representing well-trained, here is what we found:

		42 percent of surveyed dentists said they received little to no business training.

		41 percent said they had some training.

Corporate dentistry also has its appeal to doctors who are near the end of their career, the same report concluded. Maria G. Melone, CPA, CVA, and partner at MORR Dental Solutions in Wesborough, Massachusetts, told Dentist’s Money Digest® that many dentists are fed up with decades of business “headaches.” Selling their practice to a DSO also has its business advantages.

One of the many arguments for DSOs is that they enable dentists to focus on providing better patient care while worrying less about the business side of running a practice. More than half of respondents — 53 percent – considered DSOs a viable option for dentists with limited business acumen, while only 25 percent said DSOs allow dentists to be more attentive to patient care.

Currently, the American Dental Association estimates that 7.8 percent of dentists are part of a DSO. In the Dentist’s Money Digest® February report, Dave Preble, D.D.S., vice president of the ADA’s practice institute, said the association feels the public is best served by practices that are owned by dentists, though it counts dentists belonging to DSOs or dentists who own DSOs among its members.

“Currently, that’s the only way to have any legitimate oversight on making sure they’re doing the right thing,” Preble said.

The Dentist’s Money Digest® February report also included insights from DSO dentists who refuted the idea that DSOs direct clinical decisions.

“You hear the word ‘quotas’ a lot,” said Lorne Yasbin, D.M.D., of Dental One Associates in Frederick, Maryland. “Like, ‘You have to do this many procedures’ or ‘Why aren’t you doing this?’ I’ve been here for 15 years; I own the practice. All the clinical decisions are made by the clinicians.” There’s never been any input or discussion about clinical decisions from non-clinical personnel, he added.

A poll of Dentist's Money Digest readers revealed that 77 percent of dentists held negative views of dental service organizations, saying that DSOs hurt dentistry. The news comes at a time when the business of dentistry is at a crossroads, with dentists having to choose between the traditional, small-business model of dentistry and the new, corporate approach of DSOs. DSO proponents say they allow dentists to worry less about the business side of running a practice and focus more on dentistry. Detractors say they are too profit-driven and do not have the patients' best interest at heart.

Dentists Hold Negative View of DSOs, Survey Shows

Good news for your coffee-loving patients who are concerned about keeping their teeth white. A company called CLR CFF has debuted a clear version of the beloved beverage that tastes like cold-brewed coffee.

The brew was created by two U.K. brothers, Esquire reports

, “We are heavy coffee drinkers. Like many other people, we struggled with teeth stains caused by it. There was nothing on the market that would suit our needs, so we decided to create our own recipe.”

That recipe, Esquire reports, uses “high-quality Arabica coffee beans” and brewing “methods which have never been used before.” Esquire also says that bartenders are using the beverage to whip up some innovative cocktails.

EPA and the ADA firmly supporting fluoride

, a water authority in Virginia has decided to remove the mineral from the public water supply.

 that the Bedford Regional Water Authority voted on Thursday night to take fluoride out of its water, citing community complaints and logistics. WSLS10 quotes a local dentist, 

, as saying that the authority has set up thousands of children for cavities.

“It seems like a no-brainer,” Libbey says in the report. “This is a very inexpensive, effective way to reduce our patients’ rate of cavities.”

		Push made for tougher laws in dentist offices after dozens die under anesthesia 

TEXAS LOOKS TO TOUGHEN ANESTHESIA REQUIREMENTS

Citing a spate of recent deaths while under dental anesthesia, a Texas state senator has proposed legislation that would bolster regulations for dentists who offer anesthesia for patients.

 that Sen. Charles Schwertner, who is also an orthopedic surgeon, proposed the legislation, citing “public outrage” around the death of a 39-old-man who went under anesthesia in 2011, and around an October incident that left another girl with severe brain damage.

The legislation, if approved by the state House and signed by the Texas governor, would require more education for dentists who wish to offer anesthesia, and establish a permitting process.

Got a news tip for the DMD Check-Up? Email managing editor Joe Hannan: 

Two brothers from the U.K. who grew tired of dealing with coffee stains on their teeth have developed a clear variety. This new coffee tastes like the real deal, with the duo comparing it to a strong cup of cold brew. In other dental news, another fluoride battle is raging in Virginia and Texas is looking to further regulate dental anesthesia.

Every dental practice needs a nerd in its corner, especially if the dentist doesn’t want to get ripped off.

That was Steve McEvoy’s message during his continuing education session on Saturday, April 21 at the 

American Association of Orthodontists 2017 Annual Session

 in San Diego. McEvoy, who is the president of 

, spoke as part of a theme of lectures, called Mega Trends for Doctors & Ortho Team. His lecture, titled “The Love/Hate Relationship with our Computers: Come Get Some Love,” focused on a megatrend that is negatively affecting dental and orthodontic practices: IT rip-offs.

“I spend every day in practices as a nerd,” McEvoy said, noting that he uses the term lovingly. “I learn the fixes so you don’t have to make the mistakes.”

One of those mistakes, McEvoy said, is putting too much trust in your IT team.

“What do IT people and mosquitoes have in common? They’re blood-sucking leaches,” he said with some sarcasm.

Smarter Alloys Debuts SmartArch VariTorque Archwire

There are opportunities for IT people to take advantage of doctors, either to cut corners or to save money. Most IT people, McEvoy said, are trustworthy, but there are some “that can reach out and exploit you.

Here are four common ways dentists and orthodontists are getting ripped off.

Sometimes, McEvoy said, IT people will sell their customers software that they don’t deliver. The software might be operating on your computer, but is it properly licensed? If it isn’t, a disgruntled employee, a competitor, or an old IT person you’ve parted ways with, could turn you in to Microsoft, leaving you on the hook for potentially tens of thousands of dollars in fines. You need to physically possesses the licenses, McEvoy said. A sales receipt isn’t sufficient proof. Many times, McEvoy said, IT people will sell you the software but never give you the physical license so that they can reuse it.

Your best defense is to ask your IT person to perform a license audit. Tell him or her you want a physical copy of each one, then keep them all in one place in case Microsoft comes knocking.

McEvoy provided an example of just how widespread a problem ransomware is. Logging into the system he uses to monitor security for his clients, he showed how one of his client’s practices had repelled 1,200 cyberattacks from Russia in the past 24 hours. This, he said, was not atypical, and it was not specific to this one client. Typically, McEvoy said, hackers will use ransomware to hijack your patient data, then encrypt the data with a password only they know, grinding your practice to a halt. They’ll then demand payment in Bitcoin, which is untraceable, for you to get your patient data back.

To defend your practice, McEvoy said you need to use a Unified Threat Management internet firewall, which will screen incoming emails from ransomware, as well as stop you before you navigate to a dangerous site. You can also enable geoblocking with a UTM, which will allow you to restrict all access from a specific country, such as China or Russia, which are sources of many ransomware attacks.

 Many times, your IT provider will try to sell you hand-built PCs. He or she will say that these PCs will be built exactly to your practice’s specifications and will be cheaper than name brands, such as Dell or HP. What they’re not telling you is that by selling you a hand-built PC, they’ve effectively made you a customer for life, because only they can fix it. Also, you’re limited in the event of needing a part replaced, McEvoy explained. Major PC makers stockpile parts for years. Your IT provider doesn’t. Furthermore, McEvoy has seen IT providers sell PCs to dentists that they say are brand new, but are refurbished.

To avoid this rip-off, McEvoy says you should always demand new, name-brand equipment.

“Ask your IT person to sell you a major brand name,” he said. “This is even more important for your server.”

It’s a wonderful thing, McEvoy said, but cloud storage, such as DropBox or Google Drive, can really mess up your internet connection. Synching to the cloud requires a ton of upload bandwidth, so much so that it can cripple an internet connection. He gave this example: Say you’re using DropBox to share files among PCs in your practice. You upload a bite wing image, it gets beamed up to the loud, then out to each of your 10 office PCs. It’s no wonder things get slow whenever you attempt to do this. The same thing can happen with scheduled file backups.

Your best defense in this instance is again, your UTM. Your IT support provider can use the UTM to see when uploads are spiking, crippling your internet connection. He or she can then manually set the percentage of upload bandwidth that each application can use, or schedule backups for times that don’t fall during business hours.

Discover more Dentist’s Money Digest conference coverage here

Your IT service provider might be ripping you off, doctor. But it doesn't have to be like that. Steve McEvoy, CEO of MME Consulting, described four common IT rip-offs that he's seen hurt dentists, in his continuing education session, titled The Love/Hate Relationship with our Computers: Come Get Some Love, at the American Association of Orthodontists 2017 Annual Session on Saturday, April 21 in San Diego. For each of these four common rip-offs, there's a way to defend yourself. Here's how.

AAO 2017: 4 Ways to Prevent IT Rip-Offs

Mouth-Mate's felxible head can help braces-wearers move their cheeks and lips out of the away to brush around brackets.

Armor Dental, the company behind Mouth-Mate, a product designed to protect oral wounds while brushing, launched the product at the 

American Academy of Orthodontists 2017 Annual Session

Dentist’s Money Digest® reported on this product

, which uses rubber tips and a flexible head to cover oral wounds, allowing patients to brush in comfort, in February when it was announced. The launch comes at the Annual Session because, according to a 

 from Armor Dental, Mouth-Mate also has applications for orthodontics.

RELATED: More Coverage from the AAO 2017 Annual Session

Experience San Diego’s Craft Beer Scene

Orthodontic patients can use Mouth-Mate’s flexible head to retract their cheeks and lips, allowing them better access to areas that are often blocked by orthodontia. This will make brushing and flossing for braces-wearers easier, the company says, leading to plaque and cavity reduction, as well as fewer white spots.

, who practices at Hanover Orthodontics in Hanover, Massachusetts, praising the product.

“We must remember that orthodontic patients with new braces effectively have a new mouth, and will benefit from this new approach to hygiene at home,” Mazzocco said, noting that better brushing for orthodontic patients “can help eliminate the risk of developing gingivitis, white spots, cavities, and manage biofilm.”

As previously reported by Dentist’s Money Digest®, Mouth-Mate isn’t just for orthodontic patients. Dental patients recovering from implants, bone grafting, soft tissue grafting and extractions can use the oval tip to shield surgical cites.

Mouth-Mate is available through Henry Schein Dental. Orthodontists can see live demos of the product at the Annual Session, from today through Tuesday, April 25.

Discover more Dentist’s Money Digest® conference coverage here

Armor Dental chose the American Association of Orthodontists 2017 Annual Session to launch its new product, Mouth-Mate. The company says Mouth-Mate will help orthodontic patients retract their cheeks and lips, helping them reach those hard-to-brush places. This will lead to fewer white spots and cavities, as well as plaque and biofilm reduction.

AAO 2017: New Product to Help Braces-Wearers Brush

Smarter Alloys made news on Saturday, April 22 at the American Association of Orthodontists Annual Session in San Diego by announcing its new SmartArch VariTorque archwire.

, a Canadian company based in Waterloo, Ontario, SmartArch VariTorque uses rectangular wires to better control force applied to teeth.

These new wires, Smarter Alloys says, “express the biomechanically optimized force at each tooth,” making treatment more effective.

RELATED: More Coverage from the American Association of Orthodontists Annual Session

The company notes that VariTorque breaks new ground, because it is the first rectangular archwire to apply variable torsion flex to each bracket “for tooth-to-tooth torque expression.”  The company says that this new technology translates to eliminating the need for different wire sizes. That causes an increase in bracket slot play, which reduces torque expression. These two factors allow for earlier torque and rotational activations with gentler forces, the company says.

“We’re adding another dimension of force control to SmartArch,” said Michael Kuntz, PhD, M.B.A., and vice president of operations. “Rectangular VariTorque wires offer orthodontists the most advanced torque control available in an archwire.”

Smarter Alloys notes that orthodontists can also use VariTorque after using the SmartArch Universal round wire to reduce overall treatment time.

“SmartArch is now a complete archwire solution for orthodontists,” said 

, PhD and CEO of Smarter Alloys. “Today, we’re able to offer the full range of forces required for alignment, levelling, rotation and torque for every tooth in a simple two-wire system.”

Ten packs of SmartArch will cost U.S. orthodontists $150. The new technology is on display at the Annual Session through Tuesday, April 25.

Saying the new rectangular wire will shorten treatment time and reduce forces applied to teeth, Smarter Alloys unveiled its new SmartArch VariTorque Archwire on Saturday, April 22 at the American Association of Orthodontists Annual Session in San Diego, California. The new wires, the company says, express the biomechanically optimized force at each tooth.

AAO 2017: Smarter Alloys Debuts SmartArch VariTorque Archwire

		An Anchorage dentist is charged with Medicaid fraud, and operating on an unconcious woman while riding a hoverboard.

UNEASY RIDER: DENTIST PERFORMED EXTRACTION WHILE RIDING HOVERBOARD, AUTHORITIES SAY

Would you perform a tooth extraction on a sedated patient while standing on a hoverboard? Moreover, would you film your hoverboard tooth extraction and send it to your friends?

Well, that’s what one Alaska dentist is accused of doing, in addition to committing 17 counts of Medicaid fraud.

 earlier this week that Seth Lookhart, D.M.D., of Clear Creek Dental in Anchorage, allegedly provided patients with unnecessary sedation to bilk the Medicaid program. The news outlet attributed the charges to court documents. The State’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the Office of Inspector General, and FBI as well as DEA agents carried out the investigation, the Daily News reports.

The office manager, Shauna Cranford, was also snared in the investigation. The Daily News says she faces 16 charges.

Lookhart is accused of billing about $2 million in fraudulent intravenous sedation to Medicaid, in addition to taking money from his employer, the Daily News reports. He has been deemed a flight risk by the state, due to his connections to Brazil, where he has a dental clinic and is in “apparent possession of significant financial resources,” the Daily News reports.

Yes, you read that right. An anchorage, Alaska dentist is accused of performing a tooth extraction while standing on a hoverboard. If you're going to do something like that, naturally, you would film it and share it with all your friends, as this dentist is accused of doing. The dentist also allegedly billed Medicaid for about $2 million in unnecessary sedation.

		VITA introduces new wireless shade scanner 

The DMD Check-Up: Inside a Shockingly Dirty Dental Clinic

 Shocking pictures snapped in a Russian dental clinic caught our attention this week, as did a Tennessee dentist’s epic save of a one-year-old’s birthday cake. Among more serious dental matters, a New York dentist has been charged in a $12,000 crown-billing scheme. And a University of Buffalo study shows that children with Type 2 Diabetes tend of have poor oral health.

New Orthodontic Tech May Spell the End of Metal Braces

 The days of metal braces may be numbered. The University of Alabama is recruiting study participants for a trial of a new orthodontic treatment option that uses air to reposition teeth. Trial participants must wear the device for 10 hours daily. It can be worn while sleeping. The trial is expected to last 15 months.

2 Big Retirement Mistakes that Dentists Make

 You may not be as ready for retirement as you think you are. For example, have you talked to your spouse about what he or she will do with you being around the house more often? Kerry Straine, CPBA and CEO of Straine Consulting, says that this is one of two common retirement mistakes he sees dentists making. Discover the second, and how to avoid both, in this clip.

7 Can't-Miss Festivals and Food Celebrations This Spring, Summer

 Add another level of entertainment to your getaway plans. Celebrate spring and summer by joining in a festival. From light shows to Native American dancers, rock bands, to barbecue and ethnic food, festivals and celebrations add fun to your vacation or getaway.

 Approximately 10 percent of a dental practice’s overhead is tied up in lab costs. Partnering with the right digital dental lab can be a boon or a bust when it comes to affecting that debt percentage. Gary Kaye, D.D.S., F.A.G.D., explains how building a strong business relationship with your dental lab will save you money in the long run. 

A dental filthy public dental in Russia turned our heads, and possibly your stomachs, last week. In orthodontic news, the days of metal braces may be numbered. Finally, it seems like dentists are making two major retirement planning mistakes, according to one of our experts. Find out what other two stories were among our five most popular this week.

The DMD Top 5 for the Week Ending April 7

		Georgia dental hygienists, dentists at odds over program for kids 

Under a new bill passed by the Georgia legislature, hygienists would be able to provide patients with basic dental care without the direct supervision of a dentist.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported on its passage

, which took place on Thursday. The bill, which was years in the making, now requires the governor’s signature for it to become law.

According to the Journal Constitution, the bill’s sponsors, Rep. Sharon Cooper and State Sen. Rene Unterman, both Republicans, have said that dental industry lobbying efforts have thwarted its passage in the past. This year, the Georgia Dental Association threw its support behind the bill.

The Journal Constitution reports that lawmakers hope the bill will improve access to oral healthcare. If signed into law, it will allow hygienists to perform cleanings and preventative care without a dentist present in settings such as health centers, school clinics and dental offices. Unterman and Cooper say this will help stem the flow of dental patients to hospital emergency rooms.

		Meet Jennifer Plotnick, hipster dentist 

Millennials: They’re taking over the workforce and they’re going to comprise a major component of your patient base for the years to come. Curious about what kind of experience they want? Check out this 

Plotnick’s Practice, Grand Street Dental, is in the mecca of hipsterdom: Williamsburg, Brooklyn. She’s chosen to decorate her office with work from her artist husband. And, as the article says, her office could easily be mistaken for a yoga studio. This tech- and marketing-savvy doctor has fully 

Could you say the same for your practice? Food for thought, if you’re looking to spruce the place up, or if you’re a young dentist looking to start a practice of your own.

A New York dentist has been charged with insurance fraud, 

Authorities allege that Martin A. Sorbero, D.D.S., 62, of Canajoharie, has been charged with forgery, larceny and falsifying business records. Sorbero is accused of creating a false insurance claim application to Care Credit. He received $11,000 for the false claim, the Daily Gazette reports.

Authorities said they have identified other fraud victims, including a deceased woman, though they declined to say how many. According to the Daily Gazette, Sorbero has been sued twice for allegedly performing unnecessary work.

		A free dental clinic in Mt. Airy has helped hundreds smile a little brighter today. 

	— Bailey Pennington (@Bailey_Marie93) 

North Carolina dentists gathered for a day of charity work on Saturday, April 1, providing more than 500 people in the community with free dental care.

 that people started lining up for the free care at 10 p.m. the night prior, with some traveling from as far away as Georgia. According to CBS, some waited for as long as 12 hours to see the dentist.  

Got a news tip? See something you’d like to have included in the DMD Check-Up? Email Dentist’s Money Digest managing editor Joe Hannan: 

A bill passed by the Georgia legislature would expand the scope of practice for hygienists. It now goes to the governor for final approval. If signed, the bill will allow hygienists to perform typical hygiene work as well as some basic preventative procedures without direct oversight of a dentist. The measure had been opposed by the dental lobby for years, but the Georgia Dental Association announced its support for the measure this year.