Joe Hannan

 is just as an important question to ask yourself as 

. Somewhere lurking in your blissful dream of a retirement paradise could be the nasty nightmare of a bank-breaking property tax bill. After all, paradise can be expensive.

As your permanent departure from the workforce nears--and you are 

 while confronted daily by the cavernousness of your empty nest--you might be contemplating relocation as part of your retirement strategy. It behooves you to weigh your options and scout locations well in advance.

Regardless of where you end up, if current trends prevail, property taxes will continue their upward creep nationwide. The latest 

 shows a clear upward trend in state and local property tax revenue, collected from 2006 to present. So, in addition to life’s certainties of death and taxes, you can also likely include 

There are surprises lurking in this most recent Census Bureau data. The Census breaks the country into four regions: Northeast, Midwest, West, and South. By percentage of total tax revenue (state and national), property taxes comprise the largest piece of the tax-revenue pie in the Midwest, at 29.1%. In the South, it’s even higher at 40%. This is worth noting because the South and Midwest are typically thought of as havens of low property taxes. This could indeed be the case, since this is a look at total revenue by percentage, however, it is a factor worth considering, given prevailing property tax trends.

, in 2016, the average American about $2,000 on property taxes annually. WalletHub points out that if you think you’re going to escape the tax burden during retirement by renting, think again. The tax crunch will just get passed along to you in the form of higher rent.

Since there’s no escaping the tax man, it’s best to weigh your location options. WalletHub analyzed and ranked states according to their tax burdens, factoring in the added cost of vehicle property taxes. Here is how the states, and the District of Columbia, rank, according to their current tax rates.

Top 5 States with the Lowest Property Tax Burdens

Annual Taxes on Home Priced at State Median Value: $1,405

Annual Taxes on Home Priced at State Median Value: $538

Annual Taxes on Home Priced at State Median Value: $672

Annual Taxes on Home Priced at State Median Value: $1,231

Annual Taxes on Home Priced at State Median Value: $2,601

Annual Taxes on Home Priced at State Median Value: $790

Top 5 States with the Highest Property Tax Burdens

Annual Taxes on Home Priced at State Median Value: $2,537

Annual Taxes on Home Priced at State Median Value: $3,266

Annual Taxes on Home Priced at State Median Value: $4,996

Annual Taxes on Home Priced at State Median Value: $3,959

Annual Taxes on Home Priced at State Median Value: $7,335

Articles

If selling your house and moving is a part of your retirement plan, you will want to factor in your property tax burden at your desired location.

5 States with the Highest and Lowest Property Taxes

Maybe you won’t see an influx of children with post-Halloween cavities this year.

, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). The 

 campaign is a driving force behind the effort, which is aimed at encouraging parents to lower their kids’ risk of cavities and other oral diseases by making sure they brush for 2 minutes, 2 times a day.

This year’s efforts included a social media campaign to encourage parents and children to share their brushing selfies.

 The ADA quotes Gary Price, secretary and CEO of the Dental Trade Alliance Foundation, as saying, “Lots of children enjoy extra candy around Halloween, but parents and kids should understand that eating the candy can lead to problems with their teeth.”

According to the ADA, tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among American children. The ADA also reports that parents don’t prioritize the oral health of their children, compared to issues such as school safety and nutrition.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

 (CDC) estimates that about 1 in 5 children between the ages of 5 and 11 have at least one untreated decayed tooth. Additionally, according to the CDC, children from low-income families are at an increased risk for tooth decay. These children, ages 5 to 19, experience tooth decay at a rate of about 25%, compared to 11% in higher-income households.

For parents and children who need reinforcement, the 

 contains valuable resources, including timelines for when brushing, flossing, fluoride and scheduled dental visits should occur. The group. The organization has also created a 

 as well as a free game that can be played on mobile phones.

This campaign includes materials that can promote better brushing among younger dental patients.

National Brush Day Looks to Limit Post-Halloween Cavities

Amid a recent spate of alleged sexual assaults by dentists, a Suffolk County, NY dentist has been charged with groping a female patient’s breasts during an exam, authorities said.

 from the Suffolk County Police Department, the dentist, Aziz Khan, DDS, was conducting an exam of a female patient on Sept. 12 when he began to touch her breast. The patient attempted to push his hand away, but Dr. Khan, 65, persisted, eventually squeezing her other breast.

After a verbal confrontation, Dr. Khan stopped, authorities said. Detectives later responded to his office, where he was arrested and charged with forcible touching. Dr. Khan was released on bail and scheduled for a Jan. 10 arraignment, the news release said.

 involving a different dentist. Jeffrey Krhaling, DDS, has been accused in two other alleged sexual assaults of patients, with the most recent accusations pertaining to an incident in May 2015. The alleged assault was reported to authorities on Sept. 16, 2016, the report says. According to the news report, the 27-year-old woman making allegations pertaining to the May assault alleges that she awoke from sedation to find Dr. Krhaling, 51, touching her inappropriately.

The allegations against Dr. Krhaling are similar to those leveled against a Washington, DC-area dentist whose indictment made national headlines last month. 

Bilal Ahmed, DDS, was indicted last month

 on charges of sexually assaulting 3 male patients while they were incapacitated by nitrous oxide. Additionally, Dr. Ahmed, 44, is accused of assaulting a former employee.

Two more incidents of alleged sexual assault of patients by dentists make national news.

2 Dentists Accused in Separate Sexual Assaults of Patients

New Dental Filling Could Replace Traditional Dental Amalgams

Professor Robert Hill of the Institute of Dentistry at Queen Mary University of London has presented the first scientific data examining a new type of dental filling that can be used to actively repair tooth decay.

What Navy SEALs Can Teach You About Leading a Dental Practice

Retired Navy SEALs Jocko Willink and Leif Babin are authorities on leadership development. Their recent book, 

, takes leadership lessons from the battlefield and applies them to business.

Recent research is fueling the argument that the benefits of fluoridation don’t outweigh the risks.

Travel Tips: How to Avoid a Turkey of a Flight for Thanksgiving

Avoid the annual travel nightmare of navigating airports to make it to your Thanksgiving destination.

Controversy Surrounds Dental Fillings and Mercury Exposure

A division of the College of Public Health at the University of Georgia is the first to analyze existing research and report that there is a relationship between dental surface restorations composed of dental amalgam and mercury exposure in a population of individuals from various backgrounds across the United States.

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Here is a new reason to encourage your patients to keep up with their routine dental cleanings. A new study shows that people who make a habit of going to the dentist twice a year for a check-up contract bacterial pneumonia at lower rates than those who skip check-ups.

This research, which was presented for the first time on Oct. 27 at the annual 

 in New Orleans, LA, sheds new light on how oral health fits into the picture of our overall wellbeing.

“Traditionally, we’ve very much separated, dentistry and medicine, but it’s all part of the same body,” said Michelle Doll, MD, MPH, lead author of the study.

The study was conducted by Dr. Doll and a team of researchers at 

. It found that among a group of 26,000 people, those who never got dental check-ups had an 86% increased risk of contracting pneumonia compared to those who see a dentist twice annually. The lower pneumonia infection rates may be due to the reduction of bacteria levels in the mouth as a result of routine teeth cleaning, the research suggests.

Doll explained that poor dental hygiene leads to an increased likelihood of the presence of troublesome bacteria in the mouth. These bacteria can be dangerous in terms of their potency or quantity. Through the aspiration process, bacteria can be drawn into our lungs. Breathe in the wrong kind of germ, or a lot of them, and you could trigger pneumonia.

Pneumonia is a serious health threat in the US among people of all ages. It is the leading cause of death among children under the age of 5, 

according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

 (CDC), and contributes to nearly 51,000 deaths annually in the broader population. In 2014, the CDC calculated that pneumonia claimed the lives of nearly 5,000 Americans between the ages of 55 and 64.

Data for this study were gleaned from the 2013 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). MEPS tracks the health status of households over the course of two years while incorporating healthcare system data. It also interviews participants as to their perceived health status. The MEPS data specific to dentistry included quantity of dental visits that year, frequency of check-ups, and possession of a dental insurance policy. Pneumonia infection data from MEPS was then compared to the dental care data points. The study controlled for social and demographic factors, as well as comorbidities.

Of the 26,246 people included in the MEPS data, 441 came down with bacterial pneumonia. Analysis of the data by Doll and the researchers yielded two key takeaways. The first, if a person infrequently or never went to the dentist for routine care, there was a statistically significant association with pneumonia infection. The second, if a person lacked dental insurance, there also was an association with catching pneumonia.

For Dr. Doll, the desire to investigate a potential link between basic dental care and pneumonia was a product of the time she spends time working in infectious disease clinics. In these clinics, Doll often sees patients who have trouble with their teeth in addition to other health issues. She says her study highlights the need to expand access to dental care for people like her patients, who she says don’t always have the ability to get the dental help that they need.

“My perception is that when we’re talking about routine dental cleanings, this isn’t a terribly aggressive intervention that would be very resource intensive,” Dr. Doll said. “We should look for ways, even outside of insurance, to provide access for a larger part of our population.”

But just having insurance, according to Dr. Doll, isn’t always enough to ensure adequate dental care. Within the study group, there were people who had dental insurance who contracted pneumonia. She said that barriers to receiving dental care for the insured can include anything from finding a provider who accepts their insurance, to locating a dentist who is within a manageable distance.

“You still need to get somebody to the actual professional.”

A new study shows that people who make a habit of going to the dentist twice a year for a check-up contract bacterial pneumonia at lower rates than those who skip check-ups.

Dental Check-ups May Reduce Pneumonia Risk, Study Shows

Since the branch’s creation in 1962, the 

 have been stalwart on some of our nation’s most hotly contested battlefields. Aside from being among the most elite fighting forces in the US armed services in terms of their stealth, precision, and discipline, there is something else that sets the SEALs apart: their leadership skills.

Over the years, the historically quiet professionals of the SEAL teams have begun to open up, sharing their skills and experiences. Out of the many lessons to be gleaned, their methods of developing leadership are the most significant for business leaders, such as yourself.

One of the more recently published books, 

, reveals tactics for successfully leading in the business world that were forged on the battlefield. Here are 3 key concepts, extracted from the book, that have helped Willink, Babin and the SEALs develop winning teams that have literally altered the course of history. These concepts can be applied directly to creating and sustaining an elite team within any business—dental practices included.

Imagine the following scenario. You’re conducting a routine checkup on a longtime patient who you know has a history of smoking, and you notice that there is a small, white patch developing on the roof of his mouth. 

, you wonder. Just then, one of your longtime hygienists ducks in and says he needs to speak with you immediately. It’s the middle of the day, and your office is already running behind schedule. He wouldn’t trouble you unless it were serious, and it is: he needs to leave immediately because his wife was just in a car accident. You glance into the waiting room to see the frustrated faces of several new patients. You suddenly recall the 

This is, indeed, an exaggerated nightmare scenario. But what would you do to navigate your way out? Willink and Babin in 

 advise that you prioritize and execute. Stress often robs us of our ability to differentiate between what is important and what is essential. The key is rehearsing practiced mental detachment from stressors in order to see problems more clearly, Willink and Babin write. To properly address the situation described above before it spiraled out of control, you would have to decide what were the essential problems to solve and in what order. You’re also going to need the help of your office team, which leads us to …

Some leaders, even if they are surrounded by capable people, think that every decision needs to be made by them. Imagine if you found yourself in the situation above, and you were entirely alone. Thankfully, you aren’t. You have a team of skilled, capable workers that help you run your practice. According to Willink and Babin, proven team members at all levels must be empowered to make decisions. This enables you, the leader of the practice, to gain what Willink and Babin call “altitude” and survey the entire situation without getting bogged down in the details.

The patient in the chair who might have oral cancer, it’s on you as the DDS to order the necessary diagnostic procedures and advise the patient. But what about the rest? A brief discussion with your second-best hygienist apprises her of the situation. You make it clear to her that she must take point on seeing the remaining patients through professionally and expediently. The frustrated patients: A quick word with your receptionist sets her in motion. She begins to explain to them the situation in as much detail as possible, letting them know exactly how long the delay will be and explaining what will be done going forward to ensure that their needs are met in a timely manner. She offers them the option of going on a standby list for appointments, if they can’t afford to wait. And the Yelp reviews: Your office manager is all over this. She has reached out to the reviewers to get more details on what went wrong, and is divising a plan to ensure that patients’ needs are better met going forward. She’s also developing a patient loyalty plan to further boost satisfaction.

But what if your team isn’t responding as it should? That leads us to …

Imagine the opposite of what was just described. Instead of pulling together as a team to help the patient in the chair, cover for the hygienist who must leave, inform the waiting patients, and develop a strategy to address ballooning patient dissatisfaction, everyone fails to act. Your receptionist is playing solitaire. Your office manager has been on a two-hour lunch break. Your second-best hygienist is angry now that she will have to take on more work. Are these truly bad employees? Whose fault is it if they are?

 are at fault. The mantra of, “There are no bad teams, only bad leaders,” is at the heart of 

. Solving this problem requires you to keep your ego in check, to accept, with humility, that you need to do more to build up your office staff into a strong team. Their failures are essentially 

 failures. That’s a bitter pill to swallow, but it’s also the best medicine for the situation. By owning the problem openly to your team, you are inspiring them to similarly own their portions of the problem, Willink and Babin advise. The challenge, Willink and Babin write, essentially becomes the opportunity to 

These are just some among many actionable strategies you could put in place to improve your practice immediately. For a complete picture of the leadership strategies the SEALs use to win, pick up a copy of 

Retired Navy SEALs Jocko Willink and Leif Babin are authorities on leadership development. Their recent book, Extreme Ownership, takes leadership lessons from the battlefield and applies them to business.

 The former dentist allegedly abused three men after administering nitrous oxide to incapacitate them.

New CDC Study Highlights Income Divide Behind Lack of Dental Sealants

 Children from low-income families are not receiving this painless, effective dental procedure to stave off cavities, a new study shows.

Attracting New Patients Doesn’t Have to Be Like Pulling Teeth

: As the dental market becomes more competitive, how can dentists stand out?

Study Predicts ADA Exodus if Controversial Resolution Passes

A new report claims thousands of dentists will leave the American Dental Association if a resolution related to sedation dentistry is enacted.

What You Need to Know about Potential Drug Interactions

It is imperative to know the risks of potential interactions of patients’ medication with dental drugs, said speaker Harold Crossley, DMD, at the recent ADA 2016 Meeting in Denver, CO.

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A former Washington, DC-based dentist has been indicted by a grand jury on charges that he sexually assaulted patients while they were incapacitated by nitrous oxide.

Bilal Ahmed, DDS, 44, was charged in the sexual assault of three patients and one former employee.

 issued recently by the US Department of Justice stated that in May 2014, Dr. Ahmed gave nitrous oxide to a male patient through a facemask. According to the patient, when the mask was removed from his face, he realized that Dr. Ahmed was sexually assaulting him. The patient said that at the time of the assault, the door to the room was closed and that he was alone with the doctor.

Authorities have said that the investigation has uncovered other victims, including two now former patients and one former employee—all male. The patients also allege that they were under nitrous oxide at the time of the assaults.

Dr. Ahmed’s DC and Maryland licenses have since been suspended, according to the release. As a condition of his pre-trial release, he has been forbidden from practicing in any capacity.

The doctor was indicted on 21 counts of sexual abuse. He faces charges including 14 felony counts of sexual abuse, 4 misdemeanor counts of sexual abuse, and three misdemeanor counts of assault.

His former office manager, Mahsha Azimirad, was also indicted on charges of allegedly providing false testimony to a grand jury in November 2014.

The former dentist allegedly sexually abused three men after administering nitrous oxide to incapacitate them.

Dentist Indicted on Charges That He Sexually Assaulted Drugged Patients

A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 

 to expand access to dental sealants of the back teeth for children of low-income families, pointing to school-based sealant programs (SBSPs) as a way of addressing the issue.

Painless and effective, sealants can prevent up to 80% of cavities in school children, the report says. However, according to the CDC, while overall prevalence of the use of sealants has increased, nearly 60% of school children ages 6-11 do not receive them.

“Many children with untreated cavities will have difficulty eating, speaking, and learning,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, MD, MPH. “Dental sealants can be an effective and inexpensive way to prevent cavities, yet only 1 in 3 low-income children currently receive them. School-based sealant programs are an effective way to get sealants to children.”

Data paint a stark portrait of the severity of this issue. According to 

, by age 19, 1 in 5 children are showing signs of untreated tooth decay. Additionally, children who fall below the poverty line are 27% more likely to have untreated tooth decay than children whose family income is more than 200% of the federal poverty level.

SBSPs address this issue by expanding access to at-risk children. Typically, SBSPs will use the number of students who are eligible for free or reduced-cost lunch within a district as a barometer to gauge the level of care required. This puts the procedure within reach for at-risk children who are less likely to receive adequate dental care, the CDC reports.

Studies have shown that while 43% of 6- to 11-year-olds have had dental sealants, children from low-income families are about 20% less likely to receive them. And clinical results do not bode well for children without sealants: school-age children without them typically have three times as many cavities, the report says.

Data support the efficacy of sealants as an intervention. Studies have shown that sealants can prevent 80% of cavities for 2 years after they are applied. But, the benefits don’t stop after that: sealants have been shown to stop 50% of cavities for up to 4 years after application.

The expansion of SBSPs could result in treatment cost savings, the report says. The CDC projects that providing access to sealants for the approximately 7 million low-income children who do not have them could result in a treatment cost savings of about $300 million.

To that end, the CDC is funding 21 state public health departments to establish sealant programs to low-income children and those lack access to care, for geographic reasons.

 study, the CDC evaluated National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2011-2014 to establish an estimate of the current prevalence of sealant use, as well as untreated tooth decay, among low- and high-income children, ages 6 to 11 years. This data was then compared to 1999-2004 NHANES data. Researchers then estimated the mean number of decayed and filled first molars (DFFM) for children who had and had not received sealants. They also estimated the prevention of tooth decay from increased sealant use. The differences were determined to be statistically significant at p<.05.

Children from low-income families are not receiving this painless, effective dental procedure to stave off cavities, a new study shows.