Joe Hannan

The Trios 3 is Wi-Fi enabled, eliminating the need for a cord.

Breaking new ground in the field of intraoral scanners, 3Shape announced on Tuesday, March 21 that it will be rolling out 

a wireless version of its popular Trios 3 Intraoral Scanner

. The company made the announcement at the International Dental Show in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Trios 3 Wireless is Wi-Fi enabled, using the technology to connect cordlessly to dental practice laptops. That means one less cord to trip over in your operatory.

Like previous incarnations, controls on the intraoral scanner allow dentists to switch between scan pages on nearby laptops or desktop computers. This saves doctors the step of going back and forth from the scanner to the computer.

The news release from 3Shape also indicates that changing out the battery on the new intraoral scanner is easy, allowing for “non-stop scanning.” The device comes with three rechargeable batteries and digital color impression solution.

"The wireless scanner is great for doctors because it gives complete freedom of movement," said Bruce Mendel, a spokesman for 3Shape. "Doctors often need to position and reposition themselves, their chair, and the scanner’s PC or cart for optimal scanning and for the patient’s comfort -- and in this the wire can be cumbersome and they are limited by the wire. Often, the scanner wire will be crossing over the patient. Now with wireless, all of this becomes much easier. Doctors say that they first really understand and appreciate how great this is when they hold it in their hands and actually try it out on a patient. Like going from the old landline phones to wireless phones. Or from your wire-powered wall drill to a battery-powered one."

Flemming Thorup, President and CEO of 3Shape, had this to say in the news release about the new scanner:

“Working with doctors, we discovered that, because of TRIOS’ insane scanning speed, the only thing slowing anyone down was maneuverability. With TRIOS 3 Wireless, doctors and their assistants are now free to move anywhere they want, as fast as they can, while they scan. It’s really changing the entire impression-taking experience.”

3Shape notes that the latest wireless version of its intraoral scanner features the same functionality as previous versions enabling dentists to scan removable partial dentures, temporary crowns, virtual diagnostic wax-ups, and post and core cases. The device is also suitable for orthodontic treatment providers like Invisalign, dental laboratories, and certain milling machines and 3D printers.

Articles

Tired of tripping over the cord for your intraoral scanner? 3Shape has a new solution for you. The company has unveiled a wireless version of its popular Trios 3, which is Wi-Fi enabled. It's equipped with many of the same well-liked features of its previous versions.

3Shape Debuts Wireless Version of Intraoral Scanner

The clock is counting down to the start of this year’s 

. Have you selected your continuing education courses yet?

This year’s Hinman is shaping up to be a good one. Entering it’s 105

 year, the Hinman Dental Meeting will take place from March 23-25 at the Georgia World Congress Center & Omni Hotel at CNN Center. Organizers put the projected attendance at about 22,000 dental profesionals from across the U.S. The theme of this year’s Hinman is “The Changing Face of Dentistry.”

The 2017 Hinman is offering more than 245 continuing education courses. Luckily for business-minded dentists, many will offer practice management advice. Here are five Hinman continuing education courses where you’ll find the Dentist’s Money Digest® editorial team.

According to John McGill, host of this session, only five percent of dentists can afford to retire at age 65. That’s part of an ever-expanding national trend in which Americans are underestimating just how much they need to retire. Based on its description, this session will offer Hinman attendees the opportunities to develop better strategies for saving.

2. Game Changers — Practice Reimagination 2017: 

As many of you are painfully aware, dental school does little to prepare you for being a leader. Many dental leadership lessons are learned the hard way. This session looks to save you some of the pain. Hosted by Mark Hyman, D.D.S., this session will over 20 tips for building successful teams, improving patient experience, delivering optimal care and building strong teams.

3. Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Looking Beyond the Teeth and Saving Lives: 

 Sleep medicine is no longer just the territory of physicians. Dentists are well-positioned and qualified to deliver this critical care by crafting and supplying oral appliances. This course, hosted by Jamison Spencer, D.M.D., will deliver the knowledge dentists need to diagnose and treat obstructive sleep apnea, potentially saving lives.

4. The Business of Ownership and Transitions: 

 Dentists entering and exiting today’s workforce are faced with numerous difficult choices. Perhaps none is more stark then choosing the route of private ownership, or corporate dentistry. Whether you’re a new dentist looking to get into the game, or a dentist further along in your career, there are certain things you need to know to make an informed decision. This course will help.

5. Financial Planning for the Young Dentist: 

 Good news: You don’t have to repeat the financial mistakes of past dentists. You can start your career by making sound financial decisions early, setting yourself up for a comfortable retirement later. McGill will also be hosting this session, which promises to help new doctors increase profitability, identify tax deductions, and cultivate sound retirement strategies.

What continuing education sessions will you be taking at the 2017 Hinman Dental Meeting? If you haven't made your choices yet, this year's Hinman features many promising sessions on practice management and personal finance. These are the sessions where you'll find the Dentist's Money Digest® editorial team this year.

Hinman Dental Meeting: 5 Can't-Miss Continuing Education Courses

The Most Popular Vacation Destinations for Americans

Buoyed by a strong dollar, the number of Americans who traveled internationally increased over a 10-month period in 2016, compared to the same time frame in 2015, according to Hotels.com. Europe continues to be popular. Hotel prices decreased significantly in London by 11 percent, in Milan by 15 percent and in Paris by 12 percent, making those destinations budget-stretchers.

How a Negative Dental Practice Review Can Lead to a HIPAA Violation

 Your practice just received a patient review on the internet that you know is inaccurate or unfair. What do you do? How you respond can have major legal and professional consequences, if you take the wrong approach. Here are some tips on proper courses of action.

DMD Check-Up: Booze for Nervous Dental Patients

 Would you ever offer patients at your practice booze to settle their nerves? The Texas legislature is weighing a bill that would ban all healthcare providers from doing so in the state. Apparently, dentists are offering patients booze elsewhere, too. Additionally, in a rather bizarre story, a Washington state-based dentist is accused of drawing a gun on a man in his practice’s parking lot.

Who's Handling Your Dental Practice Finances?

 If you’re not certain who’s handling your dental practice finances, you’re not alone. But that doesn’t mean it’s a comfortable position to be in. Making certain that your dental practice finances are in the right hands is critical to your practice’s financial success.

Hinman Dental Meeting: How Dentists Can Achieve Financial Independence

 The competition in the dental practice market has greatly increased. Dental school education debt is skyrocketing. Practice growth is the biggest challenge facing dentists today. Dentists should increase their fees annually, according to John K. McGill, C.P.A., who will be speaking at the upcoming Hinman Dental Meeting, which takes place in Atlanta from March 23-25. 

Still looking for a summer vacation idea? We've got you covered. Our travel writer provided readers this week with an overview of the most popular vacation destinations for Americans. Do enough digging, and you'll be sure to find some deals, too. Also featured in our most popular stories this week: The right way to respond to negative practice reviews, giving booze to nervous dental patients, and putting your practice's finances in good hands.

The DMD Top 5 for the Week Ending March 17

Following a report two weeks ago about the filing of a lawsuit in the death of a 14-month-old after undergoing anesthesia, another tragic death has occurred. This time, a four-year-old boy from Washington has died. The story has received attention across the country, raising questions about the need to sedate children for dental procedures. Elsewhere in industry news, a new study looks at a possible connection between dental plaque and ventilator-acquired infections. And a Houston news outlet brings us another report of a dental impersonator. This one was working out of a trailer.

A four-year-old boy in Vancouver, Washington has died after undergoing general anesthesia at a pediatric dental practice.

The news was reported earlier this week by NBC4i

, based in Columbus, Ohio. The boy, Mykel Peterson, died suddenly after oral surgery at 

. His mother, Thmeka Curry, says in the report that the boy was given an injection, then she rocked the boy to sleep. The boy never awoke after the surgery, NBC4i reports.

A rescue crew rushed the boy to the hospital, but he never regained consciousness.

Monisha Gagneja, B.D.S., Prashant Gagneja, B.D.S., and Chelsea Zamudio, D.D.S., the proprietors of the practice, have since issued a statement to the media. It reads, in part:

“As dentists and staff devoted exclusively to the needs of children, all of us at must Love Kids Pediatric Dentistry are heartbroken and devastated by this event. As to the specifics, outside medical experts will review what happened.”

NBC4i reports that area police say they suspect no criminal activity in the boy’s death and that no charges have been filed.

lawsuit was filed in the death of a 14-month-old

DENTAL PLAQUE MAY CAUSE VENTILATOR-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS

A report from our sister publication, Contagion®

, looks at a recent study by researchers at Cardiff University in Wales that seems to indicate that dental plaque may be linked to ventilator-associated pneumonia.

This team discovered that for an unknown reason, dental plaque of patients on respirators “can become colonized with bacteria and become a conduit to the development of VAP.”

Researchers looked at microbe samples from 12 adults who were on ventilators. They also established each patient’s baseline level of oral health at the beginning of the study. Each patient had their teeth brushed while on the ventilator.

When examining samples, researchers discovered two significant findings. The first, Contagion® reports, is that the microbes 

Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae 

 were all present. The second finding was that “the patients’ dental plaque harbored bacteria not normally residing in healthy mouths but are known to cause respiratory infections.”

Contagion® reports that VAP occurs in 9-24 percent of patients who are placed on ventilators for over 48 hours.

ORAL SURGEON REMOVES 6-POUND TUMOR FROM GIRL’S MOUTH

 that David Hoffman, D.D.S., removed the benign tumor after the girl was flown in from Gambia for the surgery.

According to the AP, the surgeons said the tumor was close in size to a cantaloupe and “one of the largest tumors they’d ever seen,” making eating impossible and breathing difficult.

The girl, 12, is recovering and is expected to make her way home to the West African nation next week. The girl, named Janet, was transported to the U.S. with her mother by the 

. A team of clinicians volunteered for the January surgery, which took place at Cohen Children’s Medical Center on Long Island.

SO, YOU DECIDED NOT TO BRUSH YOUR TEETH FOR A YEAR

This week, USA today asked the rhetorical question, 

what would happen if you didn’t brush your teeth for a year?

The Dentist’s Money Digest® editorial team asks a follow-up rhetorical question of, is that a question that had to be asked? But, if the answer gets more people to see their dentist twice a year, then we’re all for it. We think this quote from Matthew Messina, D.D.S., a spokesman for the American Dental Association, sums it up quite nicely. What would happen?

“Probably nothing good,” Messina says in USA Today’s report.

Refer reluctant brushers to the full article if they still need convincing.

A 34-year-old Houston man has been charged with practicing dentistry without a license.

 that Jose Elias Meraz-Sanchez, 34, was charged after an undercover operation. The case, the news outlet reports, began in February. Meraz-Sanchez was allegedly practicing dentistry out of a trailer. An undercover officer went to this trailer and received a diagnosis and price for treatment, Click 2 Houston reports.

Meraz-Sanchez was arrested shortly thereafter. He has since been charged with unlawful practice of dentistry.

A four-year-old boy has died after undergoing anesthesia at a dental practice in Vancouver, Washington. Authorities said they have filed no charges and are not investigating the incident. USA Today asks the somewhat rhetorical question of what would happen if a person didn't brush their teeth for a year. Our sister publication Contagion® reports on a study that establishes a potential link between dental plaque and infections acquired while on ventilators.

The DMD Check-Up: Boy, 4, Dies under Dental Anesthesia

Ending weeks of speculation on Wednesday, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by a quarter of a point, signaling the possibility of additional increases to the benchmark interest rate in the months ahead.

The Fed’s decision comes after the economy has regained some of its strength that was sapped during the Great Recession. It lowered rates during the recession to spur economic growth, but with the economy and the job market on the upswing, the increase signals that the Fed no longer thinks it’s necessary to stimulate growth.

The rate hike is the third since the recession and the second in three months.

The main question on the minds of consumers and investors on Wednesday was, how does this affect me? 

 searched various news outlets for insights. This is what the they had to say.

Will the move have an effect on mortgage rates

? It’s difficult to know, the Associated Press reports, noting that mortgage rates are not typically tied to the Fed’s increases. It’s worth noting, however, that the average 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage has hit 4.2 percent, compared to last year’s 3.65 percent, the AP says. That rate increase tells us that the markets may have already factored in Wednesday’s rate hike.

, whereas mortgage rates may be spared from the direct effects of the Fed’s rate hike, the same cannot be said for Auto Loans. The news outlet’s reporting indicates that whatever increase we see in the benchmark interest rate will also show up in auto loans. The increases, however, may be negligible for consumers — only a matter of $10 or so increase per monthly payment for a typical five-year loan.

, the U.S. dollar is still the world’s preferred currency for borrowing. If the interest rate goes up, that could prompt investors to sink money into the U.S., elevating the value of the dollar against other currencies. This would also increase the cost of borrowing, the Guardian notes. As DMD reported earlier this month, for bond-market investors, rate increases typically spell out bad news for current holders. As rates improve, the grass literally gets greener on the other side as higher-paying alternative bonds become available. This makes your less-valuable bonds harder to sell.

The AP notes that we might see an increase in returns from CDs and money market accounts

, though it will likely take a while. Banks, the news agency points out, are in the business of making money. While they’ll be quick to charge borrowers more money to receive capital, they’ll be slower to offer better rates to savers.

Bad news if you have a lot of credit card debt. 

Credit cards will take the first hit under the rate hike, USA Today reports

. Consumers can expect rates to rise with the Fed’s increase. The AP puts the increase on a timeline of about 60 days. For context, here is where rates stand at the moment: CreditCards.com puts the 

average credit card interest rate at 15.07 percent

. Home equity lines of credit stand at about 5.21 percent, 

. “It’s a great time to be shopping around if you have good credit and (can) lock in zero-percent introductory and balance-transfer offers,” said Greg McBridge, Bankrate’s chief financial analyst, in the AP’s report.

The Federal Reserve announced its decision to increase interest rates by a quarter of a point on Wednesday, putting an end to weeks of speculation. On the minds of many investors and consumers was the question, how does this affect me? Credit card and equity lines of credit will bear the immediate impact of the decision. Other effects, however, will play out more gradually. Here's what experts say we can expect.


How The Fed's Rate Hike Affects You

A research brief published by the American Dental Association’s Health Policy institute shows which dental specialists earn the most. The report looked at the average annual income for oral surgeons, endodontists, orthodontists, periodontists and pediatric dentists. The study also looked at how busy the specialists consider themselves to be.

The DMD Check-Up: Suit Filed over Baby's Tragic Death at Dentist's Office

 The parents of a 14-month-old girl who died while under anesthesia last year have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Austin, Texas-based dentist. The parents suspect they were tricked into agreeing to unnecessary dental work for their daughter, a local news station reports. Other industry stories that made national headlines this week include a celebrity dentist who was booted from a flight over an alleged joke about president Donald Trump, and more controversy over the dental therapist role.

Ranking Reveals Best Cruise Lines of 2017

A cruise is a great vacation, provided you choose the right line and ship for you. Looking for luxury plus value? U.S. News & World Report rates Celebrity Cruises as the best for the money. Traveling with kids? Disney tops the list for family cruises and U.S. News ranks Crystal Cruises as the best for couples.

Free and Low-Cost Marketing Efforts to Use in your Dental Practice

 Engaging patients in word-of-mouth marketing could be the most cost-effective way to spread the word about your dental practice. Often, the only cost to the dentist with this marketing method is time. Dentists should simply ask patients who have had positive experiences in their practices to provide feedback. The key is having systems in place to streamline that process.

Hinman Dental Meeting: How to Use Video to Grow Your Dental Practice

 Patients are getting their information about dental practices in new and different ways. Posting videos of satisfied patients is an excellent marketing tool. Patients being videoed should provide three key points on why the dental practice is superior. There’s no need to be timid about this technology — its easier than you think.

If you picked this specialty, you're in luck. The American Dental Association recently released its ranking of which dental specialties make the most. Plus, if you're looking to book a cruise this year or next, we've got the latest ranking of the best lines. And finally, are you taking advantage of this low- or no-cost marketing method in your dental practice? These are among the most popular stories on our website this week.

The DMD Top 5 for the Week Ending March 10

It was an interesting week in the world of dentistry, to say the least. A Texas news report indicates that dentists may be taking an unorthodox approach to calming the frazzled nerves of patients. And one Washington state-based dentist allegedly drew a gun on a man in his practice’s parking lot, then proceeded to tell responding officers that he was a trained Navy SEAL and Delta Force soldier. Read on!

It can be difficult dealing with anxious patients. But would you offer them a drink to help settle their nerves? This may be a growing trend in dentistry, 

according to Dallas News, the web home of the Dallas Morning News

The news outlet this week reported on pending legislation that would ban all clinicians, not just patients, from giving booze to patients, hitting them with penalties if they do pour one out.

Apparently, the practice is not without precedence. Medical Daily reported on 

a New York Practice that plied patients with wine and cheese

 in 2011 for offering patients wine or beer in the waiting room.

“There’s nothing in the code that prevents you from doing this, but I think it’s a line that we can’t cross,” said the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham), in Dallas News’ report.

Dallas News says that the Texas Dental Association is on board with the bill. The website quotes Matthew Roberts, D.D.S., the association’s chair, as saying, “Patient safety must always be first and foremost.”

Using booze as a sedative is not without precedent in the history of dentistry — but you have to go pretty far back to find it. 

 for a sedative and analgesic, respectively. 

The Kornberg School of Dentistry’s Historical Dental Museum Collection

 features much information on Parker’s controversial history.

What are your thoughts, on the issue, Doctor? Please email me and let me know, and perhaps we can feature your opinion on 

. Or, better yet, if you happen to be based in New Jersey and would like to discuss the matter over a craft beer or fine bourbon/rye, let me know! (Outside of the office, of course.)

A New Orleans-based food writer came up with 

 on insights gleaned from conversations in his dentist’s operatory.

Ian McNulty, a writer for WWNO, a New Orleans Public Radio station, writes about how his dentist has taught him about the dangers that fly under the radar. Most patients know by now that they should go easy on the sweets. But seasonal changes in New Orleans also affect residents’ diets.

Soon, it will be oyster season in Louisana, McNulty writes. Tiny pearls and debris in those delecitble bivalves can crack teeth. The same can be said for the bits of crab shell that make their way into bisques, or directly into our mouths. And with the approach of hunting season comes the added risk of chomping down on a shotgun pellet.

Wisdom worth imparting to your more outdoorsy patients?

ARMED TO THE TEETH: DENTIST ALLEGEDLY DRAWS GUN ON MAN

, a dentist has been charged with drawing a gun and aiming at a man in his practice’s parking lot.

KIRO7, a TV station in Seattle, reports that Thomas H. Seal, D.D.S., a general dentist in Kirkland, Washington, has been charged with second-degree assault in the incident. Authorities say Seal pointed a gun with a laser sight at a man in his practice’s parking lot after hearing noise coming from the lot, KIRO7 reports. The man told police that he knew he was in Seal’s sights because he saw the red laser light on his chest and face.

The man called 911, and that’s when things apparently got really weird. Seal allegedly told police the laser light actually came from a laser pointer, which he handed over to the responding officers, KIRO7 reports. However, that laser pointer had no batteries, and when the police searched the practice, they found a handgun with a laser.

KIRO7 reports, Seal allegedly told the police that he had received Navy SEAL and Delta Force training, and that he was currently employed by a government agency, though he would not say which one. “Then he told police that he ‘knew how to kill someone very easily,’” KIRO7 reports.

Seal declined comment to the news organization.

Would you ever offer patients at your practice booze to settle their nerves? The Texas legislature is weighing a bill that would ban all healthcare providers from doing so in the state. Apparently, dentists are offering patients booze elsewhere, too. Additionally, in a rather bizarre story, a Washington state-based dentist is accused of drawing a gun on a man in his practice's parking lot.

DMD Check-Up: Booze for Nervous Dental Patients?

Poll: What are your thoughts on dental service organizations?

The business of dentistry is changing right before our eyes. The editorial staff at 

 sees the change daily. But more important, you, the dentist, see it happening in real time in your operatories and front offices.

Nowhere else is this rapid change more apparent than in the realm of practice management, specifically as it pertains to running your front office. As you might have read in our special report on the 

Rise of Dental Service Organizations in America

, the American Dental Association now estimates that 7.8 percent of practicing dentists now belong to a dental service organization.

Typically, a dentist will contract with a DSO so that he or she can focus on the clinical side of dentistry, leaving the business side of dentistry to others. Experts are divided over whether DSOs are generally a good thing or a bad thing for the profession of dentistry. But we at 

 want to know what you, the clinician closest to the patients, have to say.

. Completing this poll will not only give us greater insight about your views on the role of DSOs in dentistry, but it will also help us as we continue to shape our future editorial direction.

 to be useful to, first and foremost, you, the dentist. Taking this survey will help us gauge which topics matter most to you.

Are dental service organizations good or bad for dentistry? How are DSOs changing the business of dentistry? The editorial staff at Dentist's Money Digest® wants your opinions. Please take this brief survey to weigh in.

Poll: How Are Dental Service Organizations Affecting Dentistry?

Looking for some summer vacation destination ideas? The DMD Top 5 has got you covered. Check out our overview of the best cities to visit in the U.S. Plus, does dentistry have an image problem? A new survey finds that dentists trail other healthcare professionals in perceived honesty. Also, dentistry as a profession faces a looming threat: cyber security breaches. Find out what other stories were the most popular on our website this week.

Top-Rated Cities to Visit in the United States

 Get travel inspiration for spring and summer getaways in the U.S. from Travel & Leisure’s list of the World’s Best Awards. Charleston, South Carolina, ended up among the top-ranked cities, as did several other Southern destinations. Find out where your favorite destinations landed on the list.

Poll: Dentists Trail Other Healthcare Workers in Perceived Honesty

The newest Gallup Poll on honesty and ethics places dentists in fourth position among healthcare professionals. Nearly 60 percent of Americans gave dentists a “very high/high” trust ranking. The American Dental Association’s Principles of Ethics and Code of Conduct recently marked its 150th Anniversary. Nurses are ranked as the most honest/ethical professionals.

Under Attack: Dentistry Faces Growing Cybersecurity Threat

A recent study by Fortinet determined that in 2016, healthcare organizations faced on average more than 700,000 hacking attempts a minute. What’s even more troubling is that hackers are increasingly targeting networked devices, such as the digital X-ray machine in your practice. Hacks such as these can easily yield sensitive patient data, leading to identity theft.

The DMD Top 5 for the Week Ending Feb. 24

Discover which states have the best oral health. Make your next trip a bit easier with handy travel apps. Find out about a bizarre dental crime in Minnesota. Improve your marketing efforts to reach Millennials. And prepare for this year’s Hinman Dental Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.

Conflict Can Damage a Practice Professionally and Financially

Unresolved conflict can have a significant impact on a dental practice’s image and productivity. Recognizing conflict and addressing it early on are the keys to avoiding serious problems down the road. Sharon Dolak, MDR, R.D.H., explains how to make that happen.

’s viral video serves as a marketing lesson for all 

	— Dentist'sMoneyDigest (@DentistsMoney) 

Got a news tip? Question about a story on our website? Email Dentist’s Money Digest managing editor Joe Hannan: 

The DMD Top 5 for the Week Ending March 3

The tragic death of a little girl has resulted in a wrongful death lawsuit against a Texas dentist. The 14-month-old died while under anesthesia in the dentist’s office, a local TV station reports. Debate around the role of dental therapists continues to swirl, this time in Minnesota. And another celebrity dentist made headlines this week, this time for allegedly getting kicked off a plane over a joke about president Donald Trump.

Parents File Suit over Baby’s Death at the Dentist’s Office

The parents of a 14-month-old girl who died while under anesthesia in a dentist’s office have filed a wrongful death suit against the dentist, the dentist’s office, the anesthesiologist, and an anesthesiology board.

Fox 7, an Austin, Texas-based TV station, reports that Daisy Lynn Torres went to 

 in March 2016, where she underwent root canals on four baby teeth. She was placed under general anesthesia for the procedure, but never regained consciousness.

An autopsy later determined that Daisy died “of complications due to anesthesia,” Fox 7 reports.

		Did greed lead to this toddler's death at the dentist? That's what the 14-month-old girl's family claims. 

Torres’ parents were initially told that Daisy needed two cavities filled, but the dentist later told them that she needed four crowns, Fox 7 reports.

“(The dentist) was lying to me, trying to reassure me that everything was fine and it wasn’t. She had already gone into cardiac arrest at the dentist’s office,” Daisy’s mother, Betty Squire, said in Fox 7’s report.

Fox 7 reports that Squire believes the procedure was a product of Medicaid fraud. Squire said an autopsy report showed no signs of cavities.

A spokesperson for Austin Children’s Dentistry declined to comment in the report.

Celebrity Dentist Says Trump Joke got him Booted from Plane

, dentist to actor Aaron Paul and Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas, says a joke that he made about president Donald Trump got him kicked off a plane in Los Angeles earlier this week.

		A celebrity dentist claims his anti-Trump joke led to his removal from a plane 

The Iranian-born dentist, according to the Washington Post, saw a Spanish-speaking boy running down the jet’s aisle crying. A flight attendant, who was checking on the boy, overheard Sadri say that maybe the boy was upset about the prospect of Trump deporting him, the Washington Post reports.

The joke did not go over well with the flight attendant, and the two soon became involved in an argument that ended with Sadri being led off the plane, which was headed for New York.

The Washington Post reports that American Airlines issued a statement, saying that an unnamed passenger was taken from the plane “for being disruptive and not following crew member instructions.”

Sadri was rescheduled for a later New York flight that day, the Washington Post reports.

A report from News 18, a station based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, highlights another chapter in the debate over dental therapists.

The report details the plight of the rural community of Caledonia, Minnesota, where a local dentist has brought a dental therapist on board to meet the demand for dentistry.

		Shortage of dentists in rural areas has dental therapists in high demand: 

, tells News 18 that low reimbursement rates in Minnesota have prevented dentists from working in rural areas. The therapist, she says, enables her to meet that demand.

“Minnesota has the lowest reimbursement in the nation, and we collect about 27 percent on the dollar is what it is,” Herman tells News 18.

According to News 18, Minnesota was the first state to establish the dental therapist role in 2008. Currently, 11 states are considering allowing dental therapists to practice, including Michigan, Arkansas and North Dakota.

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: 

The parents of a 14-month-old girl who died while under anesthesia last year have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Austin, Texas-based dentist. The parents suspect they were tricked into agreeing to unnecessary dental work for their daughter, a local news station reports. Other industry stories that made national headlines this week include a celebrity dentist who was booted from a flight over an alleged joke about president Donald Trump, and more controversy over the dental therapist role.