DSO or private practice? Your salary depends on it
How does practice setting affect your salary? A new report compares pay at DSOs and private practices. We also take a look at how the $100,000 H-1B visa fee could impact recruitment in dentistry.
But first, we are reminded of the high price tag that can come with data breaches. First Choice Dental will pay $1.2 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging the compromise of sensitive patient information.
No more mercury in fillings. A new global agreement bans mercury-added dental amalgams, beginning in 2035.
On the record? Recording is easier than ever today, and dentists have a lot of food for thought when it comes to patients who want to record their work.
Your mood and your patients' pain. New research finds a surprising link between dentists' emotional states and the way patients perceive pain during procedures.
Looking ahead in dentistry. A new episode of "The DrBicuspid.com Podcast" explores ongoing trends in the dental industry, including AI and patient access.
Oral health and brain health. Researchers have found a connection, though not a direct cause, between gum disease and white matter damage in the brain.
CMS highlights medical-dental integration
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rule, which includes activities related to oral health. The rule includes an online oral health training program and requires physicians who accept Medicare to integrate oral health into their practices. They can do so in a number of ways, such as building a dental referral network.
Why it matters: Payment policy like this incentivizes physicians to integrate oral health into their practices and opens the door to more collaboration with dentists. (ADA News)
Salary: Private practice vs. DSO
The practice model you choose impacts your salary. A new report digs into data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the American Dental Association to compare typical earnings at DSOs and private practices. The report finds that dentists who own their practices typically earn more than dentists who work as associates or at DSOs.
Why it matters: Salary and practice model are two important considerations for dentists to weigh as they map out their careers. (The White Coat Investor)
Could dentists be exempt from the $100k H-1B visa fee?
The American Dental Association (ADA) and California Dental Association (CDA) are calling for the Department of Homeland Security to allow organizations that hire internationally trained dentists an exemption from the $100,000 fee for H-1B visas. There is a "national interest" exemption available, which would waive the large fee in certain cases.
Why it matters: The H-1B visa fee could make it much more difficult for dental schools and rural areas that rely on internationally trained dentists. (CDA)
- Doing documentation right in dentistry
- Dentists' top pick for the best mouthwash
- The tooth gem trend is older than you think
- Harvard School of Dental Medicine closes Cambridge clinic
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Dental Bite is curated and written by Carrie Pallardy and edited by Lesley McKenzie.
