Is your dental practice OSHA-compliant?
Is your practice OSHA-compliant? The California Dental Association offers tips on following the rules. We also take a look at a new HIPAA rule and the ongoing shortage of faculty in academic dentistry.
Eat your pink and red fruits and veggies. Lycopene, an antioxidant in produce like watermelon and tomatoes, could reduce the risk of periodontitis as you get older.
Out-of-network coverage and a class action lawsuit. A new class action lawsuit claims that Delta Dental misleads its customers regarding the percentage of out-of-network care it will cover.
Oral health and dementia. Researchers from Science Tokyo have found that poor oral health can increase the risk of dementia in several ways.
New HIPAA rules to know. The American Dental Association (ADA) released a sample notice to reflect new HIPAA requirements regarding substance use disorder records.
AI and dental extractions. Researchers developed an AI approach for predicting whether patients will experience complications following dental extractions.
A new oral health collaboration. Colgate-Palmolive and the WHO Foundation are working together to raise awareness of oral health issues and support oral health care in national health systems.
Understanding the talent shortage in academic dentistry
Academic dentistry is essential for teaching new dentists and conducting research that pushes the field forward, but a shortage of faculty is an ongoing concern. A study published in the Journal of Dental Education explores the challenges around retention: burnout, workload, compensation, disengagement and generational differences. It also delves into potential strategies for addressing the faculty shortage, such as more workplace flexibility and structured mentorship.
Why it matters: Understanding the forces behind the faculty shortage can lead to the development of strategies to improve talent retention in academic dentistry. (Journal of Dental Education)
The importance of OSHA compliance
Dental practices have a lot of compliance issues to contend with, and OSHA can sometimes be overlooked. The California Dental Association (CDA) digs into some of the common myths regarding OSHA compliance, like the idea that small practices don't have to worry about OSHA rules. The CDA also offers tips on how to adopt training and documentation practices to ensure compliance.
Why it matters: All dental practices must comply with OSHA rules regardless of their size. (California Dental Association)
How the front desk role is changing
The front desk role has a longstanding place in the dental practice, but that position and its responsibilities are evolving. Patients are increasingly expecting that person to provide scheduling, price transparency, billing coordination and follow-ups. New technology is empowering the front desk to automate many repetitive tasks, freeing up time for more streamlined patient communication. Giving the front desk more responsibility can help practices give their patients the experience they want, improving retention and ultimately revenue.
Why it matters: Empowering the front desk role can improve the patient experience and overall practice performance. (NerdBot)
- University of Pittsburgh introduces new digital dentistry labs
- Why dentistry needs open data
- Understanding Lyme disease and oral health
- Oral bacteria could impact MS symptoms
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Dental Bite is curated and written by Carrie Pallardy and edited by Bianca Prieto.
