Friday, June 30, 2017
We’ve Moved!
Health Policy Institute offers unmatched, usable information
The ADA Health Policy Institute aims to be a trusted source for critical policy knowledge related to the U.S. dental care system.
HPI generates, synthesizes and disseminates innovative research on a variety of topics to ADA member dentists — as well as new dentists.
The ADA’s Health Policy Institute also provides information on a national level in a number of areas, including:
• Annual and median net income of dentists and specialists in private practice.
• Gross billings for dentists in private practice.
• Practice expenses per dentist and as a percentage of gross billings.
• Average hourly rates for dental office staff.
• Average patient wait times.
Visit ADA.org/hpi to learn more.
http://ift.tt/2sYAcdhThursday, June 29, 2017
Your Patient’s Smile Is As Essential As Your Website: Five Cost-Effective Ways to Build a Brilliant Site
An attractive website leaves a lasting impression for your visitors. Even if your dental practice is local and you run by word of mouth, patients are likely looking for you on the web. In this blog post, we will share five cost-effective ways to build a beautiful dental practice website.
1) WordPress – An open source platform that powers approximately 27% of websites. Through WordPress, there is access to hundreds of free themes (templates) to build your dental site. There are also hundreds of free plugins to enhance your site through social media sharing, contact forms, website optimization, videos, and more. Themeforest.net, for example, offers many premium WordPress themes that start around $20.
2) Wix.com – Provides “drag and drop” tools to easily create and customize your dental website. They offer a free plan that includes the “Wix” name in your web address along with their branded ads. Upgrading to premium plans removes Wix branded items and also provides you with more storage and features. The “Connect Domain” plan, however, keeps Wix branded ads and offers limited features. Currently, plans start at only $5 per month!
3) GoDaddy Website Builder – GoDaddy’s newest website builder, GoCentral, allows you to “build a better website in less than an hour.” GoCentral is a powerful, easy-to-use interface that includes “drag and drop” functionality. Want to test drive the builder for a free month? No problem. GoDaddy currently offers a free month with no credit card required. In addition, GoDaddy is a world-leading web host and domain name registrar.
4) Fiverr – Sellers provide freelance services to build a website…starting at only $5! Freelancers are from all over the globe and offer services to help you get your dental website up and running. Services offered at Fiverr are referred to as “gigs.” Many start at $5 per gig, but sellers now have an option to choose their own starting price point.
5) Shop Around for a Web Design Company – Take the initiative yourself and look for an affordable, reputable web design company. There are many web design companies out there who will work with your budget. Seek out a company by asking others, checking reviews, and researching on Google.
Which method above piques your interest? Or, want to try more than one? Go for it! Just remember…it’s important to devote time to marketing, so work on developing your dental website efficiently. Have fun!
http://ift.tt/2smUsGKWednesday, June 28, 2017
Why Is Milk Good for Your Child's Teeth?
Find out how milk helps strengthen your child’s teeth.
http://ift.tt/2tqXkmdStudent loan-repayment options for dental residents
With the introduction of a dedicated refinancing program for dental residents, dentists in training now have more options for repaying their dental-school loans. It’s good to have options, but the landscape can be a little complicated to navigate. If you’re a dental resident, or are about to become one, there are some things you should know when deciding between private refinancing and a federal repayment plan.
Understanding REPAYE
Before considering the new options available to dental residents, it’s important to understand the federal repayment plan that is still the best option for most dentists in training — REPAYE, the Revised Pay As You Earn plan.
The Department of Education introduced REPAYE at the end of 2015. It is an income-driven repayment plan that expands on its predecessors, Income-Based Repayment (IBR) and Pay As You Earn (PAYE). Similar to PAYE, REPAYE caps an individual’s monthly payments at 10 percent of discretionary income and offers loan forgiveness after several years of repayment.
Under IBR and PAYE, interest accrues at a relatively high rate — and for many dental residents, the forgiveness benefits go unrealized because of high post-residency incomes. This is why, pre-REPAYE, low-rate private refinancing seemed like the best option for dental residents who were not planning to pursue Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). Private refinancing allowed borrowers to obtain a lower rate on their loans and required low payments during training.
Under REPAYE, the government will forgive 50 percent of unpaid interest that accrues while in REPAYE. That means your effective interest rate is lowered — potentially to a point that could be lower than the rates offered by a private lender — while in residency.
REPAYE Benefits Borrowers With High Debt
One attractive benefit of REPAYE is that for borrowers whose payment is not covering all of their monthly accrued interest, the government will forgive 50 percent of the difference. For example, say a dental resident is accruing $1,000/month in interest and paying $200 based on 10 percent of their discretionary income. Under REPAYE, she would have $400 in interest forgiven every month ($800 in interest difference, multiplied by 50 percent).
The more you owe in federal loans, the more you stand to benefit from this new feature. For many residents, this interest subsidy will lower your effective interest rate from 7 percent to 4-5 percent during training. Let’s assume that a first-year resident earns $55,000, and owes $200,000 at a weighted average 7 percent interest rate. Using REPAYE during training yields an effective interest rate of 4.43 percent.
Go Federal For Loan Forgiveness
If you plan on pursuing loan forgiveness of any kind, then utilizing one of the income-based repayment options (IBR, PAYE, or REPAYE) is the clear-cut option. While PSLF comes with its own set of question marks—for example, potential legislative limitations — you need to enroll in one of these federal programs if your goal is to get your loans forgiven through non-profit employment.
You must also remain with the federal government if you plan on pursuing long-term loan forgiveness — no private lender would be willing to forgive your debt for any reason other than death or permanent disability. IBR allows for loan forgiveness to take place after 25 years of payments. PAYE forgives your remaining balance after 20 years of payments. REPAYE allows undergraduate borrowers to have loans forgiven after 20 years, while borrowers with post-graduate loans (like dentists) won’t see relief until they have made 25 years of payments.
Just remember that many dental residents are unlikely to receive loan forgiveness because high post-residency incomes mean their student debt is gone before they’re eligible for forgiveness. And keep in mind that forgiveness benefits are considered taxable events, which could lead to a large tax bill that’s due immediately in the year the loan is forgiven.
When Private Refinancing May Be Better
The majority of dental residents will want to use REPAYE during training to capture the interest subsidy and obtain a low effective rate, and then refinance through a private lender once they begin practicing. However, this strategy is not risk-free.
The most important thing to be aware of is that interest rates are not set in stone—they may go up while you’re in training. Rates on private refinancing are currently at very attractive levels. You may not be offered the same low rate from a private lender in the future that you could have locked in during residency. Secondly, while REPAYE’s interest forgiveness may offer the lowest effective rate during training, once training is complete, your rate will effectively return to the 6 percent – 7 percent that is written on your promissory notes.
Despite these risks, REPAYE is still the best option for many dental residents. However, certain groups are better off with private refinancing:
Borrowers with a working spouse
If your spouse earns a decent sized income, your monthly payment could very well be high enough that it is covering all of your accrued interest. In this case, you would see no subsidy, so you don’t stand to benefit from REPAYE.
Borrowers with lower debt
If you have relatively low debt ($60,000 or less), you likely aren’t accruing enough interest to benefit from the REPAYE subsidy.
Borrowers with private loans
Private loans are ineligible for federal repayment plans, so refinancing is most likely the way to go.
Borrowers who can’t afford to pay 10% of their household income
REPAYE will likely dictate monthly payments of $250 and up, based on your residency income — and potentially much higher if you have a working spouse. With private refinancing charging minimal monthly fees during training, it may be a good option if you need more money in your pocket while in residency.
Custom Refinancing Program
DRB is the only lender in the country with a dental-resident refinancing program. Regardless of how much you refinance, you’ll only pay $100/month during training. And if you’re an American Dental Association member, even better — the ADA negotiated a 0.25 percent reduction on refinance rates for its members, so whichever rate you qualify for, your rate will be 0.25 percent lower for the life of the loan as long as you are an ADA member.
Furthermore, interest does not capitalize while you’re in training, so you won’t accrue interest on interest. This help keeps the loan from significantly growing in balance while you make low payment during residency. Many residents also find it helpful to be able to combine their federal and private loans into one payment.
Factoring all the considerations into a repayment decision can get complicated, so we recommend working with an experienced professional before making a final decision. To learn more about our dental-resident refinancing program and discuss your repayment options, get in touch.
About DRB
DRB (Darien Rowayton Bank) is a national bank, marketplace lender, and one of the fastest lenders in industry history to reach $1 billion in student loan refinancings. FDIC insured and established in 2006, DRB Student Loan has helped thousands of professionals with graduate and undergraduate degrees across the country to refinance and consolidate federal and private student loans, saving these borrowers thousands of dollars each. Learn more at http://ift.tt/2to5g7P.
Futudent Mid of Year Promo 2017: Because Seeing is Believing
Record and capture your activities with Futudent EduCam, a 720/1080 px with 30 fps HD video dental camera without any hassle to stop during the procedure session. With the zooming capability from 5 til 10x digital zooming, you can have detailed image for the videos and still photos (in jpeg version) on the same time.
http://ift.tt/2tnBtvYMonday, June 26, 2017
The associateship interview: Come prepared with smart questions
New dentists have many professional options after graduating from dental school. One of these options is joining an existing office as an associate dentist.
Although it may seem like an ideal route for you, it may face some challenges if the future associate and the practice owner do not discuss — and put in writing — important hiring agreements such as compensation, benefits, laboratory expenses, supplies and future purchase terms, according to the Center for Professional Success.
During the interview process, both the owner and the potential associate should be prepared with a list of specific questions to discuss in a variety of areas, such as:
- What is the practice vision? Does it align with what the new dentist wants?
- How is the new dentist going to be mentored by the practice owner, not only in materials used or patient care decisions, but also in business management, staff relations and more?
- How will the new dentist get assigned patients?
- What is the future for the new dentist AFTER the associate period?
- If the situation is one that the new dentist will eventually buy the practice from the owner, or become a co-owner, then he or she should ask to see the financial and tax information and the valuation report. This may even include preparing the papers needed to complete the transfer of ownership down the road. Going through this extra step during the interview process may help to eliminate hassles and misunderstandings in the future.
Friday, June 23, 2017
So You’re Getting a Root Canal
There’s a reason the root canal is often the go-to comparison of choice when people are discussing unpleasant experiences. It’s the most universally dreaded of all dental procedures, but that doesn’t downgrade its importance in the world of oral health.
We want to help prepare you for your root canal by explaining the basics for you beforehand and by giving you some pain management techniques (both during and after) your treatment.
In the simplest terms, a root canal is necessary when the pulp of the tooth (the innermost part of the tooth attached to the root) becomes infected. The infection can stem from a particularly large cavity or damage/trauma to the tooth. During the root canal procedure, the infected pulp is removed and replaced with filling material.
We won’t lie to you - it’s definitely not an easy procedure to sit through, but there are steps you can take to manage your discomfort.
It’s important to understand that the pain you feel is first and foremost caused by the infection in the tooth as opposed to the root canal treatment itself (which is primarily done to ease and eventually eliminate any pain).
You will be given a local anesthetic to numb the tooth and the surrounding area prior to the procedure and, if you’re still nervous that won’t be enough, there are always other options like nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas). Your dentist can help calm you down before the procedure by going over exactly what they’ll be doing step by step (knowledge is power, after all). If you’re really nervous, try practicing some deep breathing exercises prior to the procedure to ensure your heart rate is steady and you’re as calm as possible.
Although the infected pulp has been removed, you will likely still feel some pain and discomfort after the procedure is over. While it’s true that the tooth will no longer feel any sensitivity to heat or cold, the surrounding area will need some time to recover from the procedure. Your dentist can prescribe you medicine to help your mouth heal from the resulting inflammation.
Remember that you will have to go back to the dentist for a follow up shortly after your procedure because the temporary filling in your tooth is just that - temporary - and will need to be replaced with a permanent filling or crown to ensure the canal of your tooth stays bacteria and infection free!
Be gentle on your teeth in the days after a root canal and try to stick to foods and drinks that won’t aggravate the area of the procedure. Your dentist will give you some specific tips when you’re leaving the office but the best way to avoid aggravating your tooth is to avoid very hot or very cold food and drink, to eat on the opposite side of the tooth that’s been treated, and to eat soft foods that don’t require much chewing.
Your mouth is going to be numb after the procedure so the chances of you accidentally injuring yourself without noticing are much higher (i.e. biting the inside of your cheek or burning your mouth because you can’t gauge the temperature of the food you’re eating).
Be careful, let your mouth heal, and if the pain is particularly intolerable, ask your dentist to recommend a pain reliever (oftentimes something as simple as Advil or Tylenol will do the trick but it’s good to know there are other options available to you should you need them).
http://ift.tt/2t4M8v8Online Dental Information: Marvel or Myth?
Are you satisfied? – Practice setting and dentist job satisfaction
Are you satisfied with your current job situation? Are there certain aspects you wish were different? Maybe you are just starting your career, or looking for a change. It turns out the type of practice you work in may impact how you feel about your dental career.
In an innovative, first-of-its-kind study, researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago and the ADA Health Policy Institute (HPI) examined how dentists view different aspects of solo, small group, and large group practice. They found that:
- Dentists working in small group settings reported the highest overall career satisfaction.
- Dentists working in large group settings reported more satisfaction with income and benefits than dentists in solo practice, as well as less stress.
- Dentists working in large group practices affiliated with dental management organizations were more satisfied with weekends off and fewer hours spent on non-clinical tasks.
- Dentists working in dentist owned and operated practices were more satisfied with income and their overall feelings about dentistry.
Resources:
Practice settings and dentists’ job satisfaction (August 2015 JADA)
Webinar: Dental Practice Settings and Job Satisfaction (55 min.)
http://ift.tt/2sxXk1ZThursday, June 22, 2017
The six CE topics new dentists want to explore
Want to learn from your peers?
Discover the top CE subjects they are searching for online. According to ADA CE Online, new dentists want to study topics that will advance their success in practice, improve patient care and deepen their knowledge of dental specialties.
Here are the six most popular terms your peers are searching for right now:
- Infection Control & OSHA
- Anesthesia & Sedation
- Radiology
- Oral Surgery
- Practice Management
- Implant Dentistry
If these topics interest you, don’t delay. Stay ahead of the curve by visiting ADACEOnline.org to explore courses on each subject. Gain the support you need any time of day, from anywhere. Your practice and patients will thank you for it.
http://ift.tt/2sFHAIZ7 free (or almost free) things you can do that will make you a better dentist (and person)
As dentists we’re constantly looking to make ourselves better. Whether it’s that new piece of equipment or a new procedure, we’re looking for constant improvement. Onward and upward!
These things usually cost a bunch, though. My ability to diagnose increases significantly with a cone beam CT in the office. For a mere $100k, I will be a diagnostic super hero. I get it. Getting better has a price, right? Well…not always. There are some really inexpensive things you can do to become a significantly better dentist.
- read: Our ability to communicate is really important. As dentists. As parents. As humans. Much of our communication depends on language and our ability to use and understand language. With this in mind…when was the last time you took any kind of course in language arts? I know you’ve taken treatment planning courses, implant placement courses, veneer courses, business management courses and on. And on. I get it. Dentists don’t take courses in language. We’re just automatically great at it, right? Ummmm. No. This is why you should read. I personally have a hard time sitting down and reading books with my eyes. I’m more of a blog post reader or the occasional newspaper reader. Books are fantastic, though. I’m actually OK with comic books. Regular reading is kind of like a quick refresher course in using the language and it helps you use part of your brain that doesn’t necessarily get engaged with other kinds of media.
- learn to meditate: I know what you’re thinking. “Meditating is for hippies. I’m not sitting cross legged and saying “om” to the universe. I’ve got things to do.” I thought this, too. For me, meditation has been a really healthy habit. I’m not perfect about making time for it, but I find my days get better when I do. All human beings are emotional creatures. You may not think of yourself as emotional, but remember being angry or stressed…that’s your emotions. Much of my stress and anxiety is linked to not recognizing my feelings. It sounds silly, but just recognizing that you’re feeling a certain way is enough to help move through it. Much of the time we’re too busy to think about the actual emotions we experience. Meditation and mindfulness is ALL about this. I’ve learned a lot from my friend Dr. Dawn Kulongowski and her private Facebook group for dentists. You should check it out.
- listen to podcasts: Yes, this is self serving. But it isn’t wrong. I am a podcaster. I have two dental podcasts that you should be listening to. The Dental Hacks podcast is the show I’ve been doing with my friend Dr. Jason Lipscomb for 3 years. It’s fun, it’s informative and it’s free. The Alan Mead Experience is a new show that I started last month. It focuses on conversation and storytelling. I love them both. But if you don’t like those, there are 50+ podcasts about dentistry available on iTunes or most other podcast listening software. There’s something for everyone. Podcasts are great because they make time that’s often not productive (working out, driving to work, mowing the lawn) into a chance to learn and hear some different perspectives. Podcasts are awesome.
- write: Many people that communicate very well through speech struggle with similar communication through writing. The spoken word is more comfortable for most people because the ear is more forgiving and so much of spoken communication is nonverbal through tone, expression and even hand gestures. Writing is harder. But it’s still really important. The good news…the writing muscle gets stronger with exercise. The more you write, the easier it will get and the better you’ll be at it. So spend some time writing. Write a letter to someone you haven’t talked with in awhile. When was the last time you got a letter from someone? It’s guaranteed to make someone’s day. Start a blog. Write a novel. Again…it doesn’t matter so much what you write as much as you give those muscles a little workout.
- take photos: You’re thinking “that’s not free. You said the stuff was free!” True. You can spend a bunch of money on clinical photography set ups. But you don’t have to. If the Kois Center is recommending that you use a smartphone or tablet to take your intake images, that should be good enough for you! If you take photos (or even video) of your work, you will get better. End of story. There is nothing more frustrating (or educational) than taking photos of the perfect resin you just placed only to see some flash you missed or some anatomy that looks less than ideal that you just didn’t see clinically. Taking photos makes you better. Period.
- take time off: I’m terrible at this. Seriously. Most of the time I take off from work involves dental CE. That’s pathetic. There’s something magical about having time away from the office and NOT doing dental stuff. I’m in the middle of a week off from work that has been incredibly energizing. I’m essentially doing work around my house and single parenting my children. Knowing that there is life outside of your dental office and that the whole world doesn’t end when you’re not in the office is valuable. It makes you better when you’re there and it helps make you realize that you’re human before you’re a dentist.
- have lunch with local colleagues: I have a ton of dental colleagues. Many of them are from “away.” I interact with dentists across the country and across the world on a daily basis because of podcasting, blogging and social media. I’ve learned much of what I do in my office from people I’ve actually never met in person. However…there is something to having regular interaction with your local colleagues, too. I generally don’t think of local dentists as competition. It doesn’t serve me well and frankly, we compete against other things patients can spend money on (smartphones, lawn tractors) much more than other dentists. It’s really great to be able to communicate or commiserate with a real live person. Having local colleagues that you can lean on for second opinions and referrals is really important. Plus, it helps you realize that you’re doing OK, even though you aren’t posting all of your cases on Style Italiano or Tomorrow Tooth.
So there you have it. You don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to improve yourself or your dentistry. And a lot of these suggestions can help you be a better human being, too. Which is a pretty good side benefit, right?
If I missed any please or leave some suggestions in the comments section. If you found this helpful, please share it!
http://ift.tt/2tSsv63Wednesday, June 21, 2017
ADA-endorsed student loan program rebrands to Laurel Road
Darien Rowayton Bank — the student loan refinancing program endorsed by the ADA — announced June 15 that its online lending division inclusive of its student loan refinancing program is now officially called Laurel Road.
The rebrand includes a new logo, visual identity and website. Although the online lending division is rebranding under a new name, terms of ADA members’ loans will remain the same, and the lender of ADA members’ loans will continue to be DRB.
Borrowers will receive student loan statements from MOHELA, a student loan servicer, for Laurel Road starting June 15, and its new website, LaurelRoad.com, is live. Completed student loan application and applications for new lending products can now be found on LaurelRoad.com.
According to letters the company sent to borrowers, the new name is more reflective of the company’s growing customer base, evolving product set and recent technology advancements.
“The name embodies both the journey (i.e. ‘Road’) it takes for our customers to achieve their life goals and the inherent satisfaction once those goals are earned,” according to a Laurel Road FAQ.
In 2015, the ADA announced the endorsement of DRB’s student loan refinancing program, which allowed ADA members an opportunity to refinance existing federal and private loans at a lower rate. As with other Laurel Road product offerings, ADA members receive an extra 0.25 percent discount on their student loan refinancing rate as long as they maintain their membership. As of December 2016, the typical ADA member saves nearly $33,000 over the life of their loan after refinancing with DRB.
In addition, the ADA announced earlier this year that students going into any one of the nine ADA-recognized specialties and general practice residencies are able to refinance their entire student loan portfolio as soon as they are matched to a residency program. For ADA members who qualify and regardless of how much is refinanced, their payment will be only $100 per month throughout training. Rates for the Resident Student Loan Refinancing program range from 4.48 percent to 6.95 percent, including an extra discount for those that set up autopay.
For more information on Laurel Road and student loan refinancing, visit LaurelRoad.com/ADA. For information on ADA debt resources, visit ADA.org/mydebt.
http://ift.tt/2sAdpTmMonday, June 19, 2017
Your patients’ top fluoride questions — explained!
Need answers to your patients’ common fluoride questions? Dentists recently asked an ADA expert their questions about nature’s cavity fighter, based on what they hear from their patients, during a Facebook Live event the ADA hosted April 18.
The event featured explanations from Dr. Kevin Donly, a member of the expert panel the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs convened in 2013 to create the ADA’s most recent topical fluoride guideline. Dr. Melissa Lee Davis, former vice president of the Chicago Dental Society, Northwest Suburban Branch, interviewed him.
Dr. Donly answered several questions on fluoride, such as:
- Why is fluoride important? Is it really necessary?
If there is one thing dentists know, it’s that fluoride is great. Fluoride is a natural mineral in our environment and back in the 1930s, it was noticed that parts of the country that were naturally fluoridated at higher levels had fewer cavities in the population, so for the next 20 years, a lot of research was done. We came up with water fluoridation in the 1940s and then we went on to professionally apply topical fluorides today, which has probably been the greatest thing to reduce the caries level in our population.
- What would you tell parents or patients who are concerned about the risks of fluoride?
The first thing I tell them is that fluoride is safe. Then, I refer them to the ADA Center for Evidence-Based Dentistry because the best reference materials patients will ever find on fluoride are available there. I also remind patients that small levels of fluoride are certainly safe. We have years and years of evidence to support this. The American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, The United States Public Health Service, the National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization recommend fluoride, so there’s a lot of data that shows it’s safe and effective.
- Should adults get fluoride treatment?
Fluoride treatments can be effective for adults when we extrapolate from studies on children. For instance, research shows that fluoride rinses can help adults who have lost part of the bone on their teeth and have exposed roots.
For more ADA-approved fluoride explanations, watch the full video of Dr. Donly’s interview from April 18 on the ADA’s official Facebook page and read responses to more than a dozen fluoride questions in the video’s comments section.
http://ift.tt/2srNBc1Sunday, June 18, 2017
Values: Our Promise To The Community
Choosing health care providers for your children is a decision that you take very seriously. You want to choose providers whose values align with your own. You also want a pediatric dentist who can build a trusting relationship and instill good healthy habits for your child for years to come.
Our mission at Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry is to serve our local community by providing an unrivaled standard of quality care within pediatric dentistry. Our teams promote a fun, safe, and nurturing dental home for infants, children, adolescents, and individuals with special needs by promoting optimal oral health through education and long-term impactful relationships with our patients.
To us, a mission statement is much more than a standard paragraph of promises. We hold ourselves to this standard every day, with every patient, and with every community interaction.
Our core values are what make us who we are – a dedicated practice with the best interest of our patients at heart.
QUALITY Dental Care
We take pride in being dental care leaders for the children in our community. Each patient receives individualized care without breaking the bank. We believe that quality care should be accessible and understandable, so we take extra care to make our processes transparent and easy for the patient and the parent.
Oral Health EDUCATION
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin
This quote embodies the perfect example of why we believe that oral health education is so important – for both children and adults. Children feel more comfortable at the dentist when they are involved with their dental care. We strive to keep them as involved as they are comfortable with, as well as ensure that parents are always in the know with their children’s dental care.
Because we take education seriously, we are always learning, too!
Long-Term Patient RELATIONSHIPS
We often start seeing children at the recommended age of two years old, so we establish relationships with our patients early! We love to watch our patients grow with each appointment! Our patients become like family after they trust us with their care for many years. Helping each child start with good dental habits and healthy smiles prepares them for the future, and that’s what we do every day.
COMMUNITY Service
Our community treats us so well that we give back as often as we can and in as many different ways as possible. From sponsorships to 5Ks, we find a way to give back and offer our gratitude for your continued years of support. Some of our most recent sponsorships included Girls on the Run and the Gastonia Grizzlies. We could not be the growing practice we are today if it wasn’t for all of you!
POSITIVE Team-Oriented Work Environment
We’re a family at Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry. We work together to make sure each patient has a pleasant experience each time they step foot into our practice. Dr. Moore is very selective in his hiring process. He only selects the most teamwork-oriented individuals who have a passion for helping children. From the front desk to the dentist, each one of our team members contributes a very important role to our practice. We employ talented individuals who come together as one dedicated team!
We invite you to experience the CPD difference for yourself and for your family. You will quickly see why parents and children actually look forward to coming to the dentist! We would love the opportunity to be your children’s dental practice for success.
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http://ift.tt/2rKTXBhFriday, June 16, 2017
Tools of the Trade
Going to the dentist can be an anxiety inducing experience, especially when you’re not sure what your dentist will actually be doing inside your mouth or what all of those intimidating looking tools are for.
We want to help you understand exactly what happens when you sit down in your dentist’s chair by demystifying some of the most common tools of the trade.
There are two main types of dental tools: handheld and rotary.
Handheld tool are exactly what they sound like: much like scissors for a barber, a dentist’s handheld tools require no external power and can be used anytime, anywhere.
Some of the most common handheld tools include mouth mirrors, probes, tweezers, scalers, excavators, chisels, hatchets and hoes.
A mouth mirror is used to examine the inside of the mouth, the teeth, and the tongue.
The straight probe (used to examine cavities and to check the margins of fillings or restorations), the Briault probe (used to detect the gap between the enamel and the dentine and to look for tartar hidden in the gum pockets), and the periodontal probe (less sharp than the other two and used primarily for taking measurements inside the mouth).
Scalers are used to remove tartar (the hard plaque build up) on the surface of your teeth and hidden in the gum pockets. They’re also used to clean away any other surface deposits or to remove temporary crowns.
Excavators serve two very important dental functions: they remove softened dentine and temporary fillings, and the back of the blade can also be used to insert linings in filling materials.
Chisels, hatchets, and hoes are used most often during the process of filling a cavity. Their purpose is to remove any unsupported enamel that might compromise the filling process and longevity.
Some other notable hand held tools are plastic instruments (used to shape filling materials, plastic instruments do not use heavy pressure) and condensers or pluggers (used to compress and form filling materials, they do use heavy pressure).
Rotary instruments (also known as the infamous ‘dental drills’) are the ones that tend to freak patients out the most. Rotary instruments have two speeds (high/air turbine or low) and the noise produced in high speed mode is the one most of us typically associate negatively with our dental visits.
As alarming as the loud noises produced by the rotary instruments may be, they’re a vital part of maintaining your oral health! Drills can perform all kinds of necessary functions like filling cavities, smoothing the surface of the teeth, removing decay, and repairing chips.
Now that you’ve seen all of the tools of the trade, we hope to alleviate any anxiety you might normally feel next time you’re sitting in your dentist’s chair! http://ift.tt/2tc5KdEADA Foundation awards celebrate leaders
The ADA Foundation is seeking nominations for its Dr. David Whiston Leadership Awards, which recognize promising dentists who have shown the potential for leadership in efforts to improve the oral health of the public.
The nomination deadline is June 30, 2017.
The ADA Foundation provides two $5,000 awards each year — The Dr. David Whiston Leadership Award and the Henry Schein Cares Dr. David Whiston Leadership Award — designed to cover the costs associated with attending a leadership training program offered by the American Management Association.
The ADA Foundation created the Dr. David Whiston Leadership Program in 2014 to honor Dr. David Whiston, who has served the oral health profession through many important leadership roles including as ADA president (1997-98) and president of the ADA Foundation Board of Directors (2010-14).
Contact Tracey Schilligo at schilligot@ada.org if you have questions.
http://ift.tt/2rEh9RKThursday, June 15, 2017
Relationships Matter above Everything Else
Working with my father
Dr. Danielle Riordan with her father, Dr. Mark Zust.
When I tell people I work with my father, they always seem to say, “Oh … how is that?” I’m always astonished by the question and the uncertainty in their voices. Partnering with my father straight out of dental school was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. In fact, it was a no brainer.
I started working in my father’s office when I was in high school and fell in love with the profession, the practice and his work ethic. He taught me how to be compassionate and strive for excellence. My father says he knew dentistry was a good fit for me from an early age, but he never pushed me to follow in his footsteps and for that I am forever grateful. He knew if I chose dentistry it would have to be because I loved it and had a commitment to the oral health of our patients, not because it was his profession.
The road wasn’t always easy, and I can remember calling him in tears while in dental school, worried that I wouldn’t be able to be the kind of practitioner that I wanted to be … but he was always there to listen and talk me through it. He knew just what to say and has always believed in me, even when I would question what in the world I was doing.
Thankfully my father’s faith and work ethic was passed down, and I did make it through dental school and the transition into private practice. He helped me to succeed, but in my own way, by encouraging me to travel my own unique path.
So for me, when people wonder what it is like working with my father, I tell them I am living the dream. Not only do I have an amazing family, but I am doing something I absolutely love everyday with someone I couldn’t imagine my life without. Thanks, Dad. Happy Father’s Day.
Dr. Danielle Riordan and her father, Dr. Mark Zust, operate Family Dentistry of St. Peters in the St. Louis area.
http://ift.tt/2sw8TIjWednesday, June 14, 2017
How to Prepare For Your Child’s First Dentist Appointment
There a lot of ‘firsts’ in your child’s life – first smile, first laugh, first word, first step, first tooth, and many more. Each ‘first’ serves as an important milestone! When your little one’s smile is complete, you will want to make their first pediatric dentist appointment – typically by age two.
By making an appointment with a pediatric dentist, you are taking the first important step towards a better dental future for your child! We strive to make every step of the appointment process an easy one. In order to make the appointment smooth for everyone involved, we have established some simple guidelines to ensure a great experience for your child.
The post How to Prepare For Your Child’s First Dentist Appointment appeared first on Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry - The best Pediatric Dentist in Charlotte, Davidson, Gastonia and UNCC area..
http://ift.tt/2sbS2YmOrganized dentistry: It’s all in the family
Despite a successful dental practice and heavy involvement in organized dentistry, Dr. Bill Calnon never intended to raise two dentists. He simply wanted his sons to grow into thoughtful leaders who gave back to their communities and professions.
“I never pushed them to pursue dentistry,” Dr. Calnon said. “I wanted them to do whatever made them happy.”
The trio of dentists pose in a June 2017 photo. From left, Drs. Christopher Calnon, Bill Calnon and Tim Calnon.
However, after a childhood of watching their father, Christopher and Timothy Calnon determined dentistry would be a great career for them too. And for the Calnon brothers, organized dentistry was not a foreign, opaque entity. The destinations of their childhood vacations often coincided with dental meetings their father was attending. It seems safe to assume not all kids would find the ADA’s House of Delegates interesting, but the Calnon boys did, as they watched their father rise to president of the ADA.
“It was amazing to see the inner workings of the Association,” Dr. Chris Calnon, now 35, said. “Everyone in that room wanted nothing but the best for their profession. It made me want to be a part of a group like that.”
Dr. Tim Calnon, now 29 and an orthodontist, was greatly involved with the American Student Dental Association while attending the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. He currently serves on the board of the Monroe County Dental Society in Rochester, New York. Dr. Chris Calnon was president of the same county dental society two years ago and is now focusing on volunteering at the district and state level. Both men said their participation in organized dentistry was an easy decision.
“Our parents instilled in us that we have a responsibility to give back,” Dr. Tim Calnon said. “It’s vital to give back to the profession. We think it’s important to be at the table when big decisions are made.”
All three men said organized dentistry has enriched their life. Dr. Chris Calnon and Dr. Tim Calnon said some of their best friends are fellow dentists, while Dr. Bill Calnon said organized dentistry took his career to another level.
“I truly thrive on practicing dentistry, but I found I needed more than chairside involvement,” Dr. Bill Calnon said. “For me, organized dentistry provided a chance to influence my profession and broaden my role as a health care provider.”
To the surprise of no one, Dr. Bill Calnon is currently serving as the board president and interim executive director of the ADA Foundation. Over the years, his sons have marveled at his ability to be a good dentist, leader and father.
“I think sleep is the first thing to go,” Dr. Tim Calnon said.
Meanwhile, the Calnon brothers will continue to give back to the profession that has given their family so much. In fact, Dr. Chris Calnon is married to a dentist while Dr. Tim Calnon is engaged to one.
“As we were planning our wedding, the first thing I had to do was email the director of the New York State Dental Association,” Dr. Tim Calnon said. “I needed to see when their dental meeting would be, because I knew if my wedding was during it, my family would have a tough decision.”
http://ift.tt/2t1yKVzTuesday, June 13, 2017
As dentists, we step into the public spotlight (whether we want to or not)
One day, I was searching my name on Google (don’t act like I’m the only one that does that), and I saw some interesting things come up that made a few light bulbs go off in my head. The first thing was my name on some website about rating your doctor. I never filled out a profile on there, how did they get my name and practice address!? Are they allowed to do that? Apparently. I can’t stop them. It’s public record. The year I was born, where I went to school, the year I graduated, where I practice, if I’ve been disciplined by the board -that’s all public knowledge that can be discovered on the Internet in a matter of seconds.
Dr. Dougherty
When you become a dentist, you step into the spotlight. While it’s pretty cool to have that “Dr.” in front of your name on your scrubs or your lab coat or your Spurs replica jersey, it comes with some rules and responsibilities that have to be followed. As a doctor, you’re held to a higher standard than the Average Joe in many situations. More is expected of you from the public and your peers to be a leader and to be a professional. This isn’t a bad thing, this is a great thing. If we can’t count on doctors to be the leaders and standard bearers of good taste and professionalism in our communities, then who can we count on?
Are the wild party days over?
Who cares what I do during my free time, when I leave the office I take the doctor hat off and put the “me doing whatever I want” hat on! Right?
These are some things to think about.
Everyone that you meet as a professional is a potential advocate for you, a potential resource for you, and maybe a potential patient. How do you want others to perceive you as a professional? Do you want to be known as a loose cannon/weekend warrior or do you want to be known as a person that is worthy of trust and respect in any situation?
It’s obvious by my tone where I stand on all of these matters, but these are all individual decisions we all must make in our lives, and it isn’t easy. Dental school is a time of tremendous change in your life in many ways, and deciding where you stand on what I’m talking about will shape your professional reputation. It’s something that you should take very seriously, especially in this day and age where privacy is almost nonexistent.
In closing I want to provide you with a few related tips/thoughts on managing your online reputation.
- Delete the Bloody Pics. I used to not think anything of it, but I’ve become a huge proponent of leaving bloody teeth, surgery pics, and x-rays off of social media. It scares and grosses out your friends and potential patients, and it makes us look like insensitive jerks that get a kick out of making people bleed. Winning patient confidence and trust in us and in dentistry is what we do. Stop making it harder.
- Keep It Pro on Social Media. In a more general sense, think twice before you post things, especially negative things about your struggles as a professional or as a health care provider. Outside of the profession, no one wants to hear it, so consider your audience. Have a private conversation with another student or doctor if you need to let off some steam. Those conversations and thoughts aren’t for public consumption. It makes dentists look bad, and we’re not, we’re awesome.
- Make a LinkedIn Account and a Google+ profile. Like I said, your reputation is open to the public, people are going to be looking for you. Recruiters. Sales reps. Other professionals. Potential patients. Make it easy for people to find you, and when they do find you online, you ensure that you immediately appear in a positive way on something of your own terms.
When you get out of school and start looking for career opportunities, it’s great to have a readily available mass of contacts at your fingertips. The more people you know, the more opportunities open up. If you want important people to find you, if you want potential patients to find you, and if you want to be well known for what you do best, make yourself easy to find.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published August 2014 in Rolling Oaks Dental’s office blog.
Dr. Larry Dougherty is a New Dentist Now guest blogger and on the board of the San Antonio District Dental Society. He grew up in Georgia and graduated from Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine in 2008. He moved to Texas in 2010 and opened Rolling Oaks Dental with his wife, Dr. Ana Paula Ferraz-Dougherty, in 2011. He enjoys spending time with his family, playing music with friends, and going to Spurs games.
http://ift.tt/2rmOSUDMonday, June 12, 2017
Photo slideshow: You’re invited to the 2017 New Dentist Conference
Dear Colleagues,
As chair of the ADA New Dentist Committee, I wanted to personally invite you to the New Dentist Conference at ADA 2017. I’m continually inspired by the people that I meet at the conference and I hope to see many new and familiar faces in Atlanta.
I’m most excited about the three keynote speakers and I think you will be too. Mel Robbins, Dr. Parkinson and Chris “Bash” Bashinelli are expert speakers; Mel is even known for delivering one of the most popular TEDx Talks in the world. Each day features a keynote that you’re sure to be impressed with.
Dr. Ishkanian
New this year, you can make the New Dentist Conference into your own experience. Part of the conference is structured and part of the schedule is up to you! Select the CE you want from the customized new dentist track, visit the Exhibit Hall, attend a Reference Committee Hearing or check out the ADA 2017 events and other offerings. As a benefit to New Dentist Conference attendees, the CE courses in the new dentist track are included in your registration fee, however these courses are an additional cost for ADA 2017 general attendees. Make sure to register early to select your first choices as space is limited.
Definitely mark your calendar for the New Dentist Reception on Friday, October 20. We look forward to this night all year because it’s a chance to meet up with friends, grab a drink and challenge each other to a game of air hockey.
I look forward to seeing you October 19-21 in Atlanta at the New Dentist Conference.
Emily Ishkanian, ADA New Dentist Committee chair
http://ift.tt/2sf8CbJCan You Floss Too Much?
Yes, it is possible to floss too much. While flossing is an important part of maintaining the health of your teeth, flossing too much actually damages your teeth and gums. The signs that you’re flossing too much are:
- Red, irritated gums
- Bleeding gums
- Lower gum line
- Cavities near the bottom of the teeth
Flossing too much can greatly harm your gums and teeth. The more you floss, the more likely your gums will become red and irritated. Your gum line can also be damaged by too much flossing, which exposes more of your teeth to bacteria, so you are more likely to develop cavities near your gum line.
How Much Should You Floss?To keep your teeth and gums healthy, you only need to floss once a day. If there’s something caught between your teeth, definitely use floss to remove it as soon as possible. However, you don’t need to floss between every tooth more than once a day.
How Should You Floss?How you floss is just as important as how much you floss. Flossing too much becomes a bigger problem if you’re flossing wrong. Here are some common flossing mistakes you should watch out for:
- Flossing too hard. Flossing too hard means you’re making sawing motions are forcing the floss farther than necessary to clean your teeth. Flossing too hard makes it more likely for your gums to become irritated and cause gum disease.
- Not flossing both sides of each tooth. When flossing, you should move the floss along each side of each tooth. If you don’t scrape the plaque from each side of your teeth when flossing, you’re more likely to develop cavities between your teeth.
- Not using a new section of floss for each tooth. Make sure to use a fresh section of floss for every tooth. The whole point of flossing is to remove the plaque from between your teeth, and if you don’t move to a new section of floss, you are reinserting the plaque you just removed from your teeth.
Regularly flossing is crucial to keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Not flossing at all can lead to gum disease, cavities, and other nasty teeth issues. However, flossing too much can also lead to gum disease, cavities, and nasty teeth issues. Burg is also here to help your children have a healthy smile!
http://ift.tt/2skbDZgThursday, June 8, 2017
Dos and Don’ts: Your practice’s Facebook page
Facebook is the world’s largest and most popular social network in the U.S., and it can be a great way to communicate with patients and promote your practice. Social media can influence heath care decisions. Active and former patients can use various social media platforms and possibly even popular review sites to evaluate healthcare providers.
Here are tips to help you take control of your Business Page and use Facebook as a tool to enhance your customer service and marketing efforts.
DO: Plan your posts
A little planning goes a long way! Facebook allows for posts to be scheduled, so sketching out your month will make your social posts timely and your life easier. Look at what events or celebrations are happening during the month, and consider what time of year it is. Is it almost back-to-school time? Should your patients use their benefits before the end of the year? You may want to remind your patients of these upcoming events and encourage them to book an appointment. We have an easy template here you can adapt and use!
DON’T: Post too little or too much
There is no blanket answer to how often you should post—it’s about the quality of your content and engagements that matter. Continuously posting what people engage with (like, share, comment on) is what your followers and Facebook like to see! Facebook provides a free analytics tool called Insights— take advantage of it! Within Insights you’ll be able to determine what kind of posts perform the best, the best times to post and more.
DO: Make content creation easy
Good news: there are a number of dental-related outlets producing content ready-made for sharing by a practice like yours. Follow the ADA’s Facebook page and share our content!
We also have articles, activities, video and more available for sharing. Most resources available on these sites are in English and Spanish:
You love teeth, you love talking about teeth, but it’s OK to veer off the oral health topics if you’d like. Show off your practice personality, highlight specials or honor a staff member. At its core, social media is about connecting people and it should be fun!
DON’T Post about patients
Patient privacy should never be compromised. Photos and/or messages posted to the practice’s website or social media page, or the personal pages of team members, may violate privacy laws if the post identifies a patient or offers enough of an image or sufficient detail to identify a patient or staff member who has not authorized the disclosure. Releases should always be obtained in writing. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and other privacy laws apply to your exchanges on social media. Be careful not to inadvertently establish a doctor-patient relationship through social media exchanges.
DO: Complete your Page setup
Make sure you completely set up your Facebook Page. It’s important to include your website, email and phone number so potential patients can easily reach you. Profile photos and a cover image help establish your business personality. Learn more about Pages here.
DON’T: Ignore comments
Carve out a little time each day to read and reply to comments. The road might not always be smooth, and you may see negative comments. Have a game plan to address both positive and negative comments. Whether it’s a quick “like” or requesting they call with more information, this is a simple and visible way to make people feel valued. Plus, it lets you know about their thoughts and opinions.
There are instances where you may not want or need to respond to a comment. You may encounter a commenter who continues to engage after you address their comment or is being unreasonable or antagonistic. Should you choose to respond, simply thank the commenter for their business and feedback, and you can offer a phone number to call your office directly. After that, it is often best to leave those comments alone.
When commenting, remember that you are legally obligated to protect your patient’s information, and the patient’s posting does not waive their privacy-related rights.
Find additional marketing resources at ADA.org/marketing.
http://ift.tt/2sGIS5VExpatWoman review: My niece’s dental check-up at Dr. Michael’s Children’s Dental Center
ExpatWoman's Yul Macalino and his niece visit Dr. Carol Onyango at Dr. Michael's Children's Dental Center. Find out about their experience today.
http://ift.tt/2rDDrGkTuesday, June 6, 2017
Colgate and Scientific American Launch the Future of Oral Health Website
Colgate and Scientific American have launched a new website dedicated to investigating the leading topics in global oral health: the Future of Oral Health. Their mission is to not only to begin conversation but, to bring together many different people and communities as one and honor the power of new modern inventions of oral health. In the coming months and years the website will be exploring a variety of different topics that are essential to oral health’s future.
Many people are hooked on technology but here, Colgate and Scientific American bring the focus to oral care technology products that are becoming more and more prominent in the current landscape of oral health: Dentists performing hard and soft tissue procedures without drills, requiring no anesthesia injections, lower costs, and more. Other subjects currently being explored include the rise in digital dentistry and the breakthrough of technologies in oral care such as 3D printed teeth, tooth decay detecting lasers, and nanobots capable of detecting oral cancer.
Colgate and Scientific American are also exploring major subjects in the sphere of public health and overall trends sweeping the world of oral health at large. Current areas of focus include the oral-systemic link; the greatest challenges in dentistry, and a look at how increased access to healthcare information, knowledge-sharing, and customized, on-demand treatments are all transforming oral health.
While the key trends in technology and public health are of major importance, dental and healthcare professionals cannot forget to understand the future of oral health from the patient perspective: The Future of Oral Health website currently has infographics on why patients choose to visit the dentist, and an examination of how patients use social media, search engines, and email to research oral health questions.
To see the full range of videos, articles, infographics, and interviews on the subjects above and more, head over to the Future of Oral Health website.
http://ift.tt/2r1THgJAlaska woman returns home to work as dentist under childhood doctor
Editor’s note: This is article, republished with permission, originally appeared in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner on May 22, 2017.
Sam Friedman, Daily News Miner
Fairbanks, Ala. — New Fairbanks dentist Dr. Ecsile Chang knew what she wanted to be when she grew up at a younger age than most children.
Chang remembers always being interested in teeth as a child in Fairbanks. She’d wiggle her baby teeth before they were really ready to come out, and she used to hide her grandfather’s dentures. She’d also build toy retainers with chewing gum and put them in the freezer. They mimicked the shape of retainers, but thawed quickly when taken out and put in her mouth. When she was a student at Tanana Middle School, she used to tell her orthodontist that one day she was going to come back and take his job.
After four years of dental school, Chang, now 29, will get to realize her dream of working as a dentist. She plans to move back home this summer to work for her childhood dentist.
Chang is one of the first Korean-American dentists to work in Fairbanks. She’s also a rare homegrown dentist in a state that doesn’t have its own dental school.
In a telephone interview this week from Las Vegas, Chang was still reliving her recent graduation ceremony. Chang graduated this spring from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a Doctor of Dental Medicine. Her two Fairbanks mentors, childhood dentist Dr. Mike Helmbrecht and childhood orthodontist Dr. Walt Babula, surprised her by traveling to Nevada for the ceremony.
“I saw them and I teared up. It was something that I wasn’t expecting and the fact that they came all the way from Alaska just for me is more than words can even explain,” she said.
Chang is the youngest of Song Chang and Hyo Young Han’s three daughters. Her parents are Korean immigrants who came to Alaska in 1978. Her parents spoke no English when they arrived, and their luggage consisted of one duffel bag, Chang said. Her father founded the business Song’s Cleaning Service here.
Chang starts her new career with an acute awareness of the work her parents did that allowed her to pursue dental school.
“Growing up and witnessing the hard work my dad had to go through, made me understand what hard work is and appreciate the things that are taken for granted on a daily basis. It was my father who inspired me by telling me that one can never dream too big and that anything is possible,” she said in an essay about herself and her family that she wrote in preparation for being interviewed for this article.
Chang went to the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where she helped co-found a predental club to help fellow undergraduates learn about preparing for dental school. She took every opportunity to learn about dentistry that she could, including her own wisdom teeth extraction surgery, which she elected to do with local anesthesia. Before the operation, she asked the oral surgeon to put up a mirror so she could watch the surgery herself.
Chang said dental school was hard, especially the first two years. During her time in Las Vegas, Chang served on her class council, worked at a veterans dental clinic, and helped co-found an Asian American Student Dental Association chapter at her school. She also researched the links between oral bacteria and colon cancer.
In her first year of dental school in Nevada, Chang married Dennis Achman, her high school sweetheart who she met as a freshman at Lathrop High School. Chang said she and Achman enjoyed living in the desert, but they wanted to settle back in Fairbanks where they have extended families, Chang said.
Some things they never got used to in Nevada, like the extreme heat and the heavy traffic. To this day, Chang said she doesn’t understand how often people manage to get into car crashes in a city that doesn’t have snow.
A few weeks ago, the couple went camping at the Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada. They forgot to bring flashlights because they’re used to camping under the midnight sun. They had to use their car headlights to set up their tent.
“We both had great childhoods growing up and we knew that one day when we wanted to raise a family that (Alaska) would be the best place to raise it,” she said.
This summer Chang, Achman and their pet Yorkshire terrier plan to road trip back to Fairbanks. In the near term, Chang will work as an associate dentist at Helmbrecht’s clinic on Third Street. If it goes well, she’d like to take over the clinic when Helmbrecht retires.
http://ift.tt/2szfnCVExtinguishing Fires — Literally
Monday, June 5, 2017
Employee Handbooks: You don’t need one, until you REALLY need one
When starting a new practice, you look for every possibility to keep costs down. You are already concerned with paying the loan for the practice, your rent and your staff on top of personal expenses such as dental school loans, home mortgage, etc. Whenever there is a non-immediate expense, you look to postpone it, which is what happened to me with my employee handbook. It was always on the back burner of my mind of something to update, but I thought in the mean time, the previous owners handbook would suffice.
Dr. Hershman
After a few years, the thought of an up-to-date employee handbook kept resurfacing. Whether it was a practice management magazine or CE course, the idea of a new employee manual was always being presented. I thought to myself, “We don’t really need one, our employees are great and we don’t have issues. We are a great big dental family.”
After a switch in payroll companies, the human resources department of the new payroll company called to discuss how they could improve the HR aspects of my business. I decided to take the plunge and invest in a new handbook. After a few phone conversations, back-and-forth email edits and a lawyer review, my handbook had arrived!
I distributed the handbook to all the employees and then placed my copy at my desk where it began to collect dust. I would glance up at it and think that was a lot of time, money and energy for a book to collect dust.
Fast-forward a few months, to a situation where an employee did not show up for work. At first the entire staff was very concerned for her wellbeing. Once we knew she was okay, the phase of anger began because everyone else had to pick up more work to make up for her absence. With two days of not showing up to work (and not calling), she decided to show up the next week. As a young business owner, I was nervous at the thought of firing an employee. Luckily, I looked at my employee handbook that had the following clause: If you are absent for one day without notifying the practice, it is assumed that you have voluntarily abandoned your position with the practice, and you will be removed from the payroll.
As the employee arrived that Monday morning, my employee handbook value increased exponentially. I was able to explain that she was no longer an employee here because she gave up her position, instead of having a conversation that I was going to have to fire her. I referred to the manual and was able to show her exactly where it states this in the handbook. My costly handbook became a very reasonable expense as it made my experience as a boss so much less stressful.
For more information on managing a dental team, visit the Center for Professional Success.
Editor’s note: The author is not a lawyer and this post is not intended to provide legal advice. Federal, state and/or local law may limit an employer’s ability to take action against an employee in certain circumstances. The reader is advised to seek appropriate, local legal counsel before proceeding in any fashion suggested by this post.
Dr. Jessica Hershman is a New Dentist Now guest blogger from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is a 2012 graduate of Temple University’s Kornberg School of Dentistry and has two general dentistry practices outside of Philadelphia with her father, Dr. Hal Hershman. She is a member of the ADA, PDA, and actively involved with the Montgomery-Bucks Dental Society. When she’s not working, she can be found outside running on the nearest trail, trying a new restaurant in Center City, or rooting for the Penn State football team.
http://ift.tt/2s9EwXHJust Say No to Fruit Juice Before Age 1
When the labels claim “100% juice,” “no added sugar” and “all natural,” it's tempting to think that juice is a good nutritional choice for children. That's why parents buy gallons of it every year, daycares stock juice boxes adorned with beloved cartoon characters, and school cafeterias serve juice to help satisfy the USDA daily fruit requirements. But according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), drinking lots of juice isn't doing kids any good.
A new policy statement issued by the AAP — the organization's first new juice recommendations since 2001 — advises parents and caregivers to scale juice consumption way back among children. The bottom line: Just say no to any juice in the first year of a child's life, and severely limit juice consumption for the rest of childhood. What's the problem?
Rising obesity rates in children and concerns over a rapid and destructive form of tooth decay known as “early childhood caries” have sparked concern. The new recommendations state that 100 percent juice can be part of a well-balanced diet over age 1… but with a daily limit of 4 ounces per day from ages 1-3, 4 to 6 ounces through age 6, and 8 ounces through age 18. However, juice is “absolutely unnecessary for children under 1,” according to Dr. Melvin B. Heyman, MD, one of the authors of the AAP statement issued in May 2017.
Even in juice with no added sugar, the higher concentration of sugars naturally found in fruit can lead to tooth decay, the most common chronic disease among young children. So while serving juice is easy — it involves no washing or slicing, and it can be sipped from convenient on-the-go containers like juice boxes or sippy cups — it isn't what's best for kids. When children are old enough to eat solid foods, fruit is the way to go because it provides fiber, is less calorie-dense and makes you feel fuller. And when children do consume juice, for the best dental health they should drink it within the recommended limits and only with a meal.
Learn more by reading Top 10 Oral Health Tips For Children.
http://ift.tt/2qY1g88Saturday, June 3, 2017
How do you keep your mouth fresh during Ramadan?
This Ramadan, keep your oral hygiene in check with these tips from our specialist prosthodontist Dr. Omar Aldaoudi.
http://ift.tt/2s3XGhyFriday, June 2, 2017
Flip through the New Dentist Conference preliminary program
If you’ve been out of dental school for less than 10 years, the New Dentist Conference is your conference. Held in conjunction with the ADA annual meeting, the New Dentist Conference was specially crafted with you in mind. Flip through the New Dentist Conference Preliminary Program for more information.
http://ift.tt/2rAQIQqThursday, June 1, 2017
Celebrate Oral Health Month
The ADA and Colgate are teaming up for the second year this June to celebrate Oral Health Month: Share More Time, Share More Smiles, an annual campaign to educate families, especially in Hispanic communities, about the importance of proper oral care, according to ADA News.
The campaign is also encouraging the public, including ADA members, to share photos and a video from the campaign on social media and using the hashtag #TimetoSmile to benefit the ADA Foundation’s Give Kids A Smile program.
“Educating patients about healthy habits — like brushing for two minutes, twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and visiting a dentist regularly — is part of the ADA’s mission as America’s leading advocate for oral health,” said Dr. Gary L. Roberts, ADA president. “This is work ADA members do daily, and we are proud to collaborate, educate and celebrate this effort with Colgate during Oral Health Month.” Goals of the Oral Health Month campaign include educating the public, empowering them to develop healthy habits and encouraging them to visit their dentist regularly.
To get the word out, the campaign for Oral Health Month, which Colgate began in 2012, is utilizing social media and digital platforms. This includes promotion through MouthHealthy.org, ADA member publications and social media, as well as Colgate’s channels. Co-branded activity sheets will be promoted from the Oral Health Month web page on http://ift.tt/2rfN5Pj.
Members of the public can share photos of themselves or their families practicing oral hygiene using the hashtag #TimetoSmile on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Google during Oral Health Month. As part of the campaign, Colgate will donate $1 to the ADA Foundation’s Give Kids A Smile program every time someone shares a photo. Liking or sharing a photo will also count towards the benefit campaign. Colgate has committed to a minimum donation of $10,000 and a maximum donation of $40,000.
http://ift.tt/2rfNlxV