CrossCheck Blog

The Academy of General Dentistry presents AGD2017 on July 13 – 15 at Caesars Palace Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The trade event features educational sessions, exhibits and networking opportunities addressing the needs of general dentists, dental students and dental teams. AGD2017 is a comprehensive continuing education program accepted by the Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry (FAGD) and Master in the Academy of General Dentistry (MAGD). Dental professionals committed to lifelong learning may attend clinical and practice management lectures, discussions and hands-on courses. Registration is free for all students, residents and recent grads who also receive:

A team from the Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam published a study concluding that severe gum disease may be an early indicator of undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. The researchers said early diagnosis at dental offices and treatment of both periodontitis and diabetes could benefit patients by preventing further complications. “Periodontitis as a possible early sign of diabetes mellitus” was authored by Dr. Wijnand Teeuw, the director of the center’s periodontology clinic. The study was funded in part by a grant from the University of Amsterdam and published February 22, 2017 via BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care.

Regular readers of this blog take note: August 2, 2016 was the day that flossing — the long-established bastion of dental hygiene — was discredited, disproven and sent packing to a humble retreat in Wyoming where it would spend the rest of its days in infamy. Or was it? Dental practices everywhere struggled to find answers.

A recent study of data compiled between 1996 and 2013 reveals a 62% increase in the prescribing of antibiotics by dentists despite declines in their prescribing by physicians and overall use. The work was conducted by a Canadian team including researchers from the University of British Columbia and the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control. “Antibiotic Prescribing by Dentists Has Increased” was published in the May 2016 issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association. Dentists cited several critical reasons for prescribing antibiotics: treatment of periapical abscess and irreversible pulpitis; widespread use of dental implants and bone grafting; and perioperative prophylaxis for patients with prosthetic joints or valvular heart disease. Nevertheless, the study serves as a barometer for an industry committed to helping patients as it searches for new ways to increase sales.

Top 2015 Dental Industry Trends and 2016 Predictions, written by the Apex360 editorial board of Dentistry iQ in November of 2015, reveals the various changes occurring that year with insightful predictions for 2016. Those surveyed include dental professionals ranging from dentist practice owners and CEOs, to sales and marketing reps, to accountants and dental software experts. Deemed the most comprehensive online resource for dental pros, Dental iQ’s diverse report demonstrates many areas that practice owners can target for a successful 2016.

The rift between Americans having health insurance versus those having dental insurance is huge. Nearly 90% of those surveyed have healthcare policies, but only 60% have dental coverage. Nevertheless, all is not doom and gloom, and most dentists can simultaneously provide their patients with stellar healthcare while increasing profits. According to an August 2015 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics, only 29 million Americans did not have health insurance during the first quarter of 2015. Those numbers represent an improvement of 7% over the previous year.

Dentists may hold the key to a fundamental shift in American's perception of health care, and dental clinics that go out of their way to appeal to this new perspective stand to expand and increase their profitability.

All things being even, you chose the #1 best job in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 100 Best Jobs of 2015. Why though? Was it the median salary of $146k? Was it the work-life balance? Yes and yes, no doubt, but one reason really stands out. Because you are particularly compassionate, restoring your patient’s oral health and transforming their lives tops the list of reasons why you became a dentist. When you help someone smile, the whole world truly smiles.

As it turns out, car dealerships might have discovered the key to expanding your dental practice this spring and summer. You have more in common with dealerships than you might expect. You both provide products and services across a wide price spectrum, and people usually have to wait before they can engage you at any price point.

A great deal can be learned about the state of dental care in the United States by contemplating the Abominable Snowman in the Christmas-time classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.