Dentistry Commons^™

Artificial Intelligence Will Never Feel What We Feel, Michelle C. Dziurgot D.D.S.

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

The editorial discusses the fundamental difference between human emotions and artificial intelligence, using "The Jetsons" character Rosie as a metaphor. While acknowledging AI's superior performance in certain tasks and its growing industry presence, the author emphasizes that AI lacks true feelings and cognitive common sense. The piece argues that while AI is a valuable tool for enhancing productivity and bridging skill gaps, it should be embraced as an aid rather than a replacement for human emotional intelligence.

Online Reviews: Myths, Tips, And Tricks, Anish Gupta D.D.S.

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Online reviews are a source of reputation marketing which are valuable to the practice of dentistry. Reviews bring patients in and provide social proof for your practice. We discuss what makes a good review, tips to get reviews, and dispel certain myths regarding online reviews.

Harnessing General Purpose Ai In Dental Practice: Strategic Solutions For A Burdened Workforce, Christopher J. Smiley D.D.S.

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping dental practice administration by enhancing efficiency and providing solutions to address workforce shortages. Free-to-use generative AI (GenAI) tools, such as ChatGPT and Claude, can streamline routine tasks, support creative workflows, and reduce the burden on office teams. However, dental professionals must understand AI’s limitations and ethical boundaries, including risks to patient confidentiality and the potential for inaccurate or misleading outputs. Proprietary dental-specific AI systems demonstrate a safer approach by providing specialized diagnostic support and practice analytics in more secure environments to meet HIPAA standards. Yet even these dentistry-based AI solutions carry a risk of bias …

The New Professional: Best Practices For Leaving A Job: A Guide To A Smooth Transition, Amrita Patel D.D.S.

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

The article provides guidance for associate dentists on executing a professional job transition. It emphasizes the importance of careful decision-making, thorough contract review, and maintaining professional relationships throughout the resignation process. Key recommendations include evaluating the decision objectively, understanding contractual obligations, providing appropriate notice, documenting ongoing patient care, and maintaining a positive attitude. The article stresses that a well-managed departure can protect one's professional reputation and future career opportunities.

Build Your Practice With Dental Revenue Cycle Management, Robert Mcdermott

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This article explores the essential role of Dental Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) in ensuring the financial success and sustainability of a dental practice. Many dentists, especially those new to solo practice, struggle with managing the business side of dentistry, particularly the complexities of RCM. The article outlines the key steps of RCM, including patient scheduling, insurance verification, claims submission, and payment processing, emphasizing how a well-managed system ensures steady cash flow and enhances patient experience. Key challenges in RCM include lack of formal business training, evolving insurance regulations, and the risk of delayed reimbursements, which can threaten a practice’s viability. …

J Mich Dent Assoc March 2025

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Each month, The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association provides news, information, and features about Michigan dentistry to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200+ members. It stands as the primary publication reaching Michigan dentists. This month’s issue offers an insightful article on general-purpose AI to boost creativity and efficiency in dental practice. Helpful tips on protecting your reputation are provided in an article on Myths, Tips, and Tricks to manage online reviews. Readers then learn that ADA Commons provides much more than access to current and past articles and issues of the Journal of the Michigan Dental …

Ada News - 02/03/2025, American Dental Association, Publishing Division

ADA News

Established in 1970 as the official newspaper of the American Dental Association, the ADA News serves practicing dentists and others allied to the dental profession in the U.S. and internationally. It is the No. 1 source of news and information about the many benefits and services the ADA delivers to members daily as well as timely information on scientific, social, political and economic developments affecting dentistry and health care.

Dentistry And The Law: What You Should Know About Collecting Past-Due Accounts, Daniel Schulte J.D.

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Michigan law regulates debt collection practices for dental offices collecting past-due accounts. While practices can collect their own debts, they must follow specific restrictions regarding workplace communications. The law prohibits harassment, deceptive practices, and sharing debt information with employers or coworkers. Contact at workplaces must be discreet, civil, and cease if the patient expresses inconvenience. Communications are restricted between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. without permission.

J Mich Dent Assoc February 2025

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Each month, the Journal of the Michigan Dental Association provides news, information, and features about Michigan dentistry to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200+ members. It is the primary publication reaching Michigan dentists. The February issue sets the tone for the MDA’s Annual Meeting, Revving Up Dentistry, this April in Detroit.

A detailed Annual Session Preview is included within the Journal with course listings and activities planned for the four-day event. Regular Departments: News You Need, New Dentist Column, MDA Insurance, Dentistry and the Law, Staff Matters, MDA at your Service, Governmental Affairs, and a Michigan Dental …

January 15, 2025 — Welcome Letter To Members Of The 119th Congress, American Dental Association

Advocacy in Action letters

No abstract provided.

Ada News - 01/06/2025, American Dental Association, Publishing Division

ADA News

Established in 1970 as the official newspaper of the American Dental Association, the ADA News serves practicing dentists and others allied to the dental profession in the U.S. and internationally. It is the No. 1 source of news and information about the many benefits and services the ADA delivers to members daily as well as timely information on scientific, social, political and economic developments affecting dentistry and health care.

Marketing The Message: Maximizing Engagement With Digital Publications Through Social Media, Email, And Analytics, Rich Evans

AADEJ - The Communicator

This article outlines a strategic approach for professional associations to enhance engagement with their digital publications in today's digital-first environment. Drawing from the Michigan Dental Association (MDA)'s transition to a fully digital Journal, it emphasizes the vital role of marketing and analytics. Key recommendations include leveraging social media for strategic visibility (e.g., summarizing articles, tagging authors, video pitches), implementing direct email delivery to members (e.g., monthly digests, audience segmentation), and ensuring easy website integration for accessible content. The piece also stresses the importance of mobile-responsive design, clear formatting, and multimedia embedding to improve the digital reading experience. It suggests evaluating …

J Mich Dent Assoc January 2025

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Each month, the Journal of the Michigan Dental Association provides news, information, and features about Michigan dentistry to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200+ members. It is the primary publication reaching Michigan dentists. The January issue sets the tone for February, the observance of Children’s Dental Health Month.

Michigan Academy of Pediatric Dentistry President Jessica Bentoski welcomes readers to this special issue, which features a cover feature on “Approaches to Care for Children with Special Needs in Dental Settings: Desensitization and Teledentistry” and a supporting article on “General Dentists’ Education, Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior Concerning the Effects …

Dentistry And The Law: The Difference Between ‘Non-Covered’ Vs. ‘Disallowed’ Services, Daniel Schulte Jd

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

The article clarifies the distinction between "non-covered" and "disallowed" services in dental plan audits. Non-covered services are not included in the patient’s dental plan, often due to plan limitations, while disallowed services are covered but deemed non-payable due to issues like claim deficiencies or lack of documentation. Dentists must review their contracts to understand obligations regarding non-covered services and ensure compliance with HIPAA for patient-paid services. For disallowed services, contesting decisions may be possible depending on the agreement with the dental plan.

Staff Matters: Why Are Our Employees Leaving? And How Do We Keep Them?, Jodi Schafer Sphr, Shrm-Scp

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

The article addresses the challenges of staff attrition in dental practices, emphasizing its costly impact and the need to understand its causes. Common reasons for attrition include low compensation, high workloads, poor management practices, and lack of career development opportunities. Solutions involve gathering feedback through exit interviews, improving salaries and benefits, balancing workloads, enhancing management styles, and offering career growth. Proactive measures can help retain staff and create a stable, supportive work environment.

Mda Services: Let Your Mda Membership Put Money Back In Your Pocket, Reva Darling

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

MDA membership offers significant financial savings through partnerships with endorsed vendors, providing products and services to enhance dental practice success. Members can save over $30,000 annually by utilizing resources like PPO Negotiation Solutions, Best Card for credit processing, ProSites for digital marketing, Eagle Associates for compliance, and iCoreConnect for cloud-based software. Additional discounts are available on dental supplies, accounting, and in-house dental plan administration, among other services. These benefits demonstrate the value of MDA membership in streamlining operations and improving profitability.

2024 Aadej-Adea Gies Foundation Editorial Award - Third Place: Gen Ai, Marisa Watanabe Dds, Ms, Ficd

AADEJ - The Communicator

This article is featured as a recipient of a 2024 AADEJ-ADEAGies Foundation Editorial Award. It explores the growing presence of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in everyday life and its specific implications for dentistry. While AI shows great promise in improving diagnostic accuracy in dentistry, the author cautions that it is not without limitations and potential mistakes, such as overfitting, lack of contextual information, limited data diversity, false positives/negatives, inadequate training data, and sensitivity to image quality. The piece stresses that AI should augment, not replace, dental professionals, serving as a supportive aid rather than a definitive diagnostic tool. Key benefits …

2024 Aadej-Adea Gies Foundation Editorial Award- Second Place: The Human Role In Artificial Intelligence, Christopher J. Smiley

AADEJ - The Communicator

This article is featured as a recipient of a 2024 AADEJ-ADEA Gies Foundation Editorial Award. It addresses concerns about Artificial Intelligence (AI) in dentistry, particularly the warning from technology researchers regarding "profound risks to society and humanity" due to advanced AI systems. The author argues that the conversation should focus on AI's potential and, more critically, the essential role humans play in its successful adoption, rather than fears of machines taking over. A main risk identified is blind reliance on AI recommendations, which can lead to a loss of critical thinking, misdiagnosis, or inappropriate treatment decisions. Therefore, focused human oversight …

Aadej And Icd Usa Section — Together For Over 50 Years!, Elaine C. Wagner Dds

AADEJ - The Communicator

With a new-found collaboration of our annual meetings in 2025, we celebrate more than 50-year partnership between the International College of Dentists (ICD) USA Section and the American Association of Dental Editors & Journalists (AADEJ). It highlights that both organizations are composed of individuals passionate about their respective missions: ICD Fellows focus on serving the underserved and improving global oral health, while AADEJ is dedicated to enhancing communication and elevating standards in dental journalism. The collaboration has stood the test of time, and for the first time, their Annual Meetings in 2025 will be held together at the Manchester Grand …

The New Professional: Intentional Goal-Setting For 2025, Amrita Patel D.D.S.

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

The article emphasizes the importance of intentional goal setting, networking, and leadership for new dentists to achieve long-term success. It advocates for setting clear, measurable goals, breaking them into manageable milestones, and focusing on building strong professional relationships. Networking with mentors and peers, engaging in social media, and participating in dental organizations are highlighted as ways to foster growth and opportunities. Leadership roles, even in small capacities like volunteering or joining committees, are seen as critical steps toward personal development and career advancement. These strategies collectively help new dentists establish a solid foundation for achieving their professional aspirations.

Ada News - 12/09/2024, American Dental Association, Publishing Division

ADA News

Established in 1970 as the official newspaper of the American Dental Association, the ADA News serves practicing dentists and others allied to the dental profession in the U.S. and internationally. It is the No. 1 source of news and information about the many benefits and services the ADA delivers to members daily as well as timely information on scientific, social, political and economic developments affecting dentistry and health care.

Advocacy Spotlight: Understanding The Mda's Role With Dental Insurance Reimbursement Rates, Daniel Miller D.D.S.

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

The Michigan Dental Association (MDA) is dedicated to advocating for members and advancing the dental profession. While federal laws prohibit the MDA from negotiating reimbursement rates with dental insurers, it provides significant support through education, advocacy, and resources.

Key initiatives include enhancing transparency in network leasing, endorsing PPO Negotiation Solutions to help practices optimize contracts, and offering educational programs on billing and coding. The MDA also facilitates peer networking and equips dentists with tools to navigate insurance challenges effectively.

Looking ahead, the MDA remains committed to empowering members through advocacy, guiding future dentists on contract literacy, and fostering a resilient …

Dentistry And The Law: Overlooked Purchase Agreement Terms, Daniel Schulte Jd

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Selling a dental practice involves numerous legal, financial, and operational considerations. Assembling a team—including a lawyer, accountant, broker, and insurance professional—is crucial for ensuring a smooth transaction. While letters of intent are optional, they help define terms like exclusivity, due diligence, and confidentiality.

Purchase agreements, often drafted by the buyer’s lawyer, should detail asset allocation, tax implications, and handling of accounts receivable. Neglected areas such as work-in-process procedures and rework responsibilities must also be addressed to avoid disputes. Properly planning and negotiating these terms protects both buyer and seller, minimizing post-sale complications and ensuring a seamless transition of ownership.

What You Must Know: Retention And Destruction Of Dental Records And Your Most-Asked Questions About Dental Records, Daniel Schulte Jd

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

An overview of the basic information about dental records, including retention and destruction, that you and your staff should be aware of, provided by MDA Legal Counsel Dan Schulte, J.D. Plus, for your reference, answers to the questions Michigan dental offices are asking about dental record retention, access, release, and destruction.

Dental records are vital for patient care, legal compliance, and professional practice management. Michigan law mandates retaining dental records for a minimum of 10 years, ensuring their confidentiality, accessibility, and integrity. Destruction of records less than 10 years old requires patient notification and authorization, while those over 10 years …

The New Professional: A Guide To Finding A Mentor As A New Dentist, Amrita Patel D.D.S.

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Dr. Patel provides guidance for new dentists on finding and maintaining effective mentoring relationships. She emphasizes that mentors can offer valuable guidance during the transition from dental school to clinical practice. The article explains that mentors need not be exclusively dentists and can be found through various channels, including professional associations, dental societies, alumni networks, and social media platforms. It outlines strategies for identifying potential mentors by observing their clinical skills, professionalism, and leadership styles. The piece concludes with practical advice for maintaining productive mentoring relationships, including setting clear expectations, preparing for meetings, and maintaining consistent communication. The article emphasizes …

J Mich Dent Assoc December 2024

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Each month, The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association provides news, information, and features about Michigan dentistry to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200+ members. It stands as the primary publication reaching Michigan dentists.

The December issue includes a timely cover feature on evidence supporting community water fluoridation, a clinical feature answering questions on patient dental records, a guest editorial on leadership by former MDA Journal Editor Dr. Bill Chase, and a Back Page article on how a personal touch makes a difference. We also provide our annual 2024 Author/Title Index and regular departments: The New Professional, …

The Back Page: The Personal Touch Makes The Difference, Riley Schaff D.D.S.

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Dr. Riley Schaff discusses the importance of personal connection in engaging new dentists with organized dentistry. Drawing from his own experience of being personally invited to chair a New Dentist Study Club, he emphasizes that direct, personal outreach is more effective than digital communication in encouraging participation among early-career dentists.

The article highlights ongoing efforts at the state level to increase engagement, including enhanced presence at local events and networking programs. However, Schaff argues that grassroots efforts at the local component level are crucial for significant change in membership rates. He concludes that personal engagement from existing members is essential …

Are Leaders Born, Or Made?, William R. Chase D.D.S.

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

The debate over whether leaders are born or made persists, but effective leadership often results from a combination of innate traits and learned skills. Transformational leaders inspire and motivate others, while transactional leaders focus on tasks without fostering personal connections. Servant leadership, particularly valued in the dental profession, emphasizes service to others, aligning naturally with patient care. Leadership styles, such as coercive, authoritative, and affiliative, demonstrate the complexity of leadership dynamics. Renowned authors like John C. Maxwell and Daniel Goleman emphasize adaptability and the importance of being a leader whom people want to follow. Effective leadership transcends settings, offering focus, …

Ada News - 11/04/2024, American Dental Association, Publishing Division

ADA News

Established in 1970 as the official newspaper of the American Dental Association, the ADA News serves practicing dentists and others allied to the dental profession in the U.S. and internationally. It is the No. 1 source of news and information about the many benefits and services the ADA delivers to members daily as well as timely information on scientific, social, political and economic developments affecting dentistry and health care.

New Dentist News (November 2024), Ada Committee On The New Dentist

New Dentist News

New Dentist News offers timely information on scientific, social, educational, political and economic developments affecting new dentists. This collection is historical and items may not reflect current standards. For up-to-date information contact the ADA. The New Dentist News was alternately titled ADA Lifeline, 1997-June 2001.