Dentistry Commons^™

Payments In The Practice What Trends Are Affecting Your Bottom Line, Phil Nieto

Virginia Dental Journal

Dental practices have seen a significant increase in credit card payments, with the average monthly amount rising from $30,876 in 2019 to $44,925 in 2023. This shift, accelerated by COVID-19, has impacted profitability due to higher processing fees, which increased from 3.06% to 3.53% over the same period. Despite raising prices to counter inflation, the average transaction size has not kept pace with the overall economic inflation rate. Dental practices are encouraged to periodically review their payment processing costs to ensure they are not adversely affecting their bottom line.

The Roi Of Ethics, Robert Morrison Dmd

Virginia Dental Journal

Dr. Robert F. Morrison emphasizes the importance of ethics in dentistry, highlighting that every interaction with patients impacts their experience and the practice's reputation. He argues that ethics are integral to marketing and business decisions, influencing patient trust and referrals. A strong ethical foundation leads to a positive return on investment (ROI) by fostering patient loyalty and internal referrals, which are crucial for business health. Morrison encourages dentists to think beyond clinical procedures and consider the perspectives of staff, patients, and the community to build a lasting, reputable practice.

2024 General Assembly Session Review, Tripp Perrin, Missy Wesolowski

Virginia Dental Journal

The 2024 General Assembly session, held from January 10 to March 9, saw significant legislative activity with 2,311 bills introduced. Key achievements for the Virginia Dental Association (VDA) included the passage of bills to increase transparency in dental insurance, authorize a dentist and dental hygienist compact for license portability, secure funding for a new VCU School of Dentistry, extend the remote supervision period for dental hygienists, and expand civil liability protections under the SafeHaven™ program. Defensive efforts successfully amended or defeated problematic bills related to medical debt reporting, medical malpractice caps, and universal licensure.

2024 Dental Days At The Capitol, Laura Givens

Virginia Dental Journal

More than 250 dentists and dental students gathered at Richmond's Omni Hotel on January 18 and 19 for the VDA's annual Dental Days at the Capitol. They met with legislators to discuss important bills affecting dentistry. Speaker of the House Don Scott, whose wife is a practicing dentist, delivered an encouraging keynote speech. VDA lobbyists outlined the association's legislative objectives before attendees headed to the Virginia General Assembly Building, showcasing the power of hands-on lobbying and community strength.

Through The Looking Glass, Sarah Glass

Virginia Dental Journal

The feature "Through the Looking Glass with Dr. Sarah Glass" explores various cases in oral pathology. It discusses the appropriate biopsy locations and diagnoses for different conditions: a malignant salivary gland tumor in the hard palate, recurrent erythema multiforme with oral ulcerations, and severe dysplasia and superficially invasive squamous cell carcinoma in leukoplakia of the tongue. The importance of including specific tissue types in biopsies for accurate diagnosis is emphasized.

Virginia Dental Workforce Council Report To The Vda House Of Delegates, Paul Logan

Virginia Dental Journal

The Virginia Dental Workforce Council's January 2024 report addresses the state's dental workforce challenges, emphasizing the need for more providers, especially in rural areas. The report highlights the impact of the pandemic on dentists' duties, the aging workforce, and the shortage of dental hygienists. It outlines early outcomes, such as improved relationships with educational institutions and new data on workforce needs. Recommendations include making workforce data accessible, promoting dental careers, supporting dental programs, addressing licensure barriers, and supporting federal initiatives to enhance the dental workforce.

Bridging The Gap: Clearing The Pathways To In-Demand Careers In Dentistry, Ryan Dunn

Virginia Dental Journal

The document discusses the critical shortage of dental professionals in Virginia, particularly dental hygienists and assistants, which is hindering patient access to essential dental care. Despite high demand for dental programs, limited capacity restricts student admissions. The Virginia Dental Association (VDA) is working with political and educational leaders to address this issue by advocating for increased investment in dental education and training. Efforts include expanding program capacities, improving licensure portability, and supporting mental health initiatives for dental professionals. The goal is to ensure a robust dental workforce to meet the growing oral health care needs in Virginia.

Why Be A Political Action Member?, Gary Oyster Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

Gary D. Oyster, DDS, emphasizes the importance of political action for dentists, highlighting the pressures from insurance companies and workforce demands. He stresses that building relationships with legislators through contributions to state and federal political action committees (PACs) is crucial for effective advocacy. Oyster encourages dentists to participate in fundraisers and engage with legislators to influence dental-related policies. He notes that only a small percentage of dentists currently contribute to PACs and urges more to join to strengthen their collective influence.

Insuring Dentistry, Sarah Friend Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

Dr. Sarah Friend emphasizes the importance of insurance and organized dentistry in protecting the dental profession. While insurance provides financial security against unforeseen events, membership in organized dentistry and advocacy serve as the best "insurance policies" to ensure the profession's future. She encourages all dentists to get involved, contribute, and work together to address challenges and shape the future of dentistry for themselves and future generations.

Call To Arms, Dustin Reynolds Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

Dr. Dustin Reynolds, President of the VDA, expresses gratitude for the strong member participation in Dental Days at the Capitol and highlights the success of the 2024 Virginia legislative session. Key legislative victories include the passage of the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact Bills, Remote Supervision Bills, Safe Haven Bills, and the Dental Insurance Transparency Bill. Dr. Reynolds emphasizes the importance of maintaining and growing membership to continue influencing legislative decisions and encourages members to reach out to colleagues to join or renew their membership. He also highlights the need for increased contributions to the Tooth PAC to further support …

Va Dent J April, May And June 2024

Virginia Dental Journal

The April-June 2024 issue of the Virginia Dental Journal (VDJ) explores significant themes affecting the dental profession in Virginia. Key highlights include a feature on the dental workforce crisis, addressing shortages and its impact on patient care and practice expansion. The Virginia Dental Workforce Council provides a comprehensive report with recommendations to enhance workforce capacity through educational investments, policy changes, and collaborative efforts. Other topics include scientific studies, such as a pilot investigation on non-invasive treatments for xerostomia, advocacy updates on legislative successes like the SafeHaven™ program for mental health support, and industry insights on sustainability and cybersecurity in dental …

Piedmont Smiles Mom Event – Back For Second Year, Michelle Mcgregor

Virginia Dental Journal

The Piedmont Smiles Free Dental Day, hosted for the second year in Warrenton, provided free dental care to residents of Fauquier and Rappahannock Counties. Organized by the PATH Foundation, Fauquier Free Clinic, and the Virginia Dental Association Foundation's Missions of Mercy (MOM) team, the event transformed Fauquier High School into a temporary dental clinic. Volunteers, including dental students from VCU and Howard University, offered services such as cleanings, fillings, and extractions to 259 patients, delivering over $152,851 in donated dental care. The event highlighted the community's commitment to providing essential dental services to those in need.

Serving The Petersburg Community: Vda Foundation Collaboration With Central Virginia Health Services, Colleen Davis Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

The Virginia Dental Association Foundation (VDAF) collaborated with Central Virginia Health Services (CVHS) to host a Missions of Mercy Project in Petersburg on November 11, 2023. This event provided free dental extractions to thirty-six patients, valued at $18,356, with the help of seventy-three volunteers, including dentists and dental students. CVHS-Petersburg, one of twenty CVHS health centers, offers comprehensive healthcare services to medically underserved families in Central Virginia. CVHS is a non-profit organization that provides care regardless of insurance status, with a sliding scale discount based on family size and income.

Lawmakers, Media, And Patients: Conveying Key Messages With Authority, Michaela Mishoe

Virginia Dental Journal

The Virginia Dental Association’s Communications Team uses media relations to advocate for the dental profession and oral health initiatives. They provide media training to help members and leaders effectively communicate with reporters, lawmakers, and patients. Key strategies include keeping messages simple, relying on key messages, using a problem-solution framework, and practicing through role-playing and mock interviews. These techniques ensure clear, focused, and persuasive communication.

Virginia Board Of Dentistry Meeting Notes December 8, 2023, Ursula Klostermyer Dds, Phd

Virginia Dental Journal

The Virginia Board of Dentistry meeting on December 8, 2023, introduced new members and discussed various updates. Key points included the approval of draft botulinum toxin regulations, the introduction of a dental licensure compact for easier multi-state licensing, and the report on disciplinary actions. The Board also highlighted the ongoing healthcare workforce shortage and the upcoming budget presentation by Governor Youngkin. Additionally, the meeting covered the success of the Piedmont Smiles event, which provided dental care to underserved communities.

Ethical Or Legal?, William Bennett Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

The document discusses the importance of ethical behavior in dentistry, emphasizing the principles of the Hippocratic Oath and the American Dental Association's Code of Ethics. It contrasts the historical and current legal regulations governing dental practices in Virginia, highlighting changes in advertising, practice ownership, and technology. Despite legal changes, ethical standards remain crucial. The document urges Virginia dental professionals to uphold high ethical standards, ensure patient care quality, and support the Virginia Dental Association to maintain public trust and professional integrity.

An Interview With Dr. Richard Roadcap Virginia Dental Journal Editor (2007 – 2023), Richard F. Roadcap Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

Dr. Richard Roadcap, who served as the editor of the Virginia Dental Journal from 2007 to 2023, reflects on his journey, challenges, and achievements. He highlights the transition from print to digital, the satisfaction of recognizing community members' accomplishments, and the importance of persistence and collaboration with contributors. Roadcap emphasizes the editor's role in fostering debate and adapting to change. As he retires, he hopes the Journal continues to meet members' needs and plans to start a new online publication focused on public service.

Cheiloscopy, Sarah Friend Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

Cheiloscopy is a forensic odontology field focused on identifying individuals through the analysis of unique lip prints, which are as distinctive as fingerprints. Lip patterns form in utero and remain stable over time unless altered by injury or disease. Lip prints can indicate sex, ancestry, and familial lineage, and are used as evidence in criminal investigations. They can be collected using photography, lipstick, and digital methods, and are viable evidence at crime scenes. Despite their potential, there is no standardized method for their forensic application, and research on postmortem lip prints is limited. Advances in technology could integrate lip print …

Treatment Access And Outcomes For Craniofacial Care: Patient And Parent Perspectives, Benjamin F. Lowe Iii, Dds, Bhavna Shroff, Steven J. Lindauer, Caroline K. Carrico, A Abubaker

Virginia Dental Journal

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate craniofacial patients and parent attitudes toward access to care, quality of care, and use of telehealth.

Methods: An original survey was sent to families in treatment with the Virginia Commonwealth University craniofacial team to assess opinions toward various aspects of care.

Results: On average, no factors were considered a barrier to care. Quality of care was highly rated. Respondents felt neutral about telehealth overall, but those with past telehealth experience were significantly more likely to find value in its use (p < 0.01).

Conclusion: Respondents had satisfactory treatment outcomes and good access to …

Through The Looking Glass, Sarah Glass

Virginia Dental Journal

The feature discusses three oral pathology cases presented by a dental student. The first case involves a 60-year-old female with red, swollen gums and frequent bleeding, diagnosed as Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid, an autoimmune disease. The second case is a 9-year-old male with a large radiolucency around a developing tooth, diagnosed as a Dentigerous Cyst, a developmental odontogenic cyst. The third case is a 67-year-old female with a bump on her gums, diagnosed as Squamous Cell Carcinoma, a type of oral cancer. Each diagnosis includes recommended treatments and referrals.