Planet DDS Blog
July 20, 2017 · By Planet DDS
In 2015, the Sears family lost their 6-year-old boy during a routine dental procedure. The anesthesia administered to Caleb by the oral surgeon—who was also performing the extraction—interrupted the child’s breathing, raising questions about sedation protocol for children and prompting the family to lobby for tighter regulations. Oral surgeons are the only medical professionals authorized…
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July 13, 2017 · By Planet DDS
The internet of money, as some call it, has gained prominence in the last few years with the rise of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum and blockchain networks. Some industries have embraced these new digital currencies for the extra security and transparency they provide. A recent article on Bitcoin Insider mentions Dentacoin, a blockchain…
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July 07, 2017 · By Planet DDS
Many healthcare professionals are on the front lines in the fight against domestic violence. While examining patients, they are in a unique position to ask screening questions and detect evidence of physical or emotional trauma. Some medical professionals have even considered mandatory continuing education on how to spot the telltale signs of domestic violence. According…
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June 28, 2017 · By Planet DDS
Delta Dental of Massachusetts, the state’s largest dental insurer, recently proposed a new low-cost plan that could cut reimbursement rates by as much as 20-30%. Many dentists in the Bay State are worried that the introduction of this plan will result in lower-quality care. Delta Dental of Massachusetts sought approval from the state Division of…
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June 01, 2017 · By Planet DDS
Earlier this year, we discussed a Washington State bill that would remove a barrier of sorts between DSOs and patients, allowing DSOs to own or lease the assets and work more directly with their associated practices. A short time after our initial post, the language from the proposed bill was rolled into another bill concerning…
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May 17, 2017 · By Planet DDS
Last fall, we wrote a post about the dental care divide in the U.S. A recent Washington Post feature story put a human face on this public health challenge. The Post article describes the work of Mission of Mercy, a non-profit that provides free dental care to those who “fall through the cracks” of the…
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May 10, 2017 · By Planet DDS
As the Department of Health and Human Services makes clear in the starkest terms, the U.S. faces an unprecedented opioid epidemic. On an average day, 3,900 people initiate non-medical use of prescription opioids, while 78 people die from an opioid-related overdose. In 2014, more than 240 million scripts were written for prescription opioids—more than enough…
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May 03, 2017 · By Planet DDS
In a few previous posts, we explored the evidence of oral care in pre-modern societies. Thanks to fossil markings that show toothpick activity, scientists have demonstrated that dental care goes way back. Last year, researchers even dug up the oldest pair of dentures ever found, at an Italian burial site. But the most astonishing recent…
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April 18, 2017 · By Planet DDS
At the end of 2016, we discussed a proposed bill (AB 15) in the California state legislature aimed at increasing reimbursement rates for providers under the Denti-Cal program. This bill was drafted in direct response to comparatively low reimbursement rates in California, which some have blamed for the “silent, hidden epidemic of tooth decay and…
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April 13, 2017 · By Planet DDS
The first few industry shows of 2017 (including the ADSO Summit in Florida and the Chicago Dental Society’s Midwinter Meeting) made one thing clear: dental groups are on the march. Although the American Dental Association estimates that only 7.4% of dentists are affiliated with a dental support organization, that percentage is growing, and it’s much…
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