DrBicuspid.com Practice Management Insider

Dear Practice Management Insider,

Does the U.S. need more dental schools? In a special session at the American Dental Education Association meeting in March, Dominick DePaola, DDS, PhD, dean of academic affairs at Nova Southeastern University's College of Dental Medicine, debated the issue with David Nash, DMD, professor of pediatric dentistry at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry.

The issues are more complicated than you might think, from overcoming access-to-care barriers to finding new ways to ease the debt burden shouldered by most new graduates.

Read more about the pros and cons of opening more dental schools in our latest Insider Exclusive.

In other Practice Management Community news, at least 60% of dentists have been victims of embezzlement, and it is usually done by longtime, trusted employees. Click here to read why so many dentists -- including Dr. Gordon Christensen -- have been victimized and here for tips to help avoid being swindled.

And with group discount shopping services such as Groupon, LivingSocial, and Facebook Deals taking the Internet by storm, it might be time to consider whether these services could help you attract new patients. Read what some dental practitioners who have treaded these waters think of their experiences.

Meanwhile, when a New Jersey couple -- both dentists -- took over a 25-year-old practice last year, they decided to invest in digital technologies to create a more efficient and organized office. Click here to read how "going paperless" has improved their practice and what their patients think.

And following years of speculation and discussion, the first graduates of Minnesota's dental therapist program are set to receive their diplomas next month. Read about who they hope to treat and where they plan to work. But the debate over dental therapists continues in other parts of the U.S., with five states battling over legislation allowing licensing programs for the dental auxiliary model. And dental therapist advocates suffered another defeat after Congress nixed federal funding for alternative dental healthcare provider demonstration projects authorized in the healthcare reform law.

In Washington state, dentists are scrambling to review their business practices and fee schedules after Washington Dental Service -- a member of Delta Dental Plans -- announced that it will cut reimbursement rates for all dental procedures by 15% beginning in June. Read how the cuts could help more patients afford dental care but may put some practitioners out of business.

Finally, while U.S. dental practices have been exempted from the Red Flags Rule, other components of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) still apply, and failure to comply comes with some stiff penalties. Click here to find out which provisions of FACTA may apply to you.