DrBicuspid.com Practice Management Insider

Dear Practice Management Insider,

The dental clinics at the University of the Pacific's (UoP) Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry care for thousands of patients each year from all walks of life, not just those who don't have insurance or can't afford private care.

In the latest addition to our popular "Day in the Life of ..." series, I share my year-and-half-long journey obtaining dental implants at the UoP clinic in San Francisco. Along the way, I met some wonderful students and specialists who provided affordable, quality care and opened my eyes to the pros and cons of getting dental treatment in a busy but well-run public clinic.

Read more in this latest Practice Management Insider Exclusive.

In other Practice Management Community news, a series of reports released today by the ADA contends that the midlevel provider (MLP) model is not economically realistic or sustainable. But a Minnesota program that is tracking the productivity of its dental therapist begs to differ. Read more.

In a related story, New Hampshire's governor has signed a new law that expands the scope of services that dental hygienists there can perform. Click here to see what services the state's public health dental hygienists are now allowed to do.

Meanwhile, the PBS documentary "Dollars and Dentists," which aired June 26, took a hard look at the U.S. dental care system, where the poor have little access to care outside of jammed public clinics and hospital emergency rooms. Read what the yearlong investigation revealed about the factors that often leave desperate patients vulnerable to the predatory tactics of some dental chains.

And funding for alternative dental healthcare provider demonstration projects at the federal level has again been left out of an appropriations measure following opposition lobbying by the ADA. Read how the ADA used its influence and what it recommends as an alternate program to address access-to-care issues.

In a related story, the ADA and its state chapters have become major political players, spending $39 million since 1999 to influence U.S. lawmakers and legislation. Click here to read when the spike in ADA spending occurred and what prompted it.

Meanwhile, the Texas attorney general has filed lawsuits against a dental chain and its owners who are accused of costing taxpayers millions of dollars for unnecessary orthodontic work. Click here to read about that suit and the related whistleblower lawsuit filed by a dentist who testified before a congressional committee about Medicaid fraud.

And North Carolina legislators approved a bill giving the state Board of Dental Examiners more regulatory oversight on contracts between dental service organizations (DSOs) and dentists. Read how the law will affect the relationship between dentists and DSOs.

In other practice management news, what is the most accurate way to appraise a dental practice? According to consultant Thomas Climo, modern economics employs a valuation formula that has drive, power, and an appreciation for the potential of a dental practice.

Finally, today's high-stress, overly litigious world makes it all too easy for dental professionals to get sidetracked by feelings of anxiety and depression. In his Beyond Practice Management column, Dr. Don Deems offers some suggestions for how to acknowledge and address these feelings.