Week in Review: Lawsuit against Aspen Dental | High costs weigh on dentists | Bra hooks provide snap fix

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

Our top story of the week detailed a Massachusetts lawsuit against dental service organization Aspen Dental Management. The state's attorney general claims that Aspen Dental ran a series of bait-and-switch advertisements that resulted in unexpected costs for thousands of patients.

According to the Massachusetts attorney general, Aspen Dental advertised free x-rays and dental exams to new patients who did not have insurance but then allegedly routinely charged patients for the services. A spokesperson for Aspen Dental told DrBicuspid.com the lawsuit lacked merit and that the company intends to fight the case.

High costs weigh on dentists

The rising cost of operating expenses and trouble filling staff positions are on the minds of dentists -- topics addressed in some of this week's most-read stories.

In a study published this week in the Journal of the American Dental Association, dentists said they are concerned about higher operating expenses, another COVID-19-related shutdown, and employees' inability to come to work. Approximately 57% of clinicians report the increased cost of providing dental treatment as one of their top three concerns.

Practices are also feeling the financial effects of being short-staffed. In his weekly Do's and Don'ts column, Dr. Roger P. Levin provided advice for dealing with the new reality of staff shortages. His tips included offering signing bonuses and putting systems in place that use limited resources more effectively.

Dr. James V. Anderson wrote that finding the right people for open positions is a challenge he knows firsthand as a practicing dentist and business owner. He outlined how offering training and education can help you hire and retain team members amid record competition among employers.

Bra hooks provide snap fix

Bra hooks provided a snap fix for clinicians treating a woman's condylar fracture, according to a technical note published in the British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Bra hooks provided the essential hardware that was affixed to the 30-year-old woman's maxillary and mandibular arches. The team's emergency fix allowed her treatment to be completed, the authors wrote.

Not too late to watch our webinar

On Wednesday, DrBicuspid.com brought together leading financial and practice management experts to discuss how knowing your numbers can help you achieve profits, growth, and peace of mind in your practice. In this lively discussion, panelists detailed how to get started with key performance indicators, what data banks look at when approving acquisition loans, and how using a management team can reduce the stresses of day-to-day dentistry.

If you didn't get a chance to watch live, it's not too late. You can register and watch the on-demand recording. Also, let me know if you'd like to see more programming like this in the future.