Dear DrBicuspid Member,
Should you prescribe antibiotics to patients with prosthetic joints before they undergo invasive dental procedures? Our top story of the week covers a new study that evaluated whether antibiotic prophylaxis was tied to hospitalizations for late prosthetic joint infections. The findings led the authors to call for a stop to antibiotic prescriptions before invasive dental procedures intended to prevent late periprosthetic joint infections.
Dental spending skyrocketed in 2021
Dental spending in the U.S. increased by about 16% to nearly $162 billion in 2021, according to new data published in Health Affairs. Meanwhile, U.S. healthcare spending overall grew less than 3% in 2021. Spending on dental services was up from private insurance companies, Medicaid, and out of pocket, the report found.
Make 2023 your practice's best year
While dental spending was up in 2021, you may be feeling the crunch this year. From dental workforce shortages to the ongoing financial recovery from COVID-19, dentistry has faced plenty of practice management challenges in 2022. Fortunately, our columnists are here to help. They shared their tips for making 2023 your practice's best year yet.
Innovation highlight: 3D printing
With the end of the year comes a renewed focus on innovation, and there's no doubt that 3D printing is one innovation that will continue to change the practice of dentistry. One new study found that using a 3D-printed dental replica of a tooth when planning tooth autotransplantation offers a few benefits, including shorter surgical times and less trauma to the periodontal ligament. Also, 3D printing and milling were both deemed clinically acceptable for dentures in a head-to-head comparison that was published earlier this month in the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry.
Cuspies voting ends on Sunday
Last but not least, make sure you vote for the people, products, and events you want to see recognized as finalists in the 2023 Cuspies Awards. Our survey is open until Sunday at midnight PT.
