Practice Management Insider: Dentists play crucial role in COVID-19 vaccine awareness

Apr 7, 2021

Dear Practice Management Insider,

Dentists are well poised to discuss and advocate for COVID-19 vaccines, according to a new study in the Journal of the American Dental Association.

Researchers from the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center conducted a survey with 99 caregivers. Nearly 40% of parents said they would not allow their child to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. However, many respondents also said a healthcare professional could change their mind. Learn more in this edition's Insider Exclusive.

If you're interested in vaccine coverage, you may also want to read the results of our own internal survey showing that the majority of dentists have already received a COVID-19 vaccine. Furthermore, nearly one-third of dental offices are fully vaccinated.

Also new in the Practice Management Community, Dr. Michael W. Davis details what you need to know about the Corporate Transparency Act. While the law was designed to highlight organizations that use shell companies for unlawful actions, it has ramifications for dental service organizations and affiliated dental practices.

The past few months have been jam-packed with data on the state of oral health in the U.S. You don't want to miss our infographic covering WalletHub's list of best and worst states for dental health in 2021. (Spoiler: Wisconsin topped the list for the third year in a row.)

In addition, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention compiled its own report on the oral health status of the nation. We covered the top four dental trends outlined in the report, including that the U.S. spent a whopping $135 billion on dental services in 2018.

Finally, TikTok has exploded in popularity, which means you might see patients who have fallen for viral dental trends that could have long-term consequences. Associate Editor Melissa Busch profiled some of the app's more cringe-worthy trends, including shaving down teeth with nail files and using strong adhesive bonding glue to accessorize teeth.