Williams on insurance coding nuggets; Levin on follow-up calls; Butler on the holidays

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

DrBicuspid.com has teamed with a former dental insurance executive to provide expertise to you and your staff for maximizing your patient's benefits. Twice a month, Dr. Doyle Williams will give nuggets of advice to help your claims get approved the first time. Today's installment includes denial of a crown and surgical extraction issues, plus others.

Like most other small businesses, dental practices are searching for ways to differentiate themselves from the competition. One proven technique is the treatment follow-up call, according to Dr. Roger P. Levin. It makes a strong impression yet requires little time or effort.

Stress management expert Jen Butler knows the holidays aren't all cheer and good will. Many additional stressors during the holidays can make it difficult to enjoy the season, but focusing on the moment is one way to handle situational stress, she writes.

Researchers from Louisiana State University studied the effectiveness of in-depth parental dental education and its influence on their knowledge and oral and dental health practices of their children. They found that educating parents about oral hygiene has a positive effect on their children's oral hygiene practices, and they presented their findings at the recent American Public Health Association annual meeting. Read more here.

Welcome back from the Thanksgiving weekend. We are very pleased to be bringing you Dr. Doyle Williams' column on insurance coding issues. Dr. Williams' insight will help you smooth out some of your insurance issues. Also, Features Editor Donna Domino will be providing coverage from the Greater New York Dental Meeting this week, so come back frequently for updates. Finally, look for our new Anesthesia & Pain Management Insider newsletter tomorrow. If you haven't signed up for it, please visit our Anesthesia & Pain Management Community.