Week in Review: How many dentists in your state? | Fixing no-shows | Hygiene department role

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

How many dentists are in your state? How many of your colleagues are general dentists, and how many are specialists? Newly published data from the Kaiser Family Foundation offer the answers to these and other questions. Learn more here.

Also this week on DrBicuspid.com, every practice is faced with the issues of patient cancellations and no-shows. Many practices charge patients a fee when they don't show for their appointments, but Laura Hatch, founder of Front Office Rocks, has a different strategy that may lead to better communication with your patients and a fuller schedule. Read more here.

A hygiene department should be the economic engine of your practice, writes practice management consultant Jen Butler. Ensuring that doctors and hygienists are working toward the same goals is crucial for your practice's success. Learn more here.

Running a practice is more than just taking excellent care of your patients. The goal of our practice management content is to offer practical advice that will help your practice thrive.

Finally, this week is Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week. The American Academy of Pediatrics is asking dentists and hygienists if you have talked to your patients about the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine? The association is leading the charge to get kids vaccinated against HPV, but it needs the help of dental professionals to succeed. Read more here.