Week in Review: New codes & fee assessments | Poor hand hygiene | Too much toothpaste

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

Let's start this week's newsletter with a question that can have an impact on your revenue this year: Have you re-evaluated the fees your office charges? Practice management consultant Teresa Duncan asks her clients this question around the turn of each year. She points out that if your office's lab and other fees have increased over the past year, then it's time to reconsider what you are charging patients.

Newly trained dentists know how to wash their hands, right? Apparently not, according to a new study. Investigators observed hygiene practices of postgraduate-year dentists, with the results suggesting that more education on correct hand-washing procedures and greater monitoring of hand hygiene behavior are needed.

Almost 80% of U.S. children and adolescents began brushing their teeth at or before their first birthday, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, nearly 40% of children ages 3 to 6 are using too much toothpaste when they brush.

Finally this week, parents are well aware of the risks associated with opioids, including addiction and overdose. Yet many still believe opioids are more effective at relieving pain after surgery than alternative medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.