DrBicuspid.com Practice Management Insider

Dear Practice Management Insider,

New York cosmetic dentist Mal Braverman, DMD, is suing Yelp over bad reviews, the latest in a string of lawsuits brought by dentists against the rating site.

In this latest Practice Management Insider Exclusive, read how his complaint differs from similar suits and why it may have a better chance of prevailing than other unsuccessful cases.

In a related story, an Oregon dentist is suing a former patient for posting negative reviews on Yelp. Click here to see the basis of his complaint, which he says damaged his reputation and practice.

In other Practice Management Community news, to cover budget shortfalls, the ADA is proposing to drastically cut a cherished facility that members say is a core service and an irreplaceable resource for research. Read about the ADA's budget recommendations that also include raising members' dues.

And in the ongoing debate about dental therapists, a Pew Center on the States report concluded that dental therapists could dramatically improve access to care via school-based programs run by federally qualified health centers (FQHCs). Click here for details.

However, several studies in the Journal of Dental Education came to different conclusions about the economic viability of dental therapists at FQHCs. Read about the University of Connecticut's research, which reviewed the literature on dental therapists to analyze their economic impact on community clinics and private practices.

Meanwhile, California's efforts to expand Medi-Cal dental services to a managed care model have been rebuffed after a pilot program failed to provide adequate dental care for children in Sacramento County. Click here to see which communities use the fee-for-service model versus the managed care model and what lawmakers say about the effectiveness of both.

And in the ongoing Texas Medicaid scandal, the state's inspector general is investigating the company that processes Medicaid authorization forms submitted by dentists. Also, a Texas orthodontist has been indicted for allegedly defrauding the program of approximately $1.5 million. Read about the investigation here and the healthcare fraud here.

Meanwhile, a New York judge has rejected attempts by the dental chain Small Smiles and its owners to dismiss lawsuits filed by parents of children who were treated at its clinics. Click here to see what parts of the suit the embattled company tried to eliminate and why the judge refused.

And some dentists may be surprised at the risks that five types of medications commonly used in dentistry pose for pregnant and breast-feeding patients. Read about the Journal of the American Dental Association study here.

In other practice management news, a 10-year-old Texas boy with a genetic disorder that affects the structure of the face died two days after being anesthetized for a routine dental procedure. Read about Treacher Collins syndrome, also known as mandibulofacial dysostosis, and how a Florida girl with the disorder also died after being anesthetized.

Finally, Heartland Dental Care, a dental practice management company, is reportedly seeking a buyer. Click here for details about the business, which manages more than 350 affiliated dental practices in 19 U.S. states.