DrBicuspid.com Practice Management Insider

Dear Practice Management Insider,

"Going green" is not only environmentally friendly for dental practices, it's also economically savvy, according to a daylong panel discussion at the recent ADA Annual Session in San Francisco.

This latest Insider Exclusive offers experts' advice on how to save thousands of dollars annually while reducing waste, pollution, and energy and water consumption.

In a related story, numerous presentations at the ADA Annual Session focused on how to successfully integrate digital technologies into a dental practice, and several key opinion leaders shared their thoughts on specific products and services and why now is an optimum time to consider "going digital." Read more.

In other Practice Management Community news, the ongoing economic downturn has contributed to the continuing decline of dentists' incomes. But other factors include the loss of dental insurance, reimbursements cuts by insurance companies, and some that may surprise you. Read what a panel at the ADA meeting predicted for the future of dentists' revenues.

Meanwhile, a vote by the ADA House of Delegates led to some gloomy days at the organization's Chicago library last week. The delegates voted to dramatically scale back services provided by the library, including eliminating walk-in services and discontinuing loaning books and materials. Click here to read how the changes are expected to impact dental researchers across the U.S.

And a federal lawsuit filed in New York claims Aspen Dental Management and the private equity firm that controls it illegally operate dental clinics across the U.S. because it violates laws that require clinics to be owned and operated by dentists. Click here to read about patient complaints and the investigations into Aspen's business practices.

In a related story, a new study conducted by a well-regarded economist but paid for by the dental chain Kool Smiles found that dental service organizations (DSOs) provide lower cost treatment to underserved populations. Read about the findings and why it eschews criticisms that many have leveled against DSOs.

Meanwhile, the expiration of favorable tax provisions compounded by increases in federal income taxes mean that some U.S. dentists could face tax rates of nearly 50% in 2013. Read how to avoid this "taxmageddon" by making timely purchases and consulting the right advisers.

Finally, a retrospective study investigating the frequency of postoperative bleeding complications following invasive dental procedures on patients using warfarin has found few episodes, according to researchers at the department of oral medicine at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC. Read about the findings and what researchers say about these blood-thinning medications.