CSHM ruling; Jablow on net neutrality; Ibbetson on helping your patients

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

Church Street Health Management, which operates 70 Small Smiles dental clinics, has been excluded from participation in the Medicaid and Medicare programs for a minimum of five years by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Read Donna Domino's report here.

In his latest Ask Marty column, Dr. Marty Jablow explains what the recent appeals court ruling about net neutrality means and how it may affect your dental office.

With the oral-systemic health link now well recognized, this is the time to help patients understand what they need to do to control bacteria at home. Carrie Ibbetson, RDH, presents five practical techniques to help your patients improve their oral healthcare at home. Read her column here.

We all have patients who enjoy telling a good joke or saying something funny, just at the perfect moment. Sometimes it's a ray of sunshine on a bitter cold day in Chicago, lending levity to a procedure that may cause fear in some patients. Others may consider this an annoyance, but Dr. Sheri Doniger never finds humor an annoyance. Read her thoughts here.

How do you feel about the Church Street Health Management/Small Smiles situation and ruling? Is this ruling a positive step? And while net neutrality may be a vague concept, if it means your monthly Internet bill is increased because of data backup, what is your plan? Discuss this and more in our Forums.