Business & Industry Insider: 7 research-backed insights from dental leaders

Dear Business & Industry Insider,

What makes dental leaders effective? Researchers from Canada pinpointed seven insights on what makes dental leaders stand out from the crowd.

The researchers interviewed 14 such dental leaders, including dentists working in a variety of practice settings. Despite their different backgrounds and years of experience, the leaders shared common traits and faced similar challenges. See what they are in our Insider Exclusive.

Also new in the Business & Industry Community, the COVID-19 pandemic appears to still have a hold on dentistry. New poll data from the ADA's Health Policy Institute showed the number of dental practices operating under "business as usual" conditions has declined slightly each month since July 2021.

In other pandemic-related news, a dental hygienist accused of continuing to work while knowing she had COVID-19 agreed to pay a $100 fine to settle charges with the Iowa Dental Board. The hygienist allegedly failed to tell one of the dentists she worked with about her positive COVID-19 test and worked for one day in February.

The ADA's SmileCon meeting took place earlier this month in Las Vegas. It was one of the first large, in-person shows since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, making it a big deal for the dental industry overall.

You don't want to miss our write up of the SmileCon rebrand and whether it will be enough to draw large crowds in the post-COVID-19 era. We also interviewed a dentist-entrepreneur and took a hands-on look at the MouthWatch Plus+ intraoral camera and Philips Sonicare Power Flosser.

Finally, is it time to consider more financing options for patients? Although many patients struggle to pay for treatment, many dentists fail to offer financial options, according to new survey data that showed a disconnect between clinicians and patients.