Estela Vargas

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Recent CDT coding changes affect billing dental implant services in 2025 and beyond

From start to finish, Estela Vargas, CRDH, explains what you need to know about the insurance side of dental implants and how it can impact your practice and patients.

November 19, 2024

Estela Vargas, CRDH.

2025 trending technologies in dentistry, Part 2: New CDT codes you need to know

Estela Vargas, CRDH, explores the new ADA Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature (CDT) codes being introduced in January 2025 and how to apply them to patient treatment and ensure that dental procedures are billed correctly.

November 4, 2024

Vargas Estela 400

Understanding UCR, regular fees, and MAC when estimating dental insurance reimbursement

Ready for a lesson when it comes to dental insurance? Estela Vargas, CRDH, is here to help.

October 28, 2024

Vargas Estela 400

Practice Trends

2025 trending technologies in dentistry, Part 1: Personalized dental treatment planning, more

Pivotal trends are redefining the patient experience, many of which are available now. Estela Vargas, CRDH, reviews some of these trends.

October 17, 2024

Vargas Estela 400

Dental insurance tip: Treatment plans for scaling and root planing should include treatment prescriptions

A new system of prescribing the proposed treatment rather than listing it on a form can remove barriers to communication with the clinical and administrative team, writes Estela Vargas, CRDH.

September 24, 2024

Estela Vargas, CRDH.

Billing and documenting CDT codes for viral microorganism cultures

Expanding the clinical hygiene practice involves teamwork between the dentist and dental hygienist. Estela Vargas, CRDH, shares guidance and billing tips for the following Current Dental Terminology codes.

September 3, 2024

Estela Vargas, CRDH.

Dental coding tips: Reimbursement for counseling on nutrition, tobacco use, and oral hygiene care

Implementing and billing for valuable counseling services is a common challenge for dental practices. Estela Vargas, CRDH, offers advice to help you navigate these challenges.

August 6, 2024

Estela Vargas, CRDH.

CDT codes: What you need to know about dental material fees

When getting paid for material upgrades for restoratives, prosthodontics, fixed procedures, etc., think again before you count your gold, writes Estela Vargas, CRDH.

July 22, 2024

Estela Vargas, CRDH.

Practice Management Software

3 critical reasons why your dental practice needs EHRs to stay competitive

The shift to electronic health records (EHRs) is no longer considered a trend that will go away in time. Rather, it's a necessary move toward efficiency, improved patient care, and compliance with federal regulations, writes Estela Vargas, CRDH.

July 15, 2024

Estela Vargas, CRDH.

Will you make the 'most wanted' list for dental insurance billing fraud?

Dental insurance fraud has severe consequences for the dentist(s) and, often, the staff who help perpetrate it. Estela Vargas, CRDH, discusses various levels of fraud and some of the tactics used.

June 24, 2024

Estela Vargas, CRDH.

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Podcast Phone Earpods

What you need to know about this dental anesthetic-buffering game changer

In the latest episode of "The DrBicuspid.com Podcast," we take a deep dive into BufferPro's creation and value to dentistry with leaders from Septodont and Premier Dental Products.

Water Fountain Volodymyr

Dental society responds to risk of water fluoridation's end

Blood infection-causing germ found in popular toothpaste

Dental Tech Modern Office

DSO leaders dish on their must-have technologies for 2025

Antibiotics Concept

What you may not know about preventing infective endocarditis

What you need to know about this dental anesthetic-buffering game changer

In the latest episode of "The DrBicuspid.com Podcast," we take a deep dive into BufferPro's creation and value to dentistry with leaders from Septodont and Premier Dental Products.

November 21, 2024

Podcast Phone Earpods

Dental society responds to risk of water fluoridation's end

By Melissa Busch

With the future of water fluoridation at risk with the incoming Trump administration in 2025, this dental association announced its continued support of adding cavity-fighting fluoride to public water systems.

November 21, 2024

Water Fountain Volodymyr

Blood infection-causing germ found in popular toothpaste

By Melissa Busch

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning that batches of Tom's of Maine toothpaste were made with water containing multiple types of bacteria, including strains linked to blood infections.

November 20, 2024

DSO leaders dish on their must-have technologies for 2025

Practice owners and dental service organization executives are budgeting for 2025 and allocating where they will invest their dollars. These are their priorities.

November 20, 2024

Dental Tech Modern Office

What you may not know about preventing infective endocarditis

By Melissa Busch

Guidelines regarding antibiotic prophylaxis for the prevention of infective endocarditis in dental patients are misinterpreted, not carried out properly, and need clarification.

November 20, 2024

Antibiotics Concept

Clinical tip: Dental patient opening issues during guided implant surgery, Part 1

Dr. Doug Smail is back this week with another clinical tip from CDOCS that will help every dentist who offers dental implants as a part of his or her treatment mix.

November 20, 2024

Recent CDT coding changes affect billing dental implant services in 2025 and beyond

By Estela Vargas

From start to finish, Estela Vargas, CRDH, explains what you need to know about the insurance side of dental implants and how it can impact your practice and patients.

November 19, 2024

Estela Vargas, CRDH.

Guided endodontics may trump freehanded technique

Guided endodontics may lead to significantly better clinical outcomes than freehand treatment with fewer technical failures, according to a study recently published in the International Endodontic Journal.

November 19, 2024

Dental Model Root Canal Edwardolive

From manager to leader: Transforming your dental office management approach

By Trina Shipley

Instead of being a manager of everything in the dental practice, Trina Shipley believes her colleagues should focus on becoming leaders who empower others to manage.

November 19, 2024

What this dental executive is watching heading into 2025

Recorded at the recent Dental Trade Alliance annual meeting in Napa, CA, we spoke with Eric Shirley of Keystone Industries about what he's hearing and what's to come in dentistry.

November 18, 2024

Dentist accused of peeping on ex-employee charged with stalking

By Melissa Busch

A dentist was charged with stalking for allegedly trying to bribe a former employee after reportedly peeping on her in the bathroom.

November 18, 2024

Dental Mirror Africa Studio

How to handle a behavioral management charge at your practice

By Melissa Busch

A charge for behavioral management of her child at a dental practice in Washington has one mom claiming special needs discrimination, but a practice management professional doesn't believe that’s the case.

November 18, 2024

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