Best practices for dental patient records
Dentistry IQ
The importance of a dental practice's patient records cannot be overstated. Dental practices are required by law to produce and maintain adequate patient records. Failure to do so can expose the practice to significant risks and liabilities. In addition, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and many other laws and regulations require the retention of records for varying periods of time. Clear, organized, and detailed dental records are necessary to provide patients with the best care possible.More

Filling a need: Dental health is about more than just straight teeth
Fort Worth Business Press
Parents and children alike may not think much of primary teeth, or baby teeth, as they're commonly called. After all, the teeth fall out and the child gets a new set of adult teeth. However, tooth decay in baby teeth and poor oral health in children is a major health concern and is often an indicator of problems that can persist into adulthood, dentists say.More

Medicaid and budget issues: California, Nevada officials outline dire scenarios for health services
Central Valley Business Times
California is going to have to pay a $51.8 billion bill for health and dental benefits for state retirees, says state Controller John Chiang in a report to the Legislature. "Even as we try to claw our way out of the recession and provide needed cash to the state's coffers, we cannot ignore the promise that we made to pay health and dental benefits for current state employees and retirees," says Chiang.More

What to do (and not to do) when choosing computer equipment
Dentistry IQ
Choosing computer equipment for your dental practice can be a daunting task. Many people get so overwhelmed that they neglect to consider all options and simply go with the first model they see or vendor they visit. This can have long-term ramifications for your practice, including lost time on support calls and costly equipment replacements. To help make this process easier, we've put together a list of dos and don'ts to help during the purchasing process.More

Brushing up on presidential prosthodontics: Myth aside, Washington's false teeth weren't wood
Dentistry IQ
Monday was President's Day, a time for Americans to honor and remember the founding fathers. And in Baltimore, it's also a good reminder to floss. For while George Washington gave so much to his country, the family of Washington's dentist gave his false teeth to Baltimore. And if that's not worth a plug in the history books, at least it was worth a dollar off admission to the National Museum of Dentistry, in honor of its most cherished artifact.More

Why choose a dentist for Botox and dermal fillers?
Heath News Digest
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgery, Botox and dermal filler procedures are the two fastest growing cosmetic treatments over the last decade and the dollar amount spent on the two exceeds the combined amount spent on breast implants and liposuction. These procedures have become popular in this uncertain economy because patients want to look better with options that are more affordable and less radical than surgery. The trend is here to stay and if dentists can provide these services in a completely painless way, the added benefit is remarkable.More

What is oral thrush in adults and what causes it?
Medical News Today
Oral thrush (oral candidiasis) is a condition in which the fungus Candida albicans causes an infection on the lining of the mouth. It is also known as "thrush." When occurring in the mouth or throat of adults it may also be termed candidosis or moniliasis. Oral thrush causes white lesions, usually on the tongue or inner cheeks. The lesions can be painful and may bleed slightly when they are scraped. The infected mucosa of the mouth may appear inflamed and red.More

Low levels of antibiotics cause multidrug resistance in superbugs
Infection Control Today
For years, doctors have warned patients to finish their antibiotic prescriptions or risk a renewed infection by a "superbug" that can mount a more powerful defense against the same drug. But a new study by Boston University biomedical engineers indicates that treating bacteria with levels of antibiotics insufficient to kill them produces germs that are cross-resistant to a wide range of antibiotics.More

Dental implants correct smiles
KOMU
Even though teeth are meant to last a lifetime, sometimes they don't. Making sure your mouth looks good is as much about health as it is vanity. Sarah Heeter's teeth look as pretty as any 18 year old could hope now, but she was just a 13 year old girl when she found out she was going to be missing two of her four front teeth. "It's a genetic thing, I think I have a wisdom tooth missing as well," said Sarah Heeter. "I thought I was going to look like a beaver for the rest of my life. But it didn't turn out that way."More

The AAID Implant Insight now available as an iPhone app
AAID
AAID understands the need to deliver timely, relevant industry news to its members and other dental professionals. In partnering with MultiBriefs to create the AAID Implant Insight, the association committed itself to delivering this news to members and other dental professionals. That partnership has now expanded to provide another convenient avenue to receive this information. The AAID Implant Insight is now part of the new MultiBriefs app, available now for the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch in the App Store. Simply search "MultiBriefs" in the App Store and download the app free of charge. Once the MultiBriefs application is downloaded, you can add the AAID feed from the "Healthcare and Medical" section. News is streamed into your iPhone or iPod Touch each week. And just like the e-mail news brief you've become accustomed to, you may share articles with your colleagues via e-mail, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. You can even bookmark certain articles as favorites to revisit at a later date. As always, feedback is appreciated and is important to the success of the app. Feel free to rate the application in the App Store.More