Advocacy highlights of a busy 2016

2016 was a busy year for the Association’s Washington office.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/advocacy-highlights-of-a-busy-2016

Full-time dentist, part-time mountaineer

As an endodontist, Dr. Bruce Terry spends an ordinary day working in millimeters of space. On an extraordinary day, however, Dr. Terry prefers to be tens of thousands of feet above sea level. He's had nine experiences at that extraordinary level, six of which were among the notorious Seven Summits, the highest peak on each of the seven continents.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/full-time-dentist-part-time-mountaineer

New HIPAA fact sheet available

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology and Office of Civil Rights have a new fact sheet that breaks down how providers are permitted to share electronic protected health information with public health agencies without obtaining an individual's written authorization.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/new-hipaa-fact-sheet-available

FDA bans most powdered gloves

The Food and Drug Administration issued a final rule Dec. 19, banning the use of most powdered medical gloves.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/fda-bans-most-powdered-gloves

FCC offers advice for practices that call or text patients

The Federal Communications Commission Enforcement Bureau issued an advisory Nov. 18 to promote a better understanding of the clear limits on the use of autodialed text messages, also known as robotexts.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/fcc-offers-advice-for-practices-that-call-or-text-patients

HPI brief: U.S. dental spending sees uptick in 2015

Dental spending again increased in 2015, an indication that the dental economy is rebounding from a flat trend that began in the Great Recession, according to the ADA Health Policy Institute.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/hpi-brief-us-dental-spending-sees-uptick-in-2015

ADA asks new administration to consider several regulations for reform in 2017

In a letter to President-Elect Donald Trump and Vice President-Elect Mike Pence, the ADA is asking the new administration to consider several health care regulations for regulatory reform in 2017.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/ada-asks-new-administration-to-consider-several-regulations

‘Dental hygiene’s matriarch,’ Dr. Esther Wilkins, dies

Dr. Esther Wilkins, lauded as “dental hygiene’s matriarch” who later earned her doctorate in dentistry and became a professor emeritus at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, died.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/dr-esther-wilkins-dies

EPA will require dental offices to use amalgam separators

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a final rule Dec. 15 requiring dental practices nationwide to install amalgam separators.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/epa-will-require-dental-offices-to-use-amalgam-separators

CDEL seeks scholarship applicants for Institute for Teaching and Learning

The ADA Council on Dental Education and Licensure is granting tuition scholarships to the Academy for Academic Leadership's Institute for Teaching and Learning — as part of a commitment to support dental education and ADA general dentist members interested in academia.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/cdel-seeks-scholarship-applicants-for-institute-for-teaching-and-learning

Health Policy Institute reports dentists' earnings remain stable

After six full years of post-Great Recession data, it's safe to say that dentist earnings are not bouncing back, according to the ADA Health Policy Institute.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/health-policy-institute-reports-dentists-earnings-remain-stable

Serving those who served

More than 460 veterans, including Don Lamb, 72, who said he is both an Army and Marine veteran who served in Vietnam, received care at the Texas Dental Association Smiles Foundation Veterans Mission of Mercy event Nov. 11-12 in Dallas.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/serving-those-who-served

ADA releases 'A Mom's Guide to Fluoride'

Dental professionals who come into contact with parents who have questions about the safety and benefits of fluoride and community water fluoridation have a new resource at their disposal to help educate families.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/ada-releases-a-moms-guide-to-fluoride

Just the Facts — December 12, 2016

Between 2000 and 2015, applicants to dental school grew at a faster rate (51.7 percent) than applicants to medical school (41.5 percent).

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/just-the-facts-december-12-2016

Snapshots of American Dentistry — December 12, 2016

While untreated caries rates — a measure of unmet needs — are declining for children, they are rising among adults and seniors.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/snapshots-of-american-dentistry

FDA issues warning letters to tobacco manufacturers

The Food and Drug Administration issued warning letters to four manufacturers for violating the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/fda-issues-warning-letters

Surgeon General report: E-cigarette use a 'major public health concern'

E-cigarette use among youth has increased in recent years at an "alarming rate" and public health professionals and others must work together to address it, the U.S. Surgeon General said in a report released Dec. 7.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/surgeon-general-report-e-cigarette-use-a-major-public-health-concern

Health Affairs highlights oral health in December issue

"The divide between dental care and medical care is vast, has significant consequences for patients and is entirely of our own making."

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/health-affairs-highlights-oral-health-in-december-issue

Which intraoral scanner produces the best fit?

The combination of using chamfer finish lines and older scanners could in part be a reason for less-than-optimal results when using computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing systems, according to the December issue of Professional Product Review.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/which-intraoral-scanner-produces-the-best-fit

ADA joins FDA stakeholder meeting

The ADA was one of several health organizations invited to a Dec. 6 stakeholder meeting with the Food and Drug Administration.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/ada-joins-fda-stakeholder-meeting

CDA Foundation awards student loan repayment grant to former refugee

The California Dental Association Foundation announced Dec. 1 it awarded Dr. Habiba Ismail — a Somali refugee who graduated from the UCLA School of Dentistry in 2013 — a $105,000 Student Loan Repayment grant in exchange for her commitment to provide dental care in an underserved community in Los Angeles.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/cda-foundation-awards-student-loan-repayment-grant-to-former-refugee

Engage in standards development

ANSI/ADA Standard No. 2000 for Systemized Nomenclature of Dentistry, which was approved as a standard in November, will be reviewed annually to ensure its quality.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/engage-in-standards-development

Newly approved standard enables electronic capture of patient diagnoses

An ADA-developed diagnostic code set designed to capture dental patient information that can be used across electronic health record platforms has been approved as a national standard.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/newly-approved-standard-enables-electronic-capture-of-patient-diagnoses

Is that research trustworthy? Conference looks at using clinical trials outcomes in practice

There are safeguards in place to ensure that research published in most peer-reviewed journals today is scientifically sound and unbiased, experts said at a conference Nov. 17 at ADA Headquarters.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/is-that-research-trustworthy-conference-looks-at-using-clinical-trials-outcomes-in-practice

House passes National Defense Authorization Act

The U.S. House passed the National Defense Authorization Act Dec. 1, which calls for a 10 percent reduction in the number of general officers and could potentially affect the number of chief dental officers.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/house-passes-national-defense-authorization-act

Marketing your practice with PBHS

Most dental offices do not have a marketing program that consistently gets them on the first page of Google search results. Of course most dentists do not have an admittedly nerdy son with a degree in accounting and finance who loves dentistry. Dr. Donald Keith, of Mission, Kansas, is an ADA member and a lucky man who has both.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/marketing-your-practice-with-pbhs

Canada-United States Chapter of the Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future hands out three grants

The Canada-United States Chapter of the Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future awarded an interprofessional grant to a Kansas City program that aims to improve the process of dental referrals for high-risk children.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/canada-united-states-chapter-of-the-alliance-for-a-cavity-free-future-hands-out-three-grants

Coding done right

A new scaling code in CDT 2017 has dentists interested in what it entails, when they use it and how dental plans will reimburse for it.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/coding-done-right

CMS updates fraud and abuse resources

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has updated the online resource Medicare Fraud & Abuse: Prevention, Detection, and Reporting.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/cms-updates-fraud-and-abuse-resources

Dr. Helyn Luechauer led life advocating for women dentists

Dr. Helyn Catherine Luechauer, the first female member of the California Department of Consumer Affairs' Board of Dental Examiners and former president of the American Association of Woman Dentists, died in late September. She was 95.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/dr-helyn-luechauer-led-life-advocating-for-women-dentists

Coding done right

A new scaling code in CDT 2017 has dentists interested in what it entails, when they use it and how dental plans will reimburse for it.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/coding-done-right

Benefits of drinking tap water highlighted for National Children's Dental Health Month

Members gearing up for National Children's Dental Month in February can order or download posters for their dental offices.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/benefits-of-drinking-tap-water-highlighted-for-national-childrens-dental-health-month

ADA, others ask Congress for funding to curb opioid addiction

In a continuing effort to address the nation's opioid epidemic, the ADA and 88 other groups are asking Congress to fund the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act and to increase existing funding for prevention and treatment efforts.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/ada-others-ask-congress-for-funding-to-curb-opioid-addiction

UMass settles potential HIPAA violations

The University of Massachusetts Amherst has agreed to pay the federal government $650,000 to settle potential violations to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act after malware reportedly found on an electronic workstation exposed the protected health information of 1,670 people.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/umass-settles-potential-hipaa-violations

A.T. Still students, staff provide dental care for veterans

In celebration of Veterans Day, A.T. Still University-Missouri School of Dentistry students and staff, along with St. Louis Dental Center dentists, provided care to veterans in Southeastern Missouri.

from ADA News RSS http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/at-still-students-staff-provide-dental-care-for-veterans