Topic
Medical news

March 1, 2017 News DentistryMedical newsNews

College of Dental Medicine Programs Receive CODA Re-Accreditation

by Krysten McCumber

Columbia University College of Dental Medicine (CDM) programs received national re-accreditation from the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) this month. At a meeting on February 2, the commission granted the accreditation status of approval without reporting requirements…

June 28, 2016 News Dental industryGeneral DentistryMedical newsTreatment planning

Antibiotic Use in Dentistry Is Growing!

by Kahaliah Richards

A new study in the Journal of the American Dental Association shows that dentistry’s share of antibiotic use in healthcare has grown significantly. In 1996, dentistry accounted for 6.7% of antibiotic use. By 2013, its share was 11.3%. This results…

May 30, 2016 News BlogsComputer softwareElearningGeneral NewsMarketing strategiesMedical newsPatient educationPractice managementSocial mediaSocial NetworkingSocial networkingWebsites

Two Vital Points to Remember for Online Dental Marketing

by Kahaliah Richards

The primary goal of your online dental marketing campaign should be to disseminate information, educate the readers and deliver real value. When the focus is on helping the patients through your dental website, blog, social media and other online efforts,…

May 18, 2016 News Dental CareGeneral DentistryMedical newsWellnessWomen in dentistry

Will You Help Us?

by Kahaliah Richards

After 30 years in the Dental Community, as a Dental Speaker lecturing in North America and internationally, I retired in 2015. Following my wonderful career, I wanted to give back and volunteer with women. Good Shepherd offered me the opportunity to donate my…

May 10, 2016 News Decay assessment and preventionDental HygieneMedical newsPreventive Dentistry

A Medical Approach to Preventing Cavities

by Kahaliah Richards

New studies are identifying the key microbes and their interactions which cause a cavity. Essentially, we now know that dental decay is a “poly-microbial disease”, meaning the destruction of the tooth is caused by many different microorganisms and their complex…

April 26, 2016 News Dental CareDental HygieneDental industryGeneral DentistryHygienistsMedical newsPreventive Dentistry

Mid-level dental providers — affordable, accessible dental care for an aging, high risk community

by Kahaliah Richards

Dental hygienists and therapists have been empowered by legislators in Canada, the UK and increasingly in the US to deliver dental services outside of the dental practice.  There has been a boom in independent hygiene and this will only grow…

April 1, 2016 News General DentistryMedical news

Beware of Throat Lozenges

by Kahaliah Richards

So here’s the thing… A patient in his 50s, on 2 antidepressants and another med for CV disease, breathing through his mouth at night because of a mouth appliance and experiencing recurrent decay.  Even with Prevora’s protection. What else might…

March 30, 2016 News Dental BenefitsDental CareDental ClaimsMedical newsOverall Health

The Next Approach to Dental Benefits

by Kahaliah Richards

Imagine if you shopped at Walmart and there was only one size of sweater, one variety of milk, or when you went to buy cereal, all it carried was Corn Flakes.And you grumbled to yourself that you would like some…

March 24, 2016 News Dental CareMedical newsOverall Health

Improving outcomes from dental care

by Kahaliah Richards

American doctors will increasingly be paid according to the outcome of the healthcare services they deliver. Just seeing the patient will no longer be sufficient for payment by the insurer or Medicare/Medicaid. Rather, it is the results from medical services…

March 10, 2016 News Dental CareFluorideGeneral DentistryMedical newsPatient ManagementPublic Relations - Patient Care

Are the silos between medicine and dentistry coming down?

by Kahaliah Richards

Very recently, there have been 2 announcements in the US about training physicians and nurse practitioners to look after oral health problems. The first announcement emanated from the University of California at San Francisco and the latter announcement from Harvard…

February 26, 2016 News Chronic DiseaseDental CareGeneral DentistryMedical newsPeriodontologyResearch

Periodontal Health Leads to Lower Health Care Spending by Diabetics

by Kahaliah Richards

A new study reports that among American individuals newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, a periodontal intervention is associated with lower total healthcare costs (-$1799), lower total medical costs excluding pharmacy costs (-$1577), and lower total type 2 diabetes-related healthcare…

February 19, 2016 News CancerDental CareFinancesMedical news

If they can introduce value-based cancer care, is value-based dental care far behind?

by Kahaliah Richards

A recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine summarized various initiatives in the US to improve the delivery of cancer care by examining all procedures (including drugs) for: safety, effectiveness, patient-centeredness, timeliness, efficiency, and equity. The thrust of this…

February 8, 2016 News Community Dental CareDental CareDental industryGeneral DentistryTreatment Plan

The Silent Issue of Dental Affordability

by Kahaliah Richards

One silent issue in the dental industry is affordability. Surgical care is so expensive that it has restricted dental visits over the past few years and, in turn, driven down dental incomes by more than 20% since the start of…

January 26, 2016 News Chronic dental care for the elderlyChronic DiseaseDecay assessment and preventionDental HygieneDiseaseMedical news

What’s on your teeth, may be in your heart

by Kahaliah Richards

A new study in the journal Medicine reports that the bacteria initiating dental decay is also found on the heart valves of patients with heart disease. Nothing new here. Other studies have shown that Streptococcus mutans to be the dominant…

January 12, 2016 News Chronic dental care for the elderlyChronic DiseaseDental industryGeneral DentistryMedical newsOverall Health

$45 Per Month

by Kahaliah Richards

As of 2015, for the first time, Canada has more people over the age of 65 than under 15. The age group that now encompasses the boomer generation – 50 to 69 – makes up 27 per cent of the…

January 6, 2016 News Chronic DiseaseDental CareDental HygieneDental industryGeneral DentistryMedical newsPatient Management

Dental Care for Your Mom

by Kahaliah Richards

Two new studies involving older people, show that the following chronic diseases significantly increase the odds of dental decay: cardiovascular disease, rheumatic disease, mood disorders and eating disorders. The connection between diseases, is four or more medications taken regularly; this…

December 3, 2015 News Dental industryGum DiseaseMedical newsOverall HealthPeriodontology

The linkages between the heart and the mouth grow stronger — so what?

by Kahaliah Richards

A new study of the contribution of the periodontal microbe, P. gingivalis, to inflammation of heart tissue is just one more step to justifying closer integration of dental services with medical services. The study reports certain byproducts of P. gingivalis…

November 26, 2015 News General NewsMedical newsOverall Health

Falls by the elderly and poor oral health

by Kahaliah Richards

A new study reports that nearly half of falls by older folks are caused by an infection. Falls are one of the leading cause of death for those over 75 years of age, due to complications arising from a fracture.…

November 24, 2015 News Dental CareDental industryEmbezzlementFraudGeneral NewsMedical newsOffice ManagementTheft in the dental office

8 Things Dentists Misunderstand About Embezzlement

by Kahaliah Richards

Could it happen in your practice? A common topic for our speakers is what dentists misunderstand about embezzlement. Here is our list: MYTH #1 — Embezzlers only steal cash, and it is difficult for thieves to monetize other forms of…

November 19, 2015 News Dental CareDental industryGeneral DentistryMedical newsPatient educationPublic Relations - Patient Care

Bigger Patients — Bigger Problems

by Kahaliah Richards

“People today are about 10 percent heavier than people were in the 1980s, even if they follow the exact same diet and exercise plans.” This was a disturbing conclusion of a recent study of American adults, which has also been…