by ADA releases CDT 2017: Dental Procedure Codes
The American Dental Association (ADA) (Chicago, IL) has released CDT 2017: Dental Procedure Codes, the definitive manual of codes for documentation and reimbursement. This latest edition of CDT is designed to streamline coding and help maximize reimbursement by third-party payers. The new codes will go into effect on January 1, 2017. According to the ADA, CDT 2017 is the only HIPAA-recognized code set for dentistry. It includes 11 new “Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature (CDT)” codes, five revised codes, and one deleted code. It also builds on codes to fill documentation gaps, which can prevent rejected insurance claims. The ADA has also released the CDT 2017 Companion: Health Guide for the Dental Team, which contains codes organized by category with example coding scenarios and answers to common questions. Both manuals as well as other coding products will be available on September 9, 2016. They can be preordered at adacatalog.org.
Aspen Dental to open new practice in Muscatine, Iowa
Aspen Dental (Syracuse, NY) will open a new practice in Muscatine, Iowa on Thursday, September 8, 2016. The new practice will be led by Sejal Savani, DDS. Savani and her team will provide dental services ranging from dentures and preventive care to general dentistry and restoration. The Muscatine office is one of 17 Aspen Dental practices in Iowa. For more information, visit www.aspendental.com.
Great Expressions continues growth in Michigan with Westland affiliation
Great Expressions Dental Centers (GEDC) (Southfield, MI) announced its affiliation with Birchtree Dental Center, a privately owned dental office in Westland, Michigan. Birchtree Dental Center focuses on delivering quality care to informed patients in a comfortable and convenient setting – something patients can continue to expect following the affiliation. The practice will also continue to offer a wide range of dental services including preventive, restorative and cosmetic dentistry, prosthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, orthodontics and dental implants. New and existing patients will now have access to GEDC’s extended hours, Invisalign and the Smile Protection Plan, dental insurance alternative for patients without insurance looking to live a healthy lifestyle while saving. The affiliation complements GEDC’s more than 60 existing offices throughout Southwest Michigan.
Smile Brands acquired by Gryphon Investors
Gryphon Investors (San Francisco, CA), a private-equity firm, has re-acquired Smile Brands (Irvine, CA), a dental service organization (DSO). Gryphon previously owned Bright Now Dental from 1998 to 2005. Smile Brands has nearly 350 affiliated Bright Now Dental, Monarch Dental, and Castle Dental offices. Steven Bilt, current CEO of Gryphon’s DSO, OneSmile, will again take on the role as CEO of Smile Brands. The financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
CareCredit announces multi-year financing agreement renewals with four large dental clients
CareCredit (Orlando, FL), a provider of promotional healthcare financing, has received first-look, multi-year agreement renewals with four large dental organizations. These four agreements strengthen CareCredit’s acceptance in more than 400 locations throughout the Midwest, Northeast and Southeast. The organizations are:
- Dentures & Dental Services in six U.S. states
- Mortenson Dental Partners in 10 U.S. states
- Sage Dental in Florida
- Dental Care Alliance in eight U.S. states
Marquee Dental Partners acquires Westen Dental Group
Marquee Dental Partners (Nashville, TN) entered into an affiliation agreement with Westen Dental Group (Bowling Green, KY), a general dentistry practice. By providing dentists with the support and the clinical autonomy needed to succeed, Marquee will enable the practice to focus its attention on providing the best oral healthcare services possible. From a patient perspective, the transition will be seamless and Tim Whitaker, DMD, founder of Westen Dental, will continue to be actively involved in the practice. Marquee Dental places heavy emphasis on dentists’ clinical autonomy and will leave in place Westen Dental’s dentists and staff.
Deca Dental Holdings acquires DSO Brush 32
Deca Dental Holdings LLC (Dallas, TX), a portfolio company of Blue Sea Capital LLC (West Palm Beach, FL), acquired Brush 32 (Austin, TX), further expanding the company’s geographic footprint within Texas. DECA Dental is a dental services organization that supports dentists in providing a comprehensive suite of services, including general, orthodontic, surgical, cosmetic and restorative dental treatments, across more than 40 affiliated practices with a leading presence across Texas. Brush 32 is a DSO with offices in Cedar Park and Round Rock, Texas. Following the transaction, DECA Dental will continue to provide dental services to existing patients and patients who are new Deca Dental. Services will be provided at the current locations under the Brush 32 brand. The acquisition of Brush 32 comes on the heels of the company’s acquisition of Esteem Dental (Houston, TX), a DSO with four office locations.
Study finds that sealants may reduce caries by up to 80%
According to a study jointly published by the ADA and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), sealants may reduce carious lesions on the occlusal surfaces of permanent molars by up to 80 percent. The review aimed to summarize the available clinical evidence regarding the effect of dental sealants for the prevention and management of pit-and-fissure occlusal carious lesions in primary and permanent molars, compared with a control without sealants, with fluoride varnishes, or with other head-to-head comparisons. The authors conclude that sealants are effective and safe to prevent or arrest the progression of non-cavitated carious lesions compared with a control without sealants or fluoride varnishes. Further research is needed to provide information about the relative merits of the different types of sealant materials. To read the study, visit http://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(16)30475-5/abstract.
OSAP offers “From Policy to Practice: OSAP’s Guide to the CDC Guidelines”
The Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) announced the release of an updated “From Policy to Practice: OSAP’s Guide to the CDC Guidelines.” The comprehensive workbook has been updated to reflect the recommendations from the CDC Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings-2003 and the 2016 Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe Care. The workbook costs $66 for OSAP members and $78 for non-members and is being released in time for Dental Infection Control Awareness Month (September). For more information and to purchase the workbook, visit osap.site-ym.com/store/default.aspx
