by DSOs, DENTAL PROVIDERS AND INSURANCE NEWS
Smile Brands, A+ Dental Care partner to expand dental services in Natomas, CA
Smile Brands Inc. (Irvine, CA), with its affiliate A+ Dental Care, announced the acquisition of Dr. Glenn Misono (Natomas, CA) and the opening of a new A+ location in Natomas. Dr. Glenn Misono has served the community for over 16 years. The practice will be rebranded as A+ Dental Care. A+ Dental Care is a rapidly growing group dental practice with seven locations across the Sacramento area. The group’s 14 general dentists and three specialists provide comprehensive, personalized dental care.
Carolina Family Health Centers receives $300K HHS grant for mobile dental care unit
Carolina Family Health Centers (Wilson, NC) received a $300,000 grant from HHS to purchase a mobile unit and expand dental healthcare. The mobile unit will take about 8 months to build. When complete, it will be equipped for dental screenings, X-rays, cleanings and procedures. The bus will also have space for medical care such as immunizations and physicals.
Missouri county health department opens its first dental clinic
The Missouri Health Department opened its first dental clinic in Dade County on Oct. 15. The new clinic will accept non-insured individuals, along with those with insurance or Medicaid. County residents previously had to drive up to 30 minutes to see the county’s only dentist.
Pacific Dental Services-supported dentist joins Virginia dentistry board
Michael Nguyen, DDS, was appointed to the Virginia State Board of Dentistry. The Virginia Board of Dentistry oversees licensed individuals who provide dental services within the state. As a board member, Dr. Nguyen will also review complaints against licensed dentists and unlicensed individuals. Dr. Nguyen is a dentist at the Dentists of Gainesville and Dentists of Sterling. His practices are supported by Pacific Dental Services (Irvine, CA), which supports more than 750 dental offices across the U.S.
Western Dental acquires California specialty center
Western Dental & Orthodontics (Orange, CA) acquired San Diego Dental Specialty Center (SDDSC), effective Sept. 30. SDDSC provides general dentistry and oral hygiene services and welcomes patients with all types of coverage, including Medi-Cal Dental. The practice also offers some orthodontics, pedodontics, endodontics, periodontics, and oral surgery, access to which will be expanded to be consistent with Western Dental’s multi-specialty care model. The transaction brings the total number of Western Dental offices in California to 231. Western Dental now supports a total of 322 offices in five states, including Alabama, Arizona, California, Texas, and Nevada.
OSAP selects winners of 2020 Anna Nelson, CDA, RDA, MA Scholarship
The Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) (Atlanta, GA) selected the award recipients of the 2020 Anna Nelson, CDA, RDA, MA Scholarship. This scholarship was established in memory of Anna Nelson, CDA, RDA, MA, a leader in dental assisting and infection control, who passionately advocated to advance dental assistants’ understanding of, and compliance with, the guidelines, regulations, and best practices to prevent disease transmission in dental settings, OSAP said. The award recipients will receive 25% off the early-bird member rate for 2020 OSAP Dental Infection Control Boot Camp and one free year of the OSAP Premium Membership.
Signature Health gets $300k for dental services
Signature Health (Ashtabula, OH) was awarded $300,000 by the Health Resources Service Administration to provide dental services. Since 2016, Signature Health has been a federally qualified health center (FQHC) and expanded services beyond mental and behavioral health to primary care. As one of the 300 national grant winners, Signature Health plans to start offering dental services in fall 2020.
Walmart opens health center featuring dental care
Walmart has opened its first health center in Dallas, GA, with dental, optical, labs, and X-ray services, as well as community health education. The center promises transparent pricing. A patient exam that includes X-rays costs $25. Adult teeth cleaning starts at $25, and youth teeth cleaning starts at $15. Patients pay $225 for in-office teeth whitening, $75 for deep cleaning per quad, and $50 for emergency treatment for pain. A filling can cost between $75 and $125.
Smile Brands partners with Doerner Dental
Smile Brands Inc. (Irvine, CA) has partnered with Doerner Dental (Clearwater, FL). Smile Brands will provide full-service administrative support to the practice, including purchasing, payroll, accounting, IT, billing, facilities management and marketing. The existing staff will remain in place and the business will continue to operate under the Doerner Dental brand.
Minnesota Dental Association names Dr. Stephen McDonnell as president
Dr. Stephen McDonnell was installed as president of the Minnesota Dental Association (MDA) for the 2019-2020 term at the Association’s annual House of Delegates meeting in Duluth, Minn. In 2009 and 2012, Dr. McDonnell received Outstanding Service Awards from the MDA and the SPDDS. He is a fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Academy, Minnesota Chapter, and of the American College of Dentists.
Group of four Minnesota practices forms new group, Mosaic Dental
A group of four dentist offices have consolidated to create Mosaic Dental (Burnsville, MN). The group was formed from offices in Apple Valley, Burnsville and Eagan, Minnesota. The Mosaic model draws on the strengths of skills of four metro practices with a key differentiation being that local dentists retain ownership of their practice, while taking advantage of resources that only larger groups have been able to provide in the past, local news reported.
CDA encourages dentists to prepare for CDT 2020 dental code changes
The CDA is encouraging dentists to prepare for CDT 2020 dental code additions, revisions, and deletions that go into effect Jan. 1, 2020. The new year will bring 37 new and five revised codes, as well as six deleted codes. “While dental plans are required to recognize current CDT codes, it is important to keep in mind that they are not required to pay for or provide benefits for the new or revised codes,” the CDA advised. Dentists should review each dental plan’s payment and processing guidelines to see if benefits will be payable. Typically, plans will start sending updates about policy changes for the new year in late October and early November”
Gentle Dental opens 40th practice
Gentle Dental (Waltham, MA) opened a new office at 188 Needham Street in Newton, MA, bringing the total number of Gentle Dental practices to 40. The location will be led by Dr. Kunal Dani. This is the third practice Gentle Dental has opened this year. Gentle Dental is a practice of 42 North Dental Care, LLC (Waltham, MA).
Former ADA president Dr. S. Timothy Rose dies
Dr. S. Timothy Rose, who served as ADA president from 1998 to 1999, died Sept. 24. He was 77 years old. Dr. Rose had also served as president of the Wisconsin Dental Association, American Academy of Periodontology and as a trustee of ADA’s 9th District, chairing various committees. Born March 12, 1942, in Charleston, WV, Dr. Rose is a 1967 graduate of the Ohio State University College of Dentistry.
MARKET RESEARCH AND TRENDS
Improved root canal instrumentation to reduce dental-work complications
Reducing dental work complications is in best interest of dentists as well as patients. To improve clinical performance of root canal instruments, a research team tested instrumentation with specially designed rotary movements. The study, published in Journal of Endodontics, suggests that adaptive movement of nickel-titanium (NiTi) files improves the success rate of root canal treatment by lowering the torque generation of the instruments. A lower torque will help reduce the risk of tooth damage and file fracture. The scientists tested three types of instruments/movements for the root canal procedure: The K3XF rotary system with 1) continuous rotary movement (XFC) or 2) adaptive movement (XFA), and 3) the Twisted File with adaptive movement (TFA), all from the endodontic product manufacturer Kerr Endodontics.
ADA expands policy on oral cancer detection to include oropharyngeal cancer
The American Dental Association (ADA) (Chicago, IL) recommends dentists conduct routine visual and tactile examinations for oral and oropharyngeal cancer for all patients, according to a resolution passed by the ADA House of Delegates in September. Resolution 65H-2019 amended the ADA policy on early detection and prevention of oral cancer to include oropharyngeal cancer and cover all patients, not just those previously thought to be at an increased risk because of tobacco and alcohol use. The amendments also align with the ADA policy approved by the House of Delegates in October 2018 that supports the use and administration of the human papillomavirus vaccine. The full resolution will be available to members by the end of the year.
U.S. GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORY TRENDS
HHS gives Florida health centers $4.6M for dental care
Sixteen of Florida’s community health centers have received grants to advance oral healthcare from HHS. The funds will be used to upgrade equipment, provide more integration between oral health services and primary care at the health centers, and expand service sites across the state. In total, HHS is investing $4.6 million across the nation to expand patients’ access to dental care. Federal funding for early detection and preventative dental care could decrease ER visits and the overall healthcare system cost, the ADA reported.
FDA to review safety of metal implants, dental alloys
The FDA announced it will evaluate metals used in implants and amalgam dental fillings to determine whether the devices are safe and effective. The announcement comes after several reports of adverse reactions to devices containing metal. Current evidence suggests that some people may be more susceptible to contracting an immune or inflammatory reaction when exposed to certain metals in implanted devices. Symptoms can be limited to the region where the device is or more generalized. Reported systemic symptoms include weakness, fatigue, rash, and joint or muscle pain.
