Give Kid's a Smile

On Friday, February 4, 2005, the nation's dentists will provide free oral health care services to thousands of low-income children across the country. If you participated in Give Kids A Smile® in 2004, you were part of an effort that resulted in the delivery of some $100 million in dental education, screening, treatment and products to a million children around the country by 38,000 dental professionals.

For more information on the event and how to participate, CLICK HERE

For more information on practice management and dealing with dental insurance in your office, CLICK HERE.

If you would like to post a subject and start a discussion, EMAIL US BY CLICKING HERE

Cracked Tooth Syndrome

Rarely a day goes by without a consultant receiving at least one claim requesting a crown or onlay for a tooth described as having "cracked tooth syndrome". Accompanying the claim is usually an x-ray showing a tooth (usually posterior) with an moderately-sized existing restoration (composite or amalgam) and a intra-oral photo showing a tooth with craze lines.. There appears to be no reason to place an indirect restoration outside of the fact that the tooth has "cracked tooth syndrome". So how can you demonstrate to the consultant that that tooth indeed requires that restoration? Show that you used due diligence to arrive at this diagnosis. Send in a copy of the patient's chart demonstrating that you followed the usual course which usually includes the results of stick biting tests, removing the existing restoration to look for internal fractures, placing a temporary restoration for a period of time to see if the restoration was the problem, etc.

For more information on practice management and dealing with dental insurance in your office, CLICK HERE.

If you would like to post a subject and start a discussion, EMAIL US BY CLICKING HERE

How Do I Become A Dental Consultant?

I'm in my mid-fifties (yes, a baby boomer) and am considering retiring from practice (I have an associate-in-training) , but don't want to remove myself entirely from the dental field. I've been thinking about going into dental consulting but really don't know where to start. Can anyone give me some assistance?

For more information on practice management and dealing with dental insurance in your office, CLICK HERE. If you would like to post a subject and start a discussion, EMAIL US BY CLICKING HERE

Malpractice Insurance Slush Fund?

The cost of malpractice insurance is always a concern, more so with physicians than with dentists (except for oral surgeons). New Jersey recently collected $75 from every licensed professional including dentists, physicians, chiropractors, etc., to provide a fund for practitioners who can not afford their own dental insurance. What is your opinion?

For more information on practice management and dealing with dental insurance in your office, CLICK HERE. If you would like to post a subject and start a discussion, EMAIL US BY CLICKING HERE

CDT-2005 Are You Ready?

Effective 1/1/05, any practice that submits electronic claims or has a billing service submit claims for them using EDI must use this new coding system. Explanations of the new codes are forthcoming in this posting. Specific questions will be answered in this forum and can be sent to us by CLICKING HERE.