The employer-based dental care leader Onsite Dental has acquired HENRY the Dentist, or HENRY for short. HENRY is a venture-backed mobile dental firm that has complementary delivery models, marketing and branding experience, and clientele. HENRY will also offer an east coast presence for Onsite Dental.

This acquisition was done in an effort to make oral health care more accessible to people, according to a press release from Onsite Dental. Onsite health services can be offered to a variety of different organizations, employers, universities, and more.

Ern Blackwelder is the CEO of Onsite Dental. He said it’s all about accessibility for as many people as they can reach.

"At its core, the Onsite Dental experience is about making the highest quality dental care and patient experience more readily accessible," Blackwelder said in a press release. "We are very excited about adding HENRY's outstanding team and their many capabilities that will enable us to expand and improve our services more rapidly for our clients nationwide."

Between Onsite’s technology and patient portal and HENRY’s expertise, this acquisition is said to be able to help a wide range of patients across the United States who are looking for high quality oral health care.

Articles

This acquisition will deliver high quality oral health care to patients all across North America. 

Onsite Dental Acquires HENRY The Dentist

Technology solutions company Simplifeye has expanded its technology suite or healthcare practices. The company’s new Invite technology is an artificial technology (AI) powered tool that is designed to create customized and automated outreach to fill practices’ schedules with ideal patients with open treatment plans.

Simplifeye Invite offers ample appointments resulting from its ability to match patients with incomplete treatments to openings in a practice schedule, filling unexpected gaps due to cancellations. It also can segment by procedure, insurance coverage, last treatment date, and more options to help identify priority patients.

Text-to-schedule and email appointment invites right to patients, providing a direct link for patients to schedule then and there. It’s designed to increase conversion of planned treatments to scheduled appointments and simplify scheduling and reactivation of patients combined with increased case acceptance and revenue.

The Invite platform streamlines patient scheduling and reactiviation.

Simplifeye Expands Technology Suite With Invite Platform

As COVID-19 vaccines become more readily available for Americans, there has also been hesitancy in receiving the vaccine. To unpack and understand this hesitancy, Henry Schein Cares Foundation surveyed 2,005 respondents on whether or not the advice of a Primary Care Physician would influence a patient in getting the vaccine.

The survey demonstrated that incentives are not as effective as a primary care physician’s counsel. 88% who went to their clinician before getting the vaccine said that their doctor’s advice was an integral part in their decision to get vaccinated. 88% also said that they trust their doctor’s advice completely or a majority of the time.

While the survey showed that it often takes patients almost 3 years to establish a good trusting relationship with their doctor, it also clearly demonstrated that patients would trust their doctor to give them good advice in regards to vaccination for both them and their children. Only 31% of respondents said an incentive would make them get the vaccine, while 36% said that their minds would change at a doctor’s advice. The most popular incentive was cash, but only above $50.

Louis W. Sullivan, MD, is co-Chair of the Henry Schein Cares Board of Directors and a former head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In the study, he says that the most important thing is for patients to get information from a trusted source.

"Incentives might work in certain instances, but it's clear that Americans are more likely to take the advice of their doctor than be swayed by free offers or monetary rewards," Dr Sullivan says in the 

. "That's why we encourage all patients to ensure they have a physician or dentist they can trust, and who they can go to for medical advice. It's the quickest and easiest way to avoid misinformation, and to stay informed about major health matters."

Popular avenues of vaccine information included the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), state health agencies, family, social media, and friends. The survey was commissioned by Henry Schein Cares and was conducted by OnePoll.

This survey set out to understand why a patient may be hesitant to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and why trust between a patient and doctor is a key factor. 

Henry Schein Cares Foundation Releases Study on Vaccination Hesitation

Lisa Newburger, a master's level social worker supervisor, helps audiences find humor in talking about tough topics. Her "in-your-face" style of presentations and writing will make you smile or just shock you into taking some action. Either way, she is very effective at empowering others to reach their goals and feel better about themselves. Her entertaining workshops are available for national and international audiences. Writing for the dental industry since 2010, she uses an alterego (Diana Directive) to illustrate her points in a sarcastic but effective way. Presentations can be scheduled by contacting Lisa at www.discussdirectives.com/dental.html.

150 women were asked why they love their dentist, and their answers will not surprise you. This is not rocket science, but it is still important to remember the basics. This is a customer service industry. Yes, you need to be a skilled dentist and have a great team to work with, but you must also remember what is most important to your patients. The answers have been condensed down to these responses.

That clean and fresh feeling after receiving a tooth cleaning. 

An extraordinarily warm and caring staff. 

The accomplished feeling of maintaining good oral health. 

Being able to request a preferred hygienist. 

Being confident in the dentist's recommendations.

Offers IV anesthetic and twilight anesthetic for anxious patients. 

Offers a membership program for discount services. 

Offers a choice of a warm neck pillow or hand paraffin wax treatment while getting services. 

Has flexible evening hours for patients who work during the day. 

Continual encouragement with comments such as, "You're doing great." 

Clear and concise explanations to answers any questions or concerns. 

Peace of mind knowing that everything looks good. 

Perfectionism. For example, having a crown with the wrong color match and then ordering 3 before getting it perfectly matched. 

Knowing and having a good relationship with the staff because of low turnover. 

No hype sales pitch for further procedures. 

Being accommodating when canceling for emergency work while still being able to get a patient right back in. 

Being talkative and keeping a patient calm. 

A great dental hygienist who is not only thorough but also has a good personality. 

Modern instruments and equipment--especially when they are more cutting edge. The staff is patient in answering questions about the equipment or materials. 

A goodie bag with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss. 

A timely dentist who does not keep patients waiting and is usually in and out within the projected time frame. 

Explaining the entire process. Never feeling rushed or anxious. 

A dentist who is conscientious regarding a patient's pain level. 

A wonderful staff that is trained extremely well in customer service. 

How automated the office is. Receiving text reminders as well as email reminders about appointments. 

Gifts for patients who refer others to go to this practice. 

So often, we only see the complaints in this industry, but we need to look at what makes the customer happy. What is amazing about this list is that none of this is about money. It is about old-fashioned relationships. Developing mutual respect between the dentist and patient says it all. When you can hear what they are thinking, it pushes all of us to continue to remember what is important. It is that simple.

 and share why you, the dental professional, love your own personal dentist. I am not talking about the practice you work in, but the dentist you go to for your own dental health.

Being a dental professional means being a customer service advocate and giving your patients good reason to choose your practice. 

31 Reasons Why I Love my Dentist

6 Dentist Inventors

Dentists often design creative solutions, and not always for challenges faced in their practices.

6 Dentist Inventors and Their Non-Dental Inventions

Bruce Bryen is a certified public accountant with over 45 years of experience and is a part of Baratz & Associates CPAs. He specializes in deferred compensation, such as retirement planning design; income and estate tax planning; determination of the proper organizational business structure; asset protection and structuring loan packages for presentation to financial institutions. He is experienced in providing litigation support services to dentists with Valuation and Expert Witness testimony in matrimonial and partnership dispute cases. He is also a financial writer for several dental journals. You may contact him at 609-502-0691 or at 

A timely practice valuation and goodwill allocation are essential for the dentist and spouse going through a divorce. If the divorce is taking place in an equitable distribution state, the goodwill allocation is a prime consideration for the financial future of both parties. The dentist should make sure that he or she receives both a goodwill allocation and a practice valuation from the evaluator. Irrespective of the length of the marriage, the divorce will have a serious impact on the dentist’s—and the spouse’s—finances. If each spouse is having a practice valuation prepared, its timeliness and accuracy will affect the opinion of the mediator or the court, which will, in turn, impact the future of each spouse. The opinion will be based upon the information available for review. Thus, if one of the reports is missing, the decider won’t be able to make a determination.

The Opinion Is Based on What the Mediator or the Court Sees

There is almost always a deadline for what is known as discovery: the disclosure

of the facts and data that will underlie the mediator’s or court’s decision. The court or mediator sets dates for the completion of said reports. Sometimes extensions are granted, but the deadline for presentations is known and expected to be adhered to. No one wants to exasperate the mediator or the court. On-time filings are part of the process, and delays will not help those responsible for the delay.

Finding a dental practice evaluator with the proper credentials is the first step in the process. Neither party should want a general business evaluator to prepare a dental practice valuation. An individual with prior court appearances and experience in the preparation of dental practice valuations can assist the court in determining the presentation’s credibility. The evaluator’s report and testimony will help the court understand where the money has been going and who has been responsible for the flow of funds and the growth of the practice. Gathering the necessary information accurately and on time is an expensive and time-consuming endeavor. If you have to beg the evaluator to complete his or her job on time, you’ve retained the wrong person. Careful planning, interviewing, and knowledge of the evaluator’s credentials will almost always ensure that there are no delays.

Show Me the Money and Be Honest and Impartial About the Presentation

The dentist or the dental practice certified public accountant (CPA) may argue that they know more about the value of the practice than any evaluator could possibly know. Although this may be true, courts and mediators want independent, unbiased valuations. Coercing the evaluator to deliver information that may appear to favor either party is not considered a strategy that would lead to an independent presentation. The court and other parties involved will see through such a tactic, and the evaluation, the evaluator, and the individual who retained them may lose credibility. Independence is essential, and the dental practice CPA is certainly not independent.

The Financial Considerations That Will Be the Foundation for the Rest of the Dentist’s and Spouse’s Life

The decision of the court or binding mediator will inform each spouse’s life. There are certain items that are governed by laws, such as retirement plans that include certain entitlements for the spouse, unless he or she has agreed not to do so. But for the dentist, a divorce will typically mean borrowing a large sum of money to satisfy the spouse after the court or mediator renders its decision or if there was a previously agreed-upon settlement in place. In equitable distribution states—about 40 out of 50—and depending on other asset values, a large amount of the value of the practice may go to the spouse.

If the dental practice has not previously had occasion to borrow money, going to a lender may be very upsetting. A lender will want to know why a loan is needed, how long it will take for it to be repaid, and whether the practice will be stable after the loan is made. From a tax perspective, as long as the distribution of the value of the practice is part of the marital settlement, the borrower will not incur taxes—but neither will he or she be able to deduct loan payments. Whoever is making the payments will be borrowing money without any tax benefit.

Borrowing money may be a traumatic experience for the dentist, whether or not he or she has had to borrow in the past. Therefore, choosing a dental practice evaluator carefully is very important. The evaluation’s timeliness will have a major impact on both the dentist and the spouse; hiring the least expensive services and causing delays will hurt both. Be smart, get the best, pay for it, and think of amortizing it. The result will affect the rest of your life.

A practice valuation and goodwill allocation can alter a dentist's and spouse's lives forever and therefore must be carefully considered when filing for divorce.

Timely Evaluation and Goodwill Allocation Analysis During Divorce Proceedings

Etching can lead to the best possible bond, which in turn can allow clinicians the best chance at long-lasting dental restorations. With this in mind, Vista Apex recently released Velvet Etch 40% Phosphoric Acid etch gel.

This new dental product has been added to the endodontic and restorative company’s current suite of etchants with the hopes that they have turned an everyday product into one that dentists can get excited about.

Formulated to offer precise placement and a perfectly smooth viscosity, this royal purple etchant is well-suited for selective etching techniques of the enamel and dentin. Velvet Etch can be applied to vertical tooth surfaces and remain in place and is great for selective etch techniques. Velvet Etch is the new benchmark for phosphoric acid etches.

Includes 22ga pre-bent applicator tips for precise delivery

Velvet Etch was engineered with the clinician in mind, and Vista Apex is currently offering a Buy 1, Get 1 Free with a risk-free return policy through the end of August 2021.

“Velvet Etch is the new benchmark for phosphoric acid etchants because research shows that

etching a tooth is critical to achieving the best bond and, ultimately, a successful, long-lasting restoration,” says Michael Miyasaki, DDS, Chief Dental Officer for Vista Apex. “Velvet Etch looks and feels good to use. It is luxurious, performs well, and it does not cost much more.”

Velvet Etch 40% phosphoric acid etchant, with its royal purple color and rich viscosity, allows for accurate placement during total or selective etching techniques and easy, no-hassle removal when rinsed, according to Dr Miyasaki.

Velvet Etch 40% Phosphoric Acid etch gel features smooth consistency, precise placement, and rinses clean.

Vista Apex Releases New Phosphoric Acid Etch Gel 

Envista Holdings Corporation has introduced a non-profit foundation titled the “Envista Smile Project”. This foundation was created to assist and boost oral health in underserved communities, according to a press release from Envista Holdings Corporation.

This initiative includes communicating and collaborating with local dental professionals and volunteers to participate in product donations for disadvantaged communities internationally. Envista CEO Amir Aghdaei is the Envista Project Chairman.

"Envista Smile Project isabout creating access to oral care for those in need.This is an important way that we can give back to the world and help to improve people's quality of life." Aghdaei said in a press release.

Envista created this foundation to meet the needs of those around the world who may not have advocates for their oral health. The foundation is in the process of applying for Section 501©(3) status. The Envista Smile Project is accepting volunteers now.

This non-profit foundation aims to meet the oral health needs of those in disadvantaged communities. 

Envista Introduces Non-Profit Foundation Envista Smile Project

Henry Schein has announced the new Henry Schein Brand Single-Use Aerosol Evacuator. It is an aerosol evacuator that attaches to the standard high-volume evacuation connection, but is single-use and low cost, according to a press release from Henry Schein.

This single-use evacuator was created in an effort to offer more cost-effective aerosol management solutions for practices. It can be used for hands-free suction at the exist of the oral cavity and has adjustable wings that allow a clinician a better view and more comfort for the patient.

President of U.S. Dental Distribution AJ Caffentzis says this product is another step in making air management systems accessible for practices.

“We’re eager to bring the Single-Use Aerosol Evacuator to market because it exemplifies our continued commitment to provide unique, innovative products and solutions that prioritize the safety of the dental team,” Caffentzis said in the press release.

The Single-Use Aerosol Evacuator is a Henry Schein Brand proprietary design and stands among other aerosol management products from Henry Schein released earlier this year.

This single-use aerosol evacuator was designed to reduce aerosol’s in a dental practice and to promote more effective air management in dentistry. 

Henry Schein Announces New Single-Use Aerosol Evacuator

HuFriedyGroup has launched its “Best in Practice” video series, a collection of short videos created to empower dental professionals who wish to improve different aspects of their skillset.

This series is hosted by igniteDDS’s David Rice, DDS. Dr Rice is the founder of igniteDDS which is a large community of dentists and students designed to connect dental professionals to practices. Dr Rice is joined by IgniteDA’s Kevin Henry. Henry is the co-founder of IgniteDA, which is a community designed for professional development for dental assistants. Henry also maintains 20 years in the dental publishing industry as an editorial leader.

Together, Dr Rice and Henry will host a series of videos that are designed to help dental professionals in the ever-changing industry of dentistry. The videos will cover a vast array of tips, tricks, guidance, product knowledge, and ways to empower practice, patients, and self.

The first video in the series covers personal protective equipment (PPE) and what it means to now have options when choosing the right fit for the practice.

The videos will be on a monthly release schedule. Details and the videos can be viewed on the website 

This video series will cover a range of topics to help teach dental professionals relevant and concise information to aid in professional growth. 

HuFriedyGroup Launches Best in Practice Video Series

Kellie Nock is the assistant editor for Dental Products Report. She graduated from Kent State University in 2018 with a Bachelor's in Journalism. Kellie enjoys multimedia content creation with a focus on audio and video storytelling. 

Dentistry and science are intrinsically connected, so they benefit from the discoveries of one another. Scientific discoveries have made dentistry more advanced, not to mention a better experience for patients and clinicians. Here is a look at some of the scientific discoveries that may have, or have had, an impact on dentistry. 

Technologies

The future of dental technology is inherently entwined with the future of scientific discoveries. 

6 Technologies Where Scientific Discoveries and Dentistry Collide

Robert Elsenpeter is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to Dental Products Report and Dental Lab Products. He is also the author of 18 technology books, including the award-winning Green IT: Reduce Your Information System's Environmental Impact While Adding to the Bottom Line. As such, he’s particularly interested in the technological side of dentistry.

Pop quizzes are the bane of students. The fact that they are unannounced causes fear and anxiety for fear of being caught unaware. But it isn’t just teachers looking for opportunities to frighten students, there are good reasons to have those kinds of tests. Those periodic, surprise quizzes serve a constructive purpose. They show students where deficiencies may exist. The same strategy can help dental practices stay on top of their infection control efforts.

Jonathan Rudin, DDS, MS, MPH, is a safety and infection control consultant at San Diego Healthcare Compliance, and he observes that conducting spot checks can be useful from 2 points of view: They can both motivate and deter.

“Spot checks are a very good idea,” Dr Rudin says. “They are 2 forms of inspiration. One is as an incentive to create a safe environment to work in. And that is the actual intent of The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) – to stay safe. OSHA does have an enforcement department that can impose fines and take legal action. However, OSHA’s overarching objective is toward the safety of employees. The other benefit of spot checks is to help avoid those fines and other legal action. This approach is like being a recruit in military boot camp with surprise spot checks. The recruits must always be ready by keeping everything up to par. So, I recommend creating a safe environment and maintaining it while avoiding OSHA and health department fines and other punitive actions.”

He adds that performing spot checks can provide the kickstart that some practices may need to begin complying with safety, including infection control policies and procedures.

“So many practices seem to be challenged with getting in shape in the first place,” Dr Rudin states. “I would liken it to beginning a physical fitness program where people start out in relatively poor shape. It can be difficult to motivate these practices to take that first step to implement all of the things to get in shape in the first place, much less have a maintenance program.”

An easy, effective tool as part of a spot check is simple record keeping. That is, maintain a checklist to eliminate the potential for forgetfulness and other errors.

“Keeping accurate records of adherence to safety protocols is an important way to maintain a consistently safe office.” Dr Rudin observes.

The CDC offers a free app for iOS and Android devices called DentalCheck. It allows the practice to create customized checklists that staff can use to ensure that they aren’t missing anything in the course of infection control efforts.

Checklists include the regular sorts of things that practices should do as a constant part of their infection control efforts. Even though some of those items are routine, they can be forgotten.

“Look through drawers and cabinets where sterilized instruments are stored to ensure that any torn or damaged pouches are removed and re-sterilized,” Mary Bartlett, President SafeLink Consulting advises. “Also, check the external and internal indicators on pouches to ensure that the color has changed to indicate sterilization.

“Spore culture monitoring is a weekly task,” she continues. “If the person who usually does that monitoring is out for more than a week, an alternate person should be designated. This is such an important part of ensuring that the sterilization process is effective. I recommend that a record of the date the monitoring was performed be documented on a log and the results received from the testing lab are matched with the internal records.”

A checklist that she recommends includes:

Observe staff cleaning and disinfecting treatment rooms to ensure that adequate steps are being taken to remove contamination.

Infection control training is required by OSHA upon hire, when job tasks change, and annually. New hires should be trained immediately and that training needs to be documented. Check training records to ensure that this training and any future training such as the annual training has been performed.

OSHA requires that the Exposure Control Plan be reviewed and updated, as needed, annually. Document that review.

Ensure that all employees who work with potentially infectious items have been offered the Hepatitis B vaccine. If a staff member accepts the vaccine, then make certain that the series has been completed and documented.

If an exposure incident occurs and the employee agrees to evaluation and follow-up, ensure that the timeframe established by the healthcare professional administering the evaluation is being followed. This can include additional testing for HIV, Hep B, and Hep C a number of months after the exposure.

A number of steps are involved in waterline safety for the lines in the treatment rooms. If bottled water is installed on the dental unit, then ensure that the water is being changed daily and a chemical is used in the water. Also, shocking of the lines leading from the water supply to the air/water syringe, handpieces, and Cavitron should be performed at a minimum monthly. The actual testing of the waterlines is typically recommended to be performed quarterly.

Sharps containers show a “fill” line so check to see that they are not being over-filled.

In some states, biohazard waste must not remain in the practice beyond a certain period of time, so someone should check to ensure that it is being picked up or disposed of on a timely basis.

Anesthetic carpules and needles contain an expiration date. Check drawers where these are usually stored to ensure that they are not beyond expiration.

Dates for changing the solution in the ultrasonic equipment should be noted and adhered to.

Autoclave maintenance must be performed on a regular basis. Keeping logs to ensure that this maintenance has been performed will help to document that it is being performed.

It’s not often that a cold sterilant is used, but if it is, it usually has a time period between changes. Mark a date on the container and ensure that the solution is being changed according to that date.

Shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) have gotten better, however, a good inventory needs to be maintained so establish a minimum inventory and check it to ensure there’s adequate inventory at all times.

Observe the donning and doffing of PPE to ensure it is correct to prevent cross-contamination.

Ensure that employees are wearing the PPE that has been determined the best protection by the dentist and are wearing it correctly.

Observe recapping techniques to ensure that the method and/or mechanical device is being used correctly to prevent needle sticks.

For protection from COVID-19, practices should continue to perform employee, patient, and visitor screening. Ensure that this screening is taking place.

Ensure that single-use devices are discarded after one use and are not used on more than one patient.

“In 2016, the CDC published the Summary of Prevention Practices in Dental Settings as a guide of basic infection prevention recommendations,” Bartlett says. “A recommendation was the assignment of at least 1 individual trained in infection prevention to be responsible for coordinating the program.Monthly monitoring helps recognize where improvements are needed rather than waiting for a year between reviews.The Infection Prevention Checklist provided with this Summary as Appendix A is an excellent tool to use to develop a checklist for the spot checks.”

Spot checks can identify a broad spectrum of safety issues. Dr Rudin is rarely surprised by the things that he observes when he performs his own inspections.

“For example, if a practice has more than one autoclave, they should indicate on each sterilization pouch two critical bits of information: the autoclave it was processed in and the date of processing,” Dr Rudin says. “I often see pouches that do not indicate what date they were processed on and in which autoclave. The reason that identifying both the autoclave and date of processing is important is so that a failed spore test -- the gold standard for testing autoclave function -- will enable the practice to pull all instruments out of circulation that had been processed in the failed autoclave.”

Spot checks don’t supplant implementation of safety protocols and infection control efforts. Their use should is part of the process.

“It may be difficult to limit your spot check to just a few aspects of your safety practices. To cope with a large number of areas to check, consider breaking down the overall task by region and do a 20-minute check on just that area. Then the next day you would spend 20 minutes on another area.”

Spot checks need not be long, laborious procedures. Something that’s both achievable and consistent is best.

“I think the important thing is to do safety spot checks on both a consistent and sustainable basis,” Dr Rudin observes. “If it’s small bites at the apple, so to speak, that’s sustainable. It’s not a huge burden. A busy practice doesn’t want to close down while somebody is going through for an hour to do a comprehensive inspection. Spending 20 minutes a day, going region by region when time permits would help keep people on their toes.”

Spot checks aren’t ‘Gotcha!’ opportunities. Rather, they can help the practice improve its safety measures and lesson its chances for sanctions when inspectors come through.

Safety checks and pop quizzes can help a practice stay updated and informed on proper infection control protocol. 

Ensuring Safety and Compliance Through Dental Practice Spot Checks

A single look down a residential street on trash day can reveal just how finicky waste disposal can be. One might think, “Well, it’s all trash. Just put it all in one can”. But that’s rarely the case. Regular trash goes in 1 can, recycling in another, and yard waste in a third. And it gets even more complex in municipalities that require recycling to be sorted by plastics, glass, and paper. Even then, you can’t recycle all paper. In some places, pizza boxes, for instance, can’t be recycled. Those go in the regular trash. Most of us seem to have learned those rules (more or less), but it becomes a more complex issue when waste from medical facilities gets involved – and, unfortunately, those specifics may be confusing.

Regulated waste is the type of waste that The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is concerned with and dictates how it should be handled. Unfortunately, sometimes the difference is misunderstood.

“What I’m noticing is that I don’t think people understand totally know what regulated waste is,” Lisa Kane, DMD, Dental Consultant at Dental Office Compliance of New England says. “Regulated waste is waste that is a risk of causing an infection to someone who handles it. That is, anything that if you squeezed, blood or saliva would leak out, and obviously, all sharps. Lately, I’ve also seen a lot of people putting more things in the regulated waste container than need to go there.

“Things that are not blood soaked and oozing, A drop of blood on a piece of paper is not regulated waste,” Dr Kane continues. “That’s just regular trash. Things that just have a dab of something on it are not regulated waste.

Why would disposing of everything as if it were regulated waste be an issue? There are several reasons that it’s not a good idea.

“The biggest thing that I see is because people are always complaining about how much money it costs to get rid of their medical waste,” Dr Kane says. “It costs a lot of money to remove your medical waste. If your containers are filled with things that are not medical waste, you are paying more than necessary.”

Regulated waste guidelines are included in OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogen Standard. The standard explains how practices should manage contaminated material (including needles) to avoid worker exposure.

“Part of that exposure control plan is a section called ‘Housekeeping’, and the housekeeping refers to regulated medical waste and the types of containers that need to be used,” Karen Daw, 'The OSHA Lady,' speaker and consultant, observes. “OSHA’s language says that it has to be closable, constructed to contain all the contents and prevent leakage, labeled appropriately, color coded, and then closed prior to removal to prevent spillage of the contents during handling. So, this is taken to mean something that is solid and rigid on the side, raised, and has a lid on it, and it’s going to be labeled with the biohazard symbol on it.”

But those containers aren’t just applicable to sharps.

“Your standard dental office sharps container meets that criteria,” she continues. “What I don’t think a lot of people think about, though for example, is what about the personal protective equipment (PPE) that’s laundered on site? Are we placing it into a standard hamper that we have at home that has holes in it, or are we placing that in a solid rigid container with the lid and then is color coded or labeled appropriately? So, I tell offices that a tall kitchen waste can is solid and rigid. It has a lid and a little foot pedal, so you don’t have to touch it. You slap a biohazard sticker on it, and it meets the definition of the appropriate OSHA container for potentially biohazardous PPE like those scrub jackets that might be considered biohazardous if it meets the criteria. And let’s not forget our instrument transport containers. I hear often that the instrument cassette is used to transport the contaminated sharps (instruments) and I have to explain those cassettes need to be placed into a container that meets the requirements.”

And while the rules apply across-the-board for every practice, each practice must have its own plan in place to dispose of regulated waste.

“With OSHA, under the Bloodborne Pathogen Standard, regulated waste disposal, as part of their exposure control plan, is specific and unique to that location,” Daw says. “So, if they bought one of those ready-made OSHA manuals and then just stuck it on a shelf somewhere – maybe they didn’t even bother to remove the shrink wrap – they’re technically in noncompliance, because the exposure control plan portion of their OSHA manual needs to be reviewed annually, or whenever there’s been an update, and the entire team needs to be familiar with it.”

Like the recycling example earlier, the practice’s waste has to be sorted and handled appropriately. That is, the paper trash from the front office is handled in a separate area than amalgam and chemicals from the clinical areas are handled. Manufacturers can explain how those items are disposed.

“You have to look at the safety data sheets (SDS),” Dr Kane says. “Every hazardous chemical in your office has an SDS. You should refer to that when trying to decide how to dispose of something. You have a separate amalgam waste container, and it’s not considered the same as regulated waste. So, if you had a tooth with amalgam in it, or you had a pile of amalgam, that’s not the same biohazard waste as your sharps container. That would go into the amalgam waste container.”

“When you introduce a chemical into the workplace, you must review the contents of the SDS with the team,” Daw adds. “And if offices were doing that, they would know that on the SDS, there is a section pertaining to hazardous waste disposal and its appropriate disposal. One of the common things that they ask me is. ‘How do I properly dispose of this fluoride varnish?’ Or, ‘How do I appropriately dispose of acid etch?’ I always have to refer them back to SDS. If the SDS didn’t state it, they should contact the manufacturer. The manufacturer would clarify it for them. If you’re ever concerned about how to appropriately dispose of something, go straight to the manufacturer.”

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and OSHA have standards for handling dental waste. However, states, counties, and municipalities have their own rules and requirements to which practices must adhere.

“OSHA’s bloodborne pathogen standard gives us the federal standards for regulating medical waste, but we also have to look at your local township,” Daw observes. “For example, in the state of Ohio, small waste generators are allowed to dispose of regulated medical waste in the solid waste stream if they follow all the criteria. If you’re a small waste generator and you’re not generating more than 50 pounds of biological waste in any given month, they can technically put it in their trash. But, I do know of some offices that practice in specific cities and townships where that is not acceptable. So, for any business, it would behoove them to comply with not just what those federal and state rules are, but also what does their city say about disposing of certain types of waste so that they don’t get in trouble?”

Practices might not look forward to dealing with multiple levels of regulatory bodies, but not to worry: Although it is a requirement, it is not overly taxing.

“It’s not super cumbersome,” Dr Kane observes. “It’s not some crazy rule that you have to do all these things in order to be in compliance. These are common-sense safety rules. If you take care of your sharps and your medical waste correctly, then the risk is immensely reduced. If you’re putting sharps appropriately in sharps containers and transporting them safely into the big red biohazard box, the risk is reduced. All of the OSHA Regulations are there to protect you, and you should follow them to reduce your risk and your fellow team members.”

There are certain rules and regulations for the type of waste disposal that your practice will have to adhere to. 

Best Practices for Waste Disposal in a Dental Practice

Cellerant Consulting Group, which has offered the “Cellerant Best of Class Technology Awards” since 2009, has announced the launch of the “Cellerant Best of Class Hygiene Award.” CEO of Cellerant and the founder of the Best of Class Technology Awards Lou Shuman, DMD, said in a press release that this award was introduced as a way to recognize the importance of the hygiene community.

“Since first adding a hygiene division to Cellerant Consulting two years ago, the interest in dental hygiene products, services and brands has exploded, with much growth anticipated in the future,” Dr Shuman said in the press release. “We’re proud to have brought together an expert selection panel of dental hygienists recognized as industry leaders from across the country.”

The “Cellerant Best of Class Hygiene Award” panel with consist of 9 leaders and educators in the hygiene field. Together, this panel will do research on technologies that can change and launch practices forward into the future. After deliberation, the panel will choose the finalists on a non-profit basis.

National Mobile & Teledentistry Conference

Pamela Maragliano-Munez, RDH, DMD, FACP-

Tufts University School of Dental Medicine

American Mobile & Teledentistry Alliance

Proctor & Gamble’s Excellence in Patient Communication Award; 

Massachusetts Dental Society Hygienist of the Year; 

Middlesex Community College Member of the Year

Panelists will not vote in any category in which they have consulting relationships. The winners of the “Cellerant Best of Class Hygiene Award” will be announced in December later this year.

This award was made to recognize the importance of the hygiene community in dentistry. 

Cellerant to Introduce Best of Class Hygiene Award 

Videos

Dental practice coach Mike Massotto joins editorial director Noah Levine for 30 minutes of practice help and advice. In this episode, Mike and Noah continue their discussion from last week about how to sell patients on the care they need. 

6 Technologies Where Scientific Discoveries and Dentistry Collide

Ensuring Safety and Compliance Through Dental Practice Spot Checks

Best Practices for Waste Disposal in a Dental Practice

Cellerant to Introduce Best of Class Hygiene Award

30 Minutes of Therapy - Episode 15 - How to Get a Patient to Commit to the Care They Need