Podcasts

On this episode of the Prod Pod, we welcome Joe Fogg and Sue Jefferies from onDiem to discuss the company's partnership with HLT and the recent announcement of PTO offered on its platform.

Episode 27: A New Model for Dental Employment

Described as the first true full-expression system, the new Damon Ultima System from Ormco features completely redesigned brackets and integrated wires to provide clinicians with enhanced precision leading to shorter treatment times for patients.

The patented system provides clinicians with precise control of rotation, angulation, and torque, according to a press release. This is accomplished by combining an innovative round-sided, rectangular wire with the parallelogram-shaped slot in the brackets to virtually eliminate play. This allows teeth to be moved with enhanced precision and less force to finish cases faster while enhancing patient comfort during treatment.

The Damon Ultima brackets are available in the neutral, retrocline, and procline options, and are designed from the center point of the slot to line up with the FA point for easier, and precise placement. Larger size and different material Damon Ultima archwires are available for challenging cases.

"After 52 years, I have finally been able to solve the problem with the significant play of the wire in the bracket slot that has often created excessive forces when bending archwires to compensate," Dr. Dwight Damon, creator of the Damon Ultima System says in a press release. "As the inventor of Damon Braces and pioneer of passive self-ligation appliances, the ability to transform orthodontic treatment using PSL as an alternative to conventional braces is now fully realized to the level I have always dreamed of. The Damon Ultima System is the epitome of reinventing how a special designed bracket and archwire assembly work together, providing orthodontists with ultimate control to deliver to patients the beautiful healthy Damon Smile in months not years using biological sensible forces."

Articles

Completely redesigned for enhanced precision, this system can reportedly make orthodontic treatment faster.

Ormco Announces Damon Ultima System

Patient management software Solutionreach has partnered with the marketing and patient acquisition platform DoctorLogic. This partnership was created to combine patient experience tools with marketing expertise to help patients find the right provider, according to a press release from Solutionreach.

After realizing that patients are looking for more convenient digital experiences, Solutionreach and DoctorLogic partnered to streamline the administrative priorities within dental organizations and other healthcare organizations.

DoctorLogic provides tools for website management and content and search engine optimization. Combined with Solutionreach’s patient experience tools such as scheduling, digital intake, and text-to-pay, this partnership is said to be able to help dental organizations foster a positive patient experience.

The two companies partnered to expand patient acquisition offerings as well as expand access to patient platforms. 

Solutionreach Partners with DoctorLogic to Expand Offerings

SOTA Imaging announced the launch of Cazoo, an extraoral aerosol evacuator that was designed to reduce dental aerosols. This reduction of dental aerosols will protect clinicians and patients from COVID-19 particulates.

Because of current recruitment challenges brought on by COVID-19 safety concerns, Cazoo was designed specifically to safeguard against the virus and mitigate risk for clinicians. It connects directly to high-volume evacuator (HVE) line, as 

 conducted independently shows a significant reduction of particulates when compared to intraoral standard saliva ejectors.

Cazoo is applied with a lip attachment or to a cheek retractor, and a splash guard sold separately is said to provide additional protection from aerosols. Practitioners can also purchase the arm accessory for precision and two-hand dentistry/hygiene procedures.

This extraoral aerosol evacuator was designed to protect from dangerous COVID-19 particulates transmitted through aerosols.

SOTA Imaging Launches Extraoral Aerosol Evacuator Cazoo

Dental insurance and patient billing service, eAssist Dental Solutions has added the Practice Booster and Coding with Confidence line of products to its dental office support service suite.

Dr Roy Shelbourne will serve as the new director of Practice Booster while the entire Practice Booster team, including Dr Charles Blair, will be affiliated with all services offered by eAssist. This includes Practice Booster, Coding with Confidence, and Dr Charles Blair & Associates products and services.

Practice Booster newsletters and resources will be published by the new eAssist Publishing division to provide billing, coding, and implementation tips. These are said to lead to maximum reimbursement from insurance carriers while mitigating risk, according to a press release from eAssist Dental Solutions. 

This acquisition will allow eAssist to further develop Practice Booster tools as well as expand its line of resources.

This acquisition will allow eAssist to further offer resources and sources for its billing, coding, and administrative support suite. 

eAssist Dental Solutions Acquires Dr Charles Blair & Associates, Practice Booster, and Coding with Confidence

The dental service organization Sage Dental announced its partnership with dental artificial intelligence (AI) service Pearl. This partnership will allow Sage Dental to utilize Pearl’s AI insight for patient care across 70 offices in Florida and Georgia.

AI-detected evidence will be analyzed through patient radiographs and then compared through treatment data in practice management systems. It then compiles results into insights for best patient care procedures, according to a press release from Sage Dental.

This partnership is said to support treatment and workflows through empirical data and the AI is meant to boost efficiency, accuracy, and consistency for the best patient outcomes.

This partnership will bring Pearl’s artificial intelligence to help patients receive the best treatment and outcomes. 

Sage Dental Partners with Pearl to Offer Artificial Intelligence Clinical Care to Patients

The Dental Compliance Institute (DCI) has published a “How to Survive a Surprise OSHA Audit” guide that is meant to help dental practices prepare for unexpected audits by keeping them up to date on OSHA regulations, according to a press release from the company.

Because of the change in OSHA regulations over the past year, dental professionals are invited to brush up on their OSHA knowledge to avoid compliance fees and health and safety risks through the free guide provided.

DCI will be providing a series of guides with topics including HIPAA and risk management in the coming months. The “survival” guides will be available to download.

The “How to Survive a Surprise OSHA Audit,” guide will be available for free and is the first in a planned series of survival guides. 

Dental Compliance Institute Publishes OSHA Audit Guide

Orthodontic corporation Ormco has announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for the use of its Spark

 Clear Aligner System for treatment in younger patients.

Spark Clear aligners are designed for kids and teens with cases varying from simple to complex and are said to be comfortable and more stain resistant, according to a press release from Ormco. Spark Aligners are made with TruGEN

, a clear material that resists stains. Its edges are smoothed to offer a more comfortable experience for wearers.

Spark Aligners involve the doctor directly and can be used to treat a variety of issues that may bother teens and kids. The FDA has cleared it for use in the U.S.

The clear aligner system has been cleared for primary and secondary teeth treatment for younger patients. 

Spark Clear Aligner System Receives FDA Clearance for Younger Patients

Composite restorations require a detailed eye for technique. However, it would help if you also kept an eye out for these common technique mistakes: Failing to isolate, having poor layering technique, and allowing for insufficient curing. Each of these common mistakes can lead to problems with your restorations, up to and including restorative failure. We will look at each and how you can avoid them.  

Mistake #1: Failing to achieve field control.

 For the best possible outcome for the restoration, it is essential to have a preparation that sets you up for success. For bonding, it is crucial to have as pristine an environment as possible for the bonding agent. When you fail to isolate the preparation and control the fluid, you invite post-operative sensitivity, contamination, and microleakage to destroy your restoration. Moreover, it is not OK to have it "mostly" isolated. The field needs to be 100% clean and dry.

Which type of isolation you choose depends on several variables. The College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics for the University of Iowa lists them as:

The Rubber Dam is the "gold standard," per the university because it can effectively achieve the field control necessary to achieve a quality restoration. But supposing a rubber dam is not possible, they recommend alternative methods of isolation, including lip and cheek retractors, cotton, and cotton roll holders, Isolite, Hygroformic Saliva evacuation, and retraction cord, and hemostatic agents. However, they do caution clinicians that hemostatic agents can interfere with the bonding agent.

Whether they are the gold standard or not, many dentists do not like rubber dams and do not use them once they leave dental school. An excellent option is to train your dental assistant to place them for you. However, it is a good idea to check with your state board to ensure that your dental assistant can set up rubber dams there. 

Mistake #2: Not moving the curing light around during curing.

Polymerization of composite resin is crucial to the success of your restorations. Without proper curing technique, your restoration could have excessive polymerization shrinkage, reduce mechanical properties of the material, increase the residual monomers that can damage the tooth restoration, increase the occurrence of surface staining, and the chances of marginal leakage.

The dental light itself and light-curing technique can cause insufficient polymerization. For the dental curing light, the beam profile, tip size, and guide angle of your light affect the size of the light-curing area:

 Beam profile: Every curing light has a beam profile, which describes how the light distributes from the tip. Most curing light manufacturers want a uniform beam profile, but sometimes the curing light has more intense areas for irradiance than others. When the beam profile is not consistent, it can affect the microhardness of resin-based composites that could lead to premature failure of your dental restoration.v Suppose you move the light around the material during curing. In that case, you also move those more intense areas across the curing surface, ensuring that the entire area has its time to activate the photoinitiator.

Tip size: The tip size dictates where the active curing area is when using the light. In other words, the smaller the tip, the smaller the curing area. If you have a larger curing area, you need to use a light with a larger tip or overlap the active curing area to ensure that all the surfaces get the light. 

Guide Angle: The guide angle affects where the curing light tip can fit in the mouth and, subsequently, where the active curing area lands. So, if the guide angle does not fit, it can obstruct the lights' ability to reach the curing area. To get there, you might have to approach the restorative material's surface area from the opposite direction to light cure all the material. 

If you use a technique that does not account for these influences from your curing light, then you could end up with under-cured material and all the problems that go with it. By moving the curing light around the uncured restorative material in the oral cavity, you could help reduce the chances of insufficient polymerization.

Polishing is the last step of the restoration, but that does not decrease its importance in the composite resin restorative process. The polishing step not only makes the tooth feel smooth but also sets up the longevity of your restoration. Polishing the surface creates a more resistant plane to bacteria, staining, plaque buildup, and wear kinetics. Also, studies show if you do not reduce surface roughness enough, patients present with secondary decay, gum irritation, and inflammation. In addition, the friction and occlusal and opposing dentition wear can introduce microfractures into the surface.

However, polishing is another critical area that could be prone to errors. Unlike the curing mistake where you do not get enough, polishing too much can cause many problems with the material. Per the IJRD, polishing too much can build up heat, which changes the resin matrix, disrupts the post-irradiation phase of polymerization, and takes off the layer that likely has the best conversion. You also increase the risk of pulp injury by excessive heat.

The IJRD suggests ensuring that you plan for the restoration before you begin to optimize your polishing time. If you pack in too much material and then use the polish step to remove the excess, you could create an unfavorable condition for your composite's restorative success. The IJRD also suggests exercising caution with your burs to avoid damage to the margins and surrounding dentition. Preserving these crucial areas of your dental restoration helps deter the failure of the tooth/restoration interface.

In addition, you should leave enough time to polish. You have probably heard the saying, "haste makes waste," which holds if you rush the polishing step to make room for the next patient on the schedule. If you often feel squeezed for time at this point in the restorative process, try extending the amount of time you schedule for composite restorations by 10-15 minutes and see if that fixes the problem. While production rate is an essential metric to optimize for profitability in many dental practices, the extra time you add into the schedule for composite resin restorative treatments could make the difference between a restoration that lasts for several years and a restoration that you must fix in a few months for free

Dentistry.uiowa.edu. n.d. operative-field-control | College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics. [online] Available at: <https://www.dentistry.uiowa.edu/operative-field-control> [Accessed 18 June 2021].

de Camargo EJ, Moreschi E, Baseggio W, Cury JA, Pascotto RC. Composite depth of cure using four polymerization techniques. J Appl Oral Sci. 2009;17(5):446-450. doi:10.1590/s1678-77572009000500018

"9 Ways Your Dental Curing Light Could Be Putting Composite Restorations at Risk." bluelightanalytics.com. 8 June 2021. Web 18 June 2021. < 

https://www.bluelightanalytics.com/resources/blog/9-risks-dental-curing-lights-composite-restorations

LeSage, DDS, FAGD, FAACD, Brian. "Finishing and polishing criteria for minimally invasive composite restorations." General Dentistry. 2011 Nov-Dec; 422-428; Accessed via web. 21 July 2019. <

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/01f9/329480a6b9e8ac481dd57210c56b508d7542

Porto, Ph.D. I. (PDF) Post-operative sensitivity on direct resin composite restorations: clinical practice guidelines. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235977564_Post-operative_sensitivity_on_direct_resin_composite_restorations_clinical_practice_guidelines. Published 2012. Accessed June 19, 2021.

Composite restorations require a detailed eye for technique. However, you also need to keep an eye out for these common technique mistakes. 

3 Common Technique Mistakes That You Should Avoid When Placing Composite Restorations  

8 Dental CAD/CAM Technology Milestones

Dental CAD/CAM technology is no longer new, and throughout its more than 30 year history, these digital dental systems and accompanying materials have greatly expanded what can be done chairside.

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. 

As the past year with the COVID-19 has shown us, hygiene and infection control are both very important in keeping a dental practice running safely and smoothly. Despite this, there are a variety of breaches that can cause poor infection control and an unsafe working environment for both patient and practitioner. Here are 6 infection control breaches, and the best ways to avoid them.

6 Common Infection Control Breaches

Slideshows

Some offices are better at infection control than others, but breaches can be avoided if you take the right steps.

6 Common Infection Control Breaches in Dental Practices

Ms. Newkirk received her dental hygiene degree from the University of Alaska, Anchorage, in 1981. A recognized key opinion leader in periodontal endoscopy, Suzanne has published numerous articles and co-authored several dental textbook chapters on minimally invasive non-surgical periodontal therapy with use of the dental endoscope.

Ms. Newkirk is the national and international dental endoscopy instructor for Zest Dental Solutions and is a professional speaker. Her website is: 

Lynne Slim is an award-winning dental author who has published extensively in dental/dental hygiene journals including 

Journal of the Western Society of Periodontology

. She was the periodontal columnist for RDH magazine for about 17 years and is now a columnist for 

 and is a member of their advisory board. In 2003, Lynne founded Perio C Dent, a dental practice management company that specializes in the incorporation of non-surgical periodontal therapy into the hygiene department of the general dental practice.

As a key opinion leader in the dental industry, Lynne is frequently asked to review new products and write product reviews. She participates in product development and is consulted about consumer/RDH product awareness. Lynne received the Philips Oral Healthcare “Mentor of Distinction” award at the 2012 ADHA Annual Session.

In early June, the American Dental Association published a news article on the difficulties dentists are facing in recruiting dental team members post COVID-19 now that dental offices have reopened to provide full services.

According to results from a 2020 survey published in the 

, 8% of dental hygienists left the workforce since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 This article explores the many reasons dental hygienists have left or are leaving the profession and provides some suggestions for change.

In a 2019 survey of dental hygienists, 43% cited not feeling valued or respected as one of the primary reasons they would seek a new job within the next year. “Burnout” and feelings of frustration due to overly restrictive state practice acts were other reasons hygienists cited for deciding to leave the field.

 With the onset of COVID-19, dental hygienists across the country made a decision about if and how they wanted to work, and in many instances, they voted with their feet and walked away.

According to a September 24, 2020, article on Dentistry iQ, it is not clinical hygiene that hygienists are unhappy with, but rather their work environment that makes them cringe and dissatisfied overall. Hygienists expressed feelings of being “undervalued, underpaid, resentful, and completely exhausted.” Other issues included working in offices with outdated technology, employers with poor communication skills, and toxic coworkers.

Most dental hygienists enter the profession because they want to make a difference in the oral health of patients by partnering with their dentist employer and coworkers. Unfortunately, all too often their dreams of working in a cohesive group of like-minded individuals fall short. This frequently occurs due to unrealistic expectations by either the hygienist or employer, a lack of communication, or a toxic work environment that may include bullying by coworkers or the dentist/employer.

Dental hygienists are highly educated, licensed oral health providers, but unfortunately over the years, they have sometimes been referred to in a negative context as prima donnas, implying they are difficult to work with or exclude themselves as part of a team. Name calling is abusive, derogatory, and a form of relational bullying and harassment.

According to study findings published in June in the 

, dental hygienists experience a variety of inappropriate behaviors at work, including verbal attacks, sexual innuendos, and evaluation of their appearance. Among the study participants, 47.3% said they received rude signals from others, 17.9% said they were subjected to sexual evaluations regarding their appearance, and 29.4% said their abilities were ignored by patients and family members of patients.

Patients frequently get their cues on how they act and behave by what is tolerated by the dentist-employer. Mutual respect in the workplace allows all employees to know that they are valued for their achievements, abilities, and qualities. Being valued and being treated respectfully helps promote a positive work culture in which employees are fulfilled, loyal, engaged, and motivated to perform at their very best.

In a 2019 national survey of dental hygienists, more than 25% of respondents indicated they experienced workplace bullying, with the most frequent perpetrator equally distributed between the owner-dentist and receptionist/front-desk person.

 Workplace bullying has been associated with high turnover rates. An article by Investopedia suggests that up to 30% of bullied employees will resign from their jobs, and 20% of those who witness bullying will also leave the organization. Figures released by overcomebullying.com suggest that the number of employees who leave due to bullying could be much higher—perhaps as much as 70%.

Each time an employee leaves the workplace, there are replacement costs associated with recruiting, hiring, and training new staff. Indirectly, workplace bullying also often brings a decline in morale, making the workplace even more susceptible to high turnover rates.

To ameliorate these negative behaviors among colleagues and their superiors, a clear message of no tolerance for bullying in the workplace should be instituted. The importance of such a policy cannot be overemphasized, as bullying behaviors negate teamwork, hinder communication, delay implementation of new practices, and can be a threat to the patient and employee health and safety.

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, dental offices around the country closed, leaving a number of dental hygienists either furloughed or permanently let go from their positions. According to the 2020 study of employment patterns of dental hygienists in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic, of the unemployed respondents, more than 50% reported either receiving unemployment benefits and the other 50% stated they had applied for benefits but had not yet received any. Another 38.3% had not applied for unemployment benefits, and 1 in 10 reported their unemployment benefits application had been denied.

During this time, threads on dental hygiene social media forums began popping up with hygienists questioning if now was a good time to look for employment outside of clinical dental hygiene. Dental hygienists demonstrate extreme attention to detail, have incredible time management skills, work independently, are self-starters, and have exceptional people skills. All of these skills can and are being put into new roles outside of the operatory.

Frustrations of overly restrictive state practice acts and difficulty with licensure are 2 other areas hygienists have cited for moving on. Dental hygiene is traditionally a female-dominated profession. According to the American Dental Hygienists Association, approximately 98% of hygienists in the US are female.

 In the early years of the profession, most dental hygienists relied on their spouse’s income to run their household, but this is no longer true. As living and housing costs have risen exponentially, most homes require a 2-income family to cover basic living expenses. For dental hygienists who are single parents or unmarried, employment is a must.

America is a mobile society. Each year millions of Americans move. During the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced many Americans to stay home, more than 7 million households moved to a different county—nearly half a million more households than in 2019.

 For dental hygienists moving across state lines, this frequently means having to apply for licensure from the state dental board or taking another clinical exam. Applying for licensure is not only costly and time-consuming but also very stressful.

­­­­­­Due to COVID-19, many regional dental hygiene board exams were canceled or pushed out for safety measures, leaving a “hole” for prospective employers that new clinicians entering the profession had previously filled.

To remedy this situation, in 2020, 21 dental boards across the country authorized dental hygienists to take the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) manikin-based clinical exam while the country was in a state of emergency. Another 14 states authorized dental hygienists to take the Central Regional Dental Testing Service (CRDTS) manikin-based exam, with California, Alabama, Illinois, and South Carolina authorizing both.

As of January, 30 states had authorized dental hygienists to take the ADEX manikin-based clinical exam. Only Georgia, Nebraska, and Delaware do not authorize the ADEX exam as a pathway to initial licensure. At the June 2020 Georgia Board of Dentistry meeting, board members approved dentists to take the clinical ADEX exam as a pathway to licensure due to the hardship of not having a CRDTS testing site available in the state. When the Georgia Dental Hygienist’s Association requested the same consideration for dental hygienists during the July Georgia board meeting, board members denied the request, stating there were enough testing sites available.

Commission on Dental Competency Assessments

By August 2020, Georgia had surpassed 200,000 COVID-19 cases (the fifth US state to do so), leaving recent dental hygiene graduates not only unable to find a CRDTS testing site in the state but also unable to find a patient willing to sit for the exam. Consequently, Georgia dentists are now experiencing a shortage of dental hygiene applicants.

With the onset of COVID-19, some dental hygienists moved from laggard states to more progressive states. The top states for inbound moves were Idaho, South Carolina, Oregon, South Dakota, and Arizona—all with inbound migration percentages higher than 60%.

And all with more autonomy and diverse dental hygiene practice acts than the laggard states they left.

These hygienists not only have to negotiate a pathway for licensure but must also take additional courses for certification to meet state practice acts considered an educational standard in the rest of the country.

Nancy Goodwin, MEd, CDA, RDH, program chair in the Department Dental Hygiene at Athens Technical College in Georgia, stated; “I have dozens of former students/graduates who moved away from Georgia to practice in Utah, Wyoming, Alaska, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, etc, all of which authorize dental hygienists to administer local anesthesia. Unfortunately, since Georgia’s practice act does not permit hygienists to administer anesthesia, dental hygiene programs may only teach this skill to didactic (but not to clinical) competency. So, when these graduates leave Georgia, they must take additional coursework that includes clinical experience to obtain this certification in order to be employable in almost every other state in the US.”

To rationalize some of the reasons why 2021 is experiencing a dental hygiene workforce crisis, some dental forums are pointing the finger at “high-paying unemployment benefits and government stimulus money,” suggesting dental hygienists would rather sit home and do nothing. Other forum posters suggest dental hygienists are taking unfair advantage of the situation by demanding high pay and having unrealistic expectations. However, these posters do not acknowledge that when the shoe was on the other foot and dentist-employers received many applications for a single position, they took advantage of the situation to make the best deal possible at the lowest wage possible or let a long-term employee go to hire a new graduate for less money.

Other dentists have expressed their frustration and anger over the situation and suggest “payback” by recommending dentists do their own hygiene or hire an associate for the position until the dental hygiene market becomes flooded again and employees “come crawling back.”

These rationalizations completely miss the mark for the current situation many dental offices find themselves in. The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t create the dental employment issues we are now experiencing; it exposed the profound issues staff members experienced prior to the pandemic that required attention but were ignored.

Tonya Lanthier, RDH, founder and CEO of DentalPost, an online and mobile dental jobs board, recommended offices experiencing a workforce issue intentionally take steps to create a culture in which team members feel valued, appreciated, and respected and offer continuing education to keep team members inspired and challenged to do more. This effort also shows team members they are valued and worth the investment.

Although employment once was viewed as a means to pay the bills, it’s now widely accepted that finding a fulfilling career is one of the keys to a happy life.

 The COVID-19 pandemic led many hygienists to examine their career choice and make decisions for the future. Whether dental hygienists choose to stay in clinical or move on to a new career path outside of operatory, at the end of the day, dental hygienists want what all professionals want—to be allowed to work at the top of their education and to be valued and respected for what they do. Workplace bullying and burnout need to be replaced by feeling valued at work. Higher levels of engagement, satisfaction, and motivation will follow in addition to better physical and mental health.

1. Versaci MB. Understaffed and ready to hire, dentists face applicant shortage as they emerge from COVID-19 pandemic. American Dental Association. June 9, 2021. Accessed June 15, 2021. 

https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2021-archive/june/dentists-face-applicant-shortages-as-they-emerge-from-covid-19-pandemic?utm_source=DEC_DIQ+Morning+Briefing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS210609055&o_eid=1540A5968523A2V&rdx.ident%5Bpull%5D=omeda%7C1540A5968523A2V

2.Gurenlian JR, Morrissey R, Estrich C, et al. Employment patterns of dental hygienists in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 2021;95(1):17-24. Accessed June 10, 2021. 

https://jdh.adha.org/content/jdenthyg/95/1/17.full.pdf


3. The state of the RDH career in 2021. RDH. February 1, 2021. Accessed June 10, 2021. 

https://www.rdhmag.com/career-profession/article/14190024/the-state-of-the-rdh-career-in-2021

4.Auger A. 4 mistakes every hygienist makes that lead to career disappointment. DentistryIQ. September 24, 2020. Accessed June 1, 2021. 

https://www.dentistryiq.com/dental-hygiene/career-development/article/14184036/4-mistakes-every-hygienist-makes-that-lead-to-career-disappointment



5. Won SE, Choi MI, Noh H, Han SY, Mun SJ. Measuring workplace violence for clinical dental hygienists. 

6. How and why to demonstrate respect in the workplace. Syndeo. February 15, 2018. Accessed June 1, 2021. 

https://syndeohro.com/demonstrate-respect-workplace/

7. Sundburg SD. Workplace bullying: a national survey of dental hygienists. Old Dominion University. Fall 2019. Accessed June 5, 2021.

 https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1016&context=dentalhygiene_etds



8. Fowler J. Financial impacts of workplace bullying. Investopedia. Updated May 1, 2021. Accessed June 4, 2021. 

https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0712/financial-impacts-of-workplace-bullying.aspx



9. Brittain E. Career advice: making the jump out of clinical dental hygiene. Today’s RDH. May 9, 2020. Accessed June 10, 2021. 

https://www.todaysrdh.com/career-advice-making-the-jump-out-of-clinical-dental-hygiene/


10. Oral health fast facts. American Dental Hygienists’ Association. Accessed June 12, 2021. 

https://www.adha.org/resources-docs/72210_Oral_Health_Fast_Facts_&_Stats.pdf

11. Wu Y, Melgar L. Americans up and moved during the pandemic. Here’s where they went. 

. Updated May 11, 2021. Accessed June 10, 2021. 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/americans-up-and-moved-during-the-pandemic-heres-where-they-went-11620734566



12. Davis E. Study: Americans moved West, South in 2020. 

. January 4, 2021. Accessed June 12, 2021. 

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/2021-01-04/americans-moved-west-and-south-in-2020-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-study-finds

13. Lanthier T. Survey: COVID-19 compounds dental staffing challenges. Dental Economics. February 1, 2021. Accessed June 24, 2021. 

https://www.dentaleconomics.com/macro-op-ed/article/14198501/survey-covid19-compounds-dental-staffing-challenges



14. Kahn C. 5 reasons why it’s time to make a career change. CareerFoundry blog. Updated September 24, 2018. Accessed June 6, 2021. 

https://careerfoundry.com/en/blog/career-change/5-reasons-to-make-a-career-change/

Bullying and Burnout in Dental Hygiene

As Chief Marketing Officer for the Bankers Healthcare Group (BHG) family of companies, Chris Panebianco is responsible for all global marketing initiatives to support BHG’s commercial working capital loans, personal financing, commercial and personal credit cards, patient lending, SBA loans, and collections management. With more than 15 years’ experience in financing, Chris drives branding, lead generation, internal and external communications, as well as customer and vendor relationship management.

Despite a tumultuous past year, Vyne Dental’s 

 survey states that 86% of practice leaders are either confident (35%) or very confident (51%) in their practice’s future. This optimism is likely due to increased vaccination efforts, local economies reopening, and patients returning to in-office visits. 

Dentists can take advantage of this renewed optimism through investments in staffing, technology, and infrastructure to ensure they have the resources they need to be successful, prepared, and stand out from the competition.

At Bankers Healthcare Group, we work with dental professionals by offering custom financial solutions they can use to invest in their businesses and profession. One key area of interest for our dental borrowers is having access to working capital, which provides the flexibility they need to fund their unique long- and short-term goals and be confident the road to normalcy is a smooth one. 

Here are 3 ways dental professionals are investing in their future: 

In 2020, medical professionals across industries needed to adapt to new technology, and dentistry was no different. While the pandemic’s peak had many dentists moving toward temporary telehealth solutions, practices are now seeing patients in a more normal fashion. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a push for new technology in other areas. 

 have stated that 26% of dentists are looking to invest in new technologies in 2021. 

There will always be developments in equipment and patient-focused technology. However, as dentists expect an influx of patients as the vaccines roll out, some practices are opting for investments in more workflow technology. A 

 discusses the need for digital workflow solutions that allow a more seamless experience for dentists and patients. This includes easier ways to scan, send and keep patient files, and manage patient data. These improvements can assist your staff in providing a more efficient experience for your patients and ease the burden of manual record keeping. 

Of course, digital workflows aren’t the only technology worth investing in; many practices can also benefit from purchasing new scheduling tools, software, and medical equipment to expand their services.

2. Invest in Marketing & Patient Outreach

To diversify and grow their patient base, dentists can utilize working capital to market their services. Those who put more money, time, and effort into marketing can stand out from the competition and position their practice for growth and success. 

When marketing strategies are applied correctly, they can drive business results. Advertising, direct mail, website redesign, and social media marketing are all effective strategies that are also scalable, so you can start with as small (or big) of an investment as you’re comfortable with. Embracing a long term strategy to marketing can help you get the most out of your dollars, as oftentimes, one-and-done tactics don’t have lasting power.

Regardless of how you choose to market your practice, let your community know that you’re operational, inform them of the improvements you’ve made at the office, and urge patients to book an appointment.

Another area of investment is in staffing and recruiting. As patient appointments increase, practices will need more staff—from adding additional dentists, support staff, and administrative staff to hiring a larger maintenance and janitorial crew. Preparing for your staffing needs now can help you best serve patients. 

If you don’t have time to focus on hiring, a working capital loan can enable you to hire a recruiting company or invest in building a career portal on your website. Also, investing in current staff through additional training and continuing education can help them sharpen their skills and increase loyalty to your practice.

Despite an unprecedented past year, research around practitioners’ renewed optimism and confidence in the future is encouraging. Not only is now an opportunity to ensure a successful continued path to normalcy for your practice, but it’s also a time to reflect on the different ways that investing in your business and your people can create a quality experience for your patients. 

There are a variety of ways that dental professionals can use industry opportunity to expand and improve their practice. 

Three Ways Dentists Can Capitalize on Industry Optimism 

SprintRay has announced 2 new 3D printing resins called NightGuard Flex and NightGuard Firm. The materials allow clinicians to design, print, process, and place nightguards in-house, according to a press release from SprintRay.

NightGuard Flex is designed to be a fast and comfortable 3D-printed nightguard, said to be pliable at body temperature. It maintains a 2x faster print speed and reduces waste in its improved dimensional stability. NightGuard Firm promises strength and esthetic for patients who are looking for high-strength occlusal appliances. It still promises faster print speed and enhanced durability.

Both designs are said to be easy to clean, flavorless, and odorless. SprintRay utilizes its Cloud Design lab services to help dental professionals design and create occlusal guards with these 2 new materials for patients who are seeking relief from nighttime grinding and clenching.

SprintRay has announced 2 new 3D printing resins for dental professionals for use in in-house nightguards. 

SprintRay Announces 3D Printing Resins NightGuard Flex and NightGuard Firm

Dental Creations’ new Sassy Spatulas are made of high-grade polypropylene, latex free, and autoclavable up to 270° F. The ergonomic handle makes mixing easy for cements, porcelains, acrylics, and other materials used in dental offices and laboratories.

Sassy Spatulas come in two colors, pink and blue. The spatulas feature an ergonomic handle for easy mixing by clinicians and lab technicians, and are 7.5 inches in length. The 

is Item#: 796. The spatulas are priced at $4.95 each.

Sassy Spatulas feature ergonomic handle, are latex free, and can be autoclaved up to 270 degrees F.

6 Common Infection Control Breaches in Dental Practices

Bullying and Burnout in Dental Hygiene

Three Ways Dentists Can Capitalize on Industry Optimism

SprintRay Announces 3D Printing Resins NightGuard Flex and NightGuard Firm

New Spatulas from Dental Creations Designed for Easy Mixing of Dental Materials