Those of us in dentistry have probably come across some articles of late about "DIY" dentistry (here and here). Patients extracting their own teeth is certainly not a new phenomenon (modern dentistry only began in the 17th century). Today one can buy dental scalers and do their own cleanings, or do it yourself home whitening kits. … Continue reading DIY Dentistry…..DIY Don’t!
Imagine the 32 year female in your office on a typical morning. My patient was new and was referred because of medical history issues that included a seizure disorder. No sooner had I entered the room to visit with the patient and her mother then indeed she had a seizure. Her mother assured me that … Continue reading Patient emergencies in the dental office: They happen. Be ready.
In our practices we all encounter special needs patients. Patients presenting with MS, ALS, CP, Alzheimer, Parkinson's or other conditions are challenging and many dentists excel in managing them and providing quality care. But what about the special needs patient’s family? Do we always remember to care for them also? We should. Families of special needs patients are … Continue reading Caring for Special Needs Patients and their Families: Before the Appointment and Arrival to the Office
Let’s just admit that periodontal charting is not the most fun thing to do. Here’s a short list of why: It soaks up valuable clinical time It is done as much for legal reasons as clinical reasons The clinical use of the data is limited Many clinicians only chart pocket depth (PD). But, unless one notes both … Continue reading Dental Office Time Management and Patient Care Series: Ultra Fast Periodontal Charting
Observing the delivery of dental care is, for the dentist, a solitary clinical experience. In fact we want our work to be imperceptible. Because of this, patients do not even know to tell their friends about the marginal integrity of their restorations. They do not brag about how you prevented a pulp necrosis following an … Continue reading Dental Office Time Management and Patient Care Series: Patient Intake
11/25/14 UPDATE - The American Public Health Association (APHA) has published the 20th edition of its “Control of Communicable Diseases Manual” as a key resource for public health professionals fighting infectious disease. In advance of the book’s release and in response to the emerging Ebola outbreak, APHA has made the Ebola-Marburg virus chapter of CCDM … Continue reading Protecting your patients and practice from the Ebola virus
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