Tufts University School of Dental Medicine’s Post

Internationally trained dentists offer an immediate solution to address the shortages in access to oral hygiene care. The proposed bill represents a common-sense approach to expanding healthcare resources. The Massachusetts Dental Society Government Affairs Committee, in collaboration with healthcare advocates like Representative Tackey Chan and Senator John Cronin , is working diligently to protect and enhance access to oral healthcare for Massachusetts residents through this critical legislation. American Dental Association Fran Clairmont, D.M.D. Massachusetts Dental Hygienists’ Association #healthcareforall #accesstocare Hygiene #immigrants #foreigntraineddentists

Trends in Dental Graduates: Rising Dentists, Declining Hygienists and Assistants Recent data from the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute reveals a significant shift in the dental workforce landscape. While the number of graduates from DDS and DMD programs has seen an encouraging rise, the number of dental hygiene and assisting graduates has declined. In 2023, the number of DDS and DMD graduates reached 6,869, marking an 8.2% increase from 2019, when there were 6,350 graduates. This growth reflects a positive trend in dental education, with more new dentists entering the field each year. Conversely, the number of dental hygiene graduates has only slightly decreased by 2.4% from 7,311 in 2019 to 7,132 in 2023. More notably, the number of dental assisting graduates has dropped significantly by 17.6%, from 4,517 in 2019 to 3,721 in 2023. This substantial decline has contributed to notable challenges in recruiting dental hygienists and assistants, with nearly 90% of survey respondents finding it "extremely" or "very" difficult to fill these roles. The rise in the number of dentists coupled with a decline in dental hygienists and assistants highlights significant challenges for the dental field. While more dentists can enhance access to care and expand service offerings, their effectiveness may be compromised if there is a shortage of support staff. Dental hygienists and assistants are vital for routine procedures and patient management, and their absence can lead to increased workloads and potential delays in care. This imbalance underscores the need to address the shortage of support staff to ensure that the growing number of dentists can operate efficiently and provide high-quality care. Source- https://lnkd.in/ezZSVNd6?

T'is that time of year. The ongoing FDI conference in Istanbul has a large contingent of Kenyan participants. They will attend plenary sessions, paid for hands on workshops and focused group discussions. Some of the participants do not practice dentistry. Bringing along a spouse or a child is very much encouraged. Those who are registered dentists will learn new tricks of the dental trade in Istanbul. They will shop for dental materials, equipment and clothes till they drop.Maybe do some sightseeing as well. How much of what they learn will be practised? Undergraduate and Postgraduate dentists in Kenya are taught how to use Rubber dam, especially for endodontics. How many dentists use this barrier between tooth and the oral environment? There is a gap between knowledge and implementation. That gap is filled by accountability. Without adherence to clinic based or national, written down, standard operating procedures and an accountability mechanism it is very possible for dentists and dental assistants to take shortcuts. Shortcuts which could, compromise ideal outcomes. Next month we have the KDA Scientific conference and exhibition which is a smaller version of the Istanbul conference. There is always something to learn, something to buy but please practice what they will teach you and use the toys you buy, properly. Why not take your dental assistant or your receptionist? It will open up their mind. Some dental clinics are expanding. They are taking on more dentists because the current complement of dentists are stretching themselves too far, in order to meet patient expectations. Two dentists I know, complain that though their top line revenues increased after hiring associate dentists, so did their expenses. Some months they cannot pay themselves, some months they need to pay the clinic's bills from savings or from other sources of income. It is time for a reset. Before remodeling your clinic it is necessary to have a baseline understanding of the status quo regarding your people, processes and profitability. To read the full article click https://lnkd.in/d-vnwR8Q You will not regret your action.

📢 Are you an out-of-state Dentist looking for a new opportunity with opening up a dental office in Florida? 🌴 Heres your opportunity! 📰 🤓 “Florida’s smiles get brighter: Governor DeSantis signs dental bills” The laws take effect July 1. A pair of bills championed by dental and orthodontic groups will become law. Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed HB 855 and SB 938. The former establishes new standards for the practice of dentistry and creates new requirements that specifically apply to providers using telehealth while the latter alters requirements for the Board of Dentistry. HB 855 requires in-person examination and “a dentist of record to remain primarily responsible for all dental treatments for a patient treated through telehealth.” “So it comes down to accountability and patient safety,” said Eddy J. Sedeño III a Florida orthodontist and member of the American Association of Orthodontists. ”The bill helps patients know who’s actually treating them whenever they have mail order, orthodontics or even mail order, dental care, because that might evolve in the future. And it’s important for a patient’s safety and a patient’s outcome who’s treated you and when you run into issues, to know who you can go to speak to or discuss the situation directly.” The bill had bipartisan support and was sponsored by Reps. Robin Bartleman, a Democrat from Weston, and Lawrence McClure, a Republican from Dover. Republican Sen.Jim Boyd sponsored the companion bill. SB 938, sponsored by Sen. Clay Yarborough, deletes the requirement that out-of-state licensed dentists who apply for and receive a Florida license practice full-time within the state’s geographic boundaries for one year after licensure. It also deletes provisions related to compliance and enforcement of the requirement. Additionally, Yarborough’s bill strikes out a law requiring dental students wait until their final year of dental school to apply for licensure and updates statutes eliminating language that made clear a dental applicant’s American Dental Examination scores were valid for only one year. The changes take effect July 1. https://lnkd.in/gq5i3C7n

Empowering Dental Hygienists: Important issue affecting dental hygienists and patient care. 🦷 In California, Dental Hygienists in Alternative Practice (RDHAP) need a formal connection with a dentist to obtain the necessary designation. This process isn’t always followed as intended, leading to gaps in care and oversight. Here’s what can happen: 🔹 Proper Designation: To comply with regulations, Dental Hygienists must have a legitimate connection with a dentist. This ensures they receive proper guidance by way of prescribed dental procedures and in turn leads to high-quality care to patients. 🔹 Current Shortcomings: Without establishing a genuine working relationship.  .  .  . This undermines the system and affects the quality of care. 🔹 Moving Forward: It’s crucial that we address this issue to ensure the integrity of the designation (RDHAP) and the care provided to patients. Hygienists and Dentists must work together as intended, fostering genuine connections that benefit everyone involved, especially our patients. Dentist working together with Hygienist   reinforce the importance of proper collaboration and oversight. 👉 By doing so, we can ensure that Hygienists and Dentists are fully equipped to deliver the best possible care. 

TIP #139 - The strongest bond in dentistry: Dental assistant and Dentist with Rochelle Fisher Hosted by Christina Potestas @christina_oralhealth Available on all podcast players - link in bio In this episode, I sit down with Rochelle Fisher, the founder of Dental Assisting and Beyond. Rochelle has over 27 years of experience as a dental assistant in the UK and Australia. Now, she dedicates her expertise to empowering dentists and their assistants, focusing on building well-trained, confident, and happy teams within their practices. Unlike the UK, Australia doesn't require formal qualifications for dental assistants to do their job. This can lead to situations where assistants lack proper training and struggle to effectively support dentists. Rochelle tackles this gap through her one of her renowned "101 Implant Fundamentals" course, which equips dental teams with the skills needed to align with ADA guidelines during implant and surgical procedures. Our conversation dives into Rochelle's career journey, the qualities that define a great dental assistant, potential challenges that can arise when working with assistants, and valuable advice for newly graduated dentists. As someone who has also assisted for a long time, I deeply enjoyed connecting with Rochelle on the intricacies of this profession. I would be oh so lucky working alongside someone like her! Key moments 0:02:18 - Rochelle describes her career journey from school into dental assisting. 08:29 - Qualities of a great dental assistant are discussed. 12:47 - How dental assistants can support dentists and improve treatment outcomes. 18:29 - Communication and preparation between dentists and assistants is emphasized. 23:03 - Advice is given on addressing issues if the dentist-assistant relationship is not working. 28:00 - Differences between quality of dental assistants in public vs private settings 36:49 - Tips are provided for dealing with temp nurses and keeping appointments smooth. 43:31 - Rochelle discusses her current educational work and programs for dental professionals Get connected with Rochelle online: Web: https://lnkd.in/gEbgyCXT Instagram: @dentalassistingandbeyond

🌟Discover the Vital Role of Dental Therapists in UK Dental Practices 🌟 We're excited to share our latest blog, diving into the essential contributions of Dental Therapists in modern dentistry. From initial assessments and gum care to cavity fillings and preventive treatments, dental therapists work alongside dentists to ensure your oral health receives the highest level of care. Ever wondered how dental therapists differ from dental hygienists or what to expect during your visit? Our blog has all the answers! 👉 Read the full blog here to learn more about their role in keeping your smile healthy and bright. 💬 More questions? Leave us a comment or contact us—we’d love to hear your thoughts! #DentalCare #DentalTherapists #OralHealth #HealthySmiles #UKDentistry https://lnkd.in/eNzKuZgJ

The possibility for those with dentist/dental hygienist licenses to have them valid in different states.

The need for dental professionals in the workforce is impacting the care delivered to patients. The American Dental Association House of Delegates' three-part solution aims to alleviate this insufficiency by tapping dental students and internationally trained dentists.