As dental practices continue to open in the face of the COVID-19 crisis, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently issued guidance recommending dental practices prioritize essential care and delay routine, nonessential care in communities where transmission of the coronavirus is high. Days before the WHO issued its recommendations, the American Dental Association (ADA) Board of...

The coronavirus pandemic has raised concerns about the potential of the spread of infection in dental practices. The reality of the situation is that dental work, especially invasive procedures, has always carried the risk of infection. However, the COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented challenge as it relates to dentists’ liability for the transmission of...

Dental practices forced to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic are gradually reopening. While dentists and oral surgeons have been handling emergency cases, dental practices have compelling reasons to open, from both an economic and general healthcare perspective. Dentists need to resume providing preventive care and treatment to remain viable while patients run the risk...

The COVID-19 crisis is having a dramatic impact on dentistry. In fact, the American Dental Association has recommended that dentists forego elective procedures on all patients and carefully consider performing non-emergency treatment on patients suspected of having COVID-19.

As states begin to reopen their economies, social distancing guidelines must continue...

The American Dental Association (ADA) has requested the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide dentists with coronavirus testing kits to protect patients and staff. The ADA has also requested that dentists be protected against liability associated with the administration or use of such tests by treating them as “covered persons” under...

Dentists and other healthcare professionals are on the front-lines of the battle against the novel coronavirus. The American Dental Association has recommended that dentists forgo elective procedures and to follow guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

It goes without saying that standard dental safety protocols should always...

Dental practices often classify dental associates and hygienists as independent contractors as a means of controlling costs: payroll taxes, workers’ compensation insurance, unemployment insurance withholdings. In addition, independent contractors are not entitled to the wage and hour protections under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which basically means they are not required...

As the dental community welcomes 2020, it’s a good time to look at the dental and in-office trends the upcoming year will bring. From technological advances (e.g. robotic dental) to improving business practices to optimizing the patient experience, the dental industry will be well-equipped to streamline operations and improve patient volume. The best way...

There are a number of challenges involved in running a dental practice, not the least of which is collecting dental bills. Patients who fail to pay their bills on a timely basis or not at all can wreak havoc on your books, and collection activities can be a drain on your administrative resources. For...

Today, environmental sustainability has become a hot button political issue as well as a key concern across multiple industries, including the practice of dentistry. To the extent that your environmental practices expose you to potential liabilities, it is best to consult an attorney who provides legal services to dental professionals. In the meantime,...