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A new law to ensure proper irrigation and disinfection of exposed pulpal tissue went into effect Jan. 1 of this year. As explained in a December 2018 Update article, the law states that water and other methods used for irrigation when performing procedures on exposed dental pulp must be “sterile or contain recognized disinfecting or antibacterial properties.”

Several dentists have notified CDA Practice Support or their local dental societies of two scams targeting their dental practices. Dentists in the San Francisco Bay Area, South Lake Tahoe and Central Valley report receiving calls from individuals who claim to be DEA agents, provide badge numbers and proceed to make demands. The callers tell the dentists they could be arrested if the demands are not met.

Dentists who have hired an out-of-state-trained dental assistant and would like to enable that assistant to become a licensed RDA in California now have a simplified resource to help with that process. The new resource, available at cda.org/practicesupport, clearly defines the two paths that a dental assistant can follow to become a California-licensed dental assistant.

Dental practices welcome patients of all ages, but special considerations are warranted for patients of advanced years. Older adult patients — especially those who are medically compromised or have special needs — require extra precautions to ensure they remain safe while receiving the care they need to maintain their oral health.

Get to know CDA’s June Student Spotlight, Ashley Mach from the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC class of 2021.

The following are the top 10 “post-op” calls related to dental benefits that CDA Practice Support has received from dentists who made a decision, whether through action or inaction, that resulted in an unexpected outcome and ended with a member saying, “I wish I would have called Practice Support before I …” Included are links to relevant articles offering explanations and helpful resources.

Dentists who are purchasing or starting a practice or making a change to their business structure should be aware of a new IRS requirement. As of May 13, 2019, only individuals with a tax identification number — either a Social Security number or an individual taxpayer identification number — may request an employer identification number.

Fake invoices from at least one company are making the rounds in California, with several dentists contacting CDA for advice on how to handle the scam. The dentists, including CDA members in Bakersfield, Fresno and Los Angeles, report receiving invoices from Pinnacle Medical Supply for products that neither they nor any of their staff members ordered.

The Dentists Insurance Company has earned endorsements from four dental organizations: Washington State Dental Association, Oregon Dental Association, Idaho State Dental Association and Seattle-King County Dental Society. The renewed endorsements from organized dentistry validate the strength of TDIC and the trust that the profession has in an insurance company that protects only dentists.