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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.

When it comes to your dental practice, one of the most important documents in your HR toolkit is your employee manual. Not only can definitive employee policies resolve disputes, but they can thwart issues before they arise, protecting both the employer and the employee from any sort of misperception and the potential for litigation.

As the number of measles cases in California and at least 25 other states continues to rise, becoming the highest number of reported cases in the U.S. since 1994, dental practices should ensure that they are screening patients for the highly contagious virus and other aerosol transmissible diseases prior to providing treatment.

CDA Practice Support developed and published in April two new resources for practice owners who wish to help put their staff on the proper path to become a California-registered dental assistant. Both resources are in a one-page format that is easy to follow.

“Steps to Becoming a California-Registered Dental Assistant” outlines the required hours of work experience or formal training and dental board-approved courses that must be completed prior to taking the written RDA licensure examination. Final steps for completing and mailing the application are included.

In a perfect world, all patients would receive the care they need to improve their health. But too often patients hesitate to seek the care they need, especially when it comes to mental health. It is an unfortunate reality that there is still a stigma associated with mental illness, and those in need of treatment don’t always ask for help.