What are some effective strategies to reduce the risk of cross-contamination in the dental operatory? The dental operatory is a prime source of infection, so surfaces in this area must be properly disinfected to avoid cross…

I wear prescription lenses in my everyday life. How does this impact my choosing the right loupes to best support my vision in clinical practice?

How effective are antimicrobial mouthrinses in reducing caries prevalence among children assessed as high risk? Caries is a multifactorial disease caused by oral microorganisms acting upon sugars and carbohydrates in the presence of…

Should I use chlorhexidine or stabilized chlorine dioxide for one-time subgingival irrigation after scaling and root planing? Chlorhexidine gluconate (0.12%) is known as the gold standard for antimicrobials due to its demonstrated…

Each day I am in the clinic at 7 am, treating patients between 8 am and 6 pm. The owner of my practice has stated that I cannot bill the morning meeting hours, instrument cleaning hours, and any time past 6 pm. It takes me a few hours to…

How can I ascertain whether the fees for the procedures I am providing are appropriate? I have had patients ask me about the costs involved for specific treatments and I am not sure how to handle this. Dentists can charge whatever they…

What sterilization protocol do you suggest to ensure our instruments are truly sterilized but will be simple for all dental team members to follow?

I have been working in clinical practice for almost 5 years. I am starting to experience pain in my hands, arms, and shoulders. I use loupes and a headlamp. My dentist wants to improve the ergonomics of my operatory. What should I…

Most of the patients I see either outright refuse to floss or lie about it. What are some good alternatives to recommend?

What can I do to reduce the amount of spatter created during prophylaxis?