Category: ODA Today

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), an illness caused by a coronavirus, recently began showing up in the United States in very small numbers. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the MERS situation presents a very low risk for the general public in the United States. As of press time, the CDC reported two known ... [continue reading]

Since the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District's regulations requiring dentists to install an amalgam separator went into place in 2010, dentists in the area and the sewer district report the regulations have had a positive effect on dental practices and the environment. “Since installing an amalgam separator, my office is now more ... [continue reading]

One of the pleasures of the Ohio Dental Association presidency is visiting local societies and letting members know what they get for their dues dollar. This year, I asked local societies to encourage members to invite a non-member to the society’s meeting when ODA Executive Director Dave Owsiany and I talk about what the ODA does to ... [continue reading]

You can't pick up a dental publication without reading about the emerging demands and challenges facing the dental profession today. The list of issues facing the profession is endless. For example, studies from the American Dental Association and elsewhere indicate that dentists’ incomes have remained relatively flat in recent years while ... [continue reading]

In April, over 100 Ohio Dental Association member dentists and 50 dental students visited Columbus to meet with legislators and discuss the legislative issues of importance to dentistry as part of the annual ODA Day at the Statehouse. Their participation could not have come at a better time. The legislature is nearing completion of its work before ... [continue reading]

With two of my children graduating from college this year, I’m getting to be a connoisseur of commencement addresses. There is a fine art to this special form of speech. It is delivered to a crowd that expects little from the words and is interested only in how quickly it ends. Once completed, the audience can get on to the reason that they ... [continue reading]

Perhaps some of you have experienced an epiphany in your dental career. Even more important, ask yourself, did you recognize the occurrence and did it alter the way you conducted yourself professionally? If my special moment had occurred prior to dental school graduation or during my two years of active duty service in the Navy, I can guarantee ... [continue reading]

The other day in our pediatric dental office, I looked at our hygiene supply drawer and realized we have seven different flavors of prophy paste available to our patients. The menu reads as such: raspberry, cherry, cinnamon, cookie dough, orange, unflavored and the venerable mint. For a moment, I shook my head at the seemingly overindulgent ... [continue reading]

Have patients been asking about "oil pulling?" Oil pulling is an ancient folk remedy that has recently been touted by various blogs, websites and news outlets as having many oral and general health benefits. Some dentists in Ohio have reported that patients are beginning to ask about this health trend. The practice involves swishing a tablespoon ... [continue reading]

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is expected to release an interim final rule with a new ICD-10 compliance date of Oct. 1, 2015. The rule will require HIPAA covered entities to use the ICD-9 through Sept. 30, 2015. Ohio Medicaid will process ICD-9 claims until Oct. 1, 2015. Ohio Medicaid will continue to follow its plan for ICD-10 ... [continue reading]