Week in Review: Top factor for selling a practice | Painful lockjaw | Two minutes too short?

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Price may not be the most important factor when selling a dental practice. In our top story of the week, Kevin Cumbus, founder and president of Tusk Partners, an M&A advisory firm, explains why another transaction feature is more important for any practice transaction.

Jaw issues

An 11-year-old boy’s painful chronic lockjaw may have been triggered by conversion disorder, a mental health condition that causes physical symptoms, according to a case report. Nonarticular hysterical trismus caused the child’s jaw to completely lock, causing moderate to severe pain and affecting his ability to eat, for three months.

In related news, nearly half of patients who sought root canal treatment for a painful tooth had temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs), according to a new study. Furthermore, TMDs were partly or solely the cause of the pain in 25% of patients.

Better patient communication

Developing strong relationships between the practice and patients requires excellent verbal skills, writes Dr. Roger P. Levin. You don't want to miss this week's tip for patient scripting to ensure the entire team says the right thing at the right time in the right way.

Is two minutes too short?

Last but not least, is two minutes enough time to completely clean teeth? Maybe not. One study published this week reported that the optimal brushing duration may actually be twice as long.

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