Dear DrBicuspid Member,
I'll tell you a secret ... and this will likely blow your mind. Are you ready for it? The U.S. is a divided country when it comes to politics, perhaps like it has never been in our nation's history.
While our nation may be divided when it comes to political views, there is also little doubt that those who are on one side or the other are deeply entrenched in their beliefs. Whether you're on the left or the right, the other side is often viewed as wrong ... and vilified because their beliefs are different.
Believe me, there is nothing wrong with having your own political beliefs and holding fast to them. However, as this past week has shown, what often crosses the line is when those on one side or the other try to convince someone just how right they are ... and how wrong the other side is in everything.
A dental hygienist in Oregon reportedly took the political discussion to a whole new level during one patient's appointment, with that patient later sharing the letter she wrote to the dental practice about her experience on social media. The patient, Jo Danvers, shared that during her regular hygiene appointment, the hygienist told her everything from President Joe Biden orchestrating the assassination attempt on Donald Trump to Princess Diana being alive and in the FBI witness protection program.
You can see see the full list of what was supposedly shared (and obviously not welcomed by the patient).
When I read the article, it reminded me once again how the dental practice, in my opinion, simply shouldn't be a place where politics or religion is discussed. They are two extremely divisive topics and can cause arguments, hurt feelings, and potentially team members and patients to find other dental practices to call home.
While I understand everyone is entitled to their beliefs, there are places where they should be kept to themselves ... and that includes the dental practice. My advice? Focus on the things that bring you together rather than pull you apart, and hone in on work-related topics as much as possible. The last thing you want to have happen is to receive a letter from a patient that is also shared on social media and quickly goes viral.
What do you think? Should politics and religion be discussed in the dental practice? Let us know in the comments section below.
This week's top stories
A patient in Texas is seeking up to $1 million from a practice and dentist for allegedly pulling the wrong tooth and trying to "stuff the tooth into the socket" after realizing the error, according to a recently filed lawsuit.
In California, a dentist, her wife who worked at the practice, and a billing manager were sentenced on July 22 for their roles in reportedly defrauding the state Medicaid program out of about $800,000.
Ready to understand what you need to know about human resources in your dental practice? A short and information-filled podcast should do the trick.
Deregulating dental hygienists' scope-of-practice rules, like administering nitrous oxide, at state levels may not have the sweeping benefits that advocates expect, as the authors of one study explain.
According to a case report, a woman with lifelong oral ulcers but no gastrointestinal symptoms was diagnosed with celiac disease, suggesting that oral manifestations may be a sign of the chronic immune disorder.
A recent study notes that parents of children with a history of untreated cavities may be more likely to accept fluoride treatment for their children.
On behalf of my entire amazing editorial team, thank you for reading DrBicuspid.com ... and make sure you keep an eye out for another information-filled Insider coming to your inbox tomorrow.
Kevin Henry
Editor in Chief
