The top 5 dental practice stories of 2023

What dominated DrBicuspid's dental practice section in 2023? This past year, our readers wanted to know more about cyberattacks and lawsuits.

One of the biggest stories of 2023 happened right before the end of the year, as Henry Schein suffered a cyberattack. The original article and updates to it dominated page views in the fourth quarter of the year, as readers wanted to know more about how it happened and what the effects of it would be on the dental industry and dental practices.

While that initial article took the top spot on our list of dental practice articles, there were still plenty of others that drew much interest.

1. Henry Schein hit by cybersecurity incident

Part of Henry Schein’s manufacturing and distribution businesses were struck on October 14 with a cyberattack, but its practice management software was not disrupted, according to a company press release dated October 15.

Actions were taken, including taking certain systems offline, to contain the cyber incident, which temporarily disrupted some of Henry Schein’s business operations. 

2. Align Technology sues SmileDirectClub for false advertising

Invisalign maker Align Technology filed a lawsuit against SmileDirectClub claiming that the company misled patients by advertising that its clear aligner treatment was provided under the care of dentists and orthodontists.

Align filed the lawsuit on January 3 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California alleging that SmileDirectClub is "a company built on a lie" and "from day one" promoted its aligners and services with false, fraudulent claims. Investors and executives at SmileDirectClub also are named as defendants and are accused of engaging in a scheme to preserve the false advertisements, which constitutes a pattern and practice of wire and mail fraud, according to the suit.

3. Judge tosses suit claiming Oral-B dental floss contains PFAS

A U.S. proposed class action lawsuit claiming that Proctor & Gamble’s Oral-B Glide dental floss contains harmful manmade chemicals was dismissed, according to an opinion filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

U.S. Judge Nelson Roman granted Proctor & Gamble’s motion to dismiss the case, which was filed by Alan Dalewitz, stating that the plaintiffs failed to show that the floss contained substances known as PFAS or that it harmed users.

4. Man sues Suboxone drug maker for causing tooth decay

An Ohio man sued the manufacturers of the transmucosal opioid use disorder and pain prescription medication Suboxone claiming that the drug’s high acidic content caused tooth decay and permanent dental damage. 

On September 25, David Sorensen filed a product liability lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio against Indivior, Aquestive Therapeutics, MonoSol Rx, and Beckitt Benckiser. Sorenson, who was prescribed Suboxone after he became addicted to opioids that he took to manage his pain, claimed he has permanent tooth decay and has needed extensive dental work as a result of using the medication, according to the suit.

5. Dentist convicted of prescribing opioid that caused patient’s death

A U.S. jury convicted on June 22 a dentist in Kentucky for unlawfully prescribing morphine that caused the death of his 24-year-old dental patient, according to a press release dated June 23 by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs. 

Dr. Jay Sadrinia, 60, was convicted of one count of unlawful distribution of controlled substances resulting in death and one count of unlawful distribution of controlled substances. Sadrinia, who owned and operated four practices in Kentucky, faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison on the unlawful distribution of controlled substances resulting in death count, according to the release.