Week in Review: Hygienists as influencers; plus ceramic implants and billing system questions

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

It's a mistake to think that doctors are the only influencers in dental practices, notes Dr. Roger P. Levin in his new Practice Success tip. Hygienists also are viewed by patients as an authority and that -- coupled with the amount of time they spend with patients -- presents unique opportunities for education, identification, and recommendations. Read more here.

Also this week on DrBicuspid.com, when you think of implants, do you think of conventional, metal ones? Dr. Sammy Noumbissi, president of the International Academy of Ceramic Implantology, would like to expand that thinking to include ceramic implants. He discusses the advantages and disadvantages of these implants in the latest installment of the Leaders in Dentistry series. Learn more here.

When billing a preferred provider organization, does your office use a fee schedule or a write-off system? Dayna Johnson, founder of Rae Dental Management, considers the advantages and disadvantages of both systems to help you determine which is best for your practice. Read more here.

We are also taking a look back at the most-read news articles and columns from fall 2017. The most popular article was our coverage of the newly issued high blood pressure guidelines, followed by a report on antibiotic use by dentists. The most-read columns included a Legal Case and preventing overprescribing, among others. See the top news stories here, and see the top columns here.

We're taking Monday off, but will return with new content on Tuesday. All of us at DrBicuspid.com wish you and yours a happy, and safe, holiday.