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63 posts
- AGD Mastership requirements: hours, fees and steps (2026)The AGD Mastership Award requires three continuous years of AGD membership, a license in good standing, at least 1,100 approved CE hours with at least 400 in participation courses, an application, and attendance at the AGD Convocation. There is no Mastership exam. The AGD lists a $930 fee as of 2026.Oct 26, 2026
- AI and dental x-rays: what the evidence shows so farTwo peer-reviewed reviews report promising AI results for finding caries, periapical lesions and bone loss on dental radiographs. They also say most results come from experimental settings and note problems with data labeling, bias, and models that underperform on new data. The evidence supports AI as an aid to the clinician.Oct 26, 2026
- AI in dentistry: what the research says so farTwo peer-reviewed reviews find that most dental AI work is image-based diagnosis, with promising results in experimental settings and open problems in data quality, bias, generalization, privacy and liability. The ADA describes AI as a tool that aids clinicians, and says human judgment stays essential. Standards are still being written.Oct 26, 2026
- AI scribes for dental notes: questions to ask a vendorAn AI scribe listens to a visit and drafts notes, so it handles patient information. HHS says a vendor that creates, receives, maintains or transmits protected health information for a practice is generally a business associate, which calls for a written agreement. Ask about data use, storage, errors, review, and exit terms before signing.Oct 26, 2026
- Buying a dental practice: a due diligence checklistDue diligence is the buyer's review of a dental practice before closing. The ADA lists seven areas to check: compatibility, treatment philosophy, reputation, financials, facility, operations and legal matters. Buyers sign a confidentiality agreement first, and the ADA advises using an accountant and an attorney with dental sale experience.Oct 26, 2026
- Can a general dentist place implants? What the rules sayThe sources reviewed here do not create a separate license for implants. Missouri defines the practice of dentistry broadly. Implant dentistry is not among the 12 specialties the ADA's national commission recognizes. Dental school standards name implant prosthodontic therapy as a graduate competency. Each dentist still answers for their own training and competence.Oct 26, 2026
- CDC infection control in dental settings: the basicsCDC's Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings sets out basic expectations for safe care. It rests on Standard Precautions and the 2003 CDC guidelines. It applies to all dental health care personnel, and it includes a checklist offices can use to evaluate compliance. This is education, not legal advice.Oct 26, 2026
- Cone beam CT in dentistry: uses and radiation safetyDental cone beam CT builds a 3D image of teeth, jaws and nearby structures. The FDA says doses are generally lower than other CT exams but typically higher than conventional dental X-rays. FDA and ADA both say to use it only when other imaging cannot answer the clinical question, and to keep doses as low as reasonably achievable.Oct 26, 2026
- Dental assistant pay in Missouri: what BLS data showsThe Bureau of Labor Statistics lists 6,760 dental assistants in Missouri in May 2025, with a mean wage of $46,790 and a median of $45,970 a year, or $22.10 an hour. The national median is $48,070. Pay in one office depends on duties, skills and local labor markets.Oct 26, 2026
- Dental assistant shortage: what ADA data showsADA Health Policy Institute data shows hiring dental assistants stayed hard but eased: nearly 87% of recruiting dentists called it very or extremely challenging in late 2022, and slightly more than 70% did by the end of 2024. BLS projects about 53,000 dental assistant openings each year through 2035.Oct 26, 2026
- Dental associate compensation models explainedThe ADA lists four common models for dentist pay: straight salary, salary-plus, straight commission, and net profit. Commission models depend on whether pay is figured on total production, adjusted production, or collections. The same crown can produce very different pay under each base. Ask for a written formula and run sample numbers.Oct 26, 2026
- Dental hygienist pay in Missouri: what BLS data showsThe Bureau of Labor Statistics lists 3,810 dental hygienists in Missouri in May 2025, with a mean wage of $88,430 and a median of $92,750 a year, or $44.59 an hour. The national median is $98,100. Many hygienists work part time, so annual figures do not fit every job.Oct 26, 2026
- Dental hygienist shortage: what ADA data shows in 2026ADA Health Policy Institute data published in April 2026 shows only 60% of dentists have an adequate number of dental hygienists on staff. Among dentists recruiting a hygienist, 91% called it very or extremely challenging. Enrollment is up 16% since 2020, but office staffing has stayed flat.Oct 26, 2026
- Dental interview questions: what to ask and what to avoidAsk about skills, reliability, and how a candidate handles real dental office tasks. The EEOC says pre-employment questions should be limited to what is essential to judge whether a person is qualified, and that pre-offer disability inquiries are prohibited. Ask an employment attorney to review your question list.Oct 26, 2026
- Dental office manager: job description and training pathA dental office manager runs the business side of a practice: people, schedules, money and rules. No single job description fits every office. The BLS reports that medical and health services managers typically need a bachelor's degree, though requirements vary and work experience may substitute.Oct 26, 2026
- Dental PPO participation: factors to weigh before you signJoining a dental PPO means agreeing to the plan's fees and rules in return for access to its members. The ADA advises reading and evaluating the contract fully before signing. Weigh fee levels, payment terms, plan rules and cash flow, and ask an attorney and CPA to review.Oct 26, 2026
- Dental practice ownership trends: who owns practices nowThe ADA Health Policy Institute reports that 73 percent of U.S. dentists were practice owners in 2023, down from 85 percent in 2005. The drop is largest early in careers. Ownership rates among older cohorts catch up later, so the ADA describes the change as delayed ownership rather than the end of it.Oct 26, 2026
- Dental practice valuation: the three common methodsValuation professionals commonly use three approaches: income, market and asset. The IRS says all three should be considered and judgment used to choose among them. The ADA suggests a valuator who specializes in dental practices. This post explains terms only and gives no price or multiple.Oct 26, 2026
- Dental private equity: what the ADA and studies foundADA researchers found that private equity affiliation among U.S. dentists rose from 6.6 percent in 2015 to 12.8 percent in 2021. A follow-up study found list prices rose 3.3 percent after acquisition while negotiated prices did not change. Medicaid participation was higher at private equity practices. Effects on quality remain unstudied.Oct 26, 2026
- Dental school debt: the numbers for the class of 2025ADEA reports that dental graduates with debt owed an average of $297,800 in 2025, down from $312,700 in 2024. Of 2025 respondents, 82 percent graduated with education debt. Students covered about 65 percent of costs with loans. Federal Grad PLUS loans end for students starting on or after July 1, 2026.Oct 26, 2026
- Dental team burnout: assistants and hygienistsResearch on dental team burnout is thinner than research on dentists. A 2022 survey of Nova Scotia hygienists found 36.2% met burnout criteria during the first COVID-19 wave. A 2024 review reports that dentist and assistant relationships, workload and pay predicted exhaustion in one assistant study.Oct 26, 2026
- Dental team meeting agenda: what to cover and how longA dental team meeting runs well on a set day and time with a written agenda. The ADA page on team meetings suggests three blocks: celebration, education and numbers, and one specific correction. Keep one owner per action item, and use a separate daily huddle for schedule details.Oct 26, 2026
- Dentist burnout: what the research shows so farOne systematic review pooled 37 studies and put dentist burnout prevalence at 13%, with wide variation between studies. Emotional exhaustion was the most common dimension. The review's authors warn that the studies differ a lot and that none met every quality criterion. The ADA reports that more than 80% of dentists feel major stress.Oct 26, 2026
- Dentist employment agreement: key provisions to readA dentist employment agreement sets pay, duties, term, insurance, and limits that can last after the job ends. The ADA guide to key legal provisions covers compensation, termination, malpractice insurance, non-competes, non-solicitation, dispute resolution, and liquidated damages. This post explains each and lists questions for an attorney.Oct 26, 2026
- Dentist salary in Missouri: what the data showsThe Bureau of Labor Statistics lists 2,440 general dentists in Missouri in May 2025, with an annual mean wage of $241,580 and a median of $204,960. The national median for general dentists is $170,950. These wage figures leave out self-employed dentists.Oct 26, 2026
- DSO or private practice: what the data says about settingADA data show 16 percent of U.S. dentists were DSO-affiliated in 2024, and 27 percent of dentists under 10 years out. The sources reviewed here do not compare dentist pay by setting, and the ADA says it is still studying earnings. The ADA advises judging each practice on its own merits.Oct 26, 2026
- Employee or independent contractor: considerations for dentistsStatus depends on the real working relationship, not the label in the contract. The ADA says control over duties, schedule and money points toward employee status. The IRS looks at behavioral, financial and relationship facts. The Department of Labor warns about misclassification. An attorney and a CPA should review any dentist agreement.Oct 26, 2026
- Expanded function dental assistants in Missouri: the pathAn expanded function dental assistant (EFDA) is a dental assistant with added training who can perform extra tasks when a dentist delegates them. In Missouri, the path runs through an eligibility exam or license, an MDA course, and a Dental Board permit that must be issued before delegation.Oct 26, 2026
- FAGD vs MAGD: what each AGD award means and requiresFAGD is Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry. It needs three years of membership, 500 approved CE hours and a passed exam. MAGD is Mastership. It needs 1,100 approved CE hours, 400 of them in participation courses, and has no exam. The first 500 Mastership hours also count toward Fellowship.Oct 26, 2026
- Financing a dental practice purchase: SBA 7(a) basicsThe SBA 7(a) program guarantees part of a loan that a participating lender makes. Its uses include changes of ownership, and the maximum loan is $5 million as of 2026. You apply through a lender, not the SBA. Terms are negotiated, so compare lenders and ask your CPA.Oct 26, 2026
- HIPAA for dental offices: a plain checklist for ownersHIPAA has three rules most dental offices must know: the Privacy Rule, the Security Rule and the Breach Notification Rule. The Security Rule asks for administrative, physical and technical safeguards for electronic patient information. After a breach, notice goes to patients and HHS, and sometimes the media. Ask a qualified adviser about your office.Oct 26, 2026
- How dental membership plans work for practices and patientsA dental membership plan, also called an in-office plan, has patients pay a fixed amount monthly or yearly. In return they generally get preventive care at no charge and discounts on other work. The ADA offers a toolkit for evaluating it, and state rules vary, so involve an attorney.Oct 26, 2026
- How Donated Dental Services work: steps for patients and dentistsDonated Dental Services is a program of Dental Lifeline Network. It connects eligible adults who cannot afford care with volunteer dentists and labs. Applicants must be 65 or older, permanently disabled, or need medically necessary care. They join a waitlist, and final acceptance follows the first dentist visit.Oct 26, 2026
- How long does it take to sell a dental practice? ADA notesThe ADA calls four to six weeks from listing to closing the general rule of thumb for the ideal timeframe. It is not a guarantee. Timing depends on the sale terms, the buyer, due diligence and contracts. Involve a broker, an attorney and a CPA early.Oct 26, 2026
- How many dentists work with a DSO? ADA data by yearThe ADA Health Policy Institute reports that 16 percent of U.S. dentists were affiliated with a dental support organization as of 2024. The share was 8.8 percent in 2017, 10.4 percent in 2019 and 13 percent in 2022. Affiliation is highest among dentists in their first ten years after graduation.Oct 26, 2026
- How much do dental practice owners make? What data existsNo source reports a single figure for what dental practice owners make. ADA Health Policy Institute data shows owner general dentists averaged about $217,781 in 2024, in constant 2024 dollars, and non-owners about $160,891. BLS wage tables leave out self-employed owners.Oct 26, 2026
- How much does a dentist make? What BLS and the ADA reportThe Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $176,110 for dentists in May 2025, and $170,950 for general dentists. The ADA Health Policy Institute reports average net income of $215,320 for general dentists in private practice in 2025. The two measure different things.Oct 26, 2026
- How to become a dental speaker: steps, proposals, disclosuresDental speakers usually reach meeting stages through proposals. A meeting planner states the event needs, interested speakers send a course synopsis, learning objectives, bio and past presentations, and the planner picks. Speaker bureaus and calls for proposals collect these. The ADA Code requires disclosure of financial interests in a program.Oct 26, 2026
- How to dismiss a dental patient: ADA steps and letter notesThe ADA says a dentist may dismiss a patient when differences cannot be resolved, if the reason is not legally impermissible discrimination. Check the state dental practice act, use a template letter, state the days you remain available for emergencies, document everything, and have an attorney review the process.Oct 26, 2026
- How to hire a dental assistant: steps, pay data, rulesDefine the role, check what your state allows assistants to do, set pay with current data, then screen, interview, and onboard. BLS reported a $48,070 median wage for dental assistants in May 2025. In Missouri, expanded function training runs through approved courses.Oct 26, 2026
- How to run a dental morning huddle: steps and checklistA morning huddle is a short, stand-up meeting at the start of the workday. Healthcare sources put the length at 10 minutes or less. The team reviews the day's schedule, flags concerns, and assigns follow-up. A fixed time, a fixed place, and a written agenda keep it brief.Oct 26, 2026
- Immediate implant placement with provisionalization: studiesImmediate implant placement means placing the implant in a fresh extraction socket. Immediate provisionalization means fitting a temporary crown the same day. A 2023 meta-analysis of eight randomized trials found less midfacial mucosal change with immediate loading. A 2025 case series reported 90% implant survival at one year.Oct 26, 2026
- Intraoral scanners vs conventional impressions: accuracy studiesA 2025 umbrella review of 10 reviews found intraoral scanners generally saved time and improved patient comfort, but accuracy in partially edentulous and edentulous arches stayed a limit. A 2024 review of 23 in vitro studies found digital impressions generally more accurate for full-arch implant prostheses. Both stress limits in study quality.Oct 26, 2026
- Missouri dental CE requirements and CE broker explainedMissouri law requires a dentist to show 50 hours of continuing education from the two years before renewal. The Missouri Dental Board now uses CE Broker as its official CE system, and licensees report CE there before the license expires or during renewal. A basic account costs nothing.Oct 26, 2026
- Office manager or practice manager: where the titles differNo published standard defines the difference between a dental office manager and a practice manager. Offices use both titles for overlapping jobs. The BLS notes that medical and health services managers' titles depend on their facility or area of expertise, so the written duties matter more than the title.Oct 26, 2026
- OSHA requirements for dental offices: a plain overviewOSHA says there are no specific OSHA standards for dentistry. General industry standards still apply to hazards found in dental offices. The Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030, requires an exposure control plan and a sharps injury log. This is education, not legal advice. Confirm duties with an adviser.Oct 26, 2026
- Out-of-Network dental practice: what it means for patientsAn out-of-network dental practice does not hold a participating agreement with a patient's dental plan. In a PPO the patient may pay more but still get a benefit. In an EPO the plan pays no benefit. Practices should explain this to patients and check billing rules with an attorney.Oct 26, 2026
- Production vs collections in a dental practiceProduction is the value of treatment a practice bills. Collections is the money it actually receives. In an ADA crown example, total production was $1,500 and collections were $950, which is 95% of billable production but 63% of total production. Always ask which base a percentage uses.Oct 26, 2026
- Ransomware and data breaches: steps for a dental practiceFederal guidance says to keep offline, encrypted backups, test restores and keep a written incident response plan. HHS says a ransomware attack on patient data is presumed a breach unless the office shows a low probability of compromise. CISA says to report incidents to CISA or the FBI. Confirm duties with an adviser.Oct 26, 2026
- The ADA Code of Ethics, explained: five principles and rulesThe ADA Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct has three parts: five principles, a binding Code of Professional Conduct, and advisory opinions. The five principles are patient autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice and veracity. The ADA says ethical duties can go beyond legal ones.Oct 26, 2026
- The Missouri Oral Preventive Assistant pilot, explainedThe Oral Preventive Assistant pilot tested whether trained dental assistants could safely provide limited preventive care, such as supragingival scaling, for healthy patients in Missouri. The MDA reports positive results. As of October 2026, the MDA says the matching Periodontal EFDA rule is still in Missouri's rulemaking process.Oct 26, 2026
- The u.s. dentist workforce in numbers: ADA and BLS dataThe ADA Health Policy Institute counted 202,485 U.S. dentists in 2024. Practice ownership fell from 85% in 2005 to 73% in 2023. DSO affiliation reached 16.1% in 2024. BLS projects 6 percent dentist job growth from 2025 to 2035. Supply is growing, but not evenly across places.Oct 26, 2026
- Website accessibility for dental practices: a checklistThe U.S. Department of Justice says the Americans with Disabilities Act applies to the web services of businesses open to the public. It has no detailed web rule, so offices choose how to comply. Its guidance lists practical items: color contrast, alt text, captions, labeled forms and keyboard use. Ask an attorney about your office.Oct 26, 2026
- Wellness resources for dentists: where to startThe ADA lists a confidential Well-Being Index, a directory of state well-being programs, CE courses on resilience and a 988 crisis line. The Missouri Dental Board runs its own Well Being Program for licensees. Peer-reviewed reviews suggest that workplace relationships also matter for burnout prevention.Oct 26, 2026
- What does a dental practice consultant do? A plain guideA dental practice consultant studies how a practice runs and gives outside advice on management, team, marketing or finance. The work is advisory, so the owner still makes the decisions. Scope, methods and fees differ by firm, so owners should ask each one for written terms.Oct 26, 2026
- What does the ADA House of Delegates do? Roles and rulesThe House of Delegates is the legislative and governing body of the American Dental Association. Delegates chosen by constituent societies, the federal dental services and the student association meet once a year. The House adopts the policies and the Code of Professional Conduct that bind ADA members.Oct 26, 2026
- What is a dental support organization? DSO basicsA dental support organization, or DSO, is an outside entity that manages some or all of a dental practice's non-clinical work, such as billing, marketing and human resources. The ADA says DSO is about a business model, not practice size. DSOs differ widely in how much control dentists keep.Oct 26, 2026
- What is a normal overhead percentage for a dental practice?No official standard exists for dental overhead. A 2025 Overjet vendor blog says 60-65% of collections is typical and attributes that to the ADA, which this post could not confirm. A 2025 Dental Economics survey found overhead rose 5.1% in 2024. Always check whether owner pay is included.Oct 26, 2026
- What is EBITDA in a dental practice sale? A plain guideEBITDA means earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Buyers and valuators use it to compare earnings, but it is not a standard accounting measure and its limits are well known. Adjusted EBITDA adds back selected items. Have a CPA and valuator review how it is figured.Oct 26, 2026
- What is organized dentistry? How the ADA and MDA workOrganized dentistry is the system of dental societies that represents dentists. In the tripartite model, a dentist joins a local component society, a state society and the American Dental Association. The ADA's House of Delegates is its legislative body, and its Board of Trustees is its managing body.Oct 26, 2026
- What is the ADA 10 Under 10 Award? Rules and nominationsThe ADA 10 Under 10 Award is a program of the ADA New Dentist Committee, begun in 2017. It recognizes ten new dentists for excellence and for inspiring others. Active ADA members and dental associations can nominate. Nominees must be ADA members who graduated within the ADA's stated window.Oct 26, 2026
- What to put in a dental employee handbook: a section listA dental employee handbook usually covers employment basics, pay and hours, benefits and leave, conduct, anti-harassment and accommodation policies, safety, and how to raise concerns. Federal sources set some of the content. An employment attorney should review the final text for your state.Oct 26, 2026
- What to put in a dental no-show and cancellation policyA dental cancellation policy tells patients how much notice to give, what happens if they miss a visit, and how the office applies the rules. The ADA suggests posting it, putting it in the new patient package, and applying any fee with care. Have an attorney review the final wording.Oct 26, 2026