⬇️ Below the Gumline
Every dentist has that one patient — the chronic complainer who’s rude to your team, nitpicks every bill, and never seems satisfied no matter what you do. Too often, we just grit our teeth and tolerate it. But here’s the truth: successful dentistry requires cooperation — from us and from the patient. Sometimes the best move is to call out the elephant in the room with kindness and honesty: “I feel like no matter what we do, you’re going to be upset. I don’t want you to feel frustrated, and I don’t want to work on you if this is always going to feel like a battle.”
Most people, when gently confronted, either back down and apologize… or they explode, confirming that maybe you don’t need them as a patient after all. Direct conversations, delivered calmly, are one of the most underrated tools we have — and they can completely reset the relationship.
🔥 High-Speed Chatter
🦷 Fake it till you crown it? A Florida man was arrested for pretending to be a dentist. Pro tip: if your diploma says “Kinko’s,” you’re doing it wrong. Read More >
🚨 Bathroom break? Not anymore. A Massachusetts dentist allegedly hid a camera inside the staff bathroom. Yeah, that’s a hard pass. Read More >
⚖️ Crown or crown court? A seaside dentist is facing a lawsuit for sexual battery of patients. The phrase “open wide” has never sounded more horrifying. Read More >
🧪 Perio meets prevention. Sage Dental and Forward Science just launched PerioSTOM, a salivary diagnostic test for gum disease detection. Could this be a new standard in perio monitoring? Read More >
💻 Bad Yelp review? Get sued. A Winnipeg clinic is suing a patient who left scathing online reviews. Takeaway: sometimes the real root canal happens in court. Read More >
💰 Cash for cavities? A Connecticut dentist just settled a false claims case over prohibited recruiting fees. Apparently, “referral bonus” doesn’t look great in an audit. Read More >
🌱 Tissue talk. The dental soft tissue regeneration market is booming. Translation: investors love gums too. Read More >
🧪 The Research Says
⁇ The Question: When does a tooth actually need a crown instead of just a filling?
⚖️ The Evidence:
Cracked teeth crowned early improved survival by 98% and reduced the need for endo by 80% (Journal of Endodontics).
An isthmus wider than one-third intercuspal distance is a fracture waiting to happen — cuspal coverage is the research-backed solution.
Endo-treated posterior teeth without crowns were 6x more likely to be extracted (Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry).
“Posterior teeth that did not receive a crown after root canal therapy were six times more likely to be extracted compared to those that were crowned.”
✅ The Answer: If a tooth has a definitive crack, crosses the 1/3 width threshold, has endo, or a fractured cusp — it needs a crown. Full stop.
🏠 The Application: On Monday morning, run the quick checklist: crack? wide prep? endo? fractured cusp? If yes to any, recommend a crown. If borderline, check for bruxism or high caries risk — those push you firmly crown-side. Otherwise, go conservative with a well-placed filling.
💰 Business Bites
Keep your eyes open: Embezzlement happens closer than you think.
Embezzlement in dentistry isn’t rare — it’s rampant. Most practices that discover it are shocked to realize it’s been happening for years in plain sight. The average loss is six figures, and it’s usually someone you trust.
The Top 3 ways employees siphon money in dental offices:
Skimming patient payments — cash is pocketed before it ever gets posted.
Adjusting or deleting transactions — they collect from patients but “zero out” accounts in the software.
Refund fraud — processing fake refunds to their own accounts or credit cards.
What’s the fix? Separate financial duties. The person who collects payments should never be the one reconciling deposits. Always review daily deposit slips against your software reports. And sprinkle in random audits — they’re one of the simplest ways to keep everyone honest.
🤯 Productive Pearls
Test your curing light — don’t just assume it’s working.
Here’s a sneaky productivity killer: a curing light that’s only running at half power. If you’re not checking output with a light meter, you could be placing hundreds of restorations that are under-cured and destined to fail in a few years. That’s not just stressful for you — it means remakes, wasted chair time, and frustrated patients.
The solution? Check your lights at least quarterly (monthly is even better). If intensity is dropping, swap the bulb or upgrade the unit before it costs you way more in redos. A $200 light meter can save you tens of thousands in retreatments and headaches.
💉 Mental Anesthesia
🤝 Got a Question? Got a Friend? 🤝
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