This month we explore how accurate periodontal diagnosis, documentation, and coding can improve both patient outcomes and practice profitability—plus fascinating new research that may rewrite the history of dentistry, along with industry news, upcoming events, and more.
EXPERT INSIGHTS
Bridging Patient Health & Practice Profitability
Economic pressure is reshaping dentistry, and nowhere is the strain more visible than in the hygiene department. As wages rise and reimbursements stagnate, practices can no longer rely on patient volume alone; clinical excellence has become the real differentiator. As explored in a recent Dimensions of Dental Hygiene article, periodontal disease management is at the center of this shift. Too often, active infection is treated as a routine "prophy," eroding both patient trust and revenue. The fix isn't upselling; it's a repeatable system: team calibration, precise diagnostics, patient education, and accurate coding that gets patients the care they need while practices capture the revenue they've earned.
Knowing Your Number
Periodontal codes should make up at least 35% of total hygiene production.
Proper Coding
Use accurate periodontal codes, backed by thorough clinical notes.
Be More Direct
Calling active infection “a little bleeding” delays treatment and patient trust. .
Attachments Make or Break the Claim
Build a rigid checklist of required documentation for every periodontal procedure.
CLINICAL INSIGHTS
Neanderthals May Have Drilled Out a Cavity 59,000 Year Ago
The World's First Root Canal? (59,000 Years Ago)
Long before modern dentistry, Neanderthals may have already been practicing it. A recent study published in PLOS One, covered by NPR, examined a 59,000-year-old Neanderthal molar found in Siberia with a deep hole in its biting surface, one researchers believe was deliberately drilled to treat a cavity, essentially an ancient root canal. Micro-CT scans revealed tiny grooves consistent with a stone tool rotated by hand, a wear pattern the team was able to replicate experimentally on modern teeth. While not every expert is fully convinced, the finding adds to growing evidence that Neanderthals were capable of treating cavities.
A 59,000-year-old Root Canal?
Researchers believe a Neanderthal drilled into a molar to remove decayed pulp, a possible precursor to modern endodontics.
Not Everyone's Convinced
Experts agree a stone tool likely made the hole but can't fully rule out natural wear.
The Evidence is in the Grooves
Microscopic scratches in the cavity matched the wear pattern researchers created replicating the procedure on modern teeth.
Healing Suggests Survival
Wear after the procedure suggests the individual lived on.
The Helping Hands Dental Center in Midland, Michigan recently received a $42,500 grant from the Charles J. Strosacker Foundation to upgrade its dental equipment, including digital X-ray technology. The improvements will help the nonprofit clinic expand access to care and serve more patients in its community.
Discover how today's leading dental practices are leveraging digital workflows, artificial intelligence, and advanced technology to enhance efficiency, improve patient care, and streamline everyday options. This insightful episode offers practical perspectives on integrating modern tools into clinical practice and preparing for the future of dentistry.
Dr. Sara Stuefen, a general dentist from Iowa, is one of the youngest elected members of the American Dental Association Board of Trustees. Through her leadership and advocacy, she is helping advance the profession by promoting innovation, collaboration, and greater access to quality dental care.
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