News

The Ohio General Assembly recently passed House Bill 49, the state's main operating budget for fiscal years 2018-19. The spending plan underwent significant changes since January when Gov. John Kasich unveiled his version of the budget. While the bill has been signed into law, there is a possibility it will undergo further changes as the House of ... [continue reading]

The 2017 ODA Annual Session Exhibit Hall is one of the largest in the region and will include more than 200 exhibitors. The 2017 ODA Annual Session Exhibit Hall has several exciting new opportunities. This year, the Exhibit Hall will feature a Tech Bar, where dentists can speak to experts about digital and online technology. ... [continue reading]

This year's ODA Annual Session will feature an event to help newer dentists and fourth-year dental students who are looking for a job match up with more seasoned dentists who are preparing for a practice transition or looking to expand their practice. MATCH @ ODA Annual Session is a free event hosted by the ODA Subcouncil on New Dentists and will ... [continue reading]

Dr. Roger Hess is a recipient of one of the 2017 Ohio Dental Association Marvin Fisk Humanitarian Awards. Dr. Roger Hess is very involved in Medworks, a non-profit organization that provides health care and dental care to those who are uninsured and under insured. Hess organizes and participates in the large scale dental clinic in his community ... [continue reading]

Dr. Lauren Czerniak is the 2017 recipient of the Ohio Dental Association N. Wayne Hiatt Rising Star Award. Dr. Lauren Czerniak has been involved with organized dentistry at the local, state and national level and is committed to serving those in need in her community. In recognition of her efforts, she will receive the Ohio Dental Association N. ... [continue reading]

Don Sabol, Medicaid health system administrator for the Ohio Department of Medicaid, is the 2017 recipient of the Ohio Dental Association Achievement Award Don Sabol, Medicaid health system administrator for the Ohio Department of Medicaid, has been an advocate for patients in need as well as dentists over the last 15 years. In recognition of his ... [continue reading]

Economist Milton Friedman and Science Fiction Author Robert Heinlein were both fond of using the expression “There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch,” (TANSTAAFL) as a way to express the need to be aware of the cost associated with everything we do. In economics this is called opportunity cost. The quote refers to the practice ... [continue reading]

I have used this column to keep readers apprised of recent developments in the area of dental specialty advertising. In the past, I have discussed various legal cases challenging specialty advertising rules and recent changes made to Ohio’s rules and the ADA’s “Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct.” Here is ... [continue reading]

A well-defined office manual can be of great benefit to a dental practice. Employment issues are some of the most difficult matters to confront as a small-business owner. Oftentimes, the best way for employer dentists to avoid the common problems that arise with employees is to establish an office employee manual. Establishing an employee manual ... [continue reading]

Over the past year the Ohio Dental Association has received an increased number of calls from dentists who are the subject of some form of elevated third-party payer scrutiny relative to their use of the periodontal scaling and root planing procedure codes (D4341 and D4342). While this scrutiny goes by different names, e.g., audit, focused review, ... [continue reading]