Articles
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Building a Positive, High-Performing Dental Team
Full Article:A successful dental practice isn’t just about providing excellent patient care—it’s also about building a strong, engaged team that works cohesively toward a shared vision. When your team feels valued, supported, and motivated, they will provide better patient experiences, work more efficiently, and stay with your practice long-term.
On the other hand, a toxic workplace culture can lead to high turnover, inefficiency, and burnout, ultimately costing your practice more in lost productivity and constant retraining. Investing in a thriving team environment will not only boost morale but also significantly reduce turnover and the costs associated with hiring and onboarding new employees.
Here’s how to create a dental practice where your team thrives while actively avoiding workplace toxicity.
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Encourage Work-Life Balance to Prevent Burnout (Page 2)
Full Article:Long hours, difficult patients, and a demanding schedule can take a toll on your team. Burnout leads to mistakes, low morale, and high turnover. Creating an environment that respects work-life balance is crucial.
• Be mindful of scheduling to avoid overloading team members.
• Offer flexible scheduling when possible.
• Support mental health initiatives, such as team-building activities or stress management resources.
Address Workplace Issues Fairly and Promptly
Nothing erodes team morale faster than unresolved conflicts, or toxic behavior. A healthy practice culture requires clear policies and consistent leadership.
• Create a process for team members to report concerns confidentially.
• Address conflicts swiftly and professionally.
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Board of Dentistry Issues Notice of Intent to Adopt Dental Unit Water Quality Rule
Full Article:On December 9, 2024, Georgia’s Board of Dentistry issued a notice of intent to adopt a new rule aimed at ensuring dental unit water quality. A focus on water quality, particularly as relates to water lines, has been on the rise nationally, and with a new case of Mycobacterium abscessus in Georgia, the board has chosen to implement a new rule clarifying infection control requirements for dental offices in the state. If approved, the rule would be adopted at the Board of Dentistry’s upcoming meeting on February 7, 2025. Georgia Dental Association will be present for public comment.
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NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT NEW RULE OF THE GEORGIA BOARD OF DENTISTRY. RULE 150-8-05 DENTAL UNIT WATER QUALITY
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The Importance of Waterline Maintenance in Dental Practices Page 2
Full Page:Implementing a diligent waterline maintenance protocol combined with quarterly testing will help prevent the risk of infections, protect your practice’s reputation, and ensure you provide the highest standard of care.
Make sure to maintain detailed records of your water test results for at least five years to ensure you meet regulatory requirements and are prepared for any audits or inquiries.
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Creating a Comprehensive Sexual Harassment Policy for Your Dental Practice - Page 1
Full Page:Sexual harassment is a critical issue that continues to affect workplaces, including dental practices. Developing and implementing a clear sexual harassment policy is essential to fostering a work environment where every team member feels safe, respected, and valued.
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Creating a Comprehensive Sexual Harassment Policy for Your Dental Practice - Page 2
Full Page:Sexual harassment is a critical issue that continues to affect workplaces, including dental practices. Developing and implementing a clear sexual harassment policy is essential to fostering a work environment where every team member feels safe, respected, and valued.
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Simplifying OSHA and HIPAA Training
Full Page:When it comes to running a dental practice, compliance with OSHA and HIPAA regulations isn’t just important—it’s required.
Without proper training and protocols, you leave your practice vulnerable to fines, legal issues, and most importantly, the safety and privacy of your patients and team members.
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What’s the difference between a spore test, integrator strip and steam indicator strip? Page 1
Full Page:Summary of Differences
Spore Test: The most reliable method for confirming that sterilization has killed all microorganisms, including heat-resistant spores, but takes longer to process (24-48 hours).
Integrator Strip: Provides a more comprehensive check of the sterilization process, measuring multiple parameters (time, temperature, steam) but does not test biological killing. *Class 5 Integrators can only be used in a Steam Autoclave.
Steam Indicator Strip: The simplest check, showing that steam and heat were present, but does not verify complete sterilization or measure all necessary parameters.
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What’s the difference between a spore test, integrator strip and steam indicator strip? Page 2
Full Page:Summary of Differences
Spore Test: The most reliable method for confirming that sterilization has killed all microorganisms, including heat-resistant spores, but takes longer to process (24-48 hours).
Integrator Strip: Provides a more comprehensive check of the sterilization process, measuring multiple parameters (time, temperature, steam) but does not test biological killing. *Class 5 Integrators can only be used in a Steam Autoclave.
Steam Indicator Strip: The simplest check, showing that steam and heat were present, but does not verify complete sterilization or measure all necessary parameters.
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MPox (Monkey Pox)
Full Article- Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, a species of the genus Orthopoxvirus.
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OSHA Standards in Dentistry
Full ArticleThis section highlights OSHA standards related to dentistry and the related OSHA Safety and Health Topics page.
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Guidelines for Occupational Exposure
Full ArticleUpdated U.S. Public Health Service Guidelines for the Management of Occupational Exposures to HBV, HCV, and HIV and Recommendations for Postexposure Prophylaxis
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Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention
Full ArticleBloodborne pathogens and needlesticks are addressed in specific OSHA standards for general industry. This section highlights OSHA standards and documents related to bloodborne pathogens and needlestick prevention.
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Misclassification of Employees as Independent Contractors Under the Fair Labor Standards Act
Full Article:As part of its efforts to address misclassification, the Wage and Hour Division on January 10, 2024 published afinal rule, effective March 11, 2024, revising its guidance on how to analyze whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor under the FLSA. This guidance is available in the form of regulations at 29 CFR Part 795. Employers and workers may consult these regulations and the additional resources listed below to help analyze a worker’s status as an employee or independent contractor under the FLSA. The Wage and Hour Division’s final rule also rescinds the Independent Contractor Status Under the Fair Labor Standards Act rule (2021 IC Rule, 86 FR 1168) that was published on January 7, 2021.
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U.S. Beneficial Ownership Information Registry Now Accepting Reports
Full Article:The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), aimed at combating illicit financial activity, went into effect on January 1, 2024. Under the act, small businesses across the United States need to file beneficial ownership information reports, also known as corporate transparency reports.