Week in Review: Dentist starts fire at practice using PPE | Myth-busting during the pandemic | Self-care suggestions that can help

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

Welcome to April. It feels a lot like March, doesn't it? While we're all making sure that we're staying safe by staying indoors and helping to flatten the curve together, we at DrBicuspid.com are trying to bring you solid information and articles to help you pass the time and prepare for dentistry to be back in full swing.

As you well know, there is a lot of misinformation out there about COVID-19 and its effects on people. With that in mind, we wanted to go straight to an expert about some of the things we've been hearing regarding pain management and the coronavirus disease. Our friend Thomas Viola, RPh, was glad to jump on this 13-minute podcast with me to tackle some of the biggest misconceptions he has been hearing about.

Also, please send your good thoughts to Tom as he is recovering from COVID-19 himself. He talks about that in our podcast as well.

Elsewhere, in one of the stranger stories we've published in some time, a dentist in Washington state was arrested after dousing gowns and masks with some type of accelerant to start fires at his office in response to getting evicted for not paying his rent. In a time when personal protective equipment (PPE) is such a precious resource, this article had us shaking our heads.

Two of our most popular articles this week dealt with dentists and dental practices dealing with the financial implications of the pandemic. First, Sally McKenzie offered some quick tips to help dentists survive the crisis. Second, Dr. James Anderson wrote about 15 ways to protect your finances during these historic days. I encourage you to check out both of these informative articles and see what nuggets of knowledge you can use to help you, your employees, and your business.

Finally, my thanks to my dear friend Anastasia Turchetta, RDH, for helping us take a mental break from all of the news and information surrounding the pandemic. In this article and video, she talks about five self-care apps that you can use to help unplug from the news and mentally recharge.

On a personal note, I wish you and your family safety and health. Thank you for being a loyal DrBicuspid.com reader.