Melissa Busch

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Dental Specialties
Where dental patients are being hit the hardest financially by COVID-19
The spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. has forced people across the nation to stay at home and embrace social distancing guidelines, pushing many businesses to close and leading an alarmingly high number of workers to file for unemployment benefits.
April 7, 2020
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Dental Specialties
800,000-year-old tooth gives new details of human family tree
Genetic information from an 800,000-year-old tooth has disproved the theory that Homo antecessor, a species that bore a mix of modern and ancient facial characteristics, is the missing link that led to the humans that exist today, according to a study published April 1 in Nature.
April 6, 2020
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Dental Practice
Dentist gets evicted, sets fire to masks, gowns at office
A dentist in Washington 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, according to news reports.
April 1, 2020
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Infection Control
Dentist who attended conference in Canada dies from COVID-19
A dentist from British Columbia died at his home from COVID-19 following his attendance at the Pacific Dental Conference in March. The man is the province's first COVID-19 death at home, according to a report from the CBC.
April 1, 2020
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Hygiene Tools
Germ-killing mouthwash alters saliva, may up tooth damage risk
Using chlorhexidine mouthwash, which many dentists have adopted as a prerinse prior to dental work as a precaution against COVID-19, increases saliva's acidity and makes teeth more vulnerable to damage, according to a study published on March 24 in Scientific Reports.
April 1, 2020
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Dental Practice
Maine dentists can't treat patients via teledentistry
Dentists in Maine cannot legally engage in teledentistry during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite instruction from the state's governor to treat patients remotely, according to the Maine Board of Dental Practice.
March 30, 2020
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Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Imaging aids removal of broken burs from third-molar surgeries
Radiography, CT, and 3D modeling helped clinicians remove burs that had broken off from high-speed handpieces during third-molar extractions and migrated to the mandibular body of one patient and the floor of the mouth of another, according to a recently published report of two cases.
March 29, 2020
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Dental Hygiene
Loss of taste, smell likely signs of COVID-19
Patients who experience loss of taste and smell but are otherwise asymptomatic may be carriers of the novel coronavirus, causing the rapid spread of the outbreak, according to the British Association of Otorhinolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery.
March 25, 2020
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Restorations
Teeth tell the stories of people's most impactful life events
Teeth provide a true, permanent historical record of a person's major life events, including pregnancy, illness, relocation, and incarceration, according to a new study published March 25 in Scientific Reports.
March 24, 2020
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Alternative Pain Therapies
Want to reduce cavities? Maybe use cannabinoids
Chemicals found in cannabis or cannabinoids may be more effective at reducing bacteria associated with dental plaque than well-established synthetic oral care products, according to a recent study published in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science.
March 22, 2020
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Top Stories
Close-up of a man exchanging a letter with another man. A man is turning in his written resignation letter.
Dental Education
Dental school dean resigns over anti-Semitic images in course work
A dean of dentistry resigned following an external investigation concerning the use of anti-Semitic imagery in course materials.
A professional man sitting in a modern office holds his jaw with a pained expression.
TMJ/TMD
TMDs may be ruining patients’ lives
Dental Trade Alliance podcast cover image featuring Rachel Spivey, the alliance's director of government affairs.
Regulatory Updates
Inside the Dental Trade Alliance’s strategy for Capitol Hill
Two lawyers in business attire shake hands over a desk with legal documents resting on top. Nearby is a gavel and a legal scale.
Legal Issues
Charges to be dismissed against ex-dental employee
Cover image of the Just A Minute, Doc YouTube series with Dr. Tom Giacobbi.
Office Management
Dr. Tom Giacobbi on rethinking your dental practice's scheduling habits
More in Home
How to keep your RCM moving when dental patient flow slows
By Estela Vargas
Use seasonal patient lulls to improve your revenue cycle management (RCM) and finish the year strong, writes Estela Vargas, CRDH.
September 12, 2025
Headshot of Estela Vargas, CRDH.
5 steps to instantly find the dental career you've always wanted
By Melissa K. Turner
Dental professionals can fast-track their career through networking, smart social media, and polished personal branding, writes Melissa K. Turner, RDH.
September 12, 2025
Headshot of Melissa K. Turner, RDH.
Dr. Tom Giacobbi on patient communication and personalization
By Kevin Henry
Dr. Tom Giacobbi is back with another quick tip, this time focusing on the power of personalized treatment recommendations for your patients.
September 12, 2025
Promotional image of Dr. Tom Giacobbi and the Just A Minute, Doc YouTube series.
Dental students may not be ready for emergencies
By Melissa Busch
Dental students report being moderately prepared -- at best -- to handle medical emergencies, highlighting gaps in training, according to a study.
September 11, 2025
Two masked clinicians perform a dental procedure on a male patient.
Retaining your dental team: Why training and incentives matter
By Dayna Johnson
Keeping your valuable team members and building strong teamwork is built on training, development, and collective incentives tied to practice goals rather than individual bonuses, writes Dayna Johnson.
September 11, 2025
Headshot of Dayna Johnson.
Biofeedback may help treat TMDs
By Ava Barros
Biofeedback may help effectively manage temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and improve patients’ well-being, reports a review recently published in BMC Oral Health.
September 11, 2025
A woman wears a blue biofeedback band while resting on a chair. A laptop computer in the foreground displays data.
Podcast: How is burnout impacting dental practice transitions?
By DrBicuspid.com staff writers
Kyle Francis of Professional Transition Strategies joins the show to discuss how burnout is affecting practice transitions.
September 11, 2025
The DrBicuspid.com Podcast logo with a masked illustrated dentist and a professional microphone.
Oral mucositis may be tied to antibiotic-related infection
By Melissa Busch
A common antibiotic-associated infection may be linked to oral mucositis, according to a large study.
September 10, 2025
AI recreation of a macro view of Clostridioides difficile under a microscope, with golden bokeh and a focus on spores’ textured surfaces.
Gum disease may increase risk of CKM syndrome
By Ava Barros
Gum disease may raise the risk of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, underscoring the need to include oral health in cardiometabolic care, a new study finds.
September 10, 2025
Digital medical illustration of lungs with inflammation and chest pain visualized with a golden glowing light.
Clinical tip: What you should know about using a barium guide in your dental practice
By Kevin Henry
Dr. Doug Smail shares another valuable clinical tip that can help you and your dental patients.
September 10, 2025
Headshot of Dr. Doug Smail of CDOCS.
The dental office manager's guide to a burnout-free practice
By Dr. Ryan Hungate
Successful dental office managers prevent burnout through small gestures, open communication, cross training staff, and leveraging technology to streamline operations, writes Dr. Ryan Hungate.
September 10, 2025
Headshot of Dr. Ryan Hungate.
The U.S. may be suffocating with dental fear
By Ava Barros
Dental fear may be prevalent in the U.S., according to a study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association. And from all signs, patients' anxiety is growing.
September 9, 2025
A male patient seated in a dental chair looks anxious. He is being comforted by a dental professional.
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