Kelly Tanner, PhD, RDH

Kelly Tanner 400
Insurance
Why CDT codes tell a bigger dental story than we realize
A CDT code isn't solely for insurance claims, it's part of the patient's clinical story, writes Kelly Tanner, PhD, RDH.
September 30, 2026
Headshot of Kelly Tanner, PhD, RDH.
Smile Design
Ozempic is on the dental patient's health history. Now what?
When GLP-1 medications appear on a patient health history, dental professionals must ask sharper clinical questions.
September 23, 2026
Headshot of Kelly Tanner, PhD, RDH, DrBicuspid's hygiene editor.
Dental Hygiene
When SRP doesn't resolve the inflammation, here's what to ask next
A site that keeps bleeding after scaling and root planing (SRP) is information and deserves a different question, writes Kelly Tanner, PhD, RDH.
August 17, 2026
Headshot of Kelly Tanner, PhD, RDH.
Fluoride
CAMBRA says assess 1st, but what happens when the patient still says no to fluoride?
The most effective fluoride varnish is one the dental patient accepts. Kelly Tanner, PhD, RDH, provides coaching on how to get there.
August 11, 2026
Headshot of Kelly Tanner, PhD, RDH.
Dental Hygiene
The CDT codes every dental hygienist should be able to defend in an audit
Kelly Tanner, PhD, RDH, details three periodontal coding decisions that fall apart under audit and how to fix them.
July 1, 2026
Headshot of Kelly Tanner, PhD, RDH.
Periodontics
3 things every practice should be doing with AAP staging and grading
Staging tells you how bad it is. Grading tells you where it's going, and most practices skip that step. Kelly Tanner, PhD, RDH, explains how to fix that.
June 25, 2026
Professional headshot of Kelly Tanner, PhD, RDH.
Dental Practice
The 90-second read: How dental team members can build patient trust before the dentist walks in
Your dental team gets 90 seconds to build patient trust. Kelly Tanner, PhD, RDH, gives you a game plan on how to do it.
May 28, 2026
A woman dental assistant smiles while sitting next to a dental chair.
Team Management
Quiet patterns that erode trust on a dental team
Dental teams lose their best people quietly. Kelly Tanner, PhD, RDH, describes exactly what's happening and how to stop it.
May 5, 2026
A woman rolls her eyes and exhales to relieve stress.
Team Management
Here's why high-performing dental teams keep getting better
Kelly Tanner, PhD, RDH, reveals the counterintuitive secret separating thriving dental practices from merely busy ones.
April 13, 2026
Smiling dentist, dental hygienist, and young patient in a modern dental office.
Hygiene Tools
Why ultrasonic scaling fails, and how to fix it with a better clinical system
Kelly Tanner, PhD, RDH, details the ultrasonic scaling mistakes that may be costing your practice efficiency and patient comfort.
April 8, 2026
A dental hygienist uses a scaling device to clean a patient's teeth.
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Top Stories
Image of a courtroom interior with a gold eagles and the scales of justice.
Legal Issues
Dentist, practice arraigned on 40 crimes
A dentist and his practice were arraigned on more than three dozen crimes.
Headshot of Dr. Richard Nagelberg, the director of medical affairs at OraPharma, a division of Bausch Health.
Dental Education
Not all evidence is created equal: Dr. Richard Nagelberg on reading the dental research
A police car is shown with its blue overhead lights illuminated at night with city lights in the background.
Legal Issues
Man accused of abducting, assaulting, terrorizing dental employee
Two professionals review documents during a business meeting, representing formal discipline.
Infection Control
Dentist accused of lax infection control suspended
Close-up of a hand holding a clear mouthguard.
Sports Dentistry
Mouthguards plus this may protect swimmers' teeth
More in Home
Dentist, practice arraigned on 40 crimes
By Melissa Busch
A dentist and his practice were arraigned on more than three dozen crimes.
October 2, 2026
Image of a courtroom interior with a gold eagles and the scales of justice.
Not all evidence is created equal: Dr. Richard Nagelberg on reading the dental research
By Kevin Henry
Dr. Richard Nagelberg breaks down how dentists can judge the strength of clinical evidence, no matter the source.
October 2, 2026
Headshot of Dr. Richard Nagelberg, the director of medical affairs at OraPharma, a division of Bausch Health.
Man accused of abducting, assaulting, terrorizing dental employee
By Melissa Busch
A dental office cleaner has been arrested in a shocking kidnapping and assault case.
October 1, 2026
A police car is shown with its blue overhead lights illuminated at night with city lights in the background.
Dentist accused of lax infection control suspended
By Melissa Busch
A dentist was suspended after the Colorado Dental Board found many infection control failures.
October 1, 2026
Two professionals review documents during a business meeting, representing formal discipline.
Mouthguards plus this may protect swimmers' teeth
By Melissa Busch
A study suggests that a dual approach may protect swimmers' enamel from chlorine-induced dental erosion.
October 1, 2026
Close-up of a hand holding a clear mouthguard.
Is football stress showing up in your patients' smiles?
By Karie Neeley Anderson
A DenTek survey shows that game-related stress lingers for many fans well after the final whistle.
October 1, 2026
Three male football fans watch a game on a couch. They are surprised expressions on their faces. Nearby are bottles of beer, popcorn, and chips.
Dr. Tom Giacobbi on the dental patients who leave a mark
By DrBicuspid.com staff writers
Dr. Tom Giacobbi returns to talk about the dental patients in your practice, both those you love and those who challenge you.
October 1, 2026
Just A Minute, Doc, cover image, featuring Dr. Tom Giacobbi.
Dental manager charged with a dozen-plus felonies
By Melissa Busch
A dental manager in Michigan was arraigned on 15 felonies.
September 30, 2026
Metal handcuffs rest on top of a fingerprint identification card with inked fingerprints.
Why CDT codes tell a bigger dental story than we realize
By Kelly Tanner, PhD, RDH
A CDT code isn't solely for insurance claims, it's part of the patient's clinical story, writes Kelly Tanner, PhD, RDH.
September 30, 2026
Headshot of Kelly Tanner, PhD, RDH.
Aaron Donald's smile sparks social media buzz
By DrBicuspid.com staff writers
A viral social media discussion surrounding former NFL star Aaron Donald has ensued following a video of him with noticeably brighter, even teeth.
September 30, 2026
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle, Aaron Donald, participating in a joint practice with the Oakland Raiders during the 2019 training camp.
Are dental hygienists 1099 contractors? A lawyer breaks down the risks.
By Kevin Henry
Olivia Wann explains why most fill-in dental hygienists should be W-2 employees, not 1099 contractors.
September 30, 2026
The DrBicuspid.com Podcast cover art, featuring a masked cartoon dentist, a microphone and sound wave graphics.
Dental office damage leaves student trapped in South Korea
By Melissa Busch
A college student is stuck in South Korea's legal system, with no immediate resolution in sight.
September 29, 2026
Bronze scales of justice rest on a desk with open books and blurred people in the background.
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