A California law set to go into effect Jan. 1 allows some California prescribers to be exempt from having to electronically prescribe all medications, which is the current standard.

The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons provided new guidance for treating medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

More adults have visited the dentist for preventive reasons than reactively this year, according to Delta Dental's "2022 State of America's Oral Health and Wellness Report."

The American Medical Association recently approved a category III CPT code that allows primary care providers to apply silver diamine fluoride to treat cavities. 

Here are three dental policy updates Becker's has reported on since Sept. 13:

The Illinois State Dental Society asked Gov. J.B. Pritzker to update the state's COVID-19 protocols for healthcare facilities to be in line with changes made by the CDC.

The Organized Dentistry Coalition is urging the Senate to pass the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act, a legislation requiring insurers to cover dental and oral procedures to treat birth defects.

There are several actions dental practices can take to prepare themselves for adverse occurrences during patient treatment.

Scheduling challenges, high out-of-pocket costs and lack of access to care continue to be barriers for patients seeking oral healthcare.

HHS has amended the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act declaration on Oct. 3 to allow dentists and dental students to administer monkeypox, smallpox and other orthopoxviruses vaccines to patients in a declared emergency.

The Maximizing Outcomes through Better Investments in Lifesaving Equipment for Health Care Act, or MOBILE Act, which gives community health centers more flexibility in using New Access Points grants for mobile health care units, passed in the House on Sept. 29.

The American Dental Association pledged $5 million to a campaign and four more updates from the organization that Becker's has reported on since Sept. 2:

A dental coalition is urging CMS to increase access to dental surgeries at ASCs.

Increased communication between dental and medical providers can result in reduced barriers to care, according to a report from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine in Aurora.

The American Dental Association recently committed $5 million to a campaign supporting a ballot measure that would establish a medical loss ratio for dental payers in the state.

More Americans are hopping back into the dental exam chair in 2022 compared to 2021, according to a report from Zocdoc, a digital healthcare marketplace.

Access to care, negative emotions associated with dental visits, and a lack of understanding about the connection between oral and overall health are the three main barriers hindering older Americans' oral health, according to a recent survey.

Here are five clinical leadership stories Becker's has reported on since Aug. 18:

The American Dental Association recently backed two educational initiatives involving student loans and grants for two dental roles. 

The North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners recently made changes to how anesthesia is administered to dental patients after several patient deaths, WWAY reported Sept. 12.