Dentists

COVID-19 and the pandemic were one of the main focuses this year for the American Dental Association, an addition that was unseen a few years ago.

The American Dental Education Association supports expanding dental benefits under Medicare, it said Oct. 12.

Despite an overall trend of healthcare workers exiting the field, the dental industry is reporting job gains, according to the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

A dentist who urged dentists to resist the proposed Medicare expansions, and five other dentists made headlines last week:

Laila Hishaw, DDS, is pushing to bring more Blacks into dentistry through her nonprofit, which will hold its first youth summit in November, the Jacksonville Free Press reported Oct. 10.

Illinois-based Smile Obsession has acquired Naperville, Ill.-based practice Maplebrook Dental, the multispecialty dental group said Oct. 10.

A dental startup organization is working to provide digital educational tools while promoting oral health, the group said Oct. 8.

California dental professionals with licenses expiring in October now have until March 28, 2022, to renew their licenses under a Sept. 28 waiver from the state's Department of Consumer Affairs.

Patient data at Professional Dental Alliance of Indiana in Valparaiso may have been compromised after its administration and technology support services provider were hacked, The Times of Northwest Indiana reported Oct. 6.

A Maryland dentist faces fraud charges after an investigation into billing practices at his practice, according to a news release from Jamie Dykes, interim state attorney for Wicomico County.