Dentists

The dental industry is facing numerous challenges, such as a tight labor market, high levels of student loan debt for new dentists, increasing local competition and higher overhead costs due to necessary expensive technologies.

Maine state Sen. Heather Sanborn introduced a bill that would eliminate wait periods for children in Maine who are covered by private insurers to receive dental care, according to the Press Herald.

The American Dental Association, along with two individual dentists, are claiming Delta Dental violated antitrust laws and engaged in anticompetitive conduct, according to a lawsuit filed Nov. 26.

Align Technology announced Frank Quinn as vice president and general manager for the U.S., effective Dec. 9, according to a Nov. 26 news release.

A Delaware lawsuit filed Nov. 22 claims SmileDirectClub was aware of regulatory hurdles threatening the company, but still sold stock at above-market prices during its initial public offering, according to Bloomberg Law.

A New Jersey oral surgeon and dentist had his licensed revoked Nov. 26 and was ordered to pay more than $517,000 for "gross negligence and professional misconduct," according to nj.com.

Radiologists at Bethesda, Md.-based Walter Reed National Military Medical Center failed to read and diagnose nearly 2,000 dental scans, according to an internal investigation cited by The Wall Street Journal.

Dentists can expect Medi-Cal program changes over the next few years as a result of a new Department of Health Care Services initiative, according to the California Dental Association.

Two Kent, Wash.-based dentists were sentenced to seven days in prison and 400 hours of community service for filing false tax returns, according to Nov. 22 Department of Justice news release.

The average salary for dentists varies widely state, with a national annual average salary of $175,840 in 2018, according to Forbes.