Talking with the Toothcop

Today's episode of Talking with the Toothcop is all about the fascinating topic of staying up-to-date with your equipment evaluations and dental policies and procedures. Yes, I think compliance IS fascinating! Andrea and I cover everything from blood-borne pathogens to X-Ray equipment—don't miss this important episode. Outline of This Episode [0:23] What Andrea and I are going to cover [3:20] X-Ra...

Do you know how to properly care for your nitrous oxide equipment? Are you properly following instructions for use (IFU) documents when cleaning your Accutron? Knowing how to properly care for your equipment—and therefore your patients—is important for their longevity and functionality.  Here to chat with me today is Steve Nugent from Professional Sales Associates. One of his specialties is Accutr...

HIPAA Compliance—protecting your client's information—NEEDS to be an important practice in your dental office. This topic is just as pressing as protecting the health of your patients and staff. Managed Service Providers (MSP) are a great way to help you maintain HIPAA compliance. In this episode of Talking with the Toothcop, I talk with Nancy Sabino of SabinoCompTech about technology and protecti...

You're probably listening to this podcast because you know the importance of compliance standards in the dental practice. We want to control the cleanliness of our tools, limit the spread of bacteria and illnesses, and offer our clients the best environment. Just as important as quality control is HIPAA compliance with your electronic devices, records audits—and so much more. This important episod...

Compliance and risk management in your dental practice should be of the utmost importance. We have a responsibility to our patients to maintain their health and safety. Though it can often overlooked, it plays a crucial role in your practice. Your brand becomes worthless if you don't have a standard of excellence in place. Linda Harvey is joining me today on Talking with the Toothcop to talk about...

The topic of infection control in dentistry is important and should be at the forefront of your mind when it comes to patient care. It's definitely something I'm passionate about! That's why this episode is devoted to different resources you can use to ensure you and your patient are protected. I came across many of these at the recent Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) confere...

Your integrity is a critical aspect of your reputation as a dental professional - are yourself doing everything you can to protect it? If you don't stay proactive when it comes to protecting your integrity, your business could be in danger!  On this episode, Andrea and I discuss our experience with the 75 Hard Challenge and what it takes for dentists like you to protect your integrity. You'll want...

Do you ever find yourself fascinated and terrified by a case of dental embezzlement? I'll admit it - I find those type of stories so gripping! I wonder what the dentist could have done to prevent the fraud or I wonder how they didn't see it coming. If you've ever wondered if your dental practice is really protected from dental embezzlement or other types of fraud - this is the episode for you! On...

Let's face it - expired medical equipment and expired drugs are NOT the sexiest of topics to cover, but it is SO important. On this episode - Andrea and I talk about expired equipment, expired drugs, why you need to have written policies and procedures, the danger of getting too comfortable sedating a patient, and much more. You don't have to struggle to find the right resources on these topics -...

Do you really need legal representation shortly after a patient death or hospitalization? While it's a scenario that no dentist ever wants to face over the course of their career you need to have a plan in place. Here to help you understand what you can expect and how to prepare for dealing with a patient death or hospitalization is Laura Diamond. Laura is an administrative and healthcare law atto...

Is your dental office using the best methods for securing patient information? When was the last time you reviewed your process and made an update? On this episode, Andrea and I jump into an important conversation about securing patient information, controlling designated agents, electronic record-keeping, and much more. If you are ready to up your game and make sure your office is ready for any d...

Let's face it; you never can be too careful when it comes to writing prescriptions and taking into account all the details of your patient's medical history. Are the processes and procedures at your dental office up to date? On this episode, you'll hear from Andrea and I as we discuss codes of conduct, firewall, and antivirus protection, reviewing medical history, and much more. If you want to mak...

We've got a whole line up of super sexy topics to cover, from safety data sheets and safe injection practices to radiology infection control and more! While these may not be the most exciting topics, you know that proper attention to important subjects like these is what differentiates an excellent dental office from an average one. What are you waiting for? Have pen and paper ready for this detai...

When was the last time you addressed dental waterline maintenance at your office? Are you aware of the increased challenges that many dental offices are facing when it comes to waterline maintenance? On this episode, you'll hear from Mike Rust and Monica Boldt from ProEdge Dental Water Labs. ProEdge serves dedicated dental professionals by offering assurance with highly trusted waterline testing,...

Have you ever been tempted to respond to patients who had a negative experience and have taken to the internet to tarnish your business reputation? Did you give in to the temptation? What is the best approach in these type of situations? On this episode, you'll hear about how to respond to negative feedback online, when to use patient consent forms for pictures, how to best serve patients with dis...

Every year fines are levied against well-meaning, hard-working individuals in dental practices all across the country. Nobody wants to do things that put their staff members or patients at risk, yet these safety infractions keep happening. Why? It's not because rules and regulations change, it's because the practices that ensure safety in the dental office slip over time. It's an issue of not effe...

 We like to have fun on these podcast episodes - which you'll hear in this recording - but dental regulatory compliance is not a laughing matter. Tens of thousands of dollars in fines are levied against practices regularly for a variety of infractions and omissions. We thought it would be beneficial to share the most common mistakes we see when we do our compliance consults in client dental office...

On this episode of Talking With the Tooth Cop, I interview Santosh Patel, founder and president of Complete Specialty Solutions, a business dedicated to bringing high-quality dental specialists into your practice with as few logistical nightmares as possible. Throughout this episode, he explains the benefits of bringing in outside dental specialists and how you can leverage their expertise in your...

Successfully keeping dental records goes beyond preventing lawsuits and insurance headaches. It's necessary to provide excellent patient care and operate the best practice for your patients and staff alike. Auditing is required by many regulatory agencies, and having proper audit records could prevent malpractice lawsuits and other issues. On this episode of Talking With the Tooth Cop, I explain 7...

The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners has released new regulations regarding nitrous oxide delivery. These regulations are going to change the way your practice handles routine business, and you need to be aware of them. On this episode of Talking With the Tooth Cop, I outline the new 3 main rules, what requirements have not changed, and why your office needs to take these changes seriously. N...

Keeping data secure is essential for operating an efficient 21st century dental practice. On this episode of Talking With the Tooth Cop I speak with 3 top professionals from CentriServe IT Dental Solutions - Matt Stafford, Jack Wiley, and Jared Galovich. You don't want to miss their insights on the importance of keeping data secure, how to train team members accordingly, and the best way to spend...

Featured on this episode of Talking With the Tooth Cop is author, business coach, and mentor Chuck Blakeman. Throughout the interview, Chuck and I discuss the critical differences between management and leadership, how to avoid falling into the trap of always planning and never executing, and Chuck shares the two most important business words you've never heard of. He draws on his 35 years of expe...

It can be challenging to balance all of the aspects of pediatric dentistry practices. Patients, employees, industry trends, insurance requirements, and countless other areas all demand your full attention. That's why people like Tonya Burns, owner of Complete Dental Practice Consulting are such assets in the pediatric dentistry industry. In this episode of Talking with the Tooth Cop, I ask Tonya t...

On this episode of Talking with the Tooth Cop, I explain seven of the most important things to look for in your dental records. I also describe different types of audits that can be used to ensure efficient and effective record-keeping practices as well as explain why all of these processes are critical in your dental practice. Keeping proper records goes beyond preventing lawsuits and insurance h...

In any environment where people are being served, customer service is of primary importance. Dental practice customer service needs to be a huge priority for every dental office because there is already a built-in "fear factor" of sorts that has to be overcome. My guest today is Dr. David Moffet, my long-time friend who is a Dentist and dental practice consultant who has literally made it his busi...