Audit: UNMC Dental Practice Overpaid Dentists
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Birner Dental Management Services, Inc. Schedules Earnings Call to Discuss …
body .displaytickersn{ *float:left }
]]>
DENVER, Nov. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Birner Dental Management Services, Inc. (NASDAQ Capital Market: BDMS), operators of PERFECT TEETH™ dental practices and Vantage Dental Implant Center, will conduct a conference call to review third quarter 2011 results. In addition to third quarter results, the teleconference may include discussion of management’s expectations of future financial and operating results. The call will be held on Monday, November 14, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. MT.
Dial in to 1-888-395-3237; refer to Confirmation Code 6652746 approximately five minutes prior to the scheduled time. Please put this on your calendar and plan on joining us for this call. If you are unable to join us on November 14, the rebroadcast number is 1-888-203-1112 with Passcode 6652746 which will be available through November 28, 2011.
Birner Dental Management Services, Inc. acquires, develops, and manages geographically dense dental practice networks in select markets in Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. The Company currently manages 64 dental offices, which operate under the PERFECT TEETH™ and Vantage Dental Implant Center names.
Certain of the matters that may be discussed in the conference call may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. These and other risks are set forth in the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact:
Birner Dental Management Services, Inc.
Dennis Genty
Chief Financial Officer
303-691-0680
SOURCE Birner Dental Management Services, Inc.
Back to top
RELATED LINKS
http://www.bdms-perfectteeth.com
San Diego Holistic Dentist Welcomes Biological Dentist Dr. Stacy Godes to The …
body .displaytickersn{ *float:left }
]]>
The Center for Natural Dentistry (http://NaturalDentistry.us) has taken another significant step in its fight to protect and preserve the health of its patients by hiring Dr. Stacy Godes to join Dr. Marvin Pantangco at San Diego’s prestigious holistic dental practice
SAN DIEGO, Nov. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — San Diego holistic dental practice, The Center for Natural Dentistry, is pleased to announce the addition of biological dentist Dr. Stacy Godes to its team.
The Center for Natural Dentistry — a holistic dental practice in San Diego integrating natural procedures with traditional science-based dentistry — is focused on improving whole-body wellness through proper, effective dental care with an eye on improving the health of its patients.
The addition of Dr. Stacy Godes provides two benefits to existing and new patients:
- It provides patients with another skilled, experienced doctor to work with (The Center for Natural Dentistry was consistently booked up to five weeks in advance. Dr. Godes’ addition provides more opportunities for patients to schedule an appointment)
- It adds ozone therapy to the practice’s alternative dental offerings. Ozone Oxygen/ozone therapy, when introduced into the living system, disinfects the area treated, both safely and effectively. Treating with ozone in dentistry can increase blood flow, enhanced immune response, and provide a more rapid healing response. It’s often used as an alternative method of fighting cavities and periodontal disease.
“Being a holistic dental office, we never place mercury fillings,” says Dr. Marvin, “but it goes beyond that. We are seeking to improve and enhance the health and well-being of our patients. We never perform root canals, we follow a strict extraction protocol to prevent bone infection, we use non-surgical methods to treat gum disease, we are extremely cautious when removing mercury fillings, and we never use metals in our restorations. We also test our patients for biocompatibility before using any new materials… we are holistic dentists in every sense of the word. Adding Dr. Godes to the team takes us to a new level and allows us to provide even better service to our patients.”
Dr. Stacy Godes (pronounced “Goddess”) chose to pursue a career in the dental profession as a way to help people achieve their goals related to overall health and well-being, a career choice that she says is exceptionally rewarding for her at The Center for Natural Dentistry as its newest holistic dentist. Combining the art and science of dentistry into a tool for healing is not just an interest, but a passion for Dr. Godes, as she works to promote health and healing of her patients.
Trained at University of the Pacific in general dentistry and at the IAOMT and IABDM in holistic dentistry, Dr. Godes is a valuable addition to the team and an asset to The Center for Natural Dentistry’s patients.
“At The Center for Natural Dentistry, we help patients who have an appreciation for natural health as well as patients who have suffered from long-standing systemic health problems. Many of our patients have tried traditional medicine with unsatisfying results. We offer an alternative look — a look into how their mouth affects their overall health — with some amazing results,” says Dr. Marvin.
To celebrate the addition of Dr. Godes to The Center for Natural Dentistry team, they are offering a FREE 30-minute phone consultation to anyone who would like to know if holistic dentistry is right for them or to patients who have long-standing systemic health issues and are looking for answers. If you have “tried it all” when it comes to improving your health, don’t give up. Call for a free consultation to find out how holistic dentistry may be able to help you: 760-536-1199.
About The Center for Natural Dentistry
The Center for Natural Dentistry provides San Diego residents with safe, effective alternative dental care. Dr. Marvin and Dr. Godes offer holistic dentistry without using toxic chemicals, expensive surgeries, and needless drilling. For information — including a free phone consultation — visit http://NaturalDentistry.us or call (760) 536-1199.
Contact:
Dr. Marvin
The Center for Natural Dentistry
760-536-1199
http://naturaldentistry.us/
This press release was issued through eReleases(R). For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.
SOURCE The Center for Natural Dentistry
Back to top
RELATED LINKS
http://naturaldentistry.us
Dental hygienists work to promote oral health
One resource that many people can turn to for questions regarding their oral health is a dental hygienist. These professionals work directly with dentists, and understand the importance of maintaining the health of teeth. Recently, this population teamed up to educate the public on dental issues through the website DentalHygienistSalaryGuide.org.
“I have been a dental hygienist for three years, and I love the fact that my job allows me to talk to patients about oral health,” said Stacey Kemp. “As a dental hygienist, I feel like it’s my duty to educate people about dental hygiene.”
On the website, there is a library of articles that offer health tips and information for people who are looking to get into the field of dental health. Kemp added that 80 percent of people surveyed say they are afraid of the dentist, and this is an attitude that hygienists are hoping to change.
Of course, not everyone can afford to see a dentist due to the high cost of insurance. This is where dental plans come in, which are an affordable option that give patients access to dental health professionals.
For more information on discount dental plans call 1-888-632-5353.
© 2011 Brafton Inc.
Nevada dentist makes cancer patients smile again
But many dentists and oral surgeons don’t want to treat these patients, fearing that osteoradionecrosis may prevent irradiated bones from healing. Las Vegas general practitioner Olya Banchik, DDS, who was inspired by her own mother’s bout with breast cancer, has stepped up to help women deal with the broken teeth, oral infections, and inflamed periodontal tissue that often result from cancer treatment. In February, Dr. Banchik and her husband established the Smiles for Survivors Foundation to provide treatment for breast cancer victims who have suffered severe oral complications. “My mom was the driving force to start the foundation,” Dr. Banchik told DrBicuspid.com. “So many people are affected by the disease, so I wanted to do smile makeovers to give women something to feel better about themselves.” Approximately 232,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed this year, and the disease will claim the lives of about 40,000 women and men, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Raven Burroughs, who was recommended to the foundation by one of Dr. Banchik’s patients, became the first patient to receive pro bono treatment since the foundation was established. The 33-year-old single mother had a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with stage III breast cancer a few years ago. After undergoing radiation therapy, her teeth started breaking off at the gumline. “I would wake up choking on a piece of tooth or they would break off while I was eating. It was horrible; I was in constant pain from the infections,” she told DrBicuspid.com. “My aunt spent months and months searching for dentists to treat me.” Her insurance company refused coverage, saying the cancer treatments shouldn’t have caused her dental problems. “Mucositis causes oral sores, and it’s is a huge problem and highly debilitating,” Dr. Banchik explained. “Probably the most common complication is canker sores, which prevents people from eating because the whole mouth feels like it’s burning.” Fear of osteoradionecrosis Burroughs’ dentist referred her to an oral surgeon, but he wouldn’t treat her because she had had radiation up to the neck, a result of her cancer having spread to the lymph nodes. Despite having letters from her oncologist and radiologist clearing her for dental treatment, he and others who declined to treat Burroughs cited the risk of osteoradionecrosis.
Dr. Olya Banchik provides dental care to breast cancer survivor Raven Burroughs through Smiles for Survivors, a nonprofit organization she launched. Image courtesy of Jeferson Applegate, Las Vegas Review-Journal.
“Her mouth was so badly infected when she walked in, I had no choice,” Dr. Banchik recalled of seeing Burroughs for her first appointment. “She had a lot of mouth sores, gross dental decay, and inflamed gums. We took x-rays, and I knew there was no way I could let her walk out.”
Dr. Banchik immediately put Burroughs on antibiotics and sent her to an oral surgeon who extracted 13 teeth, most of which had broken off.
There were complications after the extractions, said Dr. Banchik, who fabricated complete lower dentures for Burroughs and redid her upper dentures because they were ill-fitted.
With more than 1.4 million new cases of cancer diagnosed each year and a shift to outpatient management, more and more dentists will likely see some of these patients in their practices.
Multiple side effects
Approximately 40% of cancer patients may develop dental complications, Dr. Banchik noted. Radiation side effects can include skin pigmentation, ulceration, mucositis, weight loss, alteration in taste, xerostomia, caries, candidiasis, and osteonecrosis. Oral mucositis is one of the most painful side effects of radiation therapy. With radiation therapy, the main area of concern is the stratified squamous epithelium, but with chemotherapy, the whole mucosa becomes involved.
The mucosal lining of the gastrointestinal tract, including the oral mucosa, is a major target for treatment-related toxicity by virtue of its rapid rate of cell turnover. The oral cavity is highly susceptible to direct and indirect toxic effects of cancer chemotherapy and ionizing radiation.
In addition to the side effects of radiation, chemotherapy has the added side effects of increased nausea, reactivation of the herpes virus, accelerated fungus growth, and infections as a result of leukopenia.
Chemotherapy also causes dry mouth, which propagates the progression of caries. “I’ve definitely seen cases where there is severe tooth destruction,” Dr. Banchik said.
Besides providing free dental care to breast cancer victims, she also hopes to raise awareness about the effect that cancer treatment can have on a patient’s oral health.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and a good resource for dental professionals is NCI’s “Oral Complications of Chemotherapy and Head/Neck Radiation.”
Burroughs, who is now awaiting breast reconstruction surgery, said Dr. Banchik gave her more than her smile back.
“It had gotten to the point where I just avoided people all together because of the way I looked,” Burroughs said. “She gave me every bit of my life back — speaking, eating, smiling. Dr. Banchik and her husband have been phenomenal.”
Mo. clinic provides free dental care for cancer patients, May 6, 2011
Cancer patients suffer unique oral complications, January 21, 2011
Copyright © 2011 DrBicuspid.com
Free Dental Day – WCSH
PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — On Friday, November 4, 33 dentists at 11 clinics throughout the Greater Portland area will be donating their services to adults who can not afford regular dental care during the third annual Dentists Who Care for ME event. Each person will receive one service free of charge — either a cleaning, filling, or extraction. In some cases, patients may be refered to a specialist for further care.
The event is sponsored by the Greater Portland Dental Society. Last year, the program treated more than 600 people. “This is the largest group of volunteer dentists so far,” says Dr. Demi Kouzounas, co-organizer of the event. “We’re thrilled to see the program growing!”
The following is a list of locations and hours:
Buxton
440 Narragansett Trl
Buxton ME
Hours 8:00 am – 2:00 pm Dr Jin Hwang, Dr Wayne Lopez, Dr Nicholas Roy
Cumberland
323 Main St
Cumberland Center, ME
Hours 8:00 am – 2:00 pm Dr Michael Frost
Gorham
94 Main St
Gorham, ME
Hours 8:00 am – 2:00 pm Dr Ted Morgan, Dr Amanda Rockwood
Portland
110 Auburn Street
Portland ME Dr Catalina Atienza
Hours 8:00 am – 2:00 pm Dr Alan Chebuske,
1334 Washington Ave
Portland, ME Dr David Bagdasarian
Hours 7:00 am – 12:00 pm Dr Denise Caron, Dr Shane Bryant,
Scarborough
40 Hannaford Dr Scarborough
Hours 8:00 am – 3:00 pm Dr Daniel R Ravin
618 US Route One Suite 4 Dr Colette Sirois, Dr Joseph Penna, Dr Demi Kouzounas,
Scarborough, ME Dr Nichol Penna, Dr Barry Saltz,
Hours 8:00 am – 2:00 pm Dr Jeffrey Brackett, Dr Denise Theriault,
Dr Michael Cwiklinski, Dr Andra Boak
South Portland
463 Cottage Rd
So Portland ME
Hours 9:00 am – 2:00 pm Dr James Ortengren,
265 Westbrook StSo. Portland ME
Hours 8:00 am – 2:00pm Dr Stephen Palmer, Dr Jonathan Shinay
171 Maine Mall Rd Dr Grace Thomas, Dr David Jacobson
So Portland ME Dr Alexandra Mann
Hours 8:00 am – 2:00pm Dr Justin Griffee, Dr Charles Sutera,
Yarmouth
70 Bayview St
Yarmouth ME Dr Alex Hutcheon
Hours 8:00 am – 2:00 pm Dr Amy Fuller, Dr Robert Swan,
Dental crisis in children ‘an epidemic’, say dentists
Dr. Bhagyashree Aditya Namjoshi treats a patient at Taj Dental Centre in Abu Dhabi. Dentists say parents take their children for care only when they are in pain – when the damage has already been done.
ABU DHABI // Dentists are treating babies as young as one year old in an epidemic of tooth decay caused by poor dental hygiene and bad diet.
Practitioners now fear that children are in danger of losing their permanent teeth, which begin developing when a child is 6.
“We call it ‘baby bottle syndrome’, which is when the children have been given sweet milk at night in their bottle. The front teeth just dissolve or are in really bad shape,” said Dr Asmat Lone, a dentist in the capital.
“But we are more worried about decay in children’s permanent teeth. These teeth are going to be with them for the rest of their lives, so if a child who is 6 or 7 has permanent damage to their molars, it is going to be a disaster.
“Normally, the young ones come to the dentist when they are in pain, and by that time it is too late,” Dr Lone said.
“The decay has already reached the nerve. This is why I suggest kids go to the dentist once every six months, or to the school dentist.”
A survey last summer of nearly 26,000 schoolchildren in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Gharbia by Seha, the Abu Dhabi health services company, revealed that two-thirds had tooth decay.
Dr Smitha Ninan, who runs the Taj Dental Centre, said education should begin long before children start school. “A very important factor is that most parents ignore routine dental visits.”
Almost 90 per cent of parents bring in their children only when they are in pain, which can leave a lasting negative impression. “It wouldn’t be fair to take a young child to the dentist for the first time to get a tooth pulled out,” Dr Ninan said.
Proper dental hygiene needs to be introduced when children are young to prevent problems, Dr Lone said.
“Flossing is extremely important. What a brush can do, your tongue can do, but your tongue cannot go through your teeth. Only floss can go there.”
Parents should give their children floss picks to make it a habit early in life, and they should be taught a proper brushing technique.
Schools, families and health authorities must all work together to remedy the problem, said Dr Adil Hamed Alani, an endodontist at Tawam Hospital’s dental centre.
“Most people here depend on their dentist. This is a bad thing.”
Dr Ninan suggested environmental factors were also an issue. “In the Northern Emirates the water has a fluoride level which is slightly on the high side,” she said. Ingesting too much fluoride at a young age can lead to a weakening of the enamel, discolouration and, eventually, tooth decay.
More dental hygienists and education specialists are also needed, doctors said. In addition, parents should control what food and drink their children consume.
“When I talk with parents, they say they cannot control their children, but I feel that this is not an excuse,” Dr Alani said.
Dr Ninan agreed that a poor diet was detrimental to tooth health. “Kids are so absorbed with having refined food so basically no chewing is happening,” she said.
Dr Lone said although it might be difficult for some parents to completely ban unhealthy food and drink, teaching the basics of brushing would go some way to reversing the situation. But people should not assume that the correct amount of brushing and flossing would undo the effects of an unhealthy diet.
“Sweets and crisps are all carbohydrates, and carbohydrates will lower the pH of saliva. Once the pH of saliva is lowered, more acid will be created in your mouth, and this acid is going to dissolve your tooth.”
Abu Dhabi Education Council has made strides to prevent children from eating unhealthy food, issuing new guidelines for school canteens several months ago.
Schools “have a health service”, Dr Lone said. “They should strengthen this service and try to get to every child. This would be a real investment for the future.”
zalhassani@thenational.ae
Share this article:
Back to the top
UAE news Sound Vision
-
Video: The Box Appeal Watch video
-
Video: Rescued animals find solace in Abu Dhabi shelter Watch video
-
In pictures: Theyab Awana kiled in car accident Watch video
-
Video: FNC election reaction and results Watch video
-
Video: FNC final results in Abu Dhabi Watch video
-
In pictures: FNC elections, voters cast ballots across UAE Watch video
-
Video: Dubai goes to the FNC polls Watch video
-
Video: polling day in the UAE Watch video
-
Video: First to vote in Umm Al Qaiwain Watch video
-
Video: FNC elections, voting in Ajman Watch video
Dental clinic to open at former Ubi Caritas Dental Clinic site – KFDM
BEAUMONT – From Ubi Caritas – Family Smiles, a family dental practice out of Fort Worth, TX, will open in southeast Texas at the former Ubi Caritas Dental Clinic this Monday, November 7th. Family Smiles will accept Medicaid, Chips, and cash paying patients. Also, in agreement with Ubi Caritas, Family Smiles will be seeing a percentage of patients that have no dental insurance at a reduced fee based on the patient’s income level.
Ubi Caritas plans to continue using local volunteer dentists to see additional patients at the Family Smiles dental office.
The dental office is located at 4400 Highland Avenue in Beaumont in the South Park neighborhood. It is next to the existing Ubi Caritas Medical Clinic. Office hours will be Monday-Friday, 9:00am – 6:00pm.
Lisa Pickett, Dental Program Director at Ubi Caritas, said, “We are glad that Family Smiles chose Beaumont as a location for its newest dental office and feel blessed that Ubi Caritas will once again be able to help those in our community who are less fortunate and have no other place to turn for their dental care.”
For more information regarding Family Smiles or Ubi Caritas, including how to schedule a dental appointment, please call (409) 813-1702.
Area dentists offering free dental care to those in need
Area dentists offering free dental care to those in need
By Dennis Hoey dhoey@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer
PORTLAND — Free dental care will be provided this Friday to any adult who is unable to afford regular dental care.
Dental services will be provided at 11 locations in Buxton, Cumberland, Gorham, Portland, Scarborough, South Portland and Yarmouth, as part of the third annual “Dentists Who Care for Me” day.
A total of 32 dentists agreed to participate. The event is sponsored by the Greater Portland Dental Society.
“This is the largest group of volunteer dentists so far,” said Dr. Demi Kouzounas, who helped organize the event. “We’re thrilled to see the program growing.”
Last year, Dentists Who Care for Me treated over 600 people. Free care will include one treatment that may involve cleanings, fillings, or extractions.
If a person is deemed to need more serious dental work such as a root canal, an extraction or a front tooth partial, they will be given a voucher and referred to a specialist.
More than 20 dental specialists have agreed to participate in this year’s free dental care program.
Services will be provided on a first come, first serve basis. Appointments will not be needed. Persons seeking care are encouraged to arrive at the dental office when doors open at 8 a.m.
Here is the list of participating dentists and the hours they will be available:
• Gentle Dental, 440 Narragansett Trail, Buxton, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Dr. Michael Frost, 323 Main St., Cumberland Center, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Morgan Dental Care, 94 Main St., Gorham, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Dr. Alan Chebuske and Dr. Catalina Atienza, 110 Auburn St., Portland, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• North Deering Dental Associates, 1334 Washington Ave., Portland, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Ravin Dental, 40 Hannaford Drive, Scarborough, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Dunstan Dental Center, 618 U.S. Route One, Suite 4, Scarborough, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Dr. James Ortengren, 463 Cottage Road, South Portland, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Dr. Stephen Palmer and Jonathan Shinay, 265 Westbrook St., South Portland, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Aspen Dental, 1717 Maine Mall Road, South Portland, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Bayview Dental, 70 Bayview St., Yarmouth, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Were you interviewed for this story? If so, please fill out our accuracy form
Audit: UNMC dental practice overpaid dentists
A private dental practice affiliated with the University of
Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry on East Campus
overpaid dentists and failed to ensure proper billing and
collection practices, State Auditor Mike Foley’s office has
found.
Foley’s office examined University Dental Associates’ financial
records and practices from July 1, 2008, through June 30. The
nonprofit corporation opened in 2006 and offers dental services as
an affiliate of UNMC.
It is run by 25 general dentists and dental specialists who also
are full-time faculty for the College of Dentistry. The money they
earn supplements their university incomes.
Foley’s review found the earnings of those dentists and dental
specialists ranged from $294 to $123,665 over the last fiscal year.
Combined, they earned $775,788 above their university salaries.
Dr. James Jenkins, president of University Dental Associates,
said the private practice is similar to other practices affiliated
with similar universities. As for the pay the College of Dentistry
professors earn, it is lower than pay earned by most other faculty
at private practices run by the college’s peer institutions.
Jenkins said the private practice allows the College of
Dentistry to more effectively recruit and retain dentistry
professors, who typically can earn significantly more in private
practice. It also allows those professors to stay abreast of dental
innovations, he said.
“It’s very nice to offer faculty the chance to practice here at
the college,” Jenkins said.
Foley’s review found University Dental Associates overpaid
dentists and mishandled $102,407 between fall 2009 and June,
largely as a result of problems with a software package it
implemented in January 2009. Foley’s office found University Dental
Associates had accounted for all but $56,885 of that figure based
on its own projections.
Dr. Randy Haack, chief financial officer for University Dental
Associates, said the accounting problems arose from coding errors
in using the new software system. He said the private practice, in
a few incidents, paid the wrong doctors but never overcharged
patients for services.
Jenkins said Foley’s office never found evidence of fraud.
“The problem was in the software,” he said.
University Dental Associates is working to correct mishandled
payments and other errors, and is even going beyond the auditor’s
review to look for errors, Jenkins said. He said it’s important to
note that the private practice’s revenues, which amount to about $2
million annually, do not involve state funds.
Foley’s office also found the private practice doesn’t properly
segregate duties in the billing and collection of service fees to
ensure no one person is able to both commit and conceal fraud and
abuse. Jenkins said University Dental Associates’ small budget
doesn’t allow for extra staff to ensure such segregation of
financial duties.
However, the practice does have internal financial controls in
place to prevent fraud, including requiring two different people to
reconcile revenues collected and distributed, Jenkins said.
Foley’s office also found University Dental Associates members
don’t pay for the facilities they use at the College of Dentistry.
However, Jenkins said, the practice’s dentists pay 5 percent of
their income to the College of Dentistry’s development fund for
equipment and other needs.
“The dentists are giving back, and I think that’s crucial,” he
said.
Reach Kevin Abourezk at 402-473-7225 or
kabourezk@journalstar.com.