Publications & Resources

The single most important factor in successfully defending a lawsuit or protecting a dentist from liability is good recordkeeping by the dentist. Legal concerns aside, good dental records also improve the quality and consistency of patient care.

Medication stewardship programs are important efforts by all frontline healthcare workers and are becoming more common in dental practices, as well. In dental practices, dentists should exercise particular caution when prescribing antibiotics and opioids.

Dental professionals have been on the frontlines during COVID-19, caring for others despite the difficulties they are also facing. It is vital that dentists take care of their mental health. Try the following resources and ideas to protect yourself emotionally during this incredibly stressful time.

Nearly all dental practices have resumed service, taking extra precautions due to the continued threat of COVID-19 and the emerging flu season. As patients returned, dentists saw the toll the pandemic was taking on teeth through an increase in stress-related oral health conditions.

Over the years, MLMIC has reached out to dental residents in New York to provide informative risk management programs geared to new dentists about topics like communication, the electronic health record, charting and healthcare proxy law.

New research says treating gum disease, along with other risk factors, may reduce a patient’s likelihood of having a stroke.

It is important to review workflows and procedures regularly to prevent office and facility standards from getting lax. The CDC summary contains a set of nine key recommendations for dental settings. MLMIC encourages dental health providers to consult the list of “do’s” and “do nots” for a refresher in safe injection practices.

Governor Cuomo has approved a bill that adds dentists’ offices to the sites that are included in New York’s state law regulating telemedicine.

Dental practices should develop protocols for tracking consultations, including patient compliance, and documenting conversations between referring and consulting dentists. In addition, patients’ dental records should reflect referral compliance (or non-compliance) and include related correspondence.

The newsletter for MLMIC-insured dentists and oral surgeons has been published and is available for reading on our website.