This month, Dr. Sheri Doniger, editor of Woman Dentist eJournal, interviews two women in leadership roles — Susan Karabin, DDS, president of the American Academy of Periodontology, and Sarita Arteaga, DMD, MAGD, president of the Hispanic Dental Association.

Some great things have already happened and some great things are to come — the RDH Under One Roof™ conference and the Professional Dental Assisting Conference. Both offer outstanding programs for our hygienists and assistants. Let's talk about ways we can reward the best — our patients, team members, even ourselves — with the best things while we enjoy the rest of the summer.

WDeJ Editor Dr. Sheri Doniger interviews Dr. Lauren Argentina, a general dentist with a focus on cosmetic dentistry, who is currently an associate in two practices — one in Deer Park, New York, and one in Manhattan. Read on to get to know her better ...

Dental implants have been a revolutionary advancement in dentistry. It is often the best treatment option for replacing missing teeth. The first step toward incorporating implant dentistry into your practice is selecting ideal patients for your first implant case. Here are some basic principles that can serve as a starting point for implant dentistry.

In a down-trending economy, it's easy to look at aggressive solutions like cutting expenses, reducing production goals, or investing in more external marketing. But most dental patients will continue to strive for ideal care, invest in their health, and pay any fees if they like you, value their experience, are committed to a lifetime of dental care, and the office can make it affordable. Enhanced customer service creates strong relationships, so take it up a notch!

Dr. Kaneta Lott offers readers a valuable patient education tool in her dental sealants article. Give this to your patients to encourage them to consider sealants for their children as a protection against decay.

Despite the fact that folic acid can prevent some of the most common birth defects, young women aren't getting enough of it. Only one in three women ages 18 to 24 takes a daily supplement containing folic acid, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Ga. This age group accounts for roughly 30% of all births in the United States. Here are a few tips for women to make sure they get all the folic acid they need.

What was once speculation is now being confirmed by scientists: the brains of women and men are different in more ways than one. Scientists are looking into ways that sex-based brain variations affect the thought processes and behavior of men and women differently. Discoveries could point the way to sex-specific therapies for treatment of various neurological conditions, which, in turn, will mean better health outcomes for all patients.

Less than 10% of Americans have participated in a medical research study of any type, according to a recent survey by the Society for Women's Health Research. Thanks to the Internet, there are now opportunities to participate in research online. That's good news for patients who want to volunteer for research, but can't because of work, family, and other time-consuming commitments.

Dentistry and sports merge in the exciting practice of sports dentistry — a composite of skills for treatment, prevention, education, and research. Sports dentists who devote time to professional, collegiate, and Olympic teams treat only a small percentage of the athletes in this country. Statistics on athletic oral and dental injuries support the large number of youth and adult athletes in need of sports dentistry's expertise. Here's a brief look at areas of special interest.

An article written about the May 12 Sichuan earthquake disaster in the Shanghai Daily discussed the outrage and grief of the families affected by this calamity. Fortunately you don't have such disasters in your dental practices. Yet, you do encounter difficult situations, whether it is presenting a scary diagnosis, working with a challenging patient, or handling an awkward moment at the front desk. Here's how you can communicate the hard stuff in your practice.

Hindsight provides many answers to the question, "If I knew then what I know now, what would I have done differently?" When I graduated from dental school in 1976, there were no business courses, no courses on how to get along with people, nothing on practice vision, and certainly no insights into balancing life and dentistry. Dental school was all about teeth. I've learned most of what I know now through the school of hard knocks. Here's my list of what I've learned.

From the Broker — Whether you plan to purchase a practice or look for an associate position, identifying the best opportunity can be daunting. Here are some key things to zero in on when interviewing with a practice owner. From the Financial Planner — Depending on which career path you take into the dental community, your responsible actions will follow you and help you create opportunities. Here are some financial steps you need to take now.

Certainly, in the current economy, everyone is much more aware of how far the dollar isn't going these days. However, many dentists fail to recognize that they are among the few professionals with far more control over their financial situation than most. The first step in controlling your own practice economy is having some understanding of your numbers and how your office compares to the following overhead benchmarks.

It is not uncommon for a dentist to receive a request for a refund for a payment sent in error by an insurance carrier. The payment may have been processed incorrectly; paid for a person who is no longer eligible for benefits or who is no longer an employee of a certain company; or for any number of other reasons. Is a dentist required to refund the money? What rights does a dentist have when faced with this request? Let's take a look at answers to these and other questions.