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The article focuses on several ways to reduce coding stress of dental patients and increasing claim approvals and leading to more efficient collections. It mentions treatment plans must be developed according to professional standards, not according to provisions of an insurance contract. It also mentions American Dental Association (ADA) has developed the Center for Evidence-Based Dentistry to assist dentists with arriving at the best treatment decision based on the most up-to-date science.

The article focuses on interoperable electronic health records (EHRs) as tools in improving quality and efficiency in health care particularly in the connection of dentistry to the EHR process. It assesses the effect of standards, coding and systems developed for EHR by the American Dental Association. Particular focus is also given to the five action steps that help an individual prepare for interoperable EHR.

The article presents a discussion about oral cancer and preventing it. The "Oral Cancer: What You Need to Know" from the Oral Cancer Foundation lists indicators of the condition which includes ear pain on one side and sore under a denture. A grant was given to the American Dental Association (ADA) for a continuing education program that would help health-care professionals battle oral cancer. OralCDx® may be used to test whether sores have abnormal cells that could lead to cancer.

The article focuses on the importance of early detection of soft tissue oral cancer. It mentions that majority of oral cancers are not detected until Stage III or IV, leaving over 50% of victims dead in five years. The extraoral/intraoral soft tissue examination stands as the gold standard for oral cancer detection. Early detection modalities which are intended to improve the yield of standard screening such as brush biopsy, chemiluminescence technology and fluorescence technology are discussed.

The article discusses the future of the health care system in the U.S. that is scheduled to be chartless by 2015. It explores the role of the National Health Information Infrastructure (NHII) under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) which is reportedly formulating the parameters for chartless records. The author offers her views on the need for individual dentists to participate in the changes even if the American Dental Association is already involved with the NHII.

The article focuses on the practice of minimally invasive dentistry (MID) philosophy in the field of dentistry in the 21st century. It is indicated that MID is a proactive approach being used by dental professionals by focusing on the prevention of a disease instead of treating the disease after it has occurred. The benchmark used in the treatment of enamel infections is the early detection of these and use of remineralization therapies. Use of laser light fluorescence as a diagnostic tool is mentioned.

The article presents a paradigm shift of dentistry called teledentistry taking the place of the traditional practices of dentistry. Topics include the role of dentists and dental hygienists in helping the patients, a research on dental practice and spending by the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute, and a dental software platform called Teledent by MouthWatch.

The article focuses on the participation of brain tumor survivor Jen McDevitt to the New York City Marathon. McDevitt ran with Team McGraw in the New York City Marathon in November. She has run three marathons for the Sharing Hope team of the American Brain Tumor Association Months after her first surgery, she celebrated the anniversary of her diagnosis and first craniotomy by finishing the Chicago Marathon. She has not stopped running for brain cancer awareness despite multiple surgeries and more chemotherapy.

The article offers information on the changing health-care metrics, dental radiography, and teledentistry in dental practice.

The author discusses issues concerning compliance of dentists to the Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature (CDT) introduced by the American Dental Association (ADA). Topics explored include the involvement of dentists and orthodontists in the adoption of interoperable electronic health records (EHR) system, the updating of CDT by the ADA Code Maintenance Committee, and the implementation of dental procedure coding systems that would also benefit patients.

The article emphasizes the need to reevaluate oral cancer prevention procedures in the U.S. Only 15% of patients report receiving an oral cancer examination despite the claim of all dental practitioners that they conduct regular oral cancer screening, based on a 2005 American Dental Association (ADA) survey. The ADA launched a nationwide awareness campaign encouraging people to subject themselves to regular oral cancer examinations in November 2007. Also cited is the importance of defining oral cancer prevention protocols in dental practices.