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The article discusses the ability of dentists to pursue excellence and still charge an economic price for it. It says that the impact of a shift in economic environment has a profound effect on the dental profession. It cites the case of Great Britain where the collapse of many nationalized and private industries has affected the workforce. It is observed that in Great Britain, the dental professional has become a low-fee, high-production service, destroying the standards of practice. It states that the future treatment of early dental caries lies in microsurgery. It says that restorative dentistry will rise in demand, especially for older people. It is feared that the profession is confused in the midst of commercial pressures and its pursuit of excellence and has lost its way.

Background: This cross-sectional study was designed to measure the level and distribution of job satisfaction of registered dental practitioners and to explore the factors associated with it. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted among 66 registered dentists in Srikakulam, India. Job satisfaction was measured by using a modified version of the Dentists Satisfaction Survey questionnaire. The statistical tests employed were "t" test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Post hoc test (Scheffe test) was employed for multiple comparisons. Results: The response rate was 82.5%. The mean score of overall job satisfaction among dentists was 3.08 out of 5. The most satisfying aspect was income (3.7) and the least satisfying aspect was staff (2.5). Overall satisfaction increased with age. Male practitioners showed less satisfaction with staff, income, and overall satisfaction and more satisfaction in professional relations and time, when compared to females. Job satisfaction was found to be more in practitioners with postgraduate qualification. Conclusion: This study suggests that patient relations, perception of income, personal time, and staff are the important factors for job satisfaction among dentists. The findings of this study will be helpful to policymakers to design plans in order to increase the level of job satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dental profession holds a special level of trust with the patients; the profession makes a commitment to patient that they will adhere to high ethical standard of conduct. In recent times the dental profession is under attack by litigation cases by disgruntled patients who are not satisfied by the treatment. The dissatisfaction can be resolved between patients and doctors but sometimes patient turn to courts to get the matter solved. A litigation case against a dentist causes loss of reputation, loss of income, harassment, mental agony and embarrassment in the society. Hence, to protect oneself from such type of suffering the dentist should have an idea about the rules and regulation guiding their profession, the law and litigation pertaining to their practice and standard protocols to follow to avoid the malpractice cases. The data gathered for this review article was from manual and internet search of records. The following review article provides basic information on ethical principles, dental negligence and related liabilities, case reports and how to make dental treatment more qualitative and accountable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. In Sweden and Denmark, clinical dentistry is changing and public dentistry is in transition towards more market orientation. Dentists' overall job satisfaction is important for how public dentistry can fulfil the new expectations from patients, the public and politicians. Objectives. The aim of this study was to investigate what organizational factors were important for publicly employed salaried dentists' overall job satisfaction. Methods. A random sample of active, general dental practitioners (private and publicly employed) was selected in Denmark and in Sweden, and they received a postal questionnaire. The number of questionnaires was 1835 and the response rate was 68% ( n = 1226). This study analysed only the publicly employed dentists. The sampling frame for the Swedish dentists was 431, response rate 68.9% ( n = 297) and for the Danish ones 194, response rate 81.9% ( n = 159). Multivariate regression was used with overall job satisfaction as a dependent variable. Results. Common organizational variables were important. The used model explained between 32% (Sweden) and 39% (Denmark) of the variance in overall job satisfaction. The only significant individual factor was less job satisfaction for Swedish dentists born outside Sweden. An organizational climate characterized by a focus on professional values was associated with job satisfaction in both countries. Among the Swedish dentists, number of colleagues and degree of influence were also important and among the Danish ones sufficient time for patients. Conclusions. Organizational factors had an impact on salaried publicly employed dentists' overall job satisfaction in both countries. The findings may have implications for other Human Service Organizations with employed professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses early-career income trajectories among non-Western immigrant and native-born physicians and dentists in Norway. Registered data comprising all medical and dental graduates from Norwegian universities dating from 1990 through 2005 are utilized. The results show that, on average, immigrants and native-born individuals display similar income trajectories; however, they do have somewhat different earning profiles. Among employed professionals, immigrants receive lower income premiums as a result of job change but receive higher returns from tenure. There are no income differences among self-employed professionals with non-Western immigrant background and majority background. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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We hypothesized that more teeth would be treated by fee-for-service dentists than predicted by salaried dentists. In a cohort of 3818 participants, the number of teeth treated was related to the number of teeth with treatment needs by means of a zero-inflated negative binomial model. Among those obtaining dental care within 6 months (study population, n = 1239), the adjusted predicted number of teeth treated was 2 (95%CI = 1.7;2.3) for patients with no treatment needs. The sum of teeth treated by fee-for-service dentists (4374 when considering the whole cohort and 3550 when considering the study population) was much higher than that predicted by salaried dentists (4220 when considering the whole cohort and 1770 when considering the study population). Our findings demonstrate a disparity between dental needs assessment and the dental treatment actually provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the 2009 "Journal of Clinical Orthodontics" Orthodontic Practice Study in the U.S. It discusses practice success in terms of factors that seem to be associated with increased net income and case starts. It presents several charts including mean case starts by use of management methods, use of management methods by net income level, and practice-building methods by net income level.

The article presents a reprint regarding the results of a survey of retirement plan utilization by dentists in the U.S. taken from the "Blair/McGill Advisory" newsletter. It provides details on the responses from several dentists regarding the number and types of retirement plans sponsored by their practices as well as their annual contribution. It presents a glossary of retirement plans and a prediction of future trends in plan structures.

The article discusses a study which focuses on the trends in dental practice in terms of net income and numbers of case starts in the U.S. It states that the respondents were divided into three net income categories including high with more than 500,000 dollars, moderate with 300,000-425,000 dollars and low with less than 235,000 dollars. Several charts are also presented depicting the results of the study including the profit level by geographic region, by delegation and by years in practice.

The article focuses on the reduced and eliminated benefits of the testamentary trusts prior to the changes from the 2014 Federal Budget. Topics discussed include financial planning for dentists' testamentary trusts, several benefits of testamentary trusts, which include the exclusion from installment taxes payment, minimum tax entitlement, and ability to choose the preferred year-end, and progressive tax rates.

The article explores corporate dentistry in Canada and examines its implications for professional incomes. Topics discussed include the state of dental practice and dental corporations in Australia, the incomes of U.S. dentists who own and who do not own their own practices, and the factors that have contributed to corporate dentistry's growth in the U.S. These factors include the availability of a large pool of venture capital and a growing supply of cheap professional labor.

The article offers information on the shifting of dental professional to Personal Dental Services (PDS) of the Bedfordshire, England from General Dental Services (GDS). It states how the dental rates had been low under the Dental Rates Study Group (DRSG) and GDS. By joining PDS, the dentists will be direct under local health authority. The PDS also came up with a pilot project which was purely voluntary.

The article reports on the results of the survey of the "Journal of Clinical Orthodontics" on practice success of orthodontists in relation with their income in the U.S. Researchers found that they have three net income levels, like high with more than 420,000 dollars, moderate with 240,000 dollars to 340,000 dollars and low with less than 200,000 dollars. They also discovered that those with high net income received higher fees for their services, than those with low and moderate income.

Focuses on the recommendation of the salary increase of doctors and dentists in Great Britain. Discussion on the need for salary increase; Factors affecting the manpower situation; Information on the total cost to the National Health Services of the salary increase.

The article examines some economic aspects of the production of dental care in the National Health Service (NHS) in Great Britain. It discusses the significance of remuneration system applied in dental care and the payment mechanisms underpinning the system. It also explores the analysis of the techniques of production and the input combinations used by dentist, and evaluates the influence of these factors on productivity. On the data presented, the estimated equations show a declining marginal product per hour worked. It cites that the General Dental Service (GDS) needs to be integrated with information about the size and the nature of the private work undertaken by the General Dental Practitioners (GDPs).

Our initial question was whether the concept of a production function could be useful in understanding behavior in the market for dental services. An immediate answer is "Yes." A regression equation suggested by the concept can explain nearly half the variation in output even on an individual practitioner level. The estimated equation can be used to predict outputs from various arrangements and to estimate implicit wage rates for dentists' time. A large number of behavioral hypotheses are shown to be consistent with the data. For instance, we found evidence of a learning-by-doing effect among young dentists with an increase in slack in the older ages. Both seemed to have a significant effect on productivity with the highest productivity around age 45.
The data used in the analysis provided an extremely large number of observations which facilitates precise estimation of the relationships in the production process. A detailed breakdown of practice time allowed us to correct for technical efficiency.
The lasting importance of the study, however, will have little to do with the parameter estimates. Our analysis provides persuasive evidence that for given prices dentists act as if they maximize profits or the utility of income and leisure. When prices are mandated by insurance, prepayment arrangements, or government programs a model of utility maximization should prove valuable as a guide to policy decisions. Where prices are not mandated, as they are not for most patients in the U.S. today, an overall model of behavior awaits resolution of the pricing mechanism. That resolution must be consistent with the evidence we have presented here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the resolution of salary issues between provincial health insurers and dentists in North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany. Statistics are presented on dentists' incomes and expenses in 1967 as reported by the Federal Statistics Bureau and compared to figures from four years earlier. The comparison shows relatively diminishing business costs for the dental professionals, coupled with significant revenue increases that outstrip national economic growth indices.

The article presents information about socio-political developments in West Germany in 1964. Alterations have been made to West German national welfare legislation regarding regulations for services offered to people with severe disabilities. The West German political parties Christlich-Demokratische Union (CDU) and Christlich-Soziale Union (CSU) have requested state support for older relatives of farmers. Dentists' salaries will be raised by 40 percent, starting July first, 1965.

The author reflects on the concept of "technoapathy" in dentistry. Technoapathy involves indifference toward innovative dental technologies on the part of dentists. The fact that practitioners of dentistry are not compensated for spending time on comprehensive risk assessment and clinical diagnosis is said to be a limiting factor.

Abstract: The government changed the system of payment to general dental practitioners on 1 April 2005 from a fee/item to a banding system. The figures collected have shown that there has been a 62% increase in the number of patients who require admission for surgical treatment of spreading odontogenic infections compared with the 3-year period before this date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information about owner/manager compensation and tax-planning options for incorporated dentists. Canadian-controlled private corporations (CCPC), which include professional corporations established by dentists, are reportedly subjected to tax rates based on the level and type of income earned. It is stressed that it is important that the payment of personal tax should be understood when withdrawing the funds to be spent inside the corporation.

The article examines a proper cash flow management system at various stages of a dentist's career. Cash management can make the difference between a dentist's financial security and financial ruin. Several case studies of the cash flow management system of dentists are presented. Recommendations on cash management are also outlined.

The author reflects on his 30 years in the field of dentistry, noting that the profession seems to experience cyclic highs and lows. He compares the work of a dentist and that of a physician, noting that dentists tend to earn comparable salaries while working fewer hours. The importance of clinical skills in dentistry is also highlighted.

The article discusses the impact of overhead costs and treatments on dental practice income. It mentions the increase in cost on treatments offered to patients compared to working hours. It also offers information on the fixed cost and variable costs which includes staff wages and dental consumables respectively.

The article explores the compensation strategy that a dentist may adopt when he sets up a dental corporation. Topics discussed include the need to adopt a compensation strategy, factors to consider in designing the strategy, and a differentiation between employment income and investment income. Factors to consider include the dentist's estimated annual expenses, income tax implications, and possible splitting of income.

The article offers dentistry news briefs as of April 1, 2017. Topics discussed include the acquisition of 11 dental practices by Dental Care Ireland, the percentage of dentists who claimed for income protection at financial services firm Omega Financial Management, and the ability of dentists to control and manage pensions.

The article analyzes the situation of dental health workforce in India. Topics discussed include efforts of the Indian Government in improving the situation of oral health care in the country, role of the skilled and motivated workers in improving the condition throughout, and impact of private sector involvement with the dental education on the increased production of oral health care workforce. It further discusses the weaknesses like lack of job opportunities in public sector and low salary.

The article offers the insights of several readers regarding the annual retention fee (ARF) imposed by the General Dental Council (GDC) in Great Britain. Martin Parsons states that it must not be an ideal financial management on behalf of the GDC. Robert Manual mentions that the ARF increase will raise comments.

The article discusses the decline of dental spending which lead to the fall on the income of dentists in the U.S. It mentions that the decrease in dental spending is attributed to a decline of dental usage by 19 to 64 years old individuals. It notes that the rise in Medicaid eligibility resulted in the increase in pediatric dental services. It also emphasizes the preference of those in the middle-age group to spend money on other things than dental care.

Introduction A new dental remuneration system based on bands of activity has changed the reward system operating in dental practices and influenced practitioner behaviour in relation to the delegation of tasks to English dental therapists (DTs). Since dental practitioners operate as independent contractors they are free to innovate. A variety of models incorporating DTs in general practice teams exist, some of which may overcome the apparent delegation constraints embedded within this system of remuneration. Objectives To describe the way different practices are organised to take account of DTs in their teams and identify whether any of these models address delegation disincentives arising from the system of remuneration. Method A purposive sample of six dental practices was identified, comprising two small, two medium and two large dental practices, including a variety of models of practice organisation. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with principal dentists, associate dentists, DTs, practice managers and dental hygienists (35 participants in total). A thematic analysis was applied to interview transcripts. Results The six dental practices demonstrated six different models of practice organisation which could be grouped into 'practice payment' and 'dentist payment' models according to whether the salary costs of the DT were met by a central practice fund or from the income of individual dentists in the team. In both of the large practices only some of the dentists in the team referred work to the DT because of reimbursement issues. In two practices the system was perceived to be satisfactory to all parties, one of these being a single-handed practice with two DTs. Conclusion Although the remuneration system contained some potential disincentives to DT delegation, some practices innovated in their organisations to overcome these issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the January 11, 2016 article regarding the prediction that the dental incomes will remain stagnant in the future.

Information regarding the Ontario Dental Association (ODA) General Council meeting that was held in Toronto, Ontario in May 2015, is presented. Topics discussed include the key aspects of dentistry, ways on how to improve the financial remuneration for dentists, and the governance structure of the organization. The meeting featured several dental professionals including Roger Howard, Victor Kutcher, and Randall Croutze.

The article discusses a pay increase for British National Health Service (NHS) physicians and dentists recommended by the doctors' and dentists' review body (DDRB) in Great Britain. The pay review body agreed on a 1.5% increase that will start on April 1, 2009. The increase is lower than the increase suggested by NHS employers. Dr. Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the council for the British Medical Association (BMA), comments on the reaction physicians will have to the award and says the British government should cut back in other areas.

The article offers insights for dentists on managing their pension savings in Great Britain. He cites that the factors they should consider regarding pensions include retirement age, the amount of pension savings by the time of retirement and whether pension funds are invested wisely. He notes that many dentists' pensions are invested in riskier funds. He suggests them consider purchasing an investment property using pension funds.

The article presents an overview of the dental market in Ontario in 2006. It discusses the increase in average dentist incomes. It examines the emergence of assertive financing for purchasers for the year. It cites some of the difficulties created by the acquisition or sale of a practice privately including unintentional withholding of valuable information.

The article discusses the problem of dentists regarding taxes, with focus on the Division 1 Proposal, a legal process under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act. Dentists are subject to high levels on income tax, thus they invest in tax shelters to protect their income. The Division 1 Proposal allows a debtor to facilitate a settlement with creditors and avoid bankruptcy with the assistance of a trustee in bankruptcy. A viable and attractive alternative to bankruptcy is offered by the proposal.

Presents a letter to the editor of "British Dental Journal" commenting on the discrepancies in salaries between general practitioners and general dental practitioners in Great Britain.

The author reflects on the idea of orthodontists reducing their fees. The author argues that the reduction would have no effect other than to reduce income or to make it necessary to increase the case load by 16%-25% just to stay even. The author emphasizes that when orthodontists consider reducing their fees, it is in response to a downturn in referrals and case acceptance.