There are several actions dental practices can take to prepare themselves for adverse occurrences during patient treatment.

Scheduling challenges, high out-of-pocket costs and lack of access to care continue to be barriers for patients seeking oral healthcare.

HHS has amended the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act declaration on Oct. 3 to allow dentists and dental students to administer monkeypox, smallpox and other orthopoxviruses vaccines to patients in a declared emergency.

The Maximizing Outcomes through Better Investments in Lifesaving Equipment for Health Care Act, or MOBILE Act, which gives community health centers more flexibility in using New Access Points grants for mobile health care units, passed in the House on Sept. 29.

The American Dental Association pledged $5 million to a campaign and four more updates from the organization that Becker's has reported on since Sept. 2:

A dental coalition is urging CMS to increase access to dental surgeries at ASCs.

Increased communication between dental and medical providers can result in reduced barriers to care, according to a report from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine in Aurora.

The American Dental Association recently committed $5 million to a campaign supporting a ballot measure that would establish a medical loss ratio for dental payers in the state.

More Americans are hopping back into the dental exam chair in 2022 compared to 2021, according to a report from Zocdoc, a digital healthcare marketplace.

Access to care, negative emotions associated with dental visits, and a lack of understanding about the connection between oral and overall health are the three main barriers hindering older Americans' oral health, according to a recent survey.

Here are five clinical leadership stories Becker's has reported on since Aug. 18:

The American Dental Association recently backed two educational initiatives involving student loans and grants for two dental roles. 

The North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners recently made changes to how anesthesia is administered to dental patients after several patient deaths, WWAY reported Sept. 12.

Several dental organizations have partnered to create legislation pushing for increased licensure portability for dentists and dental hygienists.

Here are nine updates about the monkeypox virus outbreak as the U.S. tops 21,000 cases:

CMS released proposals with changes to dental service fees, and several clinical groups urged the federal organization to expand care under Medicare. 

The American Dental Association recently commented on CMS' proposal to provide dental coverage under certain medically necessary conditions.

The American Dental Association recently gave several suggestions to CMS to improve Medicare Advantage plans. 

High cost and lack of insurance coverage are not the sole reasons Americans skip out on dental care.

The American Dental Association and the Massachusetts Dental Society are supporting a ballot measure that would establish a medical loss ratio for dental payers in the state.