Dr. Laura Shaeffer Harkin graduated Cum Laude from Franklin and Marshall College in 1999 with a major in mathematics and a minor in flute performance. In 2008, she graduated from Temple University School of Dentistry and immediately began to live her dream as a family dentist. Her value to the dental team was undeniable, as she shared her spirit for both compassion and perfection.
In addition to the rigorous requirements of dental school, Dr. Harkin has completed level-four training at the prestigious Pankey Institute and has advanced dental implant and restorative credentials. Dr. Harkin has continued to further her education and is a certified Invisalign® dentist.
The Reason I Write Treatment Letters to Each Patient
By: Laura Harkin, DMDThis topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.Org. Dr. Harkin granted igniteDDS permission to share with…
Accurate X-Ray Records: Best Practices for Dental Teams
By: Laura S. Harkin, DMD This Topic Originally Appeared On Pankeygram.Org Radiographic imaging is an important diagnostic aid…
Management of Congenitally Missing Teeth in Ectodermal Dysplasia
By: Daren Becker, DMDÂ This topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.org. Dr. Becker granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. Case Presentation A 16-year-old girl presented with the worst case of ectodermal dysplasia I had ever seen. She was missing all of her lower teeth except for her 12-year molars. She presented with a lower…
Don’t Guess Your Way Through Credentialing — Maximize ROI from Day One
By: Angela Holland Stepping into your first dental practice is like jumping into the deep end — exciting, but full of unknowns. You’re a clinician, not an insurance guru, and that’s okay. You don’t know what you don’t know, especially when it comes to strategic credentialing. But here’s the truth: a sloppy approach to insurance…
Lessons Learned From Listening to Different Preceptors as a D4
By: Michael Eid One of the hardest parts of dental school isn’t the hand skills or the exams — it’s treatment planning. One thing I’ve learned is that every preceptor has their own philosophy. At first, you want to take every word as gospel. But the deeper you get into clinic, the more you realize:…
Mentoring the Next Generation of Dentists: Your Legacy Matters
By: Edwin A. McDonald, DDS This topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.org. Dr. McDonald granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. After over 40 years of offering relationship-based dentistry, I’ve learned that while the clinical aspects of dentistry continue to evolve, the core human needs remain the same. Patients still want to be heard, understood,…
Removing Saliva Contamination Effectively from Indirect Restorations
By: Dr. Lee Ann Brady, DMD This topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.org, Dr. Brady granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. One of the most common and frustrating challenges with indirect restorations is achieving a strong bond after intraoral try-ins. Saliva contamination during this step is nearly unavoidable, yet even a small amount can…
Equal Pay vs. Fair Pay: What’s Best for Your Practice?
By: Garrett Wilson Compensation is one of the toughest decisions dental offices face. Limited access to reliable data, a lack of clear best practices, and the absence of a consistent structure can make it overwhelming. But one choice every practice must make is whether to follow an equal pay or a fair pay philosophy. Equal…
This Is Just How It Is, Right?Â
By: Dr. Eric Recker I remember so vividly being in the throes of burnout. My life had gone gray. Nothing excited me. I was under immense pressure running a practice with a team of 18. I was exhausted. I was dying inside. I questioned whether it would matter if I wasn’t here on this earth…
How Dentists Can Be Patient with Their Dental Assistant as They’re Still Learning
By: Ronda Holman Every dentist remembers that awkward learning curve when they first started practicing — the fumbling, the second-guessing, the mental checklist running in the background. Your dental assistant goes through the same thing, but here’s the kicker: they didn’t go to dental school. That means, in the beginning, …and that’s okay. Learning a…
Resin-Bonded Bridges: A Conservative Approach for Missing Lateral Incisors
By: Lee Ann Brady, DMDThis topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.org. Dr. Brady granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. As restorative dentists, our commitment to providing high-quality, lasting dental care is unwavering. Ideally, we’d offer our patients restorative solutions that last a lifetime without needing repair or replacement. However, in reality, no restoration…
The Hidden Power of Strategic Insurance Credentialing for New Dental Practice Owners
By: Angela Holland When you’re a first-time dental practice owner, the thrill of finally running your own show is unbeatable. You’ve got the skills, the vision, and the patients — but here’s the catch: you don’t know what you don’t know. One of the biggest blind spots? Insurance credentialing. Strategic Insurance Credentialing It’s not just…