Dr. Laura B. Holena, DDS, owns Special Care Smiles in Wilkes-Barre, PA and spent 12 years in a group practice for special-needs patients before opening her clinic.
A graduate of Penn State University and the University of Buffalo Dental School, Dr. Holena is currently President-Elect of the Special Care Dentistry Association (SCDA) and a board member of the Academy of Dentistry for Persons with Disabilities.
Breaking Barriers to Care: Innovation in Special Needs Dentistry
By: Laura B. Holena, DDSThis topic originally appeared on ConvergentDental.com. Dr. Holena granted permission for this content…
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…
Building a Highly Productive Schedule with Fewer Patients
By: John C. Cranham, DDS This topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.org. Dr. Cranham granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. When I’ve looked at and really studied my practice numbers over the years, my favorite has always been productivity per hour. I have aimed to focus on a low volume of patients who need…
Lessons Learned From Doing Emax Crowns 6–11 as a D4 Student
By: Michael Eid I had the opportunity to help my best friend, Bashar AbuJardeh, on a huge case as a dental student. Although crowning anterior teeth may be routine for a seasoned dentist, it’s a rare and special opportunity in dental school — especially when the case spans from tooth #6 to #11. Working on…
Designing Your Self-Determined Future in Dentistry: A Guide for Dentists & Dental Teams
By: Dawn Patrick, Dental Business Coach IgniteDDS In dentistry, it’s easy to feel like the future is something that happens to you rather than something you shape. Between patient schedules, team needs, insurance headaches, and unpredictable emergencies, most dental teams end up reacting rather than intentionally creating the life and career they want. But the…
The Ideal Floss for Dental Implant Care
By: Dr. Lee Ann BradyThis topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.org. Dr. Brady granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. Cleaning around posterior dental implants can be a real challenge for patients — especially when it comes to reaching wider gingival embrasures. In my practice, we’ve found one simple solution that makes a big…
6 Ways to Let Patients Know What Dental Services Your Practice Provides
By: Phillip Gold, Master CDT This topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.org. Mr. Gold granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. If your patients don’t know what you offer, how can they say yes to potential treatments they may need. Don’t let your patients walk away from your practice uninformed, thinking you only provide emergency…
Tips to Ensure Precision in Veneer Preparation
By: Charles Ward, DDSThis topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.org. Dr. Ward granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. You’ve done your digital planning, printed your models, and created a dental mockup. That’s great! But before you start prepping those teeth, we need to make sure that mockup is spot on. Why? Because a…
Dental Credentialing Done with Strategy: Your Fast Pass to Profit as a New Dental Practice Owner
By: Angela Holland Launching your first dental practice is a thrilling leap into ownership, a chance to build something your own way. But amidst the excitement of setting up shop, there’s a critical step that can either turbocharge your profits or leave you scrambling: insurance credentialing. If you’re thinking it’s just a box to check,…