Sarah Handzel, BSN, RN

A new report from Cybersecurity Ventures puts cybersecurity spending in healthcare at $65 billion by the time 2021 rolls around. The report pegs industry growth to the rise of cloud-based data storage and telemedicine services, such as teledentistry. The news follows the recent Wancry cyber attack that crippled England's National Health Service.

The American Dental Association and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center are partnering to prevent oral cancer. The two groups will work to increase vaccination rates for HPV and promote smoking cessation efforts. Experts say there are more than 50,000 cases of cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx diagnosed each year.

MouthWatch has debuted its new teledentistry platform called TeleDent. The platform integrates with existing teledentistry systems or can operate on its own. The new system interfaces with the MouthWatch intraoral camera, allowing remote dentists to receive diagnostic images without breaching HIPAA compliance.

A bill making its way through the Nevada legislature would hold dentists accountable for all online advertising they use specifically search engine optimization. Currently, all state dental advertising laws do not cover SEO. Under the bill, dentists could face suspension or revoked licenses if they break the law.

The days of having a data server in your dental practice may be numbered. Health care, including dentistry, is embracing the shift toward cloud-based computing. One study expects a complete shift to cloud storage in the next five years. The cloud computing change has specific implications for dentistry.

A new sedation mask, created by Crosstex International and Accutron, Inc., is intended to improve how nitrous oxide and other anesthetic gases are delivered to patients. The single-use mask is designed to have a better seal around patients noses to keep gas out of their eyes. The mask, which can also be steam sterilized, should help dentists avoid the use of tape or nasal cannulas.

Researchers have known for years that the shape of a person's jaw can be used to determine the likelihood of certain diseases and disorders. However, new research out of the University of Washington School of Dentistry shows that jaw shape may correlate to which hand is a person's dominant hand. The data indicate that people with slender jaws tend to be left-handed.

A national survey conducted by Vigilant Biosciences, in collaboration with the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance, Oral Cancer Foundation, and Support for People with Oral and Head and Neck Cancer, shows the majority of adults living in the U.S. want their dentists to screen for oral cancer during visits.

It's been said before that Americans are busier than ever, and many people claim they have no free time because of the demands of their jobs. But there's one upside to being so busy you can't stop to enjoy life, a higher perceived status in society.

Women have made many gains in dentistry. Consider that in 1982, they made up 3 percent of all practicing dentists in the U.S. By 2014, 47 percent of dental students were female. And yet, a gender pay gap persists among dentists. New research published in the Journal of the American Dental Association aims to understand why.

California legislators may soon overhaul its state-run dental program for low-income individuals and families. Two bills are making their way through the state legislature. One would expand the program, granting more access to residents. The other would increase dentists' reimbursement through program participation.

What services are you getting in return for the state taxes that you pay? In its latest analysis, WalletHub looked at the return on investment taxpayers are getting in each state. Dentist's Money Digest® previously reported on the study, highlighting where the tax ROI is best. Unfortunately for residents in these states, this is where it's worst.

WalletHub, in its latest analysis, looked at what residents are getting in return for their state tax dollars. Criteria for evaluation included education, health and safety, among others. Here's how the top 10 states stack up.

U.S. dentists can now purchase BIOLASE's Waterlase Express. The new Waterlase Express is about a quarter of the size of the company's Waterlase iPlus system. New features include 4K HD animations that demonstrate each step of procedures and step-by-step protocols for periodontal and implant procedures.

April, in addition to being Oral Cancer Awareness Month, is also National Facial Protection Month. Five dental organizations have teamed up to promote the use of mouth guards in sports. They note that nearly $500 million is spent each year to treat damaged or knocked-out teeth. The cheaper solution for dental patients: wearing a mouth guard.

Has the tax man left your pockets feeling a little light? With Tax Day having come and gone, many dentists are left smarting. The good news is that when it comes to taxes, the grass may actually be greener in another state. The number-crunchers over at WalletHub recently released their complete ranking of tax burdens on a state-by-state basis. These are the states that enjoy the lowest tax burdens.

Feeling a bit on edge lately? We are, to a certain degree, products of our environments. And if you're living in these 10 states, your environment could be spiking your overall stress levels. The number-crunching gurus at WalletHub used 33 criteria to rank the most stressed-out states of 2017. Find out if your state landed among the top 10.

The American Psychological Association reports that stress levels have crept up across the board in the U.S. in 2017. However, residents in these 10 states, analyzed by WalletHub, might find life a little bit easier. The number-crunchers there ranked all 50 states according to 33 key stress indicators. See if your state made the cut.

A recent Health Affairs study examined the effect of efforts to enroll more people in dental coverage through Medicaid. Currently under Medicaid, dental coverage for adults is optional. This study examined whether low-income adults with Medicaid dental coverage were more likely to access oral health care than low-income adults without the coverage.

The Santa Fe Group is working to expand Medicare to include dental coverage for Americans aged 65 and older. Currently, Medicare does not offer this benefit. Citing an increasing body of research that links oral health to conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, the nonprofit is hoping to find sympathetic ears for its lobbying efforts in Washington.

You may think of yourself as being in the business of cavities and crowns, but you're also in the business of saving lives. April marks Oral Cancer Awareness Month. Instances of oral cancer are on the rise, and dentists play a pivotal role in its early detection. Since most people see their dentists more often than any other healthcare provider, you are positioned to be the first to spot the disease.

Researchers harvested tooth germ cells and tissues from a dog, then reconstructed them. This reconstructed material was then transplanted into mice. After several weeks, tooth-crown formation had taken place in many of the mice. The transplant resulted in hard- and soft-tissue formation.

A team of researchers in the United Kingdom is investigating the effectiveness of a new implant nanocoating to reduce the risk of peri-implantitis. The team coated titanium alloy implants with silver, titanium oxide, and hydroxyapatite, then studied the implants' ability to resist biofilms. The researchers hope these nanocoatings will have longer-lasting effects than what is currently on the market.

Faced with mounting debt, the University of Washington's School of dentistry is in the middle of a reorganization. Since 2007, the institution's total debt load has ballooned to about $35 million. The Dental school has implemented a hiring freeze and hired a comptroller to try and get the situation under control.

President Donald Trump has proposed reductions in funding for several health institutions in his 2018 budget, including the National Institutes of Health. Now, the American Dental Association has weighed in on those proposed cuts. Gary Roberts, D.D.S., president of the ADA, has said the organization is alarmed by the proposed cuts, adding that the nation's oral health will suffer as a result.

The days of metal braces may be numbered. The University of Alabama is recruiting study participants for a trial of a new orthodontic treatment option that uses air to reposition teeth. Trial participants must wear the device for 10 hours daily. It can be worn while sleeping. The trial is expected to last 15 months.

With the future of the EPA's ruling requiring dentists to use amalgam separators up in the air, dentists are unsure of whether they should proceed with purchasing the expensive devices. Moreover, many dentists already purchased the devices before the Trump administration rolled back the ruling. Now, an environmental group has filed a lawsuit to try and stop the rollback, casting the ruling's fate in even further doubt.

3D Systems is now offering a modular dental printing devices that it says will prove beneficial for smaller dental laboratories and practices. The company says the printer will cut down on printing time and wasted material. 3D Systems says its new printer can make 20-30 crowns in about 15 minutes.

More dentists are entering the sleep medicine field by offering appliance-based therapies for patients with sleep apnea. To that end, a new nonprofit has launched to provide dentists with the continuing education they need to treat disordered breathing. The American Sleep Apnea Association estimates that 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea.

British researchers have come up with a bacterial detection system for root canal treatments. In early trials, the system seems to be effective. Currently, the failure rate for root canals from secondary bacterial infections is one in four. SafeRoot, the new system, can detect bacteria in as little as three minutes.