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Talking with the Toothcop

Welcome to Talking with the Toothcop, your Dental Compliance Podcast. Check out interviews with industry leaders and listen to the wisdom and experience of THE Toothcop: Duane Tinker. He knows a thing or two, because he's seen a thing or two! 

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Waterline Safety - AMANDA HILL, RDH, BSDH
  Amanda Hill RDH, BSDH has been a dental hygienist for over 26 years. When she took her annual infection...
MCS Infection Control Solutions - Paul Saueressig
Without question, the Covid pandemic had a large impact on the healthcare field. It highlighted monstrous changes that needed to...
How the No Surprises Act Impacts Dentists - Laura Diamond
Have you heard of the federally implemented “No Surprises Act?” Were you aware that it applies to dentists? The No...
PROTECT YOUR PRACTICE: EXCLUSIONS MONITORING + COMPLIANCE PROGRAMS - JUSTIN WITHROW
Everyone needs a compliance program tailored to the needs of their practice. Justin Withrow jumps in when a compliance program...
Dental Compliance Doesn't Matter Until It Matters. Then It Matters BIG TIME
When you’re in the midst of a busy day in your dental office, the details are the things that you...
Enforcement Activity Is Up! Do You Have A Legit Paper Trail?
During the 4th Quarter of 2021 we saw a lot of enforcement activity, from the agencies that are announcing their...
An Important Announcement from the Toothcop
I started the Talking with the Toothcop podcast in December 2017. Andrea has been with me since early 2019. We...
Instrument Processing: The Proper Cleaning Process
I work with dental offices and do a lot of dental inspections/consults. I help people identify what they need to...
Dental Infection Control Awareness Month
It’s September! And it’s officially Dental Infection Control Awareness Month! We get you’re probably sick and tired of hearing about...
The Toothcop’s Quick Tips for Emergency Preparedness
Did you know that September is National Preparedness Month? So in this episode of Talking with the Toothcop, we share...
The Lowdown on the 2021 Dental Compliance Bootcamp
In this episode of Talking with the Toothcop, you get a glimpse into the “behind the scenes” of what recording...
THE BACKPACK RULE - GIVING GIFTS IN DENTISTRY
Did you know there are specific rules from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) regarding giving things of value...
PMP Inquiries: Clearing up the Confusion
Are PMP inquiries required for sedation meds that are dispensed in the office? A listener read through the rules in...
The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners Newsletter [Important Updates]
In this episode of Talking with the Toothcop, I share some sobering news that recently happened in Kansas. I’ll also...
HIPAA: The Treatment, Payment, and Healthcare Operations (TPO) Exception
A lot of people get the Treatment, Payment, and Healthcare Operations (TPO) Exception wrong. So in this episode of Talking...
The Lowdown on Hepatitis B Vaccinations + Post-Vaccination Testing
Recently, I’ve dealt with some level of confusion surrounding the Hepatitis B vaccinations (HBV) and post-vaccination testing requirements. So in...
Get to Know Duane + Andrea
This episode of Talking with the Toothcop is a two-parter! In the first half, you’ll get a look behind the...
Diving Deeper into the COVID-19 Rule Expiration
In our last episode, we talked about how the Texas State Board allowed their COVID-19 rules to expire. We think...
The Expiration of the COVID-19 Rule: How Does it Impact Dentists?
The Texas dental board let the COVID-19 rule expire (rule 108.7 subsection 16). How does that impact dentists moving forward?...
Don’t Neglect Your Sedation and Anesthesia Reviews
Are you doing proper sedation and anesthesia reviews? Are you making sure you don’t have drugs sitting in your office...
Death in the Dental Office: Avoid Tragedy with Proper Training
Last week, I read an article about a dentist in North Carolina who got busted after a patient died. So in...
Where Are You Rusty in Your Dental Practice?
I recently realized it’s been so long since I’ve played my guitar that the strings have started to rust. It’s...
Compliance Training Doesn’t HAVE to Be Boring
Who says compliance training can’t be fun—or funny? In this fun episode of Talking with the Toothcop, we take a...
Walking Through a Corporate Integrity Agreement [CIAS Part III]
In the first episode of this series, we talked about what a corporate integrity agreement is. In the second episode,...
The OIG’s Focus on Compliance [CIAs Part II]
In the last episode, we talked about what a corporate integrity agreement is and what compliance programs should look like....
How A Compliance Program Can Save Your Bacon
This episode is the beginning of a series about corporate integrity agreements. One of the important elements that is part...
The Genius of Protect It Dental Emergency Medical Kits - Scott Sankary
Emergency medical kits are essential for dental practices—but most have a kit thrown under a cabinet that’s stocked with expired...
Dental Compliance Reminders [Social Media, X-Rays, and Beyond]
Are you cultivating a culture of compliance in your dental practice? Are you careful about what you post on social...
Handling Infection Control Breaches - India Chance + Michelle Strange
If you fail to follow the infection control protocols that you KNOW will prevent the transmission of disease, you’ll find...
Preventing Infection Control Breaches - India Chance + Michelle Strange
What qualifies as an infection control breach? What is the easiest way to prevent them? In this episode of Talking...
The Importance of an Infection Control Coordinator - India Chance + Michelle Strange
Why is the role of an infection control coordinator so important? How do you simplify safety so any dental office...
The Compliance Guru of New England - Dr. Lisa Kane
Dr. Lisa Kane is to New England what I am to Texas. She is THE compliance guru. She practiced dentistry...
A Tale of Chemicals and Conduct
We like to provide clients all the materials they need to prepare for the next calendar year. We usually try...
Needlestick Injuries: Prevention + Protocol
  Needlestick injuries have been cropping up again in the last few months. These injuries are considered “occupational hazards” in...
DENTAL COMPLIANCE RULES: NEW IN 2021 [PART II]
In this episode of Talking with the Toothcop, we’re sharing a few more important reminders and things to stay on...
Dental Compliance Rules: NEW in 2021
What’s new in 2021? CE requirements are changing, PMP self-query rules are in effect, and e-prescribing has officially kicked off....
How a Dental Consultant Can Transform Your Dental Practice - Tonya Burns
If COVID has taught us anything, it’s given us clarity. The first thing you should question for 2021 is “What...
Dentistry Rules + Regulation Changes in Texas
 Texas has rolled out some regulations and rule changes that dentists need to stay on top of. From controlled substance...
Dental Chart Auditing [Why It’s SO Important]
Why do you need to monitor and audit your records? Why is verifying that your billing is done correctly so...
The 7 Elements of Dental Compliance Programs
Years ago, the federal judiciary realized that federal judges needed sentencing guidelines for healthcare fraud. In the process, they issued...
The DEA and Dentistry [Need-to-Know Updates]
 Did you know that October is the National Substance Abuse Prevention Month? In keeping with that theme, this episode of...
Sedation Inspections + EPCS + Continuing Education: What You Need to Know
Every five years, Texas conducts inspections of any practice that uses sedation. Some practices have recently undergone their initial inspections....
Dental Unit Waterlines: The Good, Bad, and the Ugly - Mike Rust + Kellie Thimmes
  Water is the lifeline of your dental practice. If your dental unit waterlines are covered in biofilm, you’re in...
HIPAA Security Compliance: WHY it’s So Important
  HIPAA security compliance isn’t talked about often in the dental community. But the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) can...
We Tackle Coronavirus Dental Compliance Questions with Dwight Shreve
In this episode of Talking with the Toothcop, Dwight Shreve joins Andrea and I to cover some of the most-asked...
Conflict Resolution Strategies for Dentists
The impact of the Coronavirus is leading to heightened emotions and increased tension. I’ve been fielding a lot of phone...
From Cop to Tax Consultant: How Craig Cody Serves the Dental Niche
Are you looking for a tax consultant for your dental practice? Do you understand the necessity of tax planning and...
The Impact of COVID-19 on the Future of Dental Practices - Mike Rust & India Chance
Many dental practices have been sitting closed, deemed non-essential businesses during the COVID-19 crisis. Or they’ve only seen patients on...
Critical Incident Stress Management: What You NEED to Know
Critical Incident Stress Management. Unless you’re in the military or a first responder, you’re likely not familiar with this terminology....
The Importance of Sterilization Processes - Stephen Kovach
Sterilization processes are always important in dental practices to protect your staff and your customers. During the Coronavirus pandemic, everyone...