The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services released an updated version of its Dental Opioid Action Plan to help address the opioid epidemic.

Here are five clinical leadership updates Becker's has reported on since Oct. 18:

The American Dental Association's Enhanced CDT Task Force is seeking dentist input on proposed changes that would compliment the current coding format. 

A CDC health advisory warning of a bacteria in dental waterlines and five other infection control updates from the last seven days: 

The CDC issued a health advisory Oct. 31 warning of a bacteria in dental waterlines after recent infections linked to a pediatric dental office.

A California law set to go into effect Jan. 1 allows some California prescribers to be exempt from having to electronically prescribe all medications, which is the current standard.

The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons provided new guidance for treating medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

More adults have visited the dentist for preventive reasons than reactively this year, according to Delta Dental's "2022 State of America's Oral Health and Wellness Report."

The American Medical Association recently approved a category III CPT code that allows primary care providers to apply silver diamine fluoride to treat cavities. 

Here are three dental policy updates Becker's has reported on since Sept. 13:

The Illinois State Dental Society asked Gov. J.B. Pritzker to update the state's COVID-19 protocols for healthcare facilities to be in line with changes made by the CDC.

The Organized Dentistry Coalition is urging the Senate to pass the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act, a legislation requiring insurers to cover dental and oral procedures to treat birth defects.

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.