Top 3 Ways Hackers Breach Dental Practices
And How to Protect Your Yourself
Gary Salman
CYBERSECURITY MIGHT not be the first thing you think of when running a dental practice, but hackers know your office is a treasure trove of sensitive patient information. From insurance details to Social Security numbers, to driver’s licenses, to highly regulated data controlled by New York State and federal laws, dental practices are prime targets.
Understanding how hackers breach networks—and how to prevent these breaches—can protect your practice from financial, legal and reputational damage. Patient data is highly regulated under New York State and federal Law (think HIPAA). In more than 90% of ransomware attacks, hackers will steal some or all your patient data regardless of whether you are using the cloud or your own server. The hacker’s modus operandi includes stealing your data, destroying backups, and encrypting all computers and data—basically “bringing you to your knees.”
Here are the top three ways hackers gain access to dental practice networks and simple steps to reduce the risk.
Beyond Bars
Improving Dental Health for New York’s Incarcerated Youth
The need for dental providers is critical. Filling the void is necessary component to rehabilitation.
Stacy McIlduff, CFRE
Research indicates a strong correlation between poverty in childhood and an increased likelihood of incarceration. Youth from low-income backgrounds face multiple risk factors that increase their odds of entering the justice system. Poverty-related challenges such as inadequate education, exposure to violence, limited access to mental health resources and family support contribute to higher rates of school suspensions, dropouts and behavioral issues, all of which can push these children into the juvenile justice system.
According to the New York State Office of Children and Family Services’ Juvenile Justice Detention Monitoring Report, a total of 3,854 juvenile detention admissions occurred across New York State in 2023. These youth, typically between the ages of 13 and 21, often enter the system from underserved communities and have experienced significant trauma.
The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) supervises the treatment and care of court-placed youth, managing residential facilities and providing them with the support they need to successfully reintegrate into society. Support services include education, employment training, recreation, counseling, mental health services, medical and dental care in both secure and limited secure facilities across the state.
The dental needs of these youth are significant and ongoing, particularly in the mid-Hudson and Rochester areas. There are nine residential facilities located in both urban and rural areas of the state. While each facility has
Brooklyn Periodontist to Head Northeastern Perio Society
STUART SEGELNICK, D.D.S., M.S., of Brooklyn was elected president of the Northeastern Society of Periodontists during NESP’s Fall Meeting Nov. 15 in New York City. Pictured here, Dr. Segelnick at right, presents outgoing president Dr. Tyler Kim with plaque recognizing his service. Dr. Segelnick was also recently appointed editor of The New York State Journal. He will assume his role with NYSDJ in January.
EDITOR
Chester J. Gary, D.D.S., J.D.
MANAGING EDITOR
Mary Grates Stoll
ADVERTISING & SPONSORSHIP MANAGER
Jeanne DeGuire
ART DIRECTOR
Ed Stevens
NYSDA OFFICERS
Prabha Krishnan, President
Maurice Edwards, President-Elect
Amarilis Jacobo, Vice President
Paul Leary, Secretary-Treasurer
William Karp, Speaker of the House
Mike Herrmann, Executive Director
Editorial and advertising offices are at Suite 602, 20 Corporate Woods Boulevard, Albany, NY 12211-2370. Telephone (518) 465-0044. Fax (518) 465-3219. Email info@nysdental.org. Website www.nysdental.org.
The NYSDA News (ISSN 1531684X) is published quarterly, in February, May, October and December, by the New York State Dental Association, Suite 602, 20 Corporate Woods Boulevard, Albany, NY 12211-2370. It is available in digital form only and accessible online in the members-only section of the NYSDA website, www.nysdental.org, under publications.
Should You Add a Specialty to Your Practice?
Eric Kaufman
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED turning your dental practice into one with a specialized focus? You may have been practicing for years and are interested in a change but have your reservations. Is it too late, and what are the implications? You might have certain expectations, which may or may not play out how you envision. Or maybe you’re not sure what to expect from a particular practice specialization but you’re curious about a transition and you’d like to get some insights.
Motivation for moving into a specialty varies; some doctors are hoping for improved revenue while others are interested in serving a different patient demographic. Maybe you’ve become drawn to the most interesting or cutting-edge aspects of dentistry and want to keep things interesting by facing exciting new challenges. Let’s see if we can paint a small picture to help you decide if a dental specialization would be right for you. There are a variety of specializations to consider, each with its own nuances. Pros and cons for each will vary and be highly dependent on your goals and interests.
Has This Ship Sailed?
Remember being a student planning out a course of study? You might be thinking you missed your chance and that was the time to pursue a specialization—when there were opportunities to explore different options and develop skills and experience while shadowing. Although you may be past that moment, institutions of education can still be used for identifying which programs are popular in your area, so you can assess whether that’s a specialty to avoid or pursue.
It’s natural to worry about unwanted consequences of a serious change to your business. Will I lose all my patients? Will I see a dip in revenue? Will new patients be able to find me after transitioning to a new focus? With a good plan and the right strategy coaching from your marketing partner, these need not be concerns. Don’t let imagined fears prevent you from going after your goals. There’s no need to take chances! Make calculated moves. Be sure to do market analysis to find out how easy it will be to get patients in your area for your chosen specialization—enlist the help of marketing professionals like ProSites to assist you.
Gains and Losses
One of the biggest perks that often comes along with dental specialization is the potential for increased earnings. After all, who doesn’t want to improve their financial situation? If it were as simple as that, though, we’d have an
UB Head and Neck Surgeon Provides Relief to Sleep Apnea Sufferers
Implant nerve stimulation surgery serves as alternative to CPAP machine.
Individuals diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea often rely on a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine for relief. While these machines work effectively for many people, other people find them cumbersome and uncomfortable.
Fortunately, there is an alternative—a device that is surgically inserted to deliver gentle stimulation to nerves controlling muscles that open up the airway. In October, Michael Markiewicz, D.D.S., M.D., M.P.H., professor and Feagans Endowed Chair of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, successfully performed the first implant nerve surgery on two patients at Kaleida Health in Buffalo.
Each surgery lasted less than two hours and went smoothly, Dr. Markiewicz said. Both patients went home shortly after the procedure, were seen a week later for a wound check and had no issues. Infection is extremely rare, according to Dr. Markiewicz, who describes the surgery as having minimal risk.
The FDA-approved implant device, created by Inspire Medical Systems, stimulates the hypoglossal nerve and helps keep the airway open during sleep. The surgery includes two small incisions into the neck and chest and insertion of a stimulator coil and a respiratory monitor, respectively. After patients undergo the surgery, they work with their physicians to fine tune their therapy settings and learn how to use a remote to turn the therapy on and off.
Sleep apnea affects more than 30 million adults in the United States, although formal diagnoses represent only a fraction of this number, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. And while, Dr. Markiewicz is confident the surgery can be beneficial to adults whose long-term health is seriously compromised by their struggle with sleep apnea, his goal is to eventually extend that benefit to children.
Touro College of Dental Medicine Adds Clinical Facility in New Mexico
TOURO COLLEGE OF DENTAL MEDICINE has added to its Hawthorne location, breaking ground in September on a clinical branch in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Located on the campus of Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute, a member of Touro University, Touro Dental Health New Mexico is the state’s first undergraduate dental clinical training facility. It is expected to open in May 2025 and enroll 200 students.
TCDM officials note that New Mexico lags behind the nation in the average number of oral healthcare professionals servicing residents of the state. They cite studies showing that the number of dentists per 100,000 people in New Mexico is only 48.4, below the national average of 60.84. They are hopeful that a significant number of graduates of the new facility will remain in state to pursue their dental careers, thereby filling the void.
Students at TCDM spend their first two years in the classroom studying basic biological sciences and the last two years seeing patients in the clinics. Going forward, 100 students from each TCDM class of 200 will do the classroom portion of their training on the college’s New York campus and spend their final two years treating patients from the Albuquerque community in the new clinical facility. z
UB Dental School Names New Chair of Restorative Dentistry
GRACE DE SOUZA, D.D.S., Ph.D., professor in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry at the University of Louisville (UL) School of Dentistry, has been named the new chair of the Department of Restorative Dentistry in the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, effective Jan. 2. When she joins the faculty, she will also teach courses as a professor of comprehensive dentistry.
Dr. De Souza earned a D.D.S., a master’s and Ph.D. in comprehensive care/ restorative dentistry from the State University of Campinas, Brazil. From 2004 to 2005, she was a visiting scholar in New York University College of Dentistry’s Department of Biomaterials and Biomimetics. As a researcher, she focused on understanding the degradation process of biomaterials as a way to improve patients’ quality of care. Her current biomaterials research includes studies on the stability of 3D-printed dentures and the crystalline stability of zirconia.
She has also developed an interest in factors related to equity in dental education, academic dentistry and health care. She is the principal investigator of a federal grant focused on recruitment and retention of pediatric and primary care dental faculty to treat diverse and underserved populations in Kentucky.
The Department of Restorative Dentistry is the largest of the dental school’s seven academic departments. As chair, Dr. De Souza will be responsible for the department’s overall administration, financial stewardship, academic oversight and faculty development. z
Grace De Souza
NYU Symposium Looks at Disability and Health Policy as Means of Improving Oral Healthcare for People with Disabilities
NYU COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY hosted its third AHEAD symposium—”Achieving Health Equity through Access for All with Disabilities”—on Nov. 13. The virtual event brought together policymakers, experts and advocates to discuss improving oral healthcare for people with disabilities.
Dental care is the most unmet healthcare need for people with disabilities. Patients and their families often face barriers to seeing a dentist, including insurance coverage and reimbursement policies, a lack of providers with disability-focused training and dental offices that cannot accommodate people with certain disabilities. To address this unmet need, NYU Dentistry established the Oral Health Center for People with Disabilities—a specialized, state-of-the-art clinic staffed by a collaborative, compassionate multidisciplinary team—five years ago. In addition to all NYU dental students learning to care for people with disabilities, the college leads several training and continuing education programs on oral health and disability for dentists, dental hygienists and other health professionals.
The event’s speakers included:
• Jim Brett, chair of the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities, which advises the president and secretary of health and human services about issues related to people with disabilities, and president and CEO of the New England Council.
• Congressman Seth Moulton (D-MA 6th District), sponsor of the Healthcare Extension and Accessibility for Developmentally Disabled and Underserved Population (HEADs UP) Act, a bipartisan bill that aims to expand and improve healthcare services for people with disabilities.
• Kim Hill Ridley, New York State’s first-ever chief disability officer.
• Kate Swenson, parent advocate and author of “Finding Cooper’s Voice.”
Additional panel discussions addressed the importance of integrated care to ensure optimal health outcomes for individuals with special healthcare needs, in addition to highlighting alternative models of support services. z
NYSDA Council Calls for Nominations
THE NYSDA COUNCIL on Nominations will meet on Wednesday, March 12, at 1 p.m. to make its selections for President-Elect, Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer of the Association in 2025. In addition, the council will ratify candidates and declare them eligible to run for the position of ADA Trustee-Elect.
Nominees for President-Elect must be members of the Bronx County Dental Society. Nominees for Vice President must be members of the Fifth District Dental Society. Nominees for Secretary-Treasurer may be members of any NYSDA component. All nominees must meet the eligibility requirements in Chapter VI of the NYSDA Bylaws. Nominees for ADA Trustee-Elect may be members of any NYSDA component and must meet the eligibility requirements in Chapter XIII of the NYSDA Bylaws.
Members wishing to submit nominations for any of these positions must do so no later than March 1. Nominations should be sent to Dr. Anthony M. Cuomo, Chair, Council on Nominations, NYSDA, 20 Corporate Woods Blvd., Suite 602, Albany, NY 12211. z
1. Human Risk: Clicking Links, Attachments or Giving Up Credentials
Hackers frequently exploit human error. Phishing emails are one of their favorite tools—posing as legitimate messages, they trick employees and doctors into clicking malicious links, opening infected attachments or providing login credentials. For example, you might receive an email that looks like it’s from a supplier asking you to update payment details, but in reality, it’s a trap. These emails are now being crafted by leveraging artificial intelligence, so the days of improperly worded emails are gone.
Preventative Measures
• Train Your Team. Cybersecurity awareness training is essential and required under HIPAA. Utilize cloud-based dental-specific training platforms to educate your entire team on the various forms of threats and scams.
• Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). Even if credentials are stolen, MFA adds an extra layer of security, requiring verification via a code sent to a phone or email.
• Use a Password Manager. Encourage staff to use strong, unique passwords stored securely in a password management tool.
• Phish Your Team. Leverage platforms that create and send simulated phishing emails to test your team on their knowledge and readiness to identify a malicious email, phone call or text message.
2. Vulnerability Exploitation of Computers and Firewalls
Hackers exploit outdated software, vulnerable technology and poorly configured firewalls to break into systems. Many dental practices unknowingly leave their networks exposed because they don’t regularly update software, perform daily vulnerability scans or replace aging technology. They are simply relying on anti-virus software to detect and stop threats. Unfortunately, most anti-virus software can be defeated by advanced hacking groups. Detecting and eliminating vulnerabilities often thwarts a hacker’s ability to get into your network.
Preventative Measures
• Regular Software Updates. Ensure operating systems, dental practice management software and all devices are updated with the latest patches. Outdated software is like leaving the front door unlocked. Use real-time vulnerability scanning technology to detect these vulnerabilities and automatically fix them. Scanning quarterly or annually is not effective.
• Secure Your Firewall. A properly configured firewall acts as a digital gatekeeper, monitoring and blocking unauthorized access. Have a cybersecurity company “pressure” test your firewall to determine if it is vulnerable to a hacker.
• Conduct Vulnerability Scans. Daily vulnerability scans and penetration testing conducted by a cybersecurity company can identify and fix weaknesses before hackers exploit them. Hackers are targeting you hundreds of times per day.
• Have Full Visibility into Cyber Risk. Ultimately, you are responsible for your security. Leverage third-party platforms that identify, mitigate and report all cyber risk so you have clear transparency into your cyber risk. You can’t simply trust that your IT company is doing this. These platforms should provide a cyber risk score, show you key performance indicators, and help you understand your overall security posture so you can make educated decisions, based on real data, for your practice.
3. Third-Party Breaches
Hackers also target the third-party vendors you work with—such as billing companies, practice management software vendors, insurance providers or even IT service providers—to gain access to your network. If these vendors are compromised, your practice could be collateral damage.
Preventative Measures
• Vet Vendors Thoroughly. Ensure third-party vendors follow robust cybersecurity protocols. Ask about their data protection measures and request regular security audits.
• Limit Vendor Access. Provide vendors with only the data they absolutely need and nothing more. Always understand where your data is located and who has access to it. Make sure you sign a Business Associates Agreement with all vendors that have access to or store your data.
• Use a Cybersecurity Partner. A cybersecurity company can evaluate third-party risks and set up safeguards to minimize exposure.
Why You Need Both an IT Company and a Cybersecurity Company
While IT companies focus on keeping your technology running smoothly—managing hardware, software and dayto-day troubleshooting—cybersecurity companies specialize in protecting your network from threats. Think of your IT company as the builders of your digital office and your cybersecurity provider as the security team guarding it.
Having both ensures your practice is well-equipped to stay productive and secure. IT companies typically lack the advanced tools and expertise needed for cybersecurity, such as vulnerability scans, threat detection, credentialed security experts and real-time monitoring. By partnering with both, you cover all bases: reliable operations and robust protection.
The risk of a cybersecurity breach in dental practices is real, but it’s manageable with the right precautions. By addressing human error, patching vulnerabilities, and mitigating third-party risks, you can protect your practice and your patients. Engaging both an IT company and a cybersecurity company ensures your systems are both functional and secure, giving you peace of mind to focus on delivering excellent patient care.
Don’t wait for a breach to happen. Invest in your practice’s cybersecurity today. Your patients, reputation and bottom line depend on it. z
Mr. Salman is CEO and co-founder of Black Talon Security and a leading authority on cybersecurity for dental and healthcare businesses.
Beyond Bars
its own medical suite staffed by a team of registered nurses and mid-level practitioners, not all facilities have onsite dental suites, and some rely on mobile dental vans for treatment.
Addressing the Gap in Dental Care
Youth placed in OCFS custody are disproportionately minority, and often have multiple special needs. They face numerous challenges, not the least of which is a lack of previous access to healthcare. Many arrive with untreated dental issues, from routine decay to more serious conditions, and require significant interventions to bring them to levels of adequate care for their age and developmental level.
“Our facilities are tasked with addressing these issues and ensuring that incarcerated youth receive care while they are in custody,” says Dr. Jim Horne, chief of medical services. “Many of them have had poor access to medical and dental care, and it’s common for these teens to be seeing a dentist for the first time in a long time while they are in our care.”
Many of the youth are grappling with multiple caries and abscesses, and third molar extractions are often needed. But finding dentists to work with OCFS to treat incarcerated youth is an ongoing challenge that Dr. Horne and his team are working to overcome through outreach to organizations like the New York State Dental Foundation.
At each facility, a medical team, including a dentist, is responsible for evaluating new arrivals and providing necessary treatment. Dentists are asked to visit facilities at least twice each month to provide services. This ongoing care includes everything from routine dental exams to more complex treatments, such as restorative, surgical and endodontic procedures.
Dr. Horne says that people underestimate the impact that a missing front tooth has on a teenager’s self-esteem. “We work with young people who are still developing, and our goal is to change their trajectory. For dental care, our emphasis is on restoration and education.”
So why has it been such a challenge to find dentists to treat these youth? Dr. Horne says a few factors are at play.
State dentists working in these facilities will make anywhere from $170,000 to $200,000 a year, which may be lower than those working in private practice. But OCFS offers a streamlined system for dentists who provide care at these facilities, alleviating many of the administrative burdens typically associated with the Medicaid reimbursement process. Dentists are reimbursed directly by OCFS based on standard Medicaid rates, with payment typically processed within a few weeks.
“But I think a bigger issue is the stigma around servicing these youth,” says Dr. Horne. “We’re asking a dentist to come to our facility to deliver treatment to kids who may need to be shackled. But providers see patients in a safe environment, and a youth counselor escort is always present. Historically we have not had any cases of a patient becoming physically aggressive during dental treatment.”
Dr. Horne cited other challenges in delivering dental care for incarcerated youth, including long wait times for oral surgery. Additionally, the lack of dentists willing to treat at their facilities has created a need to transport youth long distances for their dental care. They may receive treatment in locations more than an hour away, then make the long trip back, in restraints and recovering from a dental procedure.
Dentists Play a Vital Role in Rehabilitation
Dental care is just one piece of the rehabilitation puzzle for incarcerated youth—but it is a vitally important one. Given the critical need for dental services, there is a growing effort to engage more dentists in providing care to incarcerated youth in New York State.
Beyond Bars
from page 16 -
“We are looking for dentists who share our values and understand that providing oral healthcare contributes to the rehabilitation of these kids,” says Dr. Horne. “Restoring not only their physical health but also their self-esteem and sense of well-being is crucial to their overall rehabilitation. Our dentists are contributing to a broader goal of preparing these youth for reintegration into their communities and to lead healthy and productive lives.”
Dental providers who are interested in learning more about employment opportunities with OCFS can directly contact Dr. Jim Horne, Chief of Medical Services, at (518) 474-9560, or search vacancies at https://statejobs.ny.gov. z
Ms. McIlduff is executive director of the New York State Dental Foundation. Queries about this article can be sent to her at smcilduff@nysdental.org.
Should you Add a Specialty
continued from page 4 -
industry filled with nothing but specialists. However, depending on the specific focus, there could be trade-offs and compromises that just won’t be worth it for you.
For example, general care dentists often develop long-term relationships with their patients. This social dynamic is a huge part of the daily experience and quality of their work-life. Often visits are routine and non-emergency. So, your patients are feeling good and acting like their normal selves.
Contrast that with someone who’s been referred to you to address some kind of oral crisis. This is a patient you don’t have a long history with, so there is no social relationship. They’ve come to you so you can fix their problem. The patient might be dealing with panic or feeling like they’re having an emergency—and may have the added stress of financial constraints. Therefore, you’d need to be prepared to—and enjoy—managing those situations. You might find it rewarding to help a patient in a moment of crisis, or maybe the added intensity might feel too stressful on a regular basis.
Naturally, these patients will approach you with a different attitude. Here’s some money, please make this go away. You’ll likely work with them on a short-term basis, and then you’ll be on to another, similar patient. You may long for a deeper, more social daily experience. Or, perhaps, you prefer to operate with greater social distance, get down to business and make quicker money for your hourly efforts.
These generalized scenarios don’t always apply but still serve as an example of the kind of self-assessment you’ll want to consider. So, when you’re exploring a given specialization, gather as much information as you can, not only about financial promise, but also talk to practicing colleagues to get a sense of whether the experience sounds right for you. Most importantly, be honest with yourself about what you want and need.
The consensus among practitioners seems to be that specialists deliver higher standards of care on average because they only do one specific thing. They refine their craft and deliver excellence. Specialists also tend to average more money across the board. However, you really need to like the style of dentistry that being a specialist requires, because you’re likely not making long-lasting relationships with your patients. If you want to nurture and care for families, then general dentistry is a great fit. It can be incredibly rewarding, and you get to tackle a variety of care aspects.
Timing
Timing your transition could be important to keep in mind, along with assessing local competition and other marketing considerations—that you’ll want to have positioned or launched in advance. This is where ProSites can help. Having your web presence tuned to your new specialty and optimized to perform in searches is a great start. Taking a few steps further by setting up an email and social media campaign, and then reviews management, will put you in fantastic shape.
You might be reluctant to start anew after a long career. This is a reasonable concern but shouldn’t be a blocker to transition. All your experience to date will aid in your movement to a new type of practice. But it prompts the question—is there a best time in your career to change to a specialization? Some might argue that you’re best off determining this at the onset. But don’t be deterred. If you’re motivated, a transition can be the right move at any stage.
Implementation
If you think you want to move forward transitioning your practice into a specialty, here are a few preparation and marketing suggestions to encourage a favorable outcome:
• Create a transition strategy that outlines your goals and target audience.
• Keep your site fresh and updated.
• Use email marketing.
• Consider referral oppor tunities and how you’ll establish your network of relationships.
• Display patient reviews and testimonials where prospective patients can read them.
• Of fer promotions and discounts.
• Use social media (adding video has an SEO benefit).
• Send out patient satisfaction sur veys.
Should you Add a Specialty
continued from page 18
• Use local SEO.
• Update your Google business profile.
Any specialty would require marketing tactics that are specific to that niche field and strategies to reach the right patient market. In order to hit the target, you should enlist the help of a dental marketing firm. Reach out to NYSDA-endorsed ProSites at prosites.com/NYSDA for a free consultation to discuss the best strategies for marketing your practice, no matter your situation. With over 20 years of experience supporting the dental community, we’re here to provide the industry-specific marketing you need for a successful practice transition. And congratulations on taking this step toward reaching your goal! z
Mr. Kaufman is a writer/editor/instructional designer with ProSites, a NYSDA-endorsed provider of dental marketing and practice solutions, including website design, social media and reputation management and video marketing.
UB Head and Neck
continued from page 6
-
While far fewer children experience it, certain conditions can result in sleep apnea in infants, children and teenagers. Risk factors include enlarged tonsils and adenoids, congenital craniofacial abnormalities in the skull or face, obesity and Down syndrome.
“Typically, kids with Down syndrome have very large tongues and their airways are compromised,” Dr. Markiewicz said. “They can have really bad obstructive sleep apnea. Because half of my practice focuses on pediatrics, I’m really excited about the opportunity to perform this procedure on children, especially children with Down syndrome when indicated.” He adds, however, that approval for surgery on children may not be for some time. z
