Workers’ compensation in dental practice sits at the intersection of clinical care, documentation, coding, and law. In this episode of Smile Sessions with Dr. Tony, we walk through everything dental professionals need to know to navigate work-related injuries — from the moment a patient walks in, through to claim approval and reimbursement.

Dr. Tony brings over a decade of clinical practice in orthodontics, implants, restoratives, and cosmetics, and knows the common pitfalls and essential best practices for handling occupational dental injuries. If you’re a dentist, office administrator, or team member involved in patient care or claim management — this episode is for you.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to assess injuries in workers’ comp cases: documenting mechanism, location, radiographs, and achieving a strong occupational nexus.
• ICD-10 & CDT coding specifics for fractures, luxations, avulsions, and tooth loss — plus how to pair them with external cause codes to support claims.
• Key claim filing steps in Illinois (as a primary example) including statutes, timelines, and reimbursement for restorative procedures.
• The lien process when reimbursements stall; state comparisons; tips for protecting your practice financially and legally.
• What patients need to know: reporting promptly, what entitlements you may have, and how to follow up care to avoid complications.

Why This Matters:
Dental injuries that happen on the job often involve more than just the treatment — the paperwork, coding, and claim process can make or break coverage. Accurate documentation and understanding state laws protect both patients and practices from denials, delays, or unexpected costs.

For Patients and Further Reference:
If you want to see how Archer Dental approaches workers’ compensation dentistry, including their policies and patient support, visit:
Workers’ Comp Dentistry at Archer Dental

Who Should Tune In:

• Dentists managing work-related trauma
• Office admins handling billing, coding, and claims
• Patients with workplace dental injuries
• All dental team members who want to streamline operations and ensure fair outcomes

Dental trauma can strike without warning — a fall, a sports injury, a workplace accident, or even a routine mishap. When it does, every second matters. In this episode of Smile Sessions with Dr. Tony, we take a deep dive into the evidence-based management of traumatic dental injuries, focusing on luxations, avulsions, fractures, splinting protocols, and the crucial role of documentation in private practice.

Dr. Tony, a comprehensive dentist with more than a decade of hands-on experience in orthodontics, restorative care, implants, and cosmetic dentistry, breaks down the protocols that turn chaotic emergencies into structured, successful outcomes.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Andreasen Classification System: The gold standard diagnostic framework for traumatic dental injuries.
• Luxation Injuries: Concussion, subluxation, extrusive luxation, lateral luxation, and intrusive luxation — how to diagnose, manage, and monitor each type.
• Avulsions: The critical importance of time and storage medium, replantation protocols, splinting techniques, and long-term follow-up.
• Complicated Crown Fractures: Pulp exposures, capping vs. pulpotomy, and restorative considerations.
• Splinting Techniques: Why flexible, fiber-reinforced composites are preferred and how splint duration varies by case type.
• Patient Instructions: Clear, evidence-based guidance you can give immediately in the chair to improve outcomes.
• Complications to Monitor: From pulp necrosis to resorption and ankylosis — what to expect and how to intervene early.
• Office Staff & Documentation: How to triage effectively, collect the right data, and ensure worker’s compensation or insurance claims are properly supported.
• Workers’ Compensation in Dentistry: Why proper documentation protects both patients and practices in occupational injury cases.

Why This Episode Matters:

Dental trauma isn’t just an “accident” — it’s a clinical challenge that demands precision, rapid decision-making, and a structured protocol. Whether you’re a general dentist, an endodontist, or part of a private practice team, knowing how to respond in the first minutes and hours after trauma can save teeth, preserve long-term oral health, and protect your practice legally and financially.

For Patients Seeking Help:

If you’re experiencing a dental emergency, don’t wait. Immediate care often determines whether a tooth can be saved. For more information about emergency dentistry services and common treatments, visit:
👉 Archer Dental Emergency Dentistry

Who Should Listen:

• General dentists handling trauma in private practice
• Endodontists and specialists interested in multidisciplinary management
• Dental office staff responsible for triage and documentation
• Patients wanting to better understand what happens during dental trauma treatment
• Anyone interested in how modern dentistry manages high-stakes, time-sensitive injuries

Closing Thoughts:

Dr. Tony emphasizes that trauma cases are high-pressure but manageable when approached systematically. From initial classification to splinting, follow-up, and long-term endodontic care, the protocols discussed here are not just theory — they are lifelines for patients and essential tools for clinicians.

Stay tuned for the next episode of Smile Sessions with Dr. Tony, where we’ll dive into worker’s compensation in dentistry and how it impacts patient care, staff workflow, and practice management.