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The President's report
Dr Gwen Chin ADAWA President
The Australian Dental Congress (ADC) is set to take place in Perth from 8 to 10 May 2025. As one of the most significant events in the Australian dental profession's calendar, the ADC provides a platform for dental professionals to engage with the latest advancements in dental science, technology, and practice. Organised by the Australian Dental Association (ADA Federal), the Congress attracts practitioners, researchers, and industry experts from around the country and beyond.
Next year's Congress has been promised to feature a diverse array of keynote speakers, hands-on workshops, and continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities. Attendees can look forward to engaging sessions on innovative dental treatments, digital dentistry, and patient care improvements. Renowned international and local speakers will share their insights and experiences, fostering a rich environment for knowledge exchange and professional growth. Additionally, the exhibition hall will showcase the latest products and technologies from leading dental companies, providing attendees with a comprehensive view of the industry’s future.
ADAWA is keenly aware of the many organisational challenges that such an event involves. We have made it clear to Federal ADA on numerous occasions
CEO Trevor Lovelle
President Dr Gwen Chin
that we are committed to ensuring that this event is to be of the expected standard and calibre of past Congresses.
Dental Health Week will take place from August 5-11, 2024. Organised by ADAWA’s Oral Health Education Committee, this annual campaign aims to educate the West Australian public about the importance of maintaining good oral health.
The theme for Dental Health Week 2024 is “Let’s talk about gums”.
Throughout the week, various events and activities will be held nationwide to raise awareness about oral hygiene practices, the impact of diet on dental health, and the importance of regular dental check-ups. Schools, workplaces, and community centres will participate in the campaign, offering free dental check-ups, educational workshops, and interactive demonstrations. The ADA will also leverage social media and online platforms to spread key messages and engage with a broader audience.
Dental Health Week underscores the ADA’s commitment to advancing dental health and education in Australia. These events provide invaluable opportunities for both professionals and the public to enhance their understanding and practices of oral health, contributing to healthier communities across the nation.
Editorial Brooke Evans-Butler Designer Michelle Walker Advertising Business Development Manager Shaden Kanaan
CEO update Trevor
Lovelle
Special Resolution - Proposed changes to the ADAWA Constitution
Following the adoption of the ‘Strategic Directions 2023-2028’ plan in July last year, Council agreed there was an urgency to review the ADAWA Rules (Constitution) which was last amended in 2018, to ensure that the Rules are fit for purpose and are an enabler of the strategic directions emerging from the Strategic Plan.
The methodology adopted for the Review comprised:
1. A desktop review of the constitutional requirements of the current Associations Incorporation Act and comparison with other State branches.
2. Independent review to determine whether the Constitution is contemporary and fit for purpose to serve the interests of ADAWA.
3. Consultation with the Constitution Committee and Council to understand current issues/challenges with the Rules.
4. Review of the Constitution against the key priorities of the Strategic Plan.
Consequently, there were 15 recommendations made by the Constitution Committee and endorsed by Council. ADAWA’s solicitors then drafted changes to the Rules, which reflect the recommendations, for consideration by members at the 4th September 2024 General Meeting and adoption by Special Resolution.
** Explanatory Memoranda that identify and gives context to the proposed changes will be provided together with the Special Resolution to members during July ahead of the September General Meeting.
Renovating your practice: part one
The decision to renovate a practice is a very important one. So how do you go about making the right decisions? In part one of our renovation series, we spoke to the experts about choosing the right property and initial considerations.
Sam Koranis Medifit managing director
Sam says before you start considering design and construction, it is important to ensure you have the right property.
“Are you leasing or are you buying?”
Sam asks. “The deal is only going to be as good as the lease you take on so if you are leasing it is very important to negotiate a long tenure. The longer the initial tenure, the better incentive the landlords will give you.”
If you are considering purchasing a property, Sam says it is important to consult a business like Medifit to access it to ensure it is fit-for-purpose. “You need to ensure it is going to comply with council requirements,” he explains. “Whether you are leasing or
purchasing a property you have to do some initial council liaison to ensure the use is going to be approved by council. You need to check the current designated use of the property, and check things such as if there is going to be enough parking, all before you start thinking about renovating.”
He says doing your research when it comes to choosing a building company for design and construction is equally as important as choosing a building. “At the moment we have an overheated property market coupled with tight subcontractors availability, therefore it is imperative you choose a builder that has had a long
Dental Excellence
tenure in the dental industry with continuity of experienced trades. You want someone to do it right the first time, which will mean less problems and less variations.”
Once you have the right property (whether leasing or purchasing) Sam says Medifit provides the clients a schematic to see whether their brief will fit into the space.
“From that, we can give an opinion of probable cost, which is not a quote but is helpful for budgetary purposes and procuring finance approvals,” he explains.
Sam adds there is not much difference whether you are renovating a leased or purchased commercial property (although people who have purchased their properties tend to spend more on quality finishes)."The critical path to success is to ensure that the design solution meets all your criteria. The following adages definitely apply: 'The devil is in the detail, and 'If you fail to plan, you plan to fail'," he says.
“We go through a briefing workbook with many prompts,” Sam says. “The first thing we ask is what is your speciality. Are you left or right-handed etc? At 3D modelling stage we go through the equipment list. On completion of design, we produce
shop drawings at our Manufacturing facility allowing us to build better and faster and have more control of the site. This proven approach allows us to ensure that no variations are charged to our clients, by accurately costing the design prior to formalising our fixed lump sum construction contracts. By the time we go to site, every potential challenge associated with the site has been meticulously planned for.”
Sam’s top tips
• Make sure you surround yourself with professional people who will help you get the best lease or purchase of the property.
• Do your due diligence. Speak to people who have used the company that you are considering eg: ask whether there were a lot of variations, did they finish on time, was the quality as high as you expected etc.
• Don’t be scared to ask if you are unsure of anything. There is no such thing as a dumb question.
Dental Excellence
WEST COAST DENTAL DEPOT
According to Wayne Young, sales and project manager from West Coast Dental Depot, selecting the right location for a dental surgery is crucial for its success and growth in the long-term.
He recommends considering the following points:
Demographics
Analyse the demographics of the area to ensure there is a sufficient population base. If this is rural based it may be critical.
Competition
Evaluate the existing dental practices in the area. While some competition is healthy, too much can saturate the market. Look for areas with a moderate level of competition or where there is a gap in dental services.
Accessibility
Select a location that's easily reachable for your targeted audience. Aim for ground-floor spaces within multi-story buildings, ideally with street-facing windows. Ensure ample parking nearby and proximity to public transportation routes.
Visibility and Signage
A visible location with good signage can attract walk-in patients. Consider locations with high foot traffic or near other businesses that attract potential patients i.e. medical centres or other health orientated businesses.
Zoning Regulation
Ensure that the location you choose complies with local zoning regulations for medical or dental practices. Check if there are any restrictions on signage or operating hours.
Facility Requirements
Assess the space requirements for your dental practice, including the number of treatment rooms, waiting area size, and facilities for staff. Ensure the chosen location can accommodate these needs.
Costs
Consider the cost of leasing or purchasing property in the area. Balance the expenses with the potential revenue and growth prospects of the location.
Future Development
Research any planned developments or changes in the area that could impact the demand for dental services. Choose a location with potential for long-term growth and stability.
Community Presence
Building a strong presence in the local community can help attract patients. Consider locations where you can easily engage with community events and organizations.
West Coast Dental Depot’s managing director Greg James says to ensure a smooth renovation process, it is important to consider:
Goals and Objectives
Clearly define the goals and objectives of the renovation. Determine what improvements or changes you want to make to the practice, whether it's updating equipment, improving patient flow, enhancing aesthetics, or expanding the space.
Budgeting
Establish a realistic budget for the renovation project. Consider all potential costs, including construction, materials, equipment, design fees, permits, and any unforeseen expenses. It's essential to budget for contingencies to accommodate unexpected costs that may arise during the renovation.
Timeline
Develop a realistic timeline for the renovation project, considering factors such as construction lead times, permit approvals, and any seasonal considerations. Coordinate with contractors and suppliers to ensure that timelines are feasible and that the project stays on track.
Sandford Dental
Sandford Dental
Dental Excellence
Sandford Dental
Patient Impact
Consider how the renovation will impact your patients and plan accordingly to minimise disruptions to their appointments and comfort. Communicate with patients in advance about any changes to scheduling or temporary closures during the renovation process.
Workflow and Space Planning
Evaluate the current workflow and layout of the practice and identify areas for improvement. Work with designers or architects to optimise the space for efficiency, functionality, and patient comfort. Consider factors such as treatment room layout, waiting area design, and staff workflow.
Technology Integration
If incorporating new technology or equipment into the practice, ensure that the renovation plans accommodate the necessary infrastructure, such as electrical, plumbing, and IT requirements. Plan for the installation and integration of new equipment to minimize downtime during the renovation.
Aesthetic Design
Pay attention to the aesthetic design of the practice, including colour schemes, finishes, furnishings, and branding elements. Create a welcoming and professional environment that reflects your practice's identity and resonates with your target patient demographic.
Contractor Selection
Choose reputable contractors, architects, and designers with experience in dental office renovations. Obtain multiple quotes and conduct thorough research to ensure that you select qualified professionals who can deliver quality workmanship within your budget and timeline.
Sandford Dental
Greg James of West Coast Dental Depot consulted to principals and project coordinators Chris and Susan Hill for the fit-out of Sandford Dental.
Photos by Photographica Kirsten Sivyer.
Dental Excellence
The fit-out of Dental Excellence was facilitated by Medifit.
Contacts and opportunities
Drs Peter Duke and Amit Gurbuxani were awarded ADAWA Honorary Life Membership at last year’s Annual General Meeting. We spoke to Peter and Amit about about the recognition.
Dr Peter Duke
Dr Peter Duke joined the Australian Dental Association WA branch in 2002 after relocating to Perth from England.
“I was a young associate dentist and was considering purchasing a share of the practice I was working in. I felt that there was so much more dentistry and business aspects of dentistry that I hadn’t been connected with,” he recalls. “I needed a supportive group of people to help me start to negotiate through the complexities and challenges of running a dental practice and wanted the reassurance that the information I was getting was correct.”
In addition to joining a respected group that could guide him through a successful career, Peter also saw becoming a member as an opportunity to meet with other dentists.
“When I first arrived in Perth, I didn’t know a single dentist,” he says. “I formed all my professional contacts through people I met at work and through ADA functions.”
Over the years, Peter decided to volunteer his time on several ADAWA committees, including:
2023 - 2022 Infection Control
2022 - 2021 Constitution
Infection Control
2020 - 2014 Infection Control
2014 - 2013 Dental Practice & Workforce
Infection Control
2009 - 2006 Community Dental Care
2006 - 2005 Aged Care & Special Needs
In addition, he has been a member of Council since 2011. “Being on Council has allowed me to have a bigger vision and awareness of where dentistry is at and the challenges that the profession is facing,” he says. “I find it very rewarding when at council meeting, we problem solve and open new pathways to better serve our members and patients.”
Peter was both humbled and surprised to be the recipient of an Australian Dental Association WA Branch Honorary Life Membership at last year’s Annual General Meeting.
“I had never anticipated that I was worthy of such recognition,” he says. “I feel very honored and humbled by the experience and it has given me the realisation that when you commit to doing things that you are passionate and enthusiastic about you can make a difference.
“My journey with ADA has been one where each day I have worked as a hands-on practitioner in a busy general practice whilst managing the responsibilities of owning practice. As a result, I experienced the reality of being a general practitioner and business owner and I bring my feedback to council.”
Peter says being an ADAWA member means he feels very connected to the community of dentistry. “As an individual working in a small practice, I associate with two or three dentists a week,” he says. “Through ADA I can associate with the whole of the dental community and that to me means so much by connecting with like-minded people on like-minded journeys in life.
“Secondly, which is what I depend on, is that I get the best of the information through ADA, which brings me peace of mind and allows me to provide the best care for my patients.”
He encourages other ADAWA members to be engaged with their association. “This is our community and to be fully engaged it is about using the available resources, reading correspondence, and trying to physically attend some events. The reality of online courses is you don’t meet a lot of people, and you gain so much more than just the information at courses and events in-person.
“I am always very grateful for all the opportunities I have had through ADA to further myself as a practitioner and being on council the opportunities have allowed me to further myself as a person,” he adds.
Dr Amit Gurbuxani
Dr Amit Gurbuxani joined the Australian Dental Association WA branch around 2010 when he moved to Australia.
After finishing his tenure as ADAWA President last year, he was humbled to be awarded an ADAWA Honorary Life Membership at October’s Annual General Meeting.
“The life membership was a very big honour,” he says. “Most importantly, it means for me that I now get to do a life-long service for members,” he says. “It has shown me that being President was not the end of the line; I now get to give back for the rest of my life to the association.”
Amit adds it was an honour to receive the award on the same evening as Dr Peter Duke.
“If you look back at the past Honorary Life Membership recipients, most are past ADAWA Presidents,” Amit says.
“It was a great honour to receive this award at the same time and on the same stage as Peter because, despite not being a President, Peter has given back to the association in so many ways. The recognition shows that it is not only the people whose faces are upfront being recognised, but also those working behind the scenes.”
When asked what it means to be an ADAWA member, Amit says to him, it means being part of a community.
“It means being there for each other when things are hard and also means celebrating with each other when things are good,” he says. “I think being an ADAWA member means the peace of mind that if things get tough, the tough will get going because ADAWA is there with you.
“I can hand on heart tell you that any member who has needed us in times of strife they will know about
Photo courtesy: Alessandro Bianchetti
Amit became involved in the workings of the association, volunteering on Committees including: : COMMITTEES
2023-2022 Constitution Committee
Professional Indemnity Committee
FARC Committee
2022-2021 Constitution Committee
WA Dental Foundation Committee
COUNCIL
2023-2022 President
2023-2012 Council member
2022-2021 Vice President
2020-2017 New Members, Recent Graduates, Student Committee
2017-2015 Students and Recent Graduates Committee
2015-2013 Continuing Professional Development Committee
Dental Workforce & Education Committee
2014-2013 Student Liaison Committee
it, whether Aphra education, health fund audits, item code queries or membership services. These are just some of the things we provide as members. If you need just one of these, your membership value is already in place.
“The ADAWA is a joint effort from staff, along with each and every member of our board and the committee members who put their hand up year after year to come and volunteer without expecting anything in return,” he adds.
“I often hear from people: ‘You are too busy’ but the truth is it is busy people who get the jobs done."
“Every member needs to be involved in their association because the association will be nothing without them.”
Together we can
Dr Lida Sayadelmi has long been an active volunteer – and encourages others to find their reason.
Dr Lida Sayadelmi was only 10-years-old the first time she volunteered –tutoring her classmates in mathematics. “I felt immense joy to see them being confident and not anxiously struggle their way through school,” she recalls. “As a young person, I did not know the value of knowledge, but I just wanted to share what I could to help them.
“In my capacity as a dentist, I start supervising in UWA Dental School in 1994 but it was not until after 2003 that I got into hands-on volunteering with the ADAWA Oral Health Education Committee,” she adds. “Since, then I have been fortunate to be able to volunteer with TIMA, Autism Australia, ADA DHF Dental Rescue Days at OHCWA (Oral Health Centre of WA) and Healing Smiles.”
Dental Rescue Days
Lida has been part of Dental Rescue Days from the start. “I volunteered with TIMA Perth at OHCWA in October 2018 and I could sense that volunteering as a team had an elevating vibe and everyone was happy to be there,” she says. “So, when Dr Tracey Gold and I were chatting about running a Dental Rescue Day at OHCWA, I had no doubt that it would be successful.”
The Dental Rescue Days have been an amazing way to introduce dental students to the impact of volunteerism. “Interestingly, I have never had to ask any of them to volunteer,” Lida says. “They hear about it in my conversations with patients or other volunteers and they become immediately interested. Helping others is human nature and our dental profession is very generous in many ways.”
Lida adds everyone is different, but she can say with certainty that first-time volunteers are always most eager. “They get more enthusiastic – eye-witnessing the genuine gesture of appreciation, relief and the smile of these patients ....no monetary reward compares to it.”
Healing Smiles
Lida is a member of the Committee of Healing Smiles – a group of female dentists providing pro bono treatment for survivors of domestic violence.
Lida joined Healing Smiles at its inception after receiving an invitation from Dr Gosia Barley, not knowing how she could help, but knowing she wanted to help. “Soon after the very first meeting and chatting to Gosia (the clinical coordinator at the time), it was clear to me that Healing Smiles is of a group of leading and compassionate ladies with only one goal on their mind – benevolence of a specific disadvantaged group who have no representation and very little choice.”
In the early days, Lida was a clinical provider, and later joined the committee. She said each role has unique challenges. “I have learned so much personally and professionally in both roles that sometimes I feel I am the lucky one, blessed with the opportunity to grow as a human being beyond my imagination while making a difference in other people’s lives,” she says.
She adds the generosity of the team, both clinical volunteers and board members, is humbling. “There is so much respect in the air. It is like an unspoken code that we all feel and abide by,” she says. “As hard and impossible as this journey may seem sometimes, our team never gives up and we always find a way to get through any obstacle.
“My vision is to see us spread more regionally where we are most needed but also nationwide. While we are at it, why not help out those countries less fortunate than us. Together we can.”
Giving back
To other dentists considering volunteering, Lida says don’t think about it; just do it.
“Do it now and do it for the right reason,” she advises. “Find ‘your reason’ and you will not be overwhelmed.
“ADAWA has brought together so many worthy and highly organised charities now and you can find the one that sings to your heart. You feel lighter and more fulfilled when you help those in need.”
For more information about volunteering with Healing Smiles, email healingsmileswa@gmail.com
For details about volunteering with ADA DHF, email Andrea Paterson, WA@adadhf.org.au
Celebrating 70 years
On the evening of May 18th, 2024, members of the Dental Study Group of Western Australia held a Gala Dinner to celebrate the Group's 70th Anniversary. Past and present members, and their spouses, met at the Boat Shed Restaurant in South Perth for an evening of great food, great company and entertainment. The superb Catherine Summers and her Band kept us entertained through the night.
In 1954, five local Perth dentists invited 20 other interested members of the profession and established the Dental Study Group. Its purpose was: “To be a common meeting place for both Specialists and General Practitioners with exchange of information and ideas, to stimulate reading, investigation and discussion of various Dental topics”. In those days prior to easy availability of Continuing Professional Development, this sharing of knowledge through regular meetings was essential. The Group has been a strong influence on the development of the Dental Profession in Western Australia, both through Members improving each other’s knowledge base, and also through research projects and public health initiatives such as campaigning for the successful introduction of Fluoridation to our water supplies. It was our pleasure to host Dr Ted Adler, our last remaining Foundation Member, and his wife Cynthia at the dinner. Dr Adler has been a member of the group for 70 years. He presented Honorary Life
Membership recognition to Professor Stephen Knott, also a group member for many years and one of the most respected forensic odontologists in the country. Dr Gary Davis also was recognised with Honorary Life Membership but unfortunately was unable to attend on the night.
A feature video was created for the occasion, which followed through the history of the Group since its founding, and explores what the Group means to its members. It was well received and will be a quality piece of Western Australian Dental history for us to enjoy into the future. Thank you to ADAWA for sponsoring the video production.
What a wonderful way to celebrate this huge occasion, and to bring in many decades of the Dental Study Group going forward!
Dr Judit Szito
To view the 70th anniversary feature video, visit the following link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LE TAA6GXPwX4R8Tk3SnuIwJqFDnMU Zc3/view?usp=sharing
Meet Dr Greg Celine
Prior to his upcoming dinner course, we caught up with specialist paediatric dentist, Dr Greg Celine.
Specialist paediatric dentist, Dr Greg Celine says he always wanted to do something in health care, but he didn’t set out with dentistry in mind.
“I had started out in a Bachelor of Nursing, which I thoroughly enjoyed, but decided I go for something more practical. I applied for dentistry and never looked back.”
It was when he had a mentor who was excellent with kids that the seed was planted to consider paediatrics.
“I hadn’t really had much interest in treating kids until I started taking over my mentor’s books (he was heading towards retirement) and after a while I realised that those were the appointments I enjoyed the most.
“I previously hadn’t thought about specialising at all (in fact I gave some of my friends a hard time when they were doing the primaries the year after Dental School) but after a few years I realised that I think I wanted to limit my practice to paediatrics and decided to try and get into specialty training.”
Greg says as a specialist paediatric dentist, his favourite part of his job is working with children with complex medical conditions. “I’m lucky at the hospital in that I get to treat some of the most medically complex children
in the state,” he says. “It means that every case is interesting and there’s no such thing as routine dentistry. I also enjoy that I get to work as part of a huge team. There aren’t many dentists who get to work in a practice that has hundreds of other professionals who all bring something to the table.”
For those practitioners who treat children their everyday practice, it is important to be familiar with the pathologies that they may see. For these practitioners, Greg will be presenting a ‘Paediatric Soft Tissues - What’s normal and what’s not?’ dinner course in August at the University Club.
“My areas of interest are the management of medically compromised children and paediatric hospital dentistry,” Greg says. “I’m lucky enough to work at Perth Children’s Hospital full-time and we get to see quite a few acute and chronic presentations, including the common and also the rare, interesting and bizarre. The dinner course will go over a range of these and the approaches to their diagnosis and management.
“Attendees can expect a (hopefully interesting) run down of some of the
“My areas of interest are the management of medically compromised children and paediatric hospital dentistry.”
basic principles around many soft tissue presentations. I like learning from cases so I’ll include as many cases as I can and hopefully provide people with the knowledge to be able to diagnose many soft tissues presentations and know how to manage and when and where to refer.”
“I was a country dentist for my whole GDP career, and I believe strongly in keeping a broad scope,” he adds. “With that said, one of the nice things about being a specialist is seeing less common things with more frequency so if I can share some of that knowledge then that helps me to feel like I’m giving a little bit back to our community and to a profession that I’ve gained so much from.”
He recommends anyone who sees children regularly should attend. “As an ex-country dentist, I believe in practitioners maintaining a broad knowledge base, so I hope this will be useful for any dental practitioners who treat children,” he says.
Dr Greg Celine will be presenting ‘Paediatric Soft Tissues - What’s normal and what’s not?’ dinner course on August 15.
To book, visit adawa.com.au/ product/paediatric-soft-tissues
5 minutes with Dr Greg Celine
What three words best describe you? Loyal, sentimental and honest.
If you weren’t in the dentistry field, what would you be doing for a living?
Probably still something in health. Otherwise, I was a car-obsessed kid so probably something in the automotive industry.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I don’t get much spare time, but I enjoy eating out and trying different cuisines, and catching up with friends over a drink. I like the outdoors too so enjoy cycling and love to get a hike in when I can.
What is your favourite book?
I love espionage stories and I’m obsessed with John le Carré at the moment, so reading through a lot of his early novels.
If there anything people might be surprised to learn about you?
My only unusual hobby is that I’m into fountain pens. It’s extremely nerdy but I feel like dentists would understand. I started writing with a fountain pen about 20 years ago and haven’t looked back.
What future plans are on the horizon for you?
I recently started a Grad Dip in Child Health with Western Sydney University remotely, so will be working on that for the next couple of years. Meanwhile, I’ll keep learning from my patients and colleagues every day at work. My job is truly never routine, so I get to learn something new every day. Outside of work, I’d like to start exploring WA a bit more over the next couple of years.
vale
Dr Bruce Palmer
We wish to inform our members of the recent passing of Dr Palmer. Bruce was an ADAWA member for 52 years during which time he generously contributed to the advancement of his profession through many years of practical, patient focused tutoring of senior clinical students at UWA Dental School.
Early in his career Bruce joined the rights of passage visit to the UK where along with his lifelong friend and fellow dentist Dr Neil Wilkie, he worked in the National Health Service and thoroughly enjoyed all the benefits of British and European Society.
Throughout his lifetime Bruce always managed an amazing quality of lifestyle balance. Remaining active across so many disciplines, yet perhaps happiest when in or enjoying operatic and choral performances. Truly a man of many talents.
We extend our sincere condolences to Dr Palmer’s family and friends at this sad time.
Thanks to Dr Pat Colgan for his assistance with this Tribute.
EXTRACTION OF TEETH FOR GENERAL PRACTITIONERS
3 CPD 11 July 6.15pm - 9.15pm UNIVERSITY CLUB $350 members
COURSE OUTLINE
This course is aimed at general dental practitioners who want to gain confidence in extractions and Oral Surgery.
TOPIC OUTCOMES
• Concerning medical histories and how to manage them
• To Extract or not to extract?
• Extraction Techniques
• Dealing with problems that may arise.
This course is presented by a general dental practitioner.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Dr Helen Grady completed her Bachelor of Dental Surgery in England, graduating from the University of Liverpool. She went on to work as a senior house officer in hospital, and teaching at the University of Liverpool. She has spent the majority of her career undertaking oral surgery exclusively and moved to Perth seven years ago where she works at OHCWA both teaching and working clinically.
CALENDAR 2024
DON’T DIS MY ABILITY!
3.5 CPD Saturday July 20 9.00am - 1.00pm
COURSE OUTLINE
Seeing patients with intellectual disability is an incredibly rewarding, fun and positive experience as a clinician. It also requires strong clinical expertise, with a good understanding of multiple overlying medical and social factors in a complex oral environment.
• Overview of intellectual disability, barriers and improving access to care
• Communication, consent and decision-making
• Common systemic and oral conditions, and practical tips for maintaining oral health (spotlight on Down Syndrome)
• Practical tips for behaviour management and acclimatisation (spotlight on Autism).
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
Dr Jee-Yun Leung is a Specialist in Special Needs Dentistry, passionate about tackling the oral health inequalities faced by those living with special needs. She is a Consultant at Fiona Stanley Hospital, where she sees patients with medical complexities and disability, is a member of the Head & Neck Cancer Multidisciplinary Team and teaches UWA dental students.
Dr Lydia See enjoys the challenge of managing patients with complex medical history who require complex oral health management. Her passion extends to community dentistry, with a strong focus on volunteer initiatives aiding those facing social challenges. Lydia has clinical experience in both public and private sectors, hospital dentistry as well as dental education experience.
WADA Golf
Lake Karrinyup
This fixture was a continuation of the Long Lunch. We decided to have an early start and enjoy a long lunch after the game held at the spectacular Lake Karrinyup Country Club, where a field of 21 golfers gathered to contest the ADA Cup, sponsored by Craig Botes and Med and Dent WA. This is a long-standing trophy, dating back to 1936, which is contested as a stroke event, with the winner determined by the best nett score. The stroke winner is also recognised as the Club Champion.
The course was once again magnificent. Geoff Noonan produced some great golf to take the best gross score on 83 and is the 2024 WADA Golf Club Champion. The day belonged to Graeme Washbourne, who scored a Nett 73 Strokes to take the ADA Cup for 2024 and receive a generous first prize from our major sponsor in Craig Botes and Med and Dent WA.
Nearest the pin
3rd hole (Longest drive) Kang Kim Insight Dental Ceramics
5th hole Kang Kim Dentsply Sirona
8th hole Geoff Noonan Health Practice Brokers
12th hole Geoff Noonan Healthlinc
15th hole
17th Hole
Michael Whitford Med and Dent WA
Geoff Noonan Swan Valley Dental Laboratory
3rd Leo Ntoumenopolous - 74 strokes
2nd Geoff Noonan - 74 Strokes
WADA Golf Champion Geoff Noonan – Gross score 83
ADA Cup winner Graeme Washbourne - 73 strokes
Our next day out is Araluen on Friday the 2nd August and then the Vines on 15th September.
Good golfing Frank Welten WADA Golf Captain Dentistgolf@gmail.com
Endodontic case study
Dr Shahrzad Nazari, Endodontist
A 66-year-old male was referred for endodontic assessment of tooth 21. Tooth has been sensitive to cold and hot drinks and tender to biting. Extra and intra oral exam did not reveal any hard/soft tissue abnormality. The periodontal probing depth was within normal limits with bleeding on probing on palatal marginal gingiva of tooth 21 with no mobility. There was generalized attritive tooth surface loss due to parafunctional habit, although patient has been wearing an upper occlusal splint. The clinical investigations showed that the 21 was not tender to percussion and palpation. The 21 did not respond to cold and EPT pulp sensibility tests, in contrast to teeth 12, 11, 22 which responded to electric pulp tester. In order to assess the resorption and also peri-apical area, Two peri-apical x-rays taken from different angles. based on the radiographic assessment, tooth 21 found to have 1 root and 1 root canal. There was radiographic sign of invasive external resorption, with no peri-apical radiolucency.
The tooth 21 was diagnosed with acute exacerbation of a chronic irreversible pulpitis with clinically normal Peri-apical tissues and external invasive resorption grade 3 (without ankylosis but with communication to palatal surface in the mesial and distal aspects).
Treatment options discussed with patient in detail and the treatment plan was formulated as below:
Tooth investigation and endodontic treatment (if 21 was found suitable for further treatment) before followed by full coverage permanent restoration and preferably a new occlusal splint to protect tooth from crack or fracture.
Tooth investigation was performed under rubber dam isolation and root canal was
instrumented using EDTAC irrigation. There was excessive haemorrhage from the resorptive defect during the procedure, therefore a haemostatic agent used to achieve haemostasis. The tooth was found suitable for further treatment.
Ledermix (aspen®, Australia) was placed as the initial intra-canal medicament for 6 weeks. In the next session, root canal was medicated again with Ledermix for another 6 weeks. Calcium hydroxide paste (PULPDENT®, USA) was used thereafter as the final long-term intra-canal medicament for 12 weeks.
When patient presented after 3 months, he reported that the tooth was asymptomatic; therefore, it was decided to obturate the root canal system and seal the resorptive defect. ProRoot MTA (Dentsply Tulsa, OK, USA) paste was applied carefully under high magnification (ProErgo Microscope, ZEISS, Germany) to seal the resorptive defect. The apical half of the root canal system was obturated with gutta percha cones and AH 26 sealer (Dentsply DeTrey®, Germany) using lateral condensation technique. The mid coronal part of root canal and the resorptive defect was obturated with gutta percha pellets using warm vertical obturation technique. (Kerr Elements™ IC , Kerr Endodontics, USA).
Tooth was restored with glass ionomer cement (Fuji VII, GC Corp, Japan) and occlusion wad adjusted to remove any premature contacts in MI and eccentric movements.
After 6 weeks, patient reported tooth has been completely asymptomatic. A new PA x-ray showed satisfactory and well condensed root filling with normal peri-apical area. Patient was referred to general dentist for permanent restoration.
Radiograph 2
Radiograph 5
Radiographs
1. Pre-operative (19/10/2023)
2. Pre-operative radiograph with different angulation
3. Root canal instrumentation (9/11/2023)
4. Redressing of ledermix paste
Radiograph 3
2: Haemorrhage from resorptive defect after access cavity preparation
Radiograph 1
Radiograph 6
5. Pulpdent dressing
6. Root canal obturation and sealing the resorptive defect with MTA
7. After completion of root filling
Radiograph 4
Radiograph 7
Fig 1: pre-op photo of tooth 21
Fig 3: resorptive defect visible on palatal side
Fig
Perio Pockets - Bone grafting case report
Would you extract these teeth?
Dr Mahnaz Syed, Specialist Periodontist
• 32 year old female
• Healthy
• Asian
• Non smoker
• Treated with non-surgical therapy in 2015.
• All third molars were extracted.
• Periodontal stability achieved and maintained for 18 months.
• Orthodontic therapy started.
• Maintained every 3 months for 13 months.
• Active orthodontics stopped due to sudden loss of bone and deep pockets in the 11 26 and lower incisors.
• Orthodontic appliances were left in situ for splinting and stability.
• Treated with non-surgical debridement to which she responded very well.
• Vitality testing of the 11 proved responsive.
• Non responding sites were 11 and 26.
• Surgical therapy undertaken for the 11 and 26.
• 11 tooth grade 1 mobility even with the orthodontic appliance.
• Vitality test of the remained responsive
• Periodontal regenerative surgery. undertaken using papilla preservation technique in 11 and single flap.
• Approach 26 bio-oss collagen and emdogain sandwich technique
Minimal probing depths prior to recommencing orthodontic therapy
Soft tissue stability and health after 8 years
PA 11 showing severe bone loss
Deep infra-bony defect of 6mm
Bio-oss- Emdogain as sandwich
Periapical radiograph at 6 months
Bone stability and healing at 5 years
Renewals
It’s that time of year again when renewals when are due – it’s a timely opportunity to do a number of checks including ensuring that your indemnity arrangements are up-to-date, and you are in the correct practising category. You should also see, in the renewal notice invoice, a section for Dental Protection membership.
From time to time, people contact us, curious about what services are available to them. Dr Colm Harney, Dental Protection Dentolegal Consultant, based in Perth, has crafted this easy reference guide outlining the services provided as part of your Dental Protection membership.
Advisory Service
In the dynamic environment of dentistry, unexpected things can happen at any time, and we are presented with dilemmas, both clinical and non-clinical, intricately related to dentistry and the care of our patients. You sometimes need to be able to contact someone straight away for expert advice.
Our advisory service provides access to dental professionals who understand the dental industry – this includes emergency advice which is available 24/7 when you need to speak to someone straight away.
We know what a dental practice looks and feels like, we understand the demands of balancing the best interests of our patients, doing the best job we can as professionals and leading busy, often demanding lives. Our advice is for clinicians and given by clinicians.
Advocacy
Behind the scenes, Dental Protection advocates for our members to regulators, professional associations, corporate entities and other relevant stakeholders in the dental industry.
We can also play a role in assisting recent graduates in finding mentors and colleagues to help with their growth and development.
Complaints and claims
We understand how complaints can be a challenging and stressful experience and we are here to help. When complaints or claims arise, Dental Protection steps in to assist dental professionals, offering expertise that can often mean the difference between resolution in a timely fashion and escalation.
When the worst happens, and a legal claim lands in your inbox, Dental
Protection’s advisors help practitioners navigate the murky waters of litigation, ensuring that they are not alone in their legal battles.
We are by your side to protect your registration and reputation, providing support in your most difficult times.
Education resources/continuing professional development
By delivering educational materials and training, Dental Protection ensures that dental professionals remain at the forefront of their field, always improving their skills and knowledge.
We provide a wealth of lectures, courses, publications and online resources designed to help us avoid common pitfalls and enhance our practice. There are the detailed case studies and advice booklets, which serve as a goldmine of knowledge and best practices, helping us stay informed about the latest industry standards and regulations. And let's not overlook the education for specific situations not always covered in depth at Dental School, from communication to consent issues and record-keeping advice. Last but not least of this battery of resources, is our wonderful and world beating podcast series with everything from bite size overviews, ideal for a short commute, to long form interviews tapping into the collective knowledge base of leaders and innovators of our profession.
Handling media attention
Unwanted media attention can put your personal and professional reputation at risk and can be very worrying. We can put you in contact Dental Protection’s media advisers who can assist you in responding to the media and give expert assistance throughout.
Investigations
Dental Protection assists with responses to complaints and investigations by regulatory bodies. Dental Protection stands as a stalwart advocate, offering support, advice and appropriate representation in regulatory and disciplinary proceedings.
Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII)
Your membership of Dental Protection, provides access to a contract of insurance, which is underwritten by MDA National Insurance (MDANI), and Dental Protection will be the point of contact between you and MDANI – this PII policy covers you for the practice of dentistry.
Your PII policy provides robust indemnity cover, ensuring that dentists are protected against claims of malpractice or negligence. This peace of mind allows professionals to focus on patient care without the looming fear of legal repercussions.
Risk management guidance
Through tailored advice and educational resources, Dental Protection aids in identifying and mitigating potential risks in dental practice. This proactive approach helps to prevent issues before they even occur, fostering a
safer environment for both patients and dentists. The counselling service and wellbeing hub
Membership gives access to our free, 24/7 confidential counselling service to support you through a stressful complaint or claim. The wellbeing hub can be found on our webpage, and the resources available come in many different formats, as we all have different needs at different times.
Summary
Dental Protection is part of the Medical Protection Society, a long standing, world leading protection organisation founded in 1892, which now supports over 300,000 healthcare members around the world. This gives members peace of mind, and they can be assured we will be there to help them if they need us. Dental Protection membership provides protection to defend you and your professional reputation. Dental Protection membership can help support your professional development.
Dental Protection membership offers professional advice whenever you need it.
Navigating the complexities of fee recovery in dental practicestrategies for risk management
By Enore Panetta
The demand for payment of unpaid dental service fees does not always lead to payment of the outstanding fee with a belated ‘thank you’ card or apology for tardy payment. It can often lead to an explicit refusal along with a complaint to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency relating to the dental service received or the service of a civil writ for alleged negligent provision of dental services or breach of contract by the dental practitioner.
Complaints and legal claims can add stress to the dental practitioner’s life, disrupts and detracts from the provision of dental services, adversely affects the dental practice’s reputation and the legal costs in responding to the complaints and / or legal claims often exceeds the dental fees sought to be recovered. As a consequence, formulating and adopting risk management strategies should be an important component of any dental practice’s operations.
Risk management strategies
There are a number of risk management strategies that a dental
practitioner and dental practice can employ to minimise potential disputes with patients and/or to avoid being sued or being made the subject of a complaint.
Setting dental fees that the majority of dental practitioners would consider acceptable
Whilst the setting of dental fees is a task for the dental practitioner taking into account their practice costs (including wages for practice staff, rent, electricity, equipment, continuing professional development, practitioner registration and professional indemnity insurance), the
patient has a right to expect that the dental practitioner is behaving with fairness, integrity and honesty when setting his or her dental fees.
The setting of unacceptably high fees not only can adversely affect the practice’s reputation and therefore business, but lead to higher levels of patient dissatisfaction and therefore, unpaid fees for dental services rendered.
Obtaining informed financial consent
It is critical that patients are given clear information regarding the scope of their dental care and treatment and possible variations to those dental services, if clinically indicated, before the dental services are rendered. Further, it is imperative that clear information is given relating to the cost of these dental services by way of accurate estimates of relevant fees and potential additional fees in the event that the planned dental service is changed for clinical reasons. It is best
that these discussions are conducted in private to respect a patient’s dignity and privacy when dealing with the financial aspects of their care. Moreover, it is important that the information is provided in plain English with dental jargon kept to a minimum, or at least clearly explained to the patient in plain English, to minimise any disputes as to what was discussed and agreed upon. Whilst patients are responsible for actively participating in these informed financial consent discussions, asking the patient expressly whether he or she has any queries regarding what has been discussed to ensure the discussions have been understood, is a small but important step to take.
The ultimate agreement reached between the dental practitioner and the patient in relation to the scope of treatment and the associated fees should then be recorded in writing and a copy given to the patient for his or her records.
Publication of a billing policy for the practice
Adoption of a billing policy can alleviate stress and confusion for both the dental practitioner and the patient. A billing policy is a document that sets out the practice’s general rules regarding billings. Such policies often include information regarding when payment is required, any discounts available for early payment or charges for late payment, acceptable forms of payment and the name and contact details of a person who can be contacted to discuss payment related issues. Billing policies should be documented and readily made available to patients either on the practice’s website, via a leaflet or published in a prominent place at the practice.
Performing a cost-benefit analysis before pursuing unpaid dental fees
Prior to initiating legal action to recover unpaid dental fees, it is beneficial to conduct a cost-benefit analysis in regards to the debt recovery. Review the patient’s file in order to ascertain what dental treatment was performed, whether any complications were encountered in regards to the treatment, what fees were quoted and consider the possible reasons behind the patient’s non-payment of the fees.
Generally, outstanding fees are more likely to be successfully extracted from patients who were happy with their treatment. Unhappy patients are more likely to respond to a request for payment with a counterclaim alleging negligence or a breach of contract by the dental practitioner. Therefore, it is vital that the dental practitioner identify whether the patient is dissatisfied with the treatment received and why. A patient may be unhappy if he or she considers that he or she underwent treatment that failed, the treatment was unnecessary, or he or she was charged for treatment that was not provided. If the cost, effort and impact on the practice’s reputation in recovering the outstanding
fees are disproportionate to the fees owing, it may not be worthwhile pursuing the unpaid fees.
Effective and regular communication about the dental treatment and costs
Throughout the patient – dentist relationship, it is important to maintain clear communication about what treatment is necessary and why, the expected outcomes of the treatment and the costs so as to prevent any misunderstandings and to manage expectations appropriately. Providing regular updates to the patient of their dental treatment progress and any alterations that may affect the overall cost of the treatment, as well as interim billing will assist in managing expectations, preparing the patient for their financial obligations and thereby, reduce the prospects of patient dissatisfaction and patient complaint.
Proactive exploration and resolution of unpaid dental services fees
A genuine attempt by the dental practitioner to understand with empathy and patience, the underlying reason why a patient has not yet paid a dental service fee invoice may obviate the need for legal action to be taken to recover the unpaid fee. Often misunderstandings between the dental practitioner and patient can be avoided if the channels of communication between them are open, clear, compassionate and empathetic. Records of face-to-face conversations and telephone discussions with the patient regarding unpaid fees should be kept by the practice for evidentiary purposes should the matter proceed to legal action being taken.
Preparedness to have respectful, difficult conversations
The dental practitioner needs to be prepared to discuss issues of non-payment of dental service fees with the patient in a direct but respectful manner. Whilst it is important that the patient is reminded of his or her legal obligation to pay for dental services
rendered and the potential consequences of not doing so including cessation of the treating relationship, the dental practitioner needs to do so tactfully and respectfully. At all times, preservation of the patient-dental practitioner relationship must be the priority.
Conclusion
An essential skill of any dental practice is the ability to deal sensitively and strategically with patients who have not paid their fees for dental services rendered. This requires the practice’s staff to develop and refine their communication skills with patients and to implement a number of risk management strategies relating to fee setting, fee agreements and fee collection. Dealing appropriately and strategically with patients, who have not paid their fees, will improve the practice’s profitability, reduce complaints, can improve patient satisfaction, can lead to new patient recommendations and allows the practice’s dental practitioners to continue providing care and treatment to their patients instead of spending their time in a court room dealing with a patient’s counterclaim.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general overview and guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
good news stories
Dental Health Week
Renovations at ADA House
The fire service and building upgrades have begun at ADA House. We cannot wait for our members to see the results.
Calling artists! We are planning a member art gallery in the renovated ADA House foyer and would love to feature artwork from ADAWA members on a lend-basis.
If you are a hobby artist, photographer or sculptor who would like your artwork displayed in the gallery, please email adawa@adawa.com.au for details.
Dental Health Week is back from August 5 – 11. Resources can be downloaded from: teeth.org.au/dental-health-week
40 under 40 congratulations
Congratulations to Dr Stephanie Mulcahy and to Dr Kent Tan, who were both recognised as WA’s top 40 entrepreneurs under 40 at the recent 2024 40under40 Awards. Congratulations!
Translated fact sheets
Did you know? There are translated factsheets about dental cleaning, sugary drinks, snacking and more available in Arabic, Chinese Traditional, Greek, Punjabi and Vietnamese on the teeth.org.au website. Go to teeth.org.au/translated-factsheets to download them.
Directory
Premium Partners
AMA Financial Services
Mortgage Broking, Financial Planning and General Insurance Broking. As financial planning, mortgage, and insurance broking specialists, we have a deep understanding of the unique complexities and challenges faced by businesses in your industry. Given our extensive experience working with health and medical professionals, we are pleased to offer exclusive discounts/benefits on our services to members of the ADA (WA). Phone 1800 262 346 or email info@amafinance.com.au
Bunnings
Bunnings Trade can partner with your business to provide support with quotes, project management and product sourcing, even if it’s something we don’t stock in-store. Benefit from exclusive pricing* on a wide range of products and services. For more info on PowerPass or to sign up and link your existing membership, email Organisationswa@bunnings.com.au
*Terms and conditions apply. See trade. bunnings.com.au/powerpass for full details.
Plus Partner
Credabl has built a strong reputation offering tailored financial solutions. Whether you are looking to expand your practice, invest in medical equipment or explore personal finance options, Credabl's has you covered. Their suite of financial products includes medical equipment finance, practice loans, residential and commercial property loans, car finance and personal loans. credabl.com.au
Sponsors and Advertisers
Panetta McGrath Lawyers
We are excited to offer a member benefits program exclusive to ADAWA members. As a member of ADAWA, the member benefits program entitles you to an initial 30-minute consultation in person, by phone, or via video conference. ADAWA members are also eligible for a 15% discount on our standard hourly rates - ADAWA referral required pmlawyers.com.au
Professional Notices
New Practice Announcement
Dr Andrew Savundra, Orthodontist, would like to announce the opening of his new practice in Mandurah at the new South West Dental Specialist Centre. Andrew is a hands-on chairside clinician and sees every orthodontic patient at each and every visit. He continues to practice in South Perth and Willetton. Bookings in his new Mandurah clinic are now open.
T (08) 9312 2310
E reception@savundra.com.au
A Suite 1/280 Pinjarra Road, Mandurah 6210
Dr Hadleigh Clark – new addition to the
team
Alissa and Jacinta are excited to announce that Dr Hadleigh Clark is joining the Centre for Oral Medicine and Facial Pain team. Hadleigh completed his oral medicine clinical doctorate in Sydney in 2017, after qualifying and training in both dentistry and medicine. His diverse training and experience, coupled with firstrate communication, compassion, and an evidencebased approach, ensure quality-driven outcomes for patients referred to him.
T (08) 6373 6731
E reception@omfp.com.au
A 1 Preston St, Como 6152 W oralmedfacialpain.com.au
A/Professor Bobby Joseph – new addition
Perth Oral Medicine and Dental Sleep Centre is pleased to welcome A/Professor Bobby Joseph, an Oral Pathologist. Bobby is accepting referrals for all aspects of oral diseases and disorders.
T (08) 9376 6789
E admin@pomds.com.au
A Practice locations: West Leederville, Jandakot, Padbury W oralmedsleep.com.au
AT THE General Meeting
Wednesday 4 Sept
Join us for the next ADAWA General Meeting, with a lecture 'Dental mysteries following the wreck of the Batavia in 1629' by Drs Robert Bower and Stephen Knott. Meeting attended by our Corporate Partner and Sponsor, AMA.
ADA House
54-58 Havelock St West Perth
6.15pm Eat and Meet
7.15pm Meeting Followed by Lecture RSVP to adawa.com.au/membership/rsvp
7.
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Why restrict yourself to just one lane?
Everyday transaction, savings and credit card accounts to suit your needs – all with the same exceptional service
Everyday banking solutions with a specialist touch.
At BOQ Specialist, we’ve been helping dentists with their banking needs for over 30 years. Not only do we understand your practice finance requirements, but your personal financial goals as well.
That’s why we offer a range of personal banking products, all with features and benefits to make day-to-day banking as easy as possible for you.
So, dive in today and enjoy the freedom of complete access to our suite of everyday banking products.
Visit boqspecialist.com.au/personal-banking or speak to your local finance specialist on 1300 160 160.
BOQ Specialist. The bank for dental professionals