2020 Seattle King County Dental Society Winter Quarterly

MEMBERSHIP

Quarterly WINTER 2020

VOL 18 / ISSUE 3

Society Elections 2020 Student Loan Debt Office Staffing

1111 Har vard Avenue

Seattle, WA 98122-4205

206.448.6620

www.skcds.org 2020 SKCDS WINTER l 1

YOUR VISION, DELIVERED. C O N S TA N T I N E B U I L D E R S . C O M

2 l 2020 SKCDS WINTER QUARTERLY

WINTER 2020 Volume 18, Issue 3

Seattle-King County Dental Society Membership Quarterly

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contributors: Sandra Anderson Dr. Lisa Egbert Dr. Randy Ogata Publisher: Bill Newcomer, BNC Printing & Graphics, Vancouver, WA OFFICERS Dr. Lisa Egbert, President Dr. Austin Baruffi, President-Elect Dr. Kirk E. King, Past-President Dr. Jamie Kuo, Secretary Dr. Scott Parker, Treasurer EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Dr. Noah E. Letwin, Executive Council 2020 Dr. Elizabeth A. Kutcipal, Executive Council 2021 Dr. Amanda Spivey, Executive Council 2021 Dr. Joe Vaughn, Executive Council 2021 Dr. Kyle Sorensen, Executive Council 2020 Dr. Mark Egbert, Executive Council 2022 Dr. Emily Yepez, Executive Council 2020 Dr. Randy Ogata, Executive Director Contact and Change of Address: To ensure continued receipt of issues, change of address must be reported to: SKCDS Central Office, 1111 Harvard Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122-4205, as soon as possible Phone: 206.448.6620 | Fax: 206.443.9308.

Email: skcds@skcds.com | website: www.skcds.org The information in this publication is for the exclusive benefit of Seattle-King County Dental Society members. Neither the Society nor the publisher makes any express or implied warranties as to the information herein, including the contents of any advertising. Opinions in the Quarterly do not necessarily express the official policies of the Seattle-King County Dental Society, nor the opinions of the editor, unless so stated. Publications of advertising is not an endorsement, qualification, approval or guarantee of either advertisers or product.

For advertising and publishing details, contact: Mr. Bill Newcomer, BNC Printing & Graphics, 503.318.5916, bill@bncprinting.com; www.bncprinting.com

Presidents Message....................................................................................4 Executive Director Message .........................................................................5 New Dentist Program.........................................................................................6 Welcome New Members ............................................................................7 Electronic Voting for Society Leaders.............................................................8 Annual Officers Installation ..........................................................................9 Member Profile........................................................................................10 What’s New? The 2020 Resource Guide.....................................................11 Opiod / Suicide Class.......................................................................................12 Happy Hour...................................................................................................13 Dr. Leshgold ............................................................................................17 OMG! You Have How Much Student Loan Debt? .........................................18 Remote Control: A New Approach in the Dental Office ..................................20 Dr. Al Munk.............................................................................................22

OUR ADVERTISERS HOME/OFFICE SERVICES

Constantine Builders.............................................................................. 2 AFTCO................................................................................................. 4 David K Designs...................................................................................13 Freiheit..............................................................................................14 Big Sky Northwest...............................................................................19

INSURANCE

Washington Dentists Insurance Agency (WDIA)........................................11 TDIC..................................................................................................16

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Jeffrey W. Doneskey DMD Sleep Apnea and Facial Pain Ctr..............................6 Ann Durham Attorney at Law.......................................................................6 Keller | Rohrback Law Offices.......................................................................7 Practice Management Associates................................................................12 Handpiece Rescue....................................................................................14 Garde Capital...........................................................................................14 Nakanishi Dental Lab................................................................................15 Katharine Christian DMD - Sleep Apnea and Snoring .....................................20 Dental Group LLC......................................................................................23 Omni Practice Group.................................................................................24

SKCDS Staff Executive Director: Director of Member Services: Dr. Randy Ogata Sandra Anderson randy@skcds.com sandra@skcds.com

Cover Photo: Drs. Lisa Egbert and Randy Ogata at the Opioid - Suicide Class on February 1, 2020 2020 SKCDS WINTER l 3

The

President’s Message

Dr. Lisa Egbert

SKCDS Kicks off the ‘20s with a Roar

All of these events have been held strictly as member benefits with no fees charged to attendees. The Society is economically stable and no dues increase was imposed by SKCDS for our members in 2020.

While all of these programs were being thoughtfully planned and executed, a national search was held for a new Executive Director. As part of our commitment to due diligence and full transparency, a professional search firm specializing in non-profit executive placements was engaged. Through this time of transition, Mr. Barry McConnell successfully served the Society as Interim Executive Director. As soon as the calendar read 2020, Dr. Randy Ogata became the Executive Director. There is confidence that the passion and understanding that a fellow dentist brings to this position cannot be underestimated.

It’s been a fantastic start to the new year and SKCDS leaders and staff are focused on maintaining our strong momentum. Our purpose is to serve our members. Please share all feedback and ideas with anyone on the Executive Council or staff.

Sincerely,

Dr. Lisa Egbert Dr. Lisa Egbert

Our members may notice that communication from SKCDS is somewhat light in the summer and early fall. Every year, while dentists are providing treatment for students who are home from college, our Society leaders and staff are planning programs that will be presented during football season and beyond.

Since 1968

This year, the Society is intent on bringing valuable benefits to our members.

The first two general membership meetings featured Dr. Rebecca Bockow’s presentation on How Airway Influences Facial Growth and Development and Dr. Jihyon Kim’s discussion on Solutions for Black Triangles. Both meetings saw high attendance and the feedback from members was overwhelmingly positive regarding the speakers’ content.

To encourage networking and camaraderie among members, the Society has continued to host Happy Hours in casual settings throughout the region.

Record numbers of dentists and dental students have gathered to share clinical and personal stories among old and new friends.

Keeping with the Executive Council’s theme of Give the People What They Want, SKCDS piloted a continuing education program aimed at fulfilling new state requirements for licensure. The two-part course on Opioid Prescribing and Suicide Prevention was a hit, and the class filled quickly. The Executive Council listened to the members and provided additional funding to expand registration to more than double the original size.

4 l 2020 SKCDS WINTER QUARTERLY

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From the Desk of Dr. Randy Ogata

Winter­–2020

Executive Director

It is a privilege and honor to step into the role as your Executive Director. After volunteering at every level of organized dentistry and orthodontics over the past 25 years, I closed my practice and opened a book on a new adventure. I am actively engaged in a crash course in everything related to association management to better serve the 1,784 Seattle King County Dental Society (SKCDS) member dentists and the non-member dentists whom are our professional colleagues, and prospective SKCDS members. Temporarily done, using the “I” word (until my last sentence); as the SKCDS is about YOU… Member Dentists.

Dan Middaugh, WSDA Past President, used to quote Sun Tzu from “The Art of War” – “May you Live in Interesting Times”. Right now are “Interesting Times” for the SKCDS and our rapidly evolving dental profession. Challenges include: student debt, qualified workforce shortages and a dental therapist bill in the Washington State legislature. Want to pause and recognize the hard work, dedication and leadership Dr. Lisa Egbert and her Executive Council demonstrated guiding SKCDS during “interesting times”, steering us safely clear of the shoals and into calmer waters. Even with all these challenges, the future for our Dental Society and profession remain bright.

Many SKCDS member dentists volunteer as mentors for UW School of Dentistry students. These mentees value hearing about the “outside world” and the hope of what lies ahead for them after graduation. We face a workforce shortage in the Seattle-King County area, so SKCDS is actively investigating ways to invest in high-quality training for more front office, assistant and dental hygienist staff.

SKCDS members were active participants before, during and after Dental Action Day in Olympia to voice concern over the dental therapist bill that made it out of committee, but more importantly building strong ongoing relationships with legislators to help craft bills that make sense to protect the patients and public whom we serve; while still allowing dentists to treat patients free of undue restrictions. To my lobby team of Dr. Saxena (Bellevue), Lena (D4) and Timothy (D1) – THANK YOU, your testimony made a difference for OUR profession.

Even with these challenges, there is much to be excited about. SKCDS is financially on solid ground and the Seattle King County Dental Foundation (SKCDF) is in the process of finalizing a partnership with Medical Teams International (MTI) to provide dental care for the poor and underserved in our area. SKCDF is counting on the generosity of SKCDS member dentists to volunteer for up to 6 events over the next five years staffing MTI’s dental vans. If everyone helps a little, no one will have to do a lot.

Membership numbers are up overall for SKCDS, and with ongoing member benefits like complimentary member meetings and no/low cost continuing education, look for this trend to continue. Our program on “Opioid Abuse and Suicide Prevention”, required for licensure, was a runaway success in February with almost 120 member dentists, and their team members, participating.

As a Servant Leader, my goal as your SKCDS Executive Director is to help dentists succeed professionally and personally. When dentists are successfull they have the time and resources to give back to their families, communities, and profession. How dentists decide to give back to our profession is a personal choice. Yet, SKCDS provides an entire menu of opportunities, including volunteer leadership on councils and committees; becoming a mentor; or serving as an ambassador to welcome new members. The more SKCDS can engage members to lift, advance, and promote our dental profession; the higher our boats will all float on the rising tides.

Want to volunteer, have an idea on how to improve an existing program, or suggestions on something we are not doing that can help members.

Contact me – Randy@skcds.com - I look forward to serving the dentists of the SKCDS today, tomorrow and into the future.

Sincerely,

Dr. Randy Ogata SKCDS Member Dentist & Executive Director

New Executive Director, Dr. Randy Ogata, and his family 2020 SKCDS WINTER l 5

2020

NEW

DENTIST PROGRAMS All programs are held at the Seattle-King County Dental Society office on Tuesday nights at 6:30pm.

The Attorney Who Gives You The Power To Succeed

APRIL 7, 2020 Tuesday Scott Henderson, Attorney with Keller Rohrback, will speak on employment contracts and practice purchases from a legal perspective.

Sponsored by: Nakanishi Labs

Ann J. Durham ATTORNEY AT LAW

D U R H A M L A W O F F I C E S PLLC 305 111th Ave. NE., Suite A • Bellevue, WA 98004-5875

APRIL 25, 2020 Saturday Boot Camp! Our ninth annual half-day seminar on practice development.

Learn details on financing, building up and out, staffing and much more.

Sponsored by: Arcora Foundation MAY 12, 2020 Tuesday Human resources consultant, Paul Schaber, addresses issues around employee management in the dental practice.

Sponsored by: Dr Talk

All classes are free to members and begin at 6:30 PM. Food and beverages are included.

Boot Camp begins at 8:30 AM. Register online at www.skcds.org or by calling the office at 206.448.6620

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6 l 2020 SKCDS WINTER QUARTERLY

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Please welcome our new members OCTOBER

Dr. Shadi Araghi Dr. Shafeena Chatur Dr. Peter Chien Dr. Patricio Dibble Dr. Justin Hansen Dr. Michael Johnson Dr. Mahvash Khajavi-Harvey Dr. Kwang Hyo Kim Dr. Annie Kwan Dr. Jeany Lee Dr. Min-Yin Li Dr. Chadwick Merkel Dr. Michael Miyamoto

Dr. Kimberly Nealy Dr. Thuy Nguyen Dr. Rochelle Nguyen Dr. David Olson Dr. Uparika Sharma Dr. Jagjeet Singh Dr. Barton Soper Dr. Michele Taylor Dr. Matthew Tomala

NOVEMBER

Dr. Tameem Anwar Dr. Gary Arnold Dr. Tarisai Danajena Dr. Robert Gottlieb Dr. Judith B. Houser Dr. Steven Kitts Dr. Margarita Koutsoumbas Dr. Tori N. Matthys Dr. Jennifer C. Ohsie Dr. Eric Opsvig Dr. Stephen B. Park Dr. Corie Vitkovic Dr. Jennifer E Wilson Dr. Seng Yea

DECEMBER

Dr. Deniz Aydinel Dr. Sarah Baik Dr. Sampada Dashpande Dr. Gupreet Kaur Dr. Joshua Kim Dr. Kaz Kitagaito Dr. Kelsey Kuhn Dr. Philip Lin Dr. Cheng-I Lin Dr. Kimberly Reyes Dr. Caroline Rog Dr. Yenshuo Shen Dr. Kimberly Sorren Dr. Anisoara Vulpoi Dr. Sumra Zaidi

Members of SKCDS are encouraged to invite non-member dentists who are practicing in King County to join the Dental Society. A quick call to the WSDA Office at 206.973.5210 is all that is needed forthem to apply for membership at all three levels: Seattle-King County Dental Society, Washington State Dental Association and the American Dental Association.

Keller Rohrback Dental Practice Group

Scott Henderson

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Paul Tonella

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Keller Rohrback L.L.P is Washington’s preeminent law ďŹ rm for dentists. Our attorneys have represented more than 500 Washington dentists in matters ranging between dental practice sales/purchase, DQAC licensing issues, and litigation over ownership of patient lists..

Representative Matters - Practice Transitions - Real Estate Transactions - Disciplinary Proceedings - Corporate/Partnership Issues

- Business/Employment Disputes - General Litigation Matters - Disability Insurance Issues - Retirement/Estate Planning

1201 Third Ave, Suite 3200 Seattle, WA 98101 - P: 206.623.1900 For more information, call Scott Henderson at 206.623.1900 or visit our website at www.KellerRohrback.com

2020 SKCDS WINTER l 7

Electronic Voting for 2020 – 2021: Election & Installation Set for Tuesday, April 28, 2020 The response to electronic voting has been so positive over the past four years that your Dental Society will again be emailing you an electronic ballot to the email address at which you currently receive our weekly newsletter. In accordance with the Seattle-King County Dental Society Bylaws, ballots for the 20202021 Elective Office openings will be emailed from the Central Office no later than April 2, 2020. Your ballot is individualized and can only be opened by you.

You will receive two reminder emails after that initial ballot. Please vote and make sure your voice is heard!

Electronic ballots must be cast by 5:00 p.m. on April 28, 2020, so they may be presented at the General Membership meeting to be held at Salty’s Restaurant on Alki on April 28th, beginning at 6:00 p.m. Paper ballots may be cast at the meeting on April 28th. (Please see the registration form on our website at www. skcds.org. and information on page 9 of this publication.)

Please be sure to return your ballot by email prior to the deadline of April 28th. Ballots - electronic or paper - that are received the day following the election will not be counted. We want to hear from every member so please vote before the deadline!

The following (as of press time) is the slate to be presented by Dr. Imahn Moin, Chair of the Leadership Development Committee: President-elect: One opening – one year term, automatically becomes President & three year WSDA Delegate term:

Dr. Adam Kennedy Executive Council: Three openings; two for 3 year terms and one for a 2 year term: Dr. Katherine (Kate) Christian Dr. Mark Germack Dr. Frederica (Rica) Mackert Dr. Emily Yepez

Delegates to the WSDA: Up to 7 openings for three year terms and one opening for a 1 year term (seats set by WSDA in January based on membership):

Dr. Christopher Jean Dr. Stephen Pong

Dr. Ryan Lemke Dr. Harlyn Susarla

Dr. Lauren Ma Dr. Kim Trieu

Dr. Greg Ogata Dr. NamThien Vu

Dr. Dawn Onesty Dr. Catherine Yeh

Dr. Jesutofumni Osundeko Please note that the Bylaws state the Executive Council and Delegates to the WSDA candidates will appear on the ballot in a random order as drawn by the Leadership Committee Chair. This change was made to allow everyone an equal chance in elections when the election is contested.

During the general membership meetings on Tuesday, January 28, Dr. Lisa Egbert opened the floor for any additional nominations that a member would like to make. After that meeting, nominations were closed for the Executive Council and WSDA delegate.

If you would like to receive an electronic ballot and know we don’t have an email address for you, please call us at 206.448.6620 before March 24, 2020 and provide an email address.

Members for whom we do not have an email address will have an individualized paper ballot mailed to their preferred address unless they ask to be removed from the ballot mailing list. Those members will need to either mail the ballot back to the central office or bring it to the meeting on April 28th.

The Executive Council thanks the members of the Leadership Development Committee for their efforts. Dr. Imahn Moin chaired the Committee and Drs. Jeff Abolofia, Libby Kutcipal, Robert Nieman, Stephen Pong, Luciana Safioti, Christine Shigaki, Kyle Sorensen, and Judson Werner participated.

BE ACTIVE IN YOUR SOCIETY… VOTE! 8 l 2020 SKCDS WINTER QUARTERLY

2020 SKCDS WINTER l 9

MEMBER PROFILE 1. My name: Wisanu “Ohie” Charoenkul 2. Childhood ambition: Go to the Olympics 3. Fondest Memory: Watching the sunrise from the top of a volcano in Bali 4. What was your first LP or CD? Star Wars soundtrack 5. Wildest Dream: Travel to Mars 6. Proudest Moment: Watching my kids do well in their activities 7. Biggest Challenge: Completing the design and construction of my current clinic space 8. First Job: Biotech company working on artificial ACL replacements 9. Last Purchase: A Cotapaxi Travel backpack 10. Favorite Movie: The Princess Bride 11. What is your idea of perfect happiness? Feeling you accomplished everything you set out to do in life 12. Which living person do you most admire? My wife, Stephanie, because she’s pretty good at pretty much everything!

13. What is your greatest extravagance? Buying camera and video equipment 14. What is your favorite journey? The process of learning something new 15. Which talent would you most like to have? I wish I could rap!

16. If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be? A house cat 17. What is your most treasured possession? A photo of my kids as babies 18. What do you most value in your friends? Sincerity and loyalty 19. Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Michael Scott of Dunder Mifflin 20. Who are your heroes in real life? Russell Wilson, Alton Brown and John Meyer

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What’s New? The 2020 Resource Guide!

Even in this digital age, it’s nice to have a convenient resource at your fingertips.

For over twenty years, SKCDS produced the annual Membership Guide. This comprehensive directory included all member’s contact information along with dental resources to help our members and their patients. But, as times changed, so did the Membership Guide.

We know that a printed resource is still needed for listings of reduced-cost clinics, programs, classes, listings of officers and committees as well as other reference material. These documents are all available in the Membership Resource Guide! It is produced annually and sent to all members. It is a smaller publication that looks a lot like our Quarterly newsletter. However, it will be a durable reference that you can access all year long.

We encourage you to review our valued advertisers and sponsors, as well as familiarize yourself with your Society leaders. We hope you enjoy this member benefit.

YOUR WDIA TEAM:

Matthew French

Director of Insurance Services

Kerri Seims

The Obvious Choice for Washington Dentists

Assistant Director of Insurance Services

Ph: 206-441-6824 · 800-282-9342 Fax:206-269-1922 info@wdiains.com · wdiains.com

2020 SKCDS WINTER l 11

Opiod Prescribing and Suicide Prevention class held February 1, 2020 4.0 Transitions by

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Donna Carlson Lowell Co-Founder

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Client Coordinator

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HAPPY HOUR

OPEN TO ALL MEMBERS The first drink is always on us. Meet other members, network and socialize with local dentists!

Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 6:00 PM, in Bellevue at Pearl, Sponsored by Columbia Bank Thursday, May 07, 2020 at 6:00 PM in the U-District, at Schultzy’s, co-sponsored with the AGD/UW SOD Thursday, June 18, 2020 at 6:00 PM in South Seattle, location Odin Brewery in Tukwila., sponsored by Big Sky Northwest RSVP to the central office at 206.448.6620 or by email at sandra@skcds.com.

David K Designs provides custom turnkey design, space planning, permits and construction services.

We are a true design build firm specilizing in Dental offices. We work within our clients budgets and provide guaranteed pricing up front. By combining our design and construction expertise onto one team our clients realize the cost savings and benefits of hassle free one stop shopping.

We have sucessfully constructed over 175 dental clinics since 1996.

Contact us today 206-999-3457 ask for Kelly davidkdentaldesigns.com 2020 SKCDS WINTER l 13

206-552-7916 tony.baruffi@gardecapital.com

Tony Baruffi, CFA Comprehensive Wealth Management for Dentists and Physicians Investment Management - Wealth Transfer Wealth Protection - Charitable giving “Top 100 Wealth Management firms in the United States” - 2016 “Top US Registered Investment Advisors” 2017 “Top 25 Wealth Management firms” - 2017

Environment is a Tangible Element: Great Design Adds Value to your Practice.

A well designed environment enriches the space in which you work, providing function, aesthetics, and economy. We offer comprehensive services from initial site research to grand opening, helping to simplify the complex process and provide doctors the resources to achieve their vision and create positive practice environments.

Contact us to discuss how we can partner on your next project: Phone: 425-827-2100 | Email: freiheit@freiheitarch.com | Web: freiheitarch.com

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To learn more, please visit www.nakanishidentallab.com, contact our friendly staff at team@nakanishidentallab.com, or call/text 425.822.2245 2020 SKCDS WINTER l 15

We believe that the future of our profession should be shaped by those who practice it.

TDIC. Founded by dentists, only for dentists, and led by your peers.

Established by a bold group of dentists in 1980, The Dentists Insurance Company has grown to protect more than 24,000 policyholders in 15 states. And, with leadership by your peers in dentistry, TDIC has been rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best for 24 consecutive years.

TDIC is proud to provide dentist-centric insurance to a community of policyholders who are engaged in the future of their profession. This singular focus means you can trust TDIC for personalized service, expert claims handling, exceptional products and risk management solutions.

Our future is bright. See the TDIC difference for yourself as we innovate and grow.

A.M. Best Company rating effective March 2018. For the latest rating, access ambest.com

16 l 2020 SKCDS WINTER QUARTERLY

Obituary:

Dr. Richard “Dick” Dean Leshgold, former SKCDS President 1984 -1985 November 8, 1933 – January 6, 2020

Richard (Dick) was born in Seattle, Washington, to parents Ben and Mildred Leshgold.

Dick grew up in Seattle until his father passed away when he was 8. Dick worked to help support his family even as a young boy and would jump at the chance to go to the movies when he could afford to buy a ticket.

After his father passed, Dick moved with his mother to Los Angeles, where he attended Virgil Middle School, Fairfax High and, at the young age of 16, started college at UCLA. He then moved with his mother back to Seattle when she remarried, transferring to University of Washington, where he received his undergraduate degree. There he met the love of his life, Joan Gold, whom he courted when she was a freshman, and they married in May 1955.

Upon graduation, Dick entered the US Air Force as an officer. He and Joan were stationed at Kyoto Air Force Base in Japan for three years before settling in the Seattle area.

Dick was accepted to the University of Washington Dental School and became a dentist, practicing in Seattle. Dick started his own practice in 1963 and had an incredible career as a dentist with thousands of patients who loved coming to see him for his pain-free dentistry. He served as President of the Washington State Dental Association, was on the board of the American Dental Association, the board of Delta Dental, and served as the Team Dentist for the Seattle Mariners from their inception in 1977 until he retired in 1998. He was the Seattle-King County Executive Council President in 1984 -1985.

Dick had a strong bond with his three children Bruce, Beth and Gary and his five grandchildren. As a father, he was always there for his kids, introduced them to new things, made time for vacations, and after they got married, supported their families. In his free time, he was an avid tennis player and fisherman. After retirement in 1998, he split his time between Bellevue, Washington and Rancho Mirage, California, where he played golf and tennis, and spent quality time with close friends and family. Every year, he created wonderful moments for his family by taking them on memorable vacations and his two sons were blessed to be part of a 35-year tradition where the 3 of them would get together annually to spend a long weekend in Las Vegas.

Dick had an incredible sense of humor and a twinkle in his eye. He was known for his warmth and unusually positive attitude.

Everyone who knew Dick, loved him.

Richard is survived by his sons Gary and Bruce, daughter Beth, daughter in-laws Wendy and Sara, brother Jerry Leshgold, and his five grandchildren, Sam, Nick, Danielle, Nicole and Benjamin. He was pre-deceased by his wife of 54 years, Joan.

2020 SKCDS WINTER l 17

OMG! You Have How Much Student Loan Debt?

Bank of America Practice Solutions If there’s one statement that holds true for all dentists who have graduated in the last 10 years, it’s this: “My goodness, it takes a lot of money to go to dental school!” Many of you reading this may be out of school a few years and others 10 years or more, and you’re trying to figure out the most efficient way to manage your student loan debt. Some of you may be paying it down aggressively – but are you doing it right? Others may be considering a refinance, but are not 100% confident that the terms being offered are optimal for your financial situation. Here are several tips to consider when confronting your student loan obligations and making decisions on how to manage them.

Pay down debt, but be smart how you go about it.

Many people get overwhelmed by debt and don’t make smart choices when applying extra money to pay down debt faster. Some will simply put payments toward the largest loan balance, and others will put them toward the smallest. A smart way to choose which loans to pay down first is to pull your statements and analyze the interest rates for each of your loans. Then, rank your student loans from the highest rate to the lowest rate and apply any extra funds toward the loan with the highest interest rate first. When you’ve paid off the first loan in full, move on to the second. The loans with the highest interest rates are costing you the most, and applying extra payments toward them will give you the most “bang for your extra bucks.” As a side note, you should check with all your lenders before applying extra funds toward loans to ensure that those funds are properly handled, and that your payments are doing what you want them to. Some lenders require additional principal payments to be mailed separately, or even to another address. Always check with your lender to see how they apply additional funds before sending any payments. Finally, if you have credit card debt, you should pay down that debt first. Credit card debt can be a major factor in your credit score (both positive and negative) and typically has some of the highest rates in your debt portfolio.

18 l 2020 SKCDS WINTER QUARTERLY

To refinance or not to refinance – that is the question.

The number of companies marketing student loan refinance programs has increased significantly in recent years. As you consider whether or not to refinance your loans, you should be aware of a few things before pulling the trigger: 1. Once you refinance out of federal student loans, you’re no longer able to participate in government repayment programs such as the Income Based Repayment (IBR) program. Before you refinance, it’s a good idea to look into federal repayment programs for your federal student loans and be aware of the repayment plans available to you. A good resource can be found at https://studentaid. ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/understand/plans 2. Not all student loan refinance programs are created equal. Some companies offer longer terms than others, some offer better rates, and some even offer an ecosystem of other borrowers to network with and learn from. You need to speak to a few to figure out the right fit for you.

3. Choose a less restrictive term now with the flexibility to pay the loan off earlier, when you are better established financially. Many of the dentists that come to Bank of America for a dental practice loan choose a very aggressive term to pay their debt back – some as low as five years – because the rate is lower. On its surface, that may seem like a good decision. However, if you later want to borrow more money for practice ownership or home ownership, lenders will look at your large monthly payment and the new debt payment to determine if you can afford both. It can sometimes be difficult to make the math work. It may make more sense to choose a longer term, say 15 or 20 years, with the flexibility to pay off the debt earlier. That provides you with a manageable monthly payment along with the flexibility to pay debt down more aggressively when the timing is right. You often see this logic applied with consumers who purchase homes. The majority of mortgages are on a 30-year term, not a 15-year term, because the payment is more manageable.

The same idea holds true with your student loan refinance, which could be as much as a home

purchase in some cases!

The sun doesn’t always shine, so don’t forget about that rainy day fund.

If you’re a young associate just starting out, you almost certainly have aspirations outside of your profession, like owning a home, moving to a nicer apartment, or buying a car that doesn’t smell like old pizza from your days as a resident. If you foresee some larger purchases in the next few years, you should consider not paying down your loans so aggressively and start a savings account specifically for your life goals. Saving just a few hundred dollars per month can build over time, and many people see that accumulated cash as a really great motivation to continue to save going forward.

Debt can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be.

I would argue that your student loan debt was the best investment you made, because it helped get you where you are today! Debt, when managed correctly and used the right way, can be a great financial tool in life. Learn to use it responsibly and manage it effectively by being inquisitive, getting advice from financial professionals, and making sure you’ve done your homework before making any major decisions.

This article is for informational purposes only.

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2020 SKCDS WINTER l 19

Remote Control: A New Approach in the Dental Office

There are many challenging aspects to dentistry. Unique cases, and unique patients ensure dentistry is constantly changing. One challenging aspect of dentistry is managing your staff and handling the human resource part of the business. As a dentist, you probably do not have an MBA. However, managing your staff is just as critical as being able to place a crown or remove a molar. Just when you feel like you have a strong, cohesive team, someone gives their notice and you are back to the hiring game. One SKCDS member, with the help of a local vendor, found a very innovative way to keep his cohesive team together.

Even when his front office staff person announced she had to move to Boise, Idaho. Dr. Andy Lewis has had a vibrant practice in Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood for over 15 years. In that time, he has been fortunate to have just two office managers. He has always valued providing very personal service in his practice, and his front office manager is a key element in creating that environment for his patients. Equally as important, his office manager needs to be well versed in insurance issues, billing, and scheduling and customer service. After a thorough search process, he hired Colleen Gross in 2017.

Colleen had worked in the dental field for many years and brought experience and personality to the job. She had great rapport with the patients and KATHARINE CHRISTIAN DMD the dental staff. Everything was going well. Until, that is, Colleen’s husband was Diplomate of the ABDSM and the ABCDSM transferred to Boise, Idaho. Colleen enjoyed her job but staying in Seattle was not an option for her and her family. Enter Josh and MaxTechnologies. Josh had been the information technology support representative working with Dr. Lewis’ office. He was familiar with their computer set up and had recently helped them convert to a completely electronic records system. The office was already Let us help your patients with Sleep Apnea tech-savvy and using many state of the art electronic options for practice Dedicated sleep practice management. Knowing this, Josh envisioned a completely new approach to We deal directly with insurance companies solving Dr. Lewis’ problem.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Andy Lewis, Colleen Gross, his Office Manager, and Robert Brown, owner of MaxTechnologies. They had much to share about this tech-forward project. I asked Colleen to explain what lead up to her need to move. “When I started working for Dr. Lewis in January of 2017, his Office Manger of 15 years died suddenly and his patients had already experienced upheaval in the office. When an employee leaves suddenly, it does have an impact on the bottom line.” About a year later Colleen’s husband received a golden job opportunity and the family needed to take it.

Colleen went on to say, “I asked about workingremotely and Dr. Lewis felt it was doable.”

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The Approach I asked Dr. Lewis if he had any idea how they would make this work technologically and he said ”No, but Josh did!” Josh was the technician from MaxTechnologies who executed the set-up for Dr. Lewis’ practice. Robert Brown, owner, said, “In our office culture at Max Tech, we put a lot of emphasis on family. One of our employees works from home on Friday to spend time with his newborn son. He is able to setup at a home computer and answer calls as they come into our office. When Dr. Lewis’ described his needs to us, we took what we knew from setting up our own employees to work remotely to make a solution for him.” Robert went on to explain the basic tech design. “We were confident that both the Jive VoIP phones and VPN would work as designed, as long as there was a good internet connection on both ends.

We have setup a VPN connection (virtual private network) at multiple offices that have more than one location. It also helped that Dr. Lewis dedicated a computer for the remote session. There was no one else trying to use the resources, so it was like the employee was at her desk”. MaxTechnologies specializes in the dental industry and they know the needs of dentists and their staff.

“Our entire business is to make technology work for our clients’ practices. However, it’s especially fun to make a solution utilizing technology in a new way. A lot of what we do is repair and research solutions for older technology, as it is expensive and not always feasible for our clients to upgrade to the latest and greatest hardware. Especially when it comes to dental software, we have to be creative in bridging the gap between new hardware that hits the market and current software available to our clients,” stated Robert Brown. The physical set up was relatively quick. MaxTechnologies made one trip to Boise and that was all it took. Colleen said, “I moved to southern Idaho on January 3rd, IT arrived to my home on January 5th and I went live (remote) on Monday January 7th.” Colleen added that “Our patient base is very high-tech. It has helped in the transition because this is already their norm and they find it “very cool” that a dental office is using the same technology. My eyes have been opened to how IT has made the world a smaller place to do business.” Naturally, I wondered about challenges. “The hardest part about the transition has been communication through the monitor/screen”, said Colleen. “The camera we are currently using is not able to scan the reception area.

At times, conversations are going on and I can hear them but not fully engage with them. Also, a few patients do not like speaking to me on camera.” Dr. Lewis added that the vast majority of the patients love the new approach and he is only aware of two negative reactions since they launched the system a year ago.

new employees cuts into profitability and morale. Colleen added, “I have worked in dentistry in the Seattle area since 2001 and the pool of qualified applicants for all positions in dentistry has increasingly become more difficult through the years.”

Another advantage to this unique arrangement is the message that it sends to other employees on Dr. Lewis’ staff. Dr. Lewis’ willingness go the extra mile to keep an experienced employee tells other staff members they are valued and worth investing in. Dr. Lewis’ empathy and support boosts the whole office and strengthens the bonds of the team.

Dr. Andy Lewis, Colleen Gross and Rachel Munoz, RDH at their oiffice in Seattle Can this work for me?

This creative solution seems to have been the antidote for Dr. Lewis’ practice but what about others? Robert Brown says empathically “Yes!”. He goes on to explain “The solution for Dr. Lewis’ virtual front office used some technology that has been around for years (VPN and VoIP) in an innovative way that made his employee’s life away from Seattle possible. The technologies themselves have improved over the years. As our city continues to grow, I believe we will see more innovation in small practices to allow for a flexible work environment.” Colleen Gross agrees saying “Other offices would benefit from this technology. Without having to hire a new Office Manager, I have been able to maintain consistency in scheduling and cash flow. If an employee is able to work remotely it takes some stress off the office in filling their shoes while keeping the work flow consistent.”

Dentist’s and their staff know that dentistry is so much more than just “drilling and filling”. The dental team is a critical part of the patient’s over-all experience.

Frequently, they are the first and last impression made on a patient. In a time when The Practice Benefits hiring is more challenging than ever, technology can offer a viable solution. I asked After so much effort, and transition, some people might think it would be easier Dr. Lewis his thoughts on making this a business model for other practices: “Any just to hire a new team member. I asked Dr. Lewis about his thoughts on finding office with a sense of adventure and a little bit of patience to grow through the qualified dental office staff and he told me “(The) field is getting so super- learning curve can incorporate this technology. It is actually very intuitive.” specialized with a majority of offices needing special skills in computer tech, phone tech, communications, multi-tasking, multi-functioning, professional personality traits, customer service, efficiency, etc. Anyone can answer a phone call, but not everyone can do it and a dozen other things at a level that is demanded in dentistry today”. Indeed, the research shows that repeatedly hiring and training 2020 SKCDS WINTER l 21

Hospitals

By Al Munk DDS A while ago, I had the misfortune of having to go to the hospital for a few hours. I suppose I had better get used to the idea now that I have passed the half-century mark, as hospitals seem to be the place where geezers gather. My right knee had been hurting for about six months and I decided that if I wished to hurtle down the ski slopes in break-neck fashion in the future, that I better have it attended to. Mind you, I have not been the most regular customer of our medical brethren in the last twentyplus years, trusting instead to blind luck and serendipity rather than the preventative medicine I might preach at my office. Do what I say, not what I do.

EXPOSURES

Anyway, after a brief consultation with a friendly local Ballard Orthopod, I was off to the MRI. This stands for Maximum Ramrod Invention. After removing all metal objects from your pockets including your stainless steel crowns, you are then interviewed with such questions as “Would you be bothered if I threw you down a well and put a lid on?” I supposed I satisfactorily answered all the questions as the next thing I knew I was slid into a retro-iron-lung and told to hold perfectly still for the next ten minutes, even if you feel scorpions crawling up your pant leg. Then they turned on the ramrod motor which sounds like you are squatting inside a fifty-gallon steel drum whilst Marshawn Lynch is pounding on it with a sledgehammer. After forty-five minutes of these pleasantries the technician declares that we are finished and that we have some wonderful images of the inside of my knee which looks like termites have been feasting.

As I was being wheeled into the O.R., I expected the doctors to begin reassuring me that everything was going to be ok and this was the easiest surgery of the thirty-six they have preformed that day.

Instead, the men in blue learned over my gurney with those stern but compassionate Dr. Kildare eyes and asked me just what did I think about those tooth-whitening toothpastes. This is the way it actually happened. I am not smart enough to make this up. I don’t recall what I said as my blood sugar was way below Snickers level and some kind of sodium pentothal was already coursing through my veins.

I awoke with a knee in a shrink-wrap cocoon, a pleasant person in blue giving me instructions, which I remember not at all, and a rerun of Friends on the hospital TV set. Monica was kissing somebody. The doctors told me I would be dancing and golfing within a week. I can’t dance and am not much better at golf. It’s been three weeks now and it still hurts ten times more than before it was fixed. Oh well, at least it was an interesting experience and I got an article out of it.

Then it is on to the hospital for arthroscopic surgery. This is the kind of surgery for which training is completed at the Nintendo factory, since it That’s it for now from Ballard. is performed on the TV monitor. The undergraduate work is completed at GameWorks downtown where promising candidates are selected for their remote-control skills. While sitting waiting in the pre-op for my turn in surgery, I was able to read an entire Stephen King novel as well as write my next five columns. It is so nice, they don’t want to rush you into anything as you sit comfortably in the fashionable open-back hospital gown on the sticky vinyl hospital chair. My knee had been shaved but by the time it was my turn, they had to shave it again. After not eating or drinking anything for 24 hours, I was delirious and didn’t care about a thing.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or official policy of the Seattle-King County Dental Society.

22 l 2020 SKCDS WINTER QUARTERLY

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