President’s Message

The President’s Message Moving Forward (Revisited)

In the 2020 Winter Quarterly, Dr. Austin Baruffi opened with how impressed he was with our profession’s ability to adapt and thrive in the face of the pandemic. This sentiment continues to ring true in this new year. In a recent ADA HPI survey of dentists regarding the economic impact of COVID-19, 60.7% report their practice is “open and business as usual.” This is up from 38.5% from December of the previous year. It’s extremely encouraging, and this metric nicely illustrates dentists’ resilience. As we continue to push forward, Seattle-King County Dental Society strives for your success.

Throughout the month of February, your Foundation and Society is thrilled to be partnering with the KidsQuest Children’s Museum for National Children’s Dental Health Month and Give Kids A Smile! On Friday evenings, our member dentists have been performing basic pediatric oral health exams on-site to identify any problems and make recommendations to their parents or guardians. The hope is that if any of the children seen do not yet have a dental home, they will find one with one of you. And if the family already has a dentist that they love and trust, it’s an excellent reminder to make sure that next six-month check-up is on the books! During the rest of the week, the museum has incorporated a dental theme into all of their other activities. For example, at ‘Play with Clay’, visitors can practice their flossing techniques and at ‘Weekend Playshop’, participants will be using eggs to mimic the delicate enamel of teeth and see how certain beverage choices can impact the discoloration of the enamel over time.

In a recent article in Dental Economics, Roger P. Levin DDS wrote, “Staffing is now the most critical issue facing dentistry.” It’s a multifaceted problem that we have been working diligently to address. In an effort to support the training of new dental assistants, WSDA has released a comprehensive list of videos that focus on the basics of dental assisting. This excellent resource can be found through a simple search on their website to complement in-person training. Shout out to the Washington Academy of General Dentistry for their efforts to bolster the workforce through their newly developed Dental Assistant School! We all appreciate the work you are doing!

Like many of you, I’m ecstatic to be starting a new year. 2021 was challenging, but we accomplished incredible things. Let’s keep this momentum going.

It has been an absolute honor to serve your Society.

Sincerely,

Dr. Adam Kennedy

Dr. Adam Kennedy

I am honored to serve as your Society’s President.