UDA Convention Hosting

Resolved, that based on current documented scientific research, the conclusions of conferences and symposiums on the biocompatibility of metallic restorative material, and upon joint reports of the Council on Dental Materials, Instruments and Equipment and the Council on Dental Therapeutics of the Association, the continued use of dental amalgam as a restorative material does not pose a health hazard to the nonallergic patient, and that to advocate to a patient or the public the removal of clinically serviceable dental amalgam restorations solely to substitute a material that does not contain mercury is unwarranted and violates the ADA Principles of Ethics and Code

Resolved, that the ADA strongly recommends that use only precapsulated amalgam alloy in their dental practices.”

Requirements for Recognition of Dental Specialties and National Certifying Boards for Dental Specialists:

“The Requirements for Recognition of Dental Specialties and National Certifying Boards for Dental Specialists contain criteria that specialty applicants and the recognized specialty sponsoring organizations and certifying boards must meet in order to become and/or remain recognized by the National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards (National Commission). A specialty is an area a discipline of dentistry that has a separate, distinct and well defined focus based on unique advanced knowledge, skills and training. Dental specialties are recognized to protect the public, nurture the art and science of dentistry, and improve the quality of care in disciplines of dentistry in which advanced knowledge, skills and training are essential to maintain or restore oral health. Not all disciplines in dentistry will satisfy the requirements for specialty recognition and there should be no expectation that all disciplines in dentistry will meet the Requirements for Recognition of Dental Specialties.”

Medicaid Dental Loss Ratios: “the ADA recommends that U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) publish a state by state assessment of managed care organizations with the percentage of allocated Medicaid funding that is being spent on dental services, and the ADA recommends that CMS require each state Medicaid agency to monitor the dental loss ratio among their contractors.”

Amending ADA Policy to Stop Unlicensed Dental or Dental

Hygiene Practice: “Resolved, that state attorneys general should be expeditious in prosecuting individuals who are practicing dentistry or dental hygiene without a license, that state dental boards should be empowered to deliver and enforce cease and desist orders and press charges for practicing dentistry or dental hygiene without a proper license, and that individuals charged with practicing dentistry or dental hygiene without a license should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

ADA Policy on Oral-Systemic Health Integration:

“Resolved, that the ADA supports and encourages treatment to optimize a patient’s oral health status prior to organ transplants, joint replacements, cardiac surgery and other medical procedures and supports and encourages research, collaboration and appropriate treatment discussions between dentists and other health care providers to help identify systemic diseases which are strongly suspected to have a direct relationship to a patient’s oral health.”

Establishment of a Special Committee on ERISA:

“Resolved, that a Special Committee be convened to develop a broad-reaching strategy for improving patient protections in dental plans regulated under *ERISA.

*Note: CQI meetings this past fall reviewed that some dental plans are state regulated – so they must comply with Utah statutes including recent changes the UDA has lobbied for including; non-covered services, virtual credit cards, retroactive denials, prior authorizations, network leasing (see UDA Action Jan 2022, pg. 9-11). Many more dental plans are federally regulated by the “Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974” (ERISA) and may not be subject to Utah statutes.

Dr Scott Theurer ADA Delegate

CONVENTION

UDA CONVENTION HOSTING

The UDA Convention Committee is looking for UDA Member Dentists and Hygienists that would be willing to host a speaker at the UDA Convention in March. Being a host is really pretty easy. You would contact the speaker before the meeting, introduce yourself and see if he/she had any concerns or questions. While at the convention you would also be coordinating with the speaker. As a host you would introduce the speaker and give any necessary announcements from the UDA Convention Committee.

The perks of being a host include getting to know a pretty great presenter in the world of dentistry. Also, your registration fee is waived to attend the convention. Look through the convention program and see if there is a particular presenter that you would like to meet and get to know.

Please email or text Becky at the UDA Office if you are interested in being a host. becky@uda.org or 801-261-5315