7 FDA Board of Trustees Votes to Lower Dues by $30 for
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EDITOR
Dr. Hugh Wunderlich, CDE
Palm Harbor
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
PRESIDENT
Dr. Jeffrey Ottley
Milton
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
Dr. Dan Gesek Jacksonville
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
Dr. Don lIkka Leesburg
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Drew Eason, CAE Tallahassee
TRUSTEES
Dr. Tom Brown Orange Park
Dr. John Coroba Lake Mary
Dr. Bethany Douglas Jacksonville
Dr. Fred Grassin Spring Hill
Dr. Bertram Hughes Gainesville
Dr. Richard Mufson Miami
PRESIDENT-ELECT
Dr. John Paul Lakeland
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Dr. Beatriz Terry Miami
TREASURER
Dr. Rodrigo Romano Miami
Dr. Christopher Bulnes Tampa
Dr. Sam DeSai Cape Coral
Dr. Karen Glerum Boynton Beach
Dr. Reese Harrison Lynn Haven
Dr. Eddie Martin Pensacola
Dr. John Pasqual Delray Beach
To contact an FDA board member, use the first letter of their first name, then their last name, followed by @bot.floridadental.org. For example, to email Dr. Hugh Wunderlich, his email would be hwunderlich@bot.floridadental.org.
To call a specific staff member below, dial 850.350. followed by their extension.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE
Drew Eason • chief executive officer/executive director deason@floridadental.org Ext. 7109
Dan Zottoli, SBCS, DIF, LTCP director of sales • Atlantic Coast 561.791.7744 • cell: 561.601.5363 dan.zottoli@fdaservices.com
Dennis Head, CIC director of sales • Central Florida 877.843.0921 • cell: 407.927.5472 dennis.head@fdaservices.com
Mike Trout director of sales • North Florida cell: 904.254.8927
mike.trout@fdaservices.com
Joseph Perretti, SBCS director of sales • South Florida cell: 305.721.9196 joe.perretti@fdaservices.com
Rick D’Angelo, CIC director of sales • West Coast 813.475.6948 • cell: 813.267.2572 rick.dangelo@fdaservices.com
2025 FDA AWARDS
NomiNate SomeoNe today!
Award nominations are now open.
The Florida Dental Association Awards Committee is accepting nominations! Recipients will be featured in FDA publications and social media and honored in person at the annual awards luncheon held in conjunction with the Florida Dental Convention in June 2025. The nomination process is quick and easy and the online form can be found at floridadental.org/nominate
Get your nominations in today – the deadline is Friday, September 20, 2024!
FDA AWARD CATEGORIES:
Dental Student Award
Dental Team Member Award
Public Service Awards
New Dental Leader
Leadership Awards
Dentist of the Year
Dental-related Medical Emergencies
By FDA President Jeff Ottley, DMD
If you practice long enough, statistically, you will encounter a dental-related medical emergency at some point in your career. When it occurs, even in a well-prepared office, you will likely need to change your sweat-soaked scrubs. Doing all you can to prevent a medical emergency may not eliminate the possibility, but it will reduce the severity and frequency of occurrences. Many experts have written articles on preparedness, and repeatedly, the top three deterrents are a thorough medical history, anxiety-reducing protocols and an emergency plan in place for the dental team.
Being prepared for dental-related medical emergencies goes beyond readiness. It actually begins way back at the comprehensive exam with a complete and accurate medical history. The medical history should include a list of all prescribed, over the counter and herbal medications, a thorough social and environmental health history, and all current medical conditions, both treated and untreated.
It’s no surprise that stress and anxiety are the key factors in 75% of the most common medical emergencies in the dental office. The patient has an underlying medical condition that is, while at rest, often asymptomatic, but
when stressed either physiologically or psychologically, it becomes exacerbated. Implementation of pain-free injections, soothing distractions and, when necessary, anti-anxiety medications for dental procedures are key to stress reduction for our patients
Lastly, the dental team’s preparedness for dealing with medical emergencies in the dental office is crucial to ensure a smooth response, a quicker solution and, ultimately, a better outcome for the patient and less stress for the doctors and team members. Our office has a key ring of cheat sheets color-coded for each medical emergency, from syncopy to heart attack. These cheat sheets contain signs and symptoms, how to evaluate the patient, team member protocols and how to treat the patient in each emergency. We find it helpful to review our response plan for each emergency on a quarterly basis.
The American Dental Association (ADA) and the Florida Dental Association (FDA) have excellent recourses for all three aspects of preparedness for your dental office. Go to ADA.org, then search for medical history, dental anxiety and medical emergencies in the dental office. Each topic has numerous articles and links to helpful information that can reduce the possibility of a medical emergency in your office. No one likes sweaty scrubs.
FDA President Dr. Ottley can be reached at jottley@bot.floridadental.org
Recruit for Rewards Caring • Connections
• Create •
Commitment
You know first-hand the value you receive from your ADA membership. Through the community and resources you’ve come to count on, the ADA provides the support you need to help achieve your goals. You can help colleagues and friends thrive by inviting them to join the ADA.
For every 5 new members
you recruit, you’ll receive a chance to win a 7-day interisland Hawaiian cruise* for you and a guest.
Eligibility
Who can recruit? Any ADA member dentist (including graduate student, resident, active licensed, active life, retired and retired life) is eligible to participate as a recruiter
Who can be recruited? Any degreed dentist who was not an ADA member in 2023 (including graduate students, residents)
Who is not eligible to be recruited for this program?
• A renewing member (someone who was a member in 2023)
• Dental students
• Retired dentists
How to Participate
• Newly recruited members are required to indicate the recruiter’s name and contact information as a referral on the membership application.
• ADA member recruiters will receive an email notification after the dentist referred has been accepted into membership.
• A raffle entry for quarterly drawings will be awarded for each new, active member recruited who pays national dues (as applicable) in the current year. Recruiters will receive a chance to win a 7-day Hawaiian cruise* for every five new recruited members who pay national dues (as applicable).
Recognition
• All recruiters will be recognized at SmileCon 2024. Top recruiters will receive additional recognition.
• Quarterly winners and top recruiters will be announced in ADA Morning Huddle.
For each new member
you recruit, you’ll be entered into a quarterly drawing for a chance to win $1,000 in prizes from ADA-endorsed providers or products from the ADA Store.
Program Rules
• This program will run January 1 – August 31, 2024.
• For each new, active member who joins in that timeframe, the referring member’s name will be entered into quarterly drawings for a chance to win $1,000 in prizes from ADAendorsed providers or products from the ADA Store. Referring members will also receive a chance to win a 7-day interisland Hawaiian cruise* for every five new, eligible members they recruit.
• Referring members will receive a qualifying entry each time their name is listed as the “referring member” on the new member’s application (one entry for quarterly drawings for every one member recruited, one entry for the grand prize drawing for every five members recruited). There is no limit to the number of new members who can be recruited or entries in the drawing.
• Referring members will automatically win a quarterly prize (up to $1,000 value) when they recruit 25 eligible new members. Quarterly prize winners are also eligible to win the grand prize should they recruit at least five new members.
• The grand prize drawing will take place at SmileCon® 2024 in New Orleans. SmileCon attendance is not required to win.
* The grand prize winner will receive a 7-day interisland Hawaiian cruise with a balcony room and airfare for two to be redeemed in 2025, an estimated value of $7,500. If winners do not wish to claim the Hawaiian cruise package, they are able to select another trip from AHI’s catalog at equal or lesser value, or take a cash prize option of $3,500. Learn more about the available cruises provided by ADA Member Advantage endorsed partner, AHI Travel.
The ADA Member Recruitment Initiative is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, and is void where prohibited by law. Visit ADA.org/R4R for more details.
FDA Board of Trustees Votes to Lower Dues by $30 for 2025
By FDA President Jeff Ottley, DMD
As president of the Florida Dental Association (FDA), I’m excited to announce the FDA Board of Trustees, when approving the FDA budget last May, reduced full dues by $30.
With prices on the rise all around us, you might ask yourself how and why this is possible; it is because of the support of members like you. When practitioners purchase their insurance policies from FDA Services (FDAS), the money comes back to the FDA versus going to a private company and its stockholders. This allows us to keep dues lower than many other state associations.
Every year, more and more members take advantage of the great insurance products that FDAS offers and the exceptional service our FDAS agents provide. Speaking of more and more members enjoying the FDA benefits, an ever-increasing number of members and their teams are
attending the Florida Dental Convention (FDC). FDC provides exceptional continuing education, entertainment and fun! Revenue from the FDC meeting also keeps dues down. Another source of FDA’s non-dues revenue comes from wise investments.
We will continue to focus on our members and the FDA’s bottom line with the hope of more dues reductions as our association becomes more resilient and less reliant on dues income. When we add all these together with the fiscally responsible FDA leaders and team members, we have the makings of lower dues now and potentially in the future. Thank you for being a member!
FDA President Dr. Ottley can be reached at jottley@bot.floridadental.org.
How to Report Unlicensed Activity
By FDA Chief Legal Officer Casey Stoutamire
Did you know that if you want to report unlicensed activity in Florida, you do not report it to the Board of Dentistry? Instead, you report it to the Unlicensed Activity and Fraud Unit (ULA) at the Florida Department of Health. This unit protects Florida residents and visitors from the potentially serious and dangerous consequences of receiving medical and health care services from an unlicensed person. It investigates and refers for prosecution all unlicensed health care activity complaints and
For more information about unlicensed activity in Florida and to report unlicensed activity, visit FLHealthSource.gov/ULA.
allegations. The ULA unit works with law enforcement and the state attorney’s offices to prosecute individuals practicing without a license. In many instances, unlicensed activity is a felony-level criminal offense. Examples of things to report include veneer tech clinics, a dentist operating without a dental license, auxiliary staff working outside their scope of practice, etc.
FDA Chief Legal Officer Casey Stoutamire can be reached at cstoutamire@floridadental.org.
Are You Ready to Vote?
By FDA Chief Legislative Officer Joe Anne Hart
This may seem like a simple question with a simple answer, but it is more complicated than you think. Everyone reading this article should know by now that this is an election year and that, in November, we will be voting for who will serve as president of the United States for the next four years. But do you know who else or what else you will be voting for in November?
Election season can feel overwhelming because of the constant campaign ads that fill our mailboxes, emails, televisions, social media accounts and even our text messages. What to believe and whom to believe becomes a challenge if we don’t take the time to educate ourselves about the facts of the matter — whatever it is.
But don’t be alarmed; this article is not about the presidential election. You should be informed about important local races. This includes educating yourself on who is running for city and county commission, property appraiser, tax collector, sheriff, local judges and the list goes on. These are critical positions of government that can have a direct impact on you and your community. Don’t wait until the last minute to understand their positions on issues that are important to you. Start educating yourself now.
Florida’s 67 counties have supervisor of election websites where you can get additional information about candidates running in your area. You can find a list of those websites by scanning the QR code below.
What else is on the ballot in November?
There will be six proposed constitutional amendments
2024 ELECTIONS
Primary Election: Tuesday, Aug. 20
General Election: Tuesday, Nov. 5
on the November ballot. Should these amendments pass, they will become part of the Florida Constitution. It is important that you understand what amendments are being proposed and what impact they could have on the state. In order for these amendments to be adopted into the constitution, they must receive at least 60% approval from the voters.
Here are the amendments being proposed:
Amendment 1: Partisan School Board Members
Amendment 1 would amend the current language in the constitution to require members of a district school board to be elected in a partisan election. The legislature proposed this amendment in the 2023 Legislative Session. If approved by voters, this amendment would take effect for the 2026 general election, allowing for partisan primary elections for school board elections.
Amendment 2: Right to Hunt and Fish
Amendment 2 would amend the current language in the constitution to establish hunting and fishing in Florida as a constitutional right and preferred means of responsibly managing and controlling fish and wildlife populations. This amendment would not limit the authority the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has to establish rules and regulations. The legislature proposed this amendment during the 2023 Legislative Session. If approved, this amendment would take effect immediately.
Amendment 3: Adult Personal Use of Marijuana
Amendment 3 would amend the current language in the constitution to allow adults 21 years or older to possess, purchase or use marijuana products and accessories for non-medical personal use. This amendment would also enable state-licensed entities to conduct business in the state, defining terms and establishing possession limits for personal use. The Florida Legislature would maintain the ability to enact laws regarding personal use of marijuana, including but not limited to use in public places and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration levels in products. This amendment was proposed through a citizens’ initiative and reviewed by the Florida Supreme Court before being added to the ballot. If approved by voters, the amendment is effective six months after approval. It is important to note that, if approved, federal laws regarding marijuana are not changed and penalties under federal law are still applicable.
Amendment 4: Limit Government Interference with Abortion
Amendment 4 would add a new section to the state constitution stating that “no law shall prohibit, penalize, delay or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s health care provider.” The current requirement for parental or guardian notification before a minor has
an abortion would not be removed or changed. This amendment was proposed through a citizens’ initiative and reviewed by the Florida Supreme Court before being added to the ballot. If approved by voters, the amendment is effective immediately.
Amendment 5: Annual Adjustments to the Value of Certain Homestead Exemptions
Amendment 5 would amend the current language in the state constitution to require annual inflation-based adjustments to current and future homestead exemptions. The legislature proposed this legislation during the 2024 Legislative Session. If approved by voters, it will take effect Jan. 1, 2025.
Amendment 6: Repeal of Public Campaign Financing Requirement
Amendment 6 would repeal the current language in the constitution, which requires public financing for campaigns of candidates seeking statewide office who agree to campaign spending limits. The legislature proposed this legislation during the 2024 Legislative Session. If approved by voters, it will take effect Jan. 1, 2025.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO!
FDA Chief Legislative Officer Joe Anne Hart can be reached at jahart@floridadental.org
For more information about constitutional amendments on this year’s ballot, visit the Florida Division of Elections’ website.
ARE YOU A MEMBER OF
CENTURY CLUB?
A portion of your dues is transferred to the Florida Dental Association Political Action Committee (FDAPAC). FDAPAC provides campaign contributions to dental-friendly candidates.
FDAPAC Century Club members provide additional financial support of $150 or more for state campaigns. FDAPAC dues and contributions are not deductible for federal income tax purposes.
FDAPAC-Supported Candidates
Primary Election: Tuesday, Aug. 20
Thanks to your Florida Dental Association (FDA) Political Action Committee (PAC) membership and support, FDAPAC has already contributed to many candidates’ campaigns for the 2024 primary election. Without the FDAPAC membership, FDAPAC Century Club Members and FDAPAC Capital Hill Club Members, organized dentistry would not be as effective during the Legislative Session. Below is a list of FDAPAC-supported House and Senate candidates for the 2024 primary election.
ATLANTIC COAST DISTRICT
Dana Trabulsy, R-Fort Pierce H-84
John Snyder, R-Palm City H-86
Mike Caruso, R-Boca Raton H-87
Jervonte Edmonds, D-West Palm Beach H-88
Joe Casello, D-Boynton Beach H-90
Kelly Skidmore, D-Boca Raton H-92
Katherine Waldron, D-Greenacres H-93
Christine Hunschofsky, D-Coconut Creek H-95
Dan Daley, D-Sunrise H-96
Lisa Dunkley, D-Lauderhill H-97
Mitch Rosenwald, D-Oakland Park H-98
Daryl Campbell, D-Fort Lauderdale H-99
Chip LaMarca, R-Lighthouse Point H-100
Hillary Cassel, D-Hollywood H-101
Mike Gottlieb, D-Plantation H-102
Robin Bartleman, D-Weston H-103
Felicia Robinson, D-Miami Gardens H-104
For additional information about FDAPAC-supported candidates, contact the FDA Governmental Affairs Office at 850.224.1089 or gao@floridadental.org.
Marie Woodson, D-Pembroke Pines H-105
Erin Grall, R-Fort Pierce S-29
Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart S-31
Jason Pizzo, D-Hollywood S-37
CENTRAL FLORIDA DISTRICT
Sam Greco, R-St. Augustine H-19
Taylor Yarkosky, R-Clermont H-25
Chase Tramont, R-Port Orange H-30
Tyler Sirois, R-Merritt Island H-31
Dave Weldon, R-Indialantic H-32
David Smith, R-Winter Springs H-38
Jennifer “Rita” Harris, D-Orlando H-44
Keith Truenow, R-Tavares S-13
Geraldine Thompson, D-Orlando S-15
Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando S-17
Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay S-19
Kristen Arrington, D-Kissimmee S-25
FDC2024 COURSE RECORDINGS
Wish you could attend two courses offered at the same time? Want to bring course information back to your team? FDC2024 course recordings are available for you to purchase!
Listen to FDC2024 courses at the convenience of your home or office with these MP4 audio recordings. Course recordings are $20 each or purchase all 75+ recorded sessions for only $249*.
Vist education.floridadentalconvention.com to purchase your FDC2024 course recordings today!
An organization’s ability to thrive is largely determined by the quality and effectiveness of its leadership. Great leaders can create tremendous success, but leadership skills don’t always come naturally. At the Florida Dental Association, we believe that great leaders are developed through learned skills and practices.
Leaders Emerging Among Dentistry (LEAD) is an FDA program that provides participants with training to enhance their leadership and interpersonal skills as well as a backstage pass to FDA leadership, offerings, and experiences. LEAD is open to all FDA members and dental students. Seating is limited and registration opens on October 1st.
FDAPAC candidates
NORTHEAST DISTRICT
Sam Garrison, R-Fleming Island H-11
Wyman Duggan, R-Jacksonville H-12
Tracie Davis, D-Jacksonville S-5
Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach S-7
NORTHWEST DISTRICT
Joel Rudman, R-Navarre H-3
Patt Maney, R-Fort Walton Beach H-4
Shane Abbott, R-Marianna H-5
Griff Griffitts, R-Panama City H-6
Gallop Franklin, D-Tallahassee H-8
Allison Tant, D-Tallahassee H-9
Don Gaetz, R-Crestview S-1
Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee S-3
SOUTH FLORIDA DISTRICT
Joe Saunders, D-Miami H-106
Dotie Joseph, D-North Miami H-108
Ashley Gantt, D-Miami H-109
Alex Rizo, R-Hialeah H-112
Vicki Lopez, R-Coral Gables H-113
Demi Busatta Cabrera, R-Coral Gables H-114
Alian Collazo, R-Palmetto Bay H-115
Danny Perez, R-Miami H-116
Mike Redondo, R-Miami H-118
Juan Carlos Porras, R-Miami H-119
WEST COAST DISTRICT
Jennifer Canady, R-Lakeland H-50
Josie Tomkow, R-Auburndale H-51
Kevin Steele, R-Hudson H-55
Adam Anderson, R-Tarpon Springs H-57
Kim Berfield, R-Clearwater H-58
Lindsay Cross, D-St. Petersburg H-60
Michele Rayner, D-St. Petersburg H-62
Susan Valdes, D-Tampa H-64
Karen Gonzalez Pittman, R-Tampa H-65
Traci Koster, R-Tampa H-66
Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa H-67
Lawrence McClure, R-Plant City H-68
Danny Alvarez, R-Riverview H-69
Will Robinson, R-Bradenton H-71
James Buchanan, R-North Port H-74
Jenna Persons-Mulicka, R-Fort Myers H-78
Adam Botana, R-Bonita Springs H-80
Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill S-11
Ed Hooper, R-Palm Harbor S-21
Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills S-23
Ben Albritton, R-Bartow S-27
Please note, those listed in purple are FDAPAC-supported candidates who were elected to office without opposition after the June 14 qualifying deadline. Their names will not appear on the election ballot.
Names italicized are FDAPAC-supported candidates that will move directly to the general election since no one qualified against them in the primary. Their names will not appear on the election ballot for the primary.
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Managing Your Security as Cyber Attacks Intensify
By President & CEO of iCoreConnect Robert McDermott
It seems almost yearly now that a major cyber attack on various parts of the healthcare industry serves as a wake-up call to all providers regarding their security and the importance of mitigating risks. In February of this year, a major health care technology provider was attacked, and its data was held for ransom by cybercriminals.
Once vulnerable, it suffered a second cyber attack just a few months later, putting massive amounts of patient data at risk.
Sadly, it also seems that even in the wake of a major security incident, we tend to nod back to sleep until the next attack kicks us back into security high gear.
Unfortunately, the impact of these attacks can create ongoing waves of negative impact across critical components of digital healthcare delivery from billing, verification of insurance and payments to ePrescribing.
Organization Or Practice Size Doesn’t Matter
You may think cyber criminals only attack big organizations, but that’s not true. Attacks can happen on businesses of every size, crippling operations, exposing patient records and draining bank accounts. You need to implement proactive measures to ensure continuity of patient care and better protect patient data and trust.
Does Your Practice Understand Security Risks?
As with any attack mitigation efforts, understanding the key vulnerabilities and mitigation strategies is the first step. Here are three key areas to check first:
preventive action
Cyberattacks can highlight the interconnected nature of digital health care systems. An attack on one component can have far-reaching consequences across an entire network, disrupting operations and compromising patient safety.
1. Unauthorized Access
Risk: Unauthorized users gaining access to sensitive patient information or modifying records.
Mitigation: Implement multi-factor authentication and role-based access control to limit system access only to authorized personnel. Multi-factor authentication protocols include the use of text-message codes or access tokens keyed to individual users.
2. Data Breaches
Risk: Patient data breaches can lead to compromised confidentiality and privacy, along with the risk of crippling fines and reputation loss.
Mitigation: Encrypt data at rest and in transit to prevent unauthorized access with, for example, fully HIPAA-compliant email. Configure “ransomware resistant” backup to enable a quick recovery during an attack. Regularly update security protocols and conduct vulnerability assessments to identify and address potential weaknesses. Employ Business Associate Agreements with third-party vendors and organizations to ensure their security measures are HIPAA compliant.
3. Phishing Attacks
Risk: Phishing attacks have become increasingly sophisticated over the past few years. More than 90% of cyber attacks start with a malicious email, and the health care industry is a primary target.
Mitigation: Educate employees through regular training sessions about recognizing and avoiding phishing attempts. Implement email filtering systems or secure HIPAA-compliant email to detect and block suspicious emails before they reach the inbox. Utilize HIPAA-safe email that prevents unknown parties from emailing and spamming you directly.
Cyberattacks can highlight the interconnected nature of digital health care systems. An attack on one component can have far-reaching consequences across an entire network, disrupting operations and compromising patient safety. Electronic prescribing, billing and claims are specific examples.
There are many measures you can take to ensure the safety and security of your practice’s infrastructure and the sensitive data contained within. While no measure is foolproof, implementing risk mitigation efforts is required not just by law but also through your commitment to your patients, your team and your practice.
Florida Dental Association Crown Savings endorsed partner iCoreConnect has a team of experts prepared to review, revise and advise to help you ensure HIPAA compliance and health care security are fortified in all business facets of your practice, including HIPAA-compliant email with iCoreExchange.
Visit iCoreConnect.com/FL19 to book a demo or call 888.810.7706 to learn more.
I’ll Huff, I’ll Puff and Blow Your Profits Away dental
By Bertram J. Hughes, DMD
Navigating the dental plan marketplace can be an overwhelming task for an individual dental office. From understanding the contract to the ever-updated policy manual, dental plans in today’s marketplace appear to be making up their own rules and promoting policies that, if left unchecked, become the standard. The framework the Florida Dental Association (FDA) and the American Dental Association (ADA) have in place can help you navigate this aspect of your practice. The ADA has a host of current benefit plan contracts in its library and thus can assist you in understanding some of the pitfall language you may be subjected to when contracting with a plan. The FDA also has a guide available to help you navigate contract language. A good practice is to always consult with your attorney before signing up with a plan. If a plan sends you an electronic version of a contract, you may ask for changes and an updated
version sent. Too often, we, as dentists, think we must sign up for a plan as outlined by the contract drafted by the insurance carrier.
Do you remember when a buccal pit filling and an occlusal filling were reimbursed as two separate procedures? This is just one example of how a policy change can affect your reimbursement. If you are an early career dentist, this may seem like it was always the standard to bundle these procedures. This industry-wide policy adoption is much more difficult with the repeal of McCarron-Ferguson. Without the organized efforts of dentists, insurance companies would be able to continue to collude for the betterment of their business model.
In reference to working with a dental plan, the policy manual is the “holy grail” for how insurance companies operate. While they may offer you one thing in a contract, they may change or alter this language within their policy manual. It is very important to be aware of these changes
or contractually require a plan to properly notify you of all changes. The FDA is working hard to help protect dentists and the patients they serve from being victimized by predatory practices by dental insurance carriers. If you feel that an insurance carrier is “behaving badly” or that a patient is being mistreated by the actions of a carrier, it is very important to report it. Reporting options include the FDA’s Chief Legal Officer Casey Stoutamire at cstoutamire@floridadental.org, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, the ADA Council on Dental Benefits or myself.
Remember, dental plan companies want you to feel isolated and alone. Allowing your organized associations to coalesce complaints helps improve our ability to advocate on your behalf.
Without the organized efforts of dentists, insurance companies would be able to continue to collude for the betterment of their business model.
Dr. Bert Hughes is the FDA’s representative on the ADA Council on Dental Benefits program and can be reached at berthughes@me.com.
Friday, September 20, 2024
The Biltmore Hotel • Coral Gables, FL Education 8:30 am-5 pm • Reception 5-6 pm $449 for FDA Members • $499 for Non-Members www.fdawind.com
Earn 8 Hours of CE
AI in Dentistry • Cyber Security • Dental Technology
The next BOD meeting is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 16, at 7:30 a.m. ET in Boca Raton.
The Florida Board of Dentistry (BOD) met in Jacksonville on Friday, May 17 at 7:30 a.m.
The Florida Dental Association (FDA) was represented by BOD Liaison Dr. Steve Hochfelder and Chief Legal Officer Casey Stoutamire. Drs. Andy Brown and Jim Haddix were also in attendance.
BOD members present included: Dr. Jose Mellado, chair; Dr. Nick White, vice-chair; Drs. Brad Cherry, Tom McCawley and Claudio Miro;
hygiene members, Ms. Karyn Hill and Ms. Angela Johnson; and consumer members, Mr. Fabio Andrade and Mr. Ben Mirza. Dr. Christine Bojaxhi was excused. There is one open dental position on the Board that the covernor has not yet filled.
The agenda for this meeting was particularly light. This was most likely due to the staff turnover at the board. Recently, Kelly Rogers was announced as the board executive director. However, at the time of the May meeting, the board was still searching for an executive director and the board of nursing executive director filled in. The former executive director, Ms. Allison Dudley, is
now serving as the board attorney.
The main item of business that the FDA was interested in was the Council on Dental Hygiene report. The board approved the proposed revision to 64B5-13.001, Determination of Probable Cause. The new rule language is below. This language is not yet effective as it must still go through the administrative rule process.
64B5-13.001 Determination of Probable Cause
(1) The probable cause panel, by majority vote, shall determine whether probable cause exists to believe that a licensee has violated the provisions of Chapter 456 or 466, F.S., or the rules of the Department or Board.
(2) The probable cause panel shall be appointed by the Chairman and shall be composed of three members, two of which must be dentists who hold valid and active dental licenses in this State. At least two members of the probable cause panel must be present to constitute a quorum. If only two members are present, the determination of probable cause shall require the affirmative vote of both members present.
(a) Up to One or two members may be former dentist, dental hygienist, or consumer Board members.
(b) At least one member must be a current Board member who holds a valid and active license in this state.
(c) At least one member must be a current or former consumer member of the Board if one is available and
willing to serve. If a consumer members is not available or willing to serve, a current or former dental hygienist member of the Board shall serve on the panel if available or willing to serve.
(d) When an investigation report of a dental hygienist or a dental radiographer will be considered by the panel, for those investigation reports only, at least one member must be a current or former dental hygienist member of the Board if one is available and willing to serve.
(e) Any former dentist or dental hygiene member of the Board appointed to the panel must currently hold a valid and active dental or dental hygiene license in this state.
(f) Probable cause panel members shall serve for one year terms but may serve successive terms.
(3) The probable cause panel shall meet as necessary to conduct business as determined by the Chairman of the Board or the Chairman of the panel.
In addition, the board approved language to the rule on the training of hygienists and assistants in administering nitrous oxide. The current rule requires the dentist to train the hygienists and assistants to have a moderate sedation permit. This has caused a hardship for the programs around the state as it is hard to find a dentist with this permit to teach the course. Thus, the board approved language to amend the rule to state that for training hygienists and assistants in the administration of nitrous oxide, the dentist must hold an unencumbered Florida license or valid teaching permit and be trained in the administration of nitrous oxide. A moderate sedation permit will no longer
required. Again, this rule is not yet effective as it must proceed through the administrative rulemaking process.
The board also received updates on the various bills affecting the practice of dentistry passed during the 2024 Legislative Session. No rulemaking has begun on any of the legislation.
There were four disciplinary cases, one informal hearing and one request for an extension of time for fines and costs that included, among other things, non-use of a rubber dam, incorrect implant placement and incorrect crown placement.
It is much better to be a spectator than a participant in BOD disciplinary cases.
FDA Chief Legal Officer Casey Stoutamire can be reached at cstoutamire@floridadental.org
NEED HELP WITH PATIENT COMPLAINTS?
The Peer Review program is designed to help Florida Dental Association member dentists.
Avoid costly legal fees, malpractice suits and Board of Dentistry complaints by using this free service exclusively for members. Learn more online at FloridaDental.org/PeerReview or by contacting FDA Peer Review Coordinator Lywanda Tucker at 850.350.7143 or ltucker@floridadental.org
DSOs Should Choose FDA Services as Their Insurance Broker to Support Organized Dentistry
Dental Support Organizations (DSOs) have a unique opportunity to contribute to organized dentistry and shape the future of the dental profession. Making the right choices in selecting partners and services can significantly impact the advancement of organized dentistry.
FDA Services O ers:
Alignment with Organized Dentistry
Expertise in Dental Practice Insurance
Advocacy and Representation
Boutique Brokerage with National Presence
Support for FDA Members in DSOs
If you are an FDA member who is working in or owns a DSO, we encourage you to urge your Human Resources Department or CFO to reach out to FDA Services for a proposal.
To learn more, contact FDAS Director of Insurance Operations Carrie Millar at 850.350.7155 or carrie.millar@fdaservices.com.
news@FDA
Congratulations to FDA Members on Their Newly-elected Positions
The Florida Dental Association (FDA) has spent several years updating its governance structure, which was showcased during the June House of Delegates’ (HOD) elections. HOD members voted for a speaker of the house, FDA editor and six at-large trustee positions. The FDA congratulates the following members on their newly-elected positions:
Speaker: Dr. Don Ilkka | Editor: Dr. Hugh Wunderlich
Trustees: Drs. Chris Bulnes, Tom Brown, John Cordoba, Sam Desai, Karen Glerum and Eddie Martin
President: Dr. Jeff Ottley | President-elect: Dr. John Paul
First Vice President: Dr. Dan Gesek
Immediate Past President: Dr. Beatriz Terry
Thanks to Those Who Attended FDC2024
On behalf of the FDA Committee on Conventions & Continuing Education and staff, we hope you and your team had an inspiring experience at the 2024 Florida Dental Convention (FDC), “Your Future, Your Design.” Go to bit.ly/4boLDgo and use your registration ID to access your FDC2024 continuing education (CE) certificate. Per the Florida Board of Dentistry, CE credits will be awarded to attendees who participated for at least 50 out of the 60 minutes of each course. Please note that partial credits will be reflected in CE certificates by July 22. If you have credit concerns, please contact Heather Slager at hslager@florida dental.org or 850.350.7106. All full and partial credits were reported to CE Broker by July 22.
The American Dental Association Asks the Supreme Court for Insurance Reform
The American Dental Association (ADA) has requested that the U.S. Supreme Court review a lower appeals court’s decision regarding the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, which restricts states’ traditional authority to regulate health care and insurance.
To read the entire article, “ADA pleads with Supreme Court for Insurance Reform | American Dental Association” go to bit.ly/4ePuEqr.
Strengthen Your Skills Beyond the Dental Chair – FDA’s Business in Dentistry Event
Make plans to attend the FDA’s “Filling the Gaps: Simplifying the Business of Dentistry Event” in Coral Gables on Saturday, Sept. 21.
Strengthen your skills beyond the dental chair! Elevate your dental practice and optimize your profits with the FDA’s webinar event. Learn from industry experts and fellow dentists to help expand your patient base, grow your revenue, avoid legal risks, secure your data and increase your return on investment with cutting-edge technology.
Both new and seasoned dentists will gain valuable insights into operating a successful practice. Learn more at floridadental.org/business.
Hackers Targeting Health Care in Order to Divert Payments
The Federal Bureau of Investigations and Department of Health and Human Services have issued a joint alert to health care leaders about a social engineering campaign targeting health care organizations.
According to the June 24 alert, hackers are using phishing schemes to steal login credentials, enabling unauthorized access and diversion of automated clearing house payments to U.S.-controlled bank accounts. These attacks often begin with hackers gaining access to employees’ email accounts through social engineering or phishing. Once access is gained, they specifically target login information related to reimbursement payments for insurance companies and Medicare.
To read the entire article go to bit.ly/3VGFlmx.
New Human Trafficking Poster Requirements for Health Care Practitioners Including Dentists
In May, HB 7063 by Rep. Toby Overdorf (R-Stuart) was signed into law by the governor. A section of the new law requires all health care practitioners, including dentists, to post in their place of work a new human trafficking notice with information in both English and Spanish. Currently, dentists are required to have these notices posted in their office; however, changes have been made to the contact information on the poster and new versions must be printed and displayed by all health care practitioners.
The posters are available online at bit.ly/3WU1UGE for members to download. Dentists must post the new poster in their offices by Jan. 1, 2025.
FDA Members Speak at UFCD's 49th Annual Commencement Ceremony
District Dental Association President Dr. Bethany Douglas and Dr. Lance Karp were among the guest speakers who addressed the 49th graduating class at the University of Florida College of Dentistry (UFCD) ceremony on May 17.
Students Hone Their Dental AI Skills While Helping Their Patients
After just one hour of training with Overjet’s dental AI technology, University of Florida College of Dentistry (UFCD) dental students improved their ability to detect cavities by more than 40%.
Since December 2023, 100 students have gone through the training on Overjet’s module. For many, it was their first look into the AI-powered future of their field.
“Students absolutely loved it. They were a hundred percent focused,” said Anita Gohel, B.D.S., Ph.D., the chair of oral and maxillofacial diagnostic services at UFCD. Gohel has supervised dozens of students who trained on Overjet’s system and is researching how the application can serve as a dental AI teaching tool.
Cavities appear as slightly different shades of gray on a monochrome radiograph, and only 20-40% are typically identified.
The caries-identification module that UFCD students trained with highlights cavities in bright colors and aids in creating a treatment plan.
To read the entire article go to bit.ly/4cPsRje.
Northeast
Welcome New FDA Members
Learn more by visiting our virtual Member Center at floridadental.org
The following dentists recently joined the FDA. Their memberships allow them to develop a strong network of fellow professionals who understand the day-to-day triumphs and tribulations of practicing dentistry.
Atlantic District
Dental Association
Dr. Jose Alfonso Rodriguez, Fort Lauderdale
Dr. Navid Baradarian, Delray Beach
Dr. Marc Christy, Palm City
Dr. Marisabel Correa, Fort Lauderdale
Dr. Bernarda Frias, West Palm Beach
Dr. Kirenia Garcia Amaro, Port Saint Lucie
Dr. Alexander Gorlin, Boca Raton
Dr. Andrea Leon Hostos, Plantation
Dr. Mildred Martinez, Pompano Beach
Dr. Seth Mendell, Delray Beach
Dr. Stephanie Moreno Flores, Pompano Beach
Dr. Michelle Nudel, Boca Raton
Dr. Juan Perez, Vero Beach
Dr. Dasiel Pineiro, Miami
Dr. Sebastian Porras, Fort Lauderdale
Dr. Rina Raad, Delray Beach
Dr. Kevin Rodriguez-Lichtenberg, Lake Worth
Dr. Kevin Rojas, Miramar
Dr. Colleen Vo, Palm Beach Gardens
Dr. Ana Volles, Delray Beach
Dr. Sarah Wilensky, Davie
Dr. Jennifer Woerner, Boca Raton
Central Florida District
Dental Association
Dr. Rana-Azhan Ahmad, Gainesville
Dr. Sara Alhaffar, Ocala
Dr. Daniel Alvarez, Gainesville
Dr. Jack Ashby, Gainesville
Dr. Daniela Avila, Gainesville
Dr. Oksana Bailey, Enterprise
Dr. Arianna Borges Rodriguez, Orlando
Dr. Haleigh Brooks, Newberry
Dr. Andrew Buckles, Elizabethtown
Dr. Abel Campano DeVarona, Winter Park
Dr. Maria Capellan, Oviedo
Dr. Asima Chughtai, Port Orange
Dr. John Cole, San Francisco
Dr. Cornelia Dadaciu, Gainesville
Dr. Christine Estime, Kissimmee
Dr. Liana Froyan, Orlando
Dr. Blake Garfinkel, Longwood
Dr. Kelsey Gwin, Orlando
Dr. Maria Morales Linares, Orlando
Dr. Alyssa Morris, Ocala
Dr. Monique Nguyen, Gainesville
Dr. Elizabeth Nolan, Gainesville
Dr. Jose Penaloza Guevara, Oviedo
Dr. Alexis Powers, Gainesville
Dr. Lilia Saavedra Goubanova, Kissimmee
Dr. Fady Sadek, Lake Mary
Dr. Alexandra Sargent, New Smyrna Beach
Dr. Amin Soolari, Gainesville
Dr. Sujatha Tella, Orlando
Dr. Steven Weiss, Daytona Beach
Dr. Kyle Westbrook, Ormond Beach
Dr. Thelma Xisto Gomes Pedro, Kissimmee
Dr. Raafi Zaman, Orlando
Northeast District Dental Association
Dr. Cole Carpenter, Jacksonville
Dr. Alison Caruso, Jacksonville
Dr. Stalin De Souza Borges, Jacksonville
Dr. Yuri De Souza Borges, Jacksonville
Dr. Brooke Ina, Jacksonville
Dr. Maryam Karo, Saint Augustine
Dr. Khang Le, Jacksonville Beach
Dr. Brandin Lieberman, Jacksonville
Dr. Da-Thao Nguyen, Jacksonville
Dr. Kevin Nguyen, Jacksonville
Northwest District Dental Association
Dr. Alexanderia Bertrand, Panama City
South Florida District Dental Association
Dr. Alegna Alfonso de la Luz, Miami
Dr. Helen Arvelo de Quinones, Doral
Dr. Robinson Balda, Miami
Dr. Zoilo Crespo Alonso, Weston
Dr. Daviarlys David Then, Miami
Dr. Dasha Donado, Weston
Dr. Paula Egharevba, Miami
Dr. Jafrayra Galvan Santoni, Miami
Dr. Kelsey Hoehn-Saric, West End
Dr. Odalys Iglesias, Miami
Dr. Ruben Journo, Miami Beach
Dr. Yenisel Junquera Loriga, Miami
Dr. Jelena Karovic, Miami
Dr. Angelica Lopez Arteaga, Hialeah
Dr. Maria Lozada, Miami
Dr. Maikol Morales, Miami Lakes
Dr. Wilson Narino Tapias, Miami
Dr. Vasim Panwar, Davie
Dr. Jason Park, Miami
Dr. Tailin Perez Hernandez, Hialeah
Dr. Aakash Rana, Miami
Dr. Karla Rivera, Miami Gardens
Dr. Elizabeth Riveron Leyva, Cutler Bay
Dr. Manuela Salazar, Pembroke Pines
Dr. Aldo Segui Hevia, Miami
Dr. Rene Vega, Miami
West Coast District
Dental Association
Dr. Hallie Banc, Saint Petersburg
Dr. Loraine Cerejido Marquez, Cape Coral
Dr. Kurtis Davis, Bradenton
Dr. Dalton Eckstein, Seminole
Dr. Victor Galvan, Arcadia
Dr. Natalie Garcia Rodriguez, Safety Harbor
Dr. Arezou Garmestani, Washington
Dr. Meghan Hodder, Saint Petersburg
Dr. Kimmeuy Horozinski, North Port
Dr. Ashleigh-Marie Lanham, Auburndale
Dr. Horyeong Lee, Wesley Chapel
Dr. Judith Meran, Naples
Dr. Anghitha Nimil, Lakeland
Dr. Elsy Orellana, Tampa
Dr. Stacey Owens, Lafayette
The FDA honors the memory and passing of the following members: in memoriam
Scott Imray
Lakewood Ranch
Died: 5/8/24
Age: 68
Richard Kimmel Bonita Springs
Died: 5/21/24
Age: 78
Kenneth Renhold
Dunedin Died: 6/17/24 Age: 80
Ronald Mathias Deland Died: 5/12/24 Age: 61
John Whitsitt
Daytona Beach Died: 5/5/24 Age: 78
Dr. Hetvi Patel, Wesley Chapel
Dr. Frank Perez, Tampa
Dr. Theodore Petridis, Riverview
Dr. Reinel Requeiro Torres, Punta Gorda
Dr. Ruba Reyal, Tampa
Dr. Nicole Rogus, Lutz
Dr. Chelsea Saffo, Lake Alfred
Dr. Brett Silvers, Apollo Beach
Dr. Nikkia Thompson, Wesley Chapel
Dr. Gianna Tommarello, Naples
Dr. Elliot Traxler, Saint Petersburg
Dr. Xuan Dieu Vo, Sarasota
Dr. Elizabeth Williams, Naples
Dr. Iryna Yelisetty, Saint Petersburg
Dr. Mullar Zakher, Oldsmar
Dr. Sierra Zarate, Tampa
Where in the World is Today’s FDA?
Thank you, Dr. Steve Hochfelder, for taking Today’s FDA to Uganda, Africa. This photo was taken at the end of a rafting trip with the Nile in the background.
Do you have vacation plans year? On your next trip, take a copy of Today’s FDA with you, take a photo and send it to jrunyan@floridadental.org to see it featured in an upcoming issue.
Where will Today’s FDA venture next?
FOR CONTRIBUTING MORE THAN $16 MILLION TO ORGANIZED DENTISTRY IN THE PAST 10 YEARS!
SUPPORTING FDAS MEANS SUPPORTING THE FDA! THANK YOU, FDA
In 10 Years FLORIDADENTAL ASSOCIATIONTHANKS
FDASERVICESFOR ITS CONTRIBUTIONS
medical history
Protect Your Patients and Yourself:
The Complete and Honest Medical
History
By Mitchell Gardiner, DMD
Think back to the first time you walked into the patient clinic as a dental student. Perhaps you were looking around, feeling overwhelmed and intently reviewing mental checklists of all that was expected of you. Have you ever been more prepared or thorough than you were the first time you cared for a live patient?
Recall how much time you devoted to evaluating every current and past medical condition shared by your patient — assessing and documenting vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse and temperature, and dutifully reviewing the actions and interactions of their list of medications and conditions. As a student, you made sure that you knew all this information for every patient you saw and documented it in their record. Only then did you approach your clinical instructor to breathlessly regurgitate all that you had discovered, hoping that the patient would be medically cleared to allow treatment to begin.
This prelude to performing an actual dental procedure took 15 minutes or more of your precious clinical time. As a dental student, you chalked this up to the necessity of learning how to take an accurate and complete medical and dental history, understanding that this was an essential part of care management. Hopefully, it is an exercise that continues with you to this day for every patient in your care.
It’s
your legal and ethical responsibility is to obtain a complete and thorough medical and dental history for your patients.
Failure to do so may result in the delivery of negligent care – and even put you at risk for malpractice.
In the years that have followed, your clinical skills have become more proficient and polished. Can the same be said for the quality of the medical history that you take? Are you devoting the same time and effort to your current patients that you did as a dental student, or do you rush through a hastily filled out, partially completed medical and dental history form, sign it, and move on to determine the patient’s needs? Are you giving any thought to what your patient has told you in these forms? As a busy dental clinician, do you rely on a team member to obtain the medical history at the patient’s visit? Are you conducting a private interview with the patient specifically to review their history before moving on to discuss dental treatment?
Depending upon how you’ve answered these questions, it may be time to reevaluate how you obtain your patients’ medical histories. It is critical to assure that your systems address the importance of this information to your patient safety and well-being and to mitigate the risks you bear. The dental clinician’s legal and ethical responsibility is to obtain a complete and thorough medical and dental history. Failure to get a complete and honest medical
history may result in the delivery of negligent care that does not meet accepted standards.
Health history information should be first and foremost in the patient file. Before any diagnosis or treatment takes place, this information must be thoroughly assessed. Dental boards in every state have made it a legal requirement to obtain an accurate medical and dental health history as part of the patient record. Without this information in the patient record, a court of law may find that you have practiced below accepted dental care standards. Following graduation and obtaining a license to practice the many aspects of dentistry, the expectation is that the clinician will provide patient care with the highest levels of safety and prudence. It is the ethical promise that we make to our patients. It cannot be accomplished without the dental clinician having a complete and thorough medical and dental history as the foundation for information to help provide that safe and prudent care.
Taking a complete and thorough medical history can be challenging to obtain accurately. Patients often misrepresent the truth about sensitive medical information, including
the use of medications prescribed by a physician for medical reasons such as mental health, or for drugs that patients use for non-medical reasons. Examples are opioid medications, cocaine, methamphetamines, alcohol and marijuana. When patients do not trust their dentist to maintain confidentiality or question that the motive for asking is something other than to provide them with the best and safest medical care, they are unlikely to be truthful in revealing sensitive information.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has related that almost 40% of high school students report trying marijuana, and 48.2 million adults commonly use marijuana. Yet you may not see patients answering truthfully on your forms about marijuana use. Alcohol Use Disorder, most widely known to Americans as alcoholism, is a disease that affects more than 20 million people in our country. According to the CDC, excessive alcohol use leads to approximately 95,000 deaths per year and the increased risk of many harmful health conditions for both short and long-term health. As dental clinicians, we should be well-aware of the complications that excessive
use of alcohol can cause during dental treatment. These complications can include bleeding difficulties and central nervous system depression that can create many complications during dental treatment. How often in your dental and medical histories do you see patients answer affirmatively for excessive use of alcohol? Do you even ask about alcohol consumption?
Often patients are reticent to discuss mental health issues with health care providers. In your medical histories, when patients are asked to list the medications taken daily, many patients will omit the use of antianxiety and antidepressant drugs because they are embarrassed to list a psychiatrist as a treating physician who prescribed these medications. According to the CDC, from 2015 to 2018, 13% of adults over 18 used antidepressant medications, and the number was twice as high with women as with men. Antidepressant usage was the highest among women aged 60 and over, at 25%. Antidepressants are one of the primary treatments for depression and are among the most frequently used therapeutic medications in the United States.
Carefully review some of your recent medical histories and you will note that many patients do not list these types of medications. Familiarity with these medications and the risks and complications they can cause during dental treatments is of the utmost importance for safe and pru-
medical history
dent patient care. Not knowing that your patients take these medications makes providing safe dental care more difficult.
How you interview, follow up on these questions, and listen to responses is critical. Fine-tuning communication skills will build trust and reduce the patient’s discomfort for disclosing sensitive information. Clinicians must be prepared to explain the effects of these substances on a patient’s central nervous system and their impact on oral and overall health. Patients must come to understand how important these disclosures may be in allowing you to make the safest medical decision for treatment. When we do not know the medications and substances that patients use, we cannot anticipate possible complications that these drugs can present during our prescribed treatment. It is up to the clinician to ensure that the patient grasps the importance of these questions and that their candidness matters.
When asked about medications, it is common for patients to tell the interviewer that they “forgot” the names of medications that they are taking. They might say something to the effect that they are taking a blood pressure medication, another medication for nerves and another medication for their diabetes or cholesterol. Treating a patient without knowing what medications they’re taking is a risky proposition. It is challenging to provide safe and prudent care under these circumstanc-
es. Accepted standards of medical and dental care require practitioners to have a complete understanding of medications that their patients are taking before treatment commences. Clinicians can be liable if there are complications and bad treatment outcomes due to incomplete or ignored medical histories. Consultation with the patient’s primary medical provider can fill in the gaps.
In authoring this article, I am drawing on my professional training, along with more than 30 years of experience as an expert witness testifying in legal proceedings on behalf of both dentists and patients in the area of dental malpractice. The difficulties in defending dentists who are sued for negligent treatment that involves incomplete or ignored medical histories can be insurmountable. These cases are heartbreaking for both patients and dental clinicians, as shown by the following case experience.
Case Report
Recently I testified in a dental malpractice lawsuit on behalf of a general dentist who received her DMD five years ago. The plaintiff was a 42-year-old man when he became a patient with the dental practice’s previous owner in 1998. At that time, he filled out and signed a two-page medical history that listed no medical issues of concern. No physicians were listed as treating the patient, nor were there any noted issues concerning the patient’s health over the next 14 years while receiving routine
Understand that many times if you do not ask them questions concerning their medical and dental history, they will not voluntarily disclose some of those details. dental care at this office without complication.
In 2012, the patient began to experience health concerns related to his heart, including shortness of breath, weakness and fatigue, causing him to seek care from a cardiologist. A cardiac surgeon performed a bicuspid aortic valve surgical procedure later that same year. The patient recovered well from his valve replacement surgery, and he had no medical issues of note.
I learned this medical information by reviewing the patient’s medical records obtained from his cardiologist and cardiac surgeon. No documented history appears in his dental record about these experiences. The original dental-medical health history form from 1998 was the only completed and signed health form found in his dental chart. No updated medical history form appeared in the patient’s dental records.
The initial treating dentist died in 2014, and the practice was sold to a friend. The patient stayed with the practice and continued to receive routine cleanings and restorative dentistry. The new dentist made no additions to the original 1998 medical history form. There were no notations in the dental records concerning the need to use prophylactic antibiotics to cover the patient due to cardiac valve surgery. However, several notations made in the dental records by the second owner of the practice documented that each visit
by the patient had a review of medical history, with no change noted.
The dental practice was again sold in 2017 to the defendant, a recent dental school graduate. She finished restorative care for the patient, and while treating him, she documented in the records that she reviewed his medical history and found no changes. According to this new dental practice owner, the patient told her that he had open-heart surgery in 2012 and recovered with no issues. She asked him if he had stents placed and if he was on any medication for his heart, to which the patient answered “no.” The dentist never asked her patient if a cardiac specialist was treating him, and he never volunteered that information.
The treating dentist claimed that there was no documentation of prophylactic antibiotics ever being given or prescribed to the patient for any invasive procedures or for any periodontal cleaning appointments in the records that predate her joining the practice. A review of the records from 1998-2017 showed no antibiotics ever given or prescribed for this patient following his visits. In 2019, the defendant dentist performed
root canal treatment for the patient under a previously placed crown. This endodontic procedure was successfully completed over one week.
The patient began to feel sick within three weeks and was admitted to the hospital. Bloodwork confirmed he had an infection with Streptococcus salivarius. The patient’s cardiologist and an infectious disease specialist diagnosed subacute infective endocarditis. The patient spent several weeks in the hospital and, after intensive antibiotic therapy, was released for continuing care at home. Healing was uneventful and it appeared that the patient did not suffer any permanent damage to his surgically replaced aortic valve.
Within six months, the patient filed paperwork to sue the owner dentist for negligence in treating him. This malpractice lawsuit became the focal point of this young dentist’s life over the next three years. The hours she spent preparing to defend her reputation are incalculable, and the anxiety and worry accompanying this lawsuit remained with her every day, every week and every month. Although I have condensed the facts
of the case for this article, what should stand out to you is that this case focuses on the medical history documented in the dental records over 20 years and the medical history obtained by the dentists from the patient.
Several issues are quite clear after investigation:
• The patient over this time was never asked to complete a new medical history form, and only one from 1998 was documented in the records.
• None of the treating dentists for this patient ever sat down with him to ask the appropriate questions necessary to obtain a complete and thorough medical history.
• It became apparent from the facts of this case that the medical history for the patient had changed dramatically during his years with the practice.
In 2007, in conjunction with the American Dental Association’s Council on Scientific Affairs, the American Heart Association published guidelines for dentists to use when considering prophylactic antibiotic coverage for their patients. These evidence-based guidelines are well known and are regarded as the accepted standard of care in dentistry. These standards call for antibiotic prophylaxis for all invasive dental procedures for patients with a high risk of infective endocarditis.
medical history
Patients who have had cardiac valve replacement surgery are considered in this group.
The failure to provide antibiotic prophylaxis by the treating dentist for the patient in question was noted to be a deviation from accepted standards of dental care. It was claimed to be the proximate cause of the patient’s infective endocarditis. The liability insurance carrier was concerned about the patient’s lack of up-to-date medical histories and the failure by the treating dentist to document that cardiac valve surgery was discussed between the dentist and patient. A confidential settlement conference was elected as the best option for the dentist to settle this case.
It would have been very easy and straightforward to have prevented this patient encounter from becoming the frightening clinical situation experienced by the patient and the damaging lawsuit that followed for the dentist. This story underscores the importance of obtaining a complete and thorough medical history and documenting any changes at every patient visit.
There is an art and a science to gathering the information necessary to give the clinician a complete, thorough and honest medical and dental history. The medical/dental history form provides the initial information from the patient for review by the clinician, and it is only the beginning of the process. Dentists should view
this task as a labyrinth, where your patient will lead you through many doors that need to be opened along the way. Your eyes, and especially your ears, are your best tools for obtaining a complete, thorough and honest medical history. The biggest problem with communication is the misconception that it has taken place.
As clinicians, we must establish a level of trust with our patients so they believe we are there to take care of their dental needs safely. Sometimes this bridge of trust will take time to build. Listening to what your patients say to you is of the utmost importance in building that trust and allowing your patients to give you the information you need. Watching how your patients respond to your questions and careful eye contact and body language are excellent tools in helping you to best understand your patient.
All of this takes time and the proper environment. Many clinicians complain that they do not have the appropriate time to do this. However, my experience has proven that this is the best and most crucial time you can ever spend with a patient. I can guarantee you that if you ignore this advice about communicating with your patients concerning their medical health, it will come back to haunt you in ways that are difficult to imagine during your professional career. As discussed, I have seen this too often in court. What many dental clinicians forget is that comfort and
trust are the tools that will allow you to gain a full and accurate history. The only way to gain comfort and trust is by spending time with your patients and speaking with them, not time operating on them. If you view this as wasted time, then you are sorely mistaken.
When I teach dental professionals about taking medical histories, I am always asked: “Do patients have to volunteer information about their medical history?” My response is that patients do not need to volunteer information that is not asked of them on a form or through a conversation. Understand that many times if you do not ask them questions concerning their medical and dental history, they will not voluntarily disclose some of those details. Many dentists and hygienists who attend my courses comment that they are reluctant to ask personal questions about recreational drug use and alcohol consumption. They feel that maybe it is not their business to know this information. Yet it is a well-established fact that many of these recreational drugs and the over-consumption of alcohol directly affect dental care and dental procedures. As clinicians, we must know all of the drugs and medications that patients are consuming so that we can treat them safely and prudently. It is our legal and ethical responsibility to have as much of this information as possible.
However, this information does not come easily. It requires trust from the patient and the communication established by you, the clinician, to bridge this gap and let your patient understand that you are there to
treat them safely and confidentially. This only comes with the proper amount of time, experience and desire to reach that goal of fully understanding your patient’s medical condition.
Patients are expected to answer questions and provide truthful information about their medical histories. When patients are untruthful or give incomplete information that result in harm to them from these omissions, courts of law typically find that patients are liable, and not clinicians.
Medical histories need to be re-
viewed thoroughly at each dental appointment. Three specific questions should be posed to the patient when updating past medical histories:
1. Have you been to the hospital for any treatment since your last dental visit?
2. Have you been to a doctor of any kind for any health care since your last dental visit?
3. Are you taking any new medications or drugs since your last dental visit?
The standard of care in your practice should be that your patients regularly complete a new medical and dental history and review it before each visit. It is my experience that many patients fight this inquiry and complain to staff members and dentists that this is cumbersome and unnecessary. This is where communication with your patient is so important. Be prepared by rehearsing talking points with your team on how the practice needs to be as safe
and as careful as possible in caring for patients. Build a bridge of trust so patients understand how vital their overall health is to you and your team.
Once you incorporate this protocol into your practice, you will be shocked by what you learn and how much answers on medical histories have changed when contrasted with older forms buried in the records. Your patient care will reach new levels of safety, and you will feel better ethically and legally knowing that you are doing everything you can to treat your patients in the manner they deserve.
References Available Upon Request
Mitchell Gardiner, DMD, graduated from Rutgers College in 1974 with a degree in zoology. He is a 1977 graduate of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He is a full-time general dentist in a multi-specialty practice in New Jersey. For more than 30 years Gardine has reviewed dental malpractice lawsuits as an expert witness. He lectures throughout the United States and Canada on various dental malpractice issues and standards of care. He is an assistant clinical professor on the faculty of the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine and teaches clinical fixed prosthodontics. He is a fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists.
Reprinted, with permission, from the Journal of the Michigan Dental Association, April 2022 issue (Vol. 104, No. 4).
FDA Career Center
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Connect with our network of elite professionals through our state-of-the-art recruiting platform. Designed to specifically match you with qualified industry candidates, no other commercial job board can deliver quality professionals looking to take the next step in their careers.
• Quick and easy job posting
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Strengthen your skills beyond the dental chair! Elevate your dental practice and optimize your profits with the FDA’s Filling the Gaps:
Simplifying the Business of Dentistry Event. Learn from industry experts and fellow dentists to help you expand your patient base, grow your revenue, avoid legal risks, secure your data, marketing, patient reviews, increase ROI with cutting-edge technology. Both new and seasoned dentists will gain valuable insights into operating a successful practice!
TRANSFORM YOUR PRACTICE WITH STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS AT FILLING THE GAPS: SIMPLIFYING THE BUSINESS OF DENTISTRY EVENT!
ATTENDEES WILL DIVE DEEP INTO TOPICS ON:
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Optimizing the Dental Team for Medical Emergency Success
By Larry J. Sangrik, D.D.S.
I once read that knowledge differs from wisdom in that knowledge revolves around the collection of information and facts, while wisdom involves the application of knowledge through insight, experience and judgment. to a medical crisis. Universally, the results are the same. The doctor usually has sufficient knowledge to identify the etiology of the problem. However, both the dentist and the team lack the wisdom to provide a coordinated response.
In addition to practicing general dentistry, I have taught medical emergency preparedness in convention lecture settings and individual offices seeking a workshop experience. In the latter, we often conduct role-playing exercises to facilitate a team response
Experts and the American Dental Association’s (ADA) emergency guide agree that managing a medical crisis relies on six central tenets:
1. Periodic training of the dentist.
medical history
2. Comprehensive training of the entire team.
3. Mock drills to simulate situations the team may face.
4. The presence of an emergency manual.
5. Proper equipment (especially oxygen).
6. A basic drug kit.
This article will focus on one aspect of staff training: delegating specific tasks to each team member. Tragically, this need came to light when a dentist was faced with a child in unexpected respiratory and cardiac arrest. In an excited state, the dentist made serious errors in administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Despite having been trained, five staff members merely stood at the foot of the dental chair crying; none aided or corrected the dentist in his attempt to aid the patient.
Medical emergencies are often frightening and chaotic. That fact should be anticipated. However, we can learn much about dealing with such situations from our colleagues in the aviation industry who utilize the crew resource management (CRM) concept. CRM is the concept of maximizing the value of each team member toward a common goal.
During a medical emergency in a dental office, the successful use of staff revolves around specific, delegated duties for each dental team member. Superficially, this seems difficult as dental teams vary widely in size. The balance of this article will address this sole issue: successful delegation of duties during an emergency. To that end, we will use a four-person response model: a dentist, a clinical dental assistant, a dental hygienist and an office manager.
We will then organize the responsibilities onto a duty card consisting of two columns with four rows. The first column contains a review of assignments during full cardiac arrest. The second column, which will be used far more frequently, contains the assignments for each team member during every other medical crisis. Because that is the most likely situation, it is that column on which we will concentrate here.
The dentist: During a medical emergency, 90% of the dentist’s role is from “the eyebrows up.” That means the dentist’s role is largely intellectual. The dentist’s role is to:
1. Identify the problem.
2. Formulate a response.
3. Direct the team toward that end.
Yes, state regulations may require that the dentist personally push the plunger of a syringe. Yes, the dentist may want to personally manage the airway of an apneic patient. However, that does not negate that most physical duties during an emergency can be delegated to a team member. The dentist is wise to step back and try to look at the situation globally and assess whether a comprehensive approach to the matter is being achieved. With the rise of multi-dentist practices, an important issue is, “Who’s in charge?” The answer is the dentist who was initially responsible for the patient is the team leader until he or she relinquishes responsibility. In some offices, a particular doctor might be more trained or skilled to manage the situation. That is fine. Always use the most qualified person. However, make it crystal clear who is functioning as the team leader.
Clinical assistant: Like the dentist, the clinical assistant should never leave the patient’s side. The clinical assistant’s role is to assist the dentist in whatever necessary manner. The first step to this end is administering supplemental oxygen to the patient. Banking oxygen is almost always beneficial, even when oxygen does not immediately appear helpful. The sole exception to administering oxygen is hyperventilation. In that case, the dentist merely instructs the clinical assistant not to proceed.
Administering oxygen should be done without the dentist’s specific direction. It is done automatically simply because it is on the duty card. This means the clinical assistant needs to be proficient in the application of both a nasal cannula and a non-rebreathing mask, as well as the operation of the oxygen cylinder.
medical history
A complimentary duty card, as described in this article, can be found on the following page or requested at info@interactivedentalseminars.com.
Dental hygientist: During a medical emergency, the dental hygienist’s role is two-fold:
1. Serve as the recordkeeper of the event.
2. Provide ongoing vital signs.
In the role of recordkeeper, the first (and critical) need is to establish the onset of the event. Therefore, the dental hygienist’s first responsibility upon learning a medical emergency is underway is to note the time. Then, like the clinical assistant, the dental hygienist has predetermined duties upon arrival at the emergency site. Without prompting, the dental hygienist records the time and then immediately takes a set of vital signs: heart rate, heart rhythm (e.g. normal, irregular, thready), blood pressure (BP) and respiratory rate.
Incumbent in this duty is the hygienist’s ability to maintain skills in taking blood pressure using manual sphygmomanometers. While many hygienists are accustomed to taking blood pressure using modestly priced BP units designed to identify hypertension, many medical emergencies involve dangerously low blood pressure. Because it is beyond the scope of most dentists to purchase a hospital-grade BP unit designed for hypotension, the most reasonable alternative is to have an assortment of three sizes of manual BP cuffs and maintain skills at taking manual blood pressure.
Office manager: Without question, the individual with the most diverse responsibilities is the office manager. The office manager is responsible for “the three C’s”: collect, call and control.
Collect: The first responsibility of the office manager is to bring all the necessary supplies (emergency equipment, oxygen, drug kit, emergency manual) to the site of the
emergency. Remember, the dentist and clinical assistant should never leave the patient’s side. Meanwhile, the hygienist is heading to the emergency to take vital signs. This means it is incumbent that the dental office maintain its emergency equipment in a manner that can be quickly and fully retrieved.
Call: Many, if not most, medical emergencies are minor and do not require calling emergency medical services (EMS). However, should EMS be needed, the office manager must make the call.
Control: Finally, and perhaps most diversely, the office manager needs to control the environment. Patients in other treatment rooms, people in the reception room, and loved ones of the person being treated are all individuals who need to be managed. Moreover, if EMS has been summoned, its arrival at the office should be coordinated.
Clearly, the office manager has many diverse duties. However, most dental offices operate with a team larger than four. Moreover, during a crisis, everyone genuinely wants to make a meaningful contribution. Unfortunately, it is distracting to the dentist to be bombarded with questions about what needs to be done.
Instead, lessons can be learned from the military. The dentist acts as the general, managing the overall battle strategy, and other dentists, if available, act as his or her staff officers.
By contrast, the office manager is the sergeant of the operation. It is often said that battles are won or lost based on sergeants’ performance. All the staff (troops) need to report to their sergeant and receive specific tasks.
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In Memoriam
In Memoriam
The FDA honors the memory and passing of the following members:
The FDA honors the memory and passing of the following members:
Nelson Castellano
Nelson Castellano
Tampa
Tampa
medical history
FREE COURSE TUITION
Robert Ettleman
Robert Ettleman
Depending on the number of staff available, the office manager can assign tasks to as many staff as are available. Some examples are:
Died: 2/12/2023
Died: 2/12/2023
Age: 83
Age: 83
Tampa Died: 1/23/2023
Tampa Died: 1/23/2023
Age: 69
Age: 69
Gilbert Principe
Gilbert Principe
Longwood
Longwood
Died: 1/12/2023
Died: 1/12/2023 Age: 80
Age: 80
ü Assign someone to greet EMS. If the office is in a multistory building, have someone holding the elevator.
Michael Chanatry
Michael Chanatry
Jacksonville
Wendell Hall
Wendell Hall
GET FREE COURSE TUITION AT FDC2023! Volunteer
AT FDC2023!
Properly organizing your staff before an emergency occurs is one of the six key steps that an office needs to undertake if an office is truly committed to caring for a patient undergoing a medical emergency during dental treatment.
Volunteer to be an FDC Speaker Host.
Speaker Host.
Edward Stokes
Edward Stokes
Died: 1/11/2023
Jacksonville Died: 2/12/2023
Died: 2/12/2023
Age: 72
Age: 72
Tampa Died: 2/12/2023
Age: 88
Tampa Died: 2/12/2023 Age: 88
Died: 1/11/2023 Age: 76
Age: 76
ü If the victim has a loved one in the reception room, isolate them in a private room and assign a liaison to sit with them and update them on the situation.
Silas Daniel
Silas Daniel
Seminole
Seminole
Charles Infante
Charles Infante
Plantation
Volunteers provide an invaluable service to the Florida Dental Convention. Speaker Hosts will be responsible for introducing the speaker, making announcements in front of the course, passing out and collecting surveys, and contacting convention staff if AV assistance is needed.
Volunteers provide an invaluable service to the Florida Dental Convention. Speaker Hosts will be responsible for introducing the speaker, making announcements in front of the course, passing out and collecting surveys, and contacting convention staff if AV assistance is needed.
Died: 1/10/2023
Died: 1/10/2023
Age: 74
Age: 74
Died: 2/15/2023
Age: 92
Plantation Died: 2/15/2023 Age: 92
ü Assign someone to dismiss patients in nearby treatment rooms and possibly the reception room.
Each emergency is unique, and the office manager has the flexibility to marshal the office’s human resources to optimize patient care.
Larry J. Sangrik, DDS is a graduate of The Ohio State University College of Dentistry. In addition to practicing general dentistry, he operates Interactive Dental Seminars, a provider of participatory continuing education focused on medical emergency training held onsite in individual dental offices. Dr. Sangrik was chosen by the ADA to develop their medical emergency training aids for dental offices. He has been a featured speaker at four ADA SmileCon meetings, the Florida Dental Convention and most of the nation’s dental meetings. Dr. Sangrik can be reached at ljsangrikdds@aol.com.
Volunteering has its perks!
Volunteering has its perks!
• All Speaker Hosts receive a $20 lunch voucher for Exhibit Hall concessions.
• All Speaker Hosts receive a $20 lunch voucher for Exhibit Hall concessions.
• Lecture Speaker Hosts receive free course tuition for the hosted course.
• Lecture Speaker Hosts receive free course tuition for the hosted course.
Volunteer today at education.floridadentalconvention.com
Volunteer today at education.floridadentalconvention.com
QUESTIONS?
QUESTIONS? Contact
Contact Mackenzie Johnson at mjohnson@floridadental.org or 850.350.7162.
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21 | TODAY'S FDA march/april 2023
Dental Lifeline Network’s Donated Dental Services Program Makes a Difference for Those in Need
By Dental Lifeline Network • Florida
Dental Lifeline Network (DLN) has been offering solutions for those facing barriers to accessing dental care for 50 years. DLN’s mission is to change the lives of America’s most vulnerable adults through its coordinated system of care, and it achieves this mission through a network of dedicated volunteer dentists and labs. Since its inception, Dental Lifeline Network • Florida’s Donated Dental Services (DDS) program has connected many Floridians in need with these compassionate volunteers who provide them with the dental treatment that transforms their lives.
In Florida alone, these dedicated volunteers have donated more than $11 million in dental services, helping more than 2,200 people in need achieve better oral health.
The Need
The DDS program transforms the lives of individuals like Candace, 52, a Tampa resident with Down syndrome who lives with her mother, Patricia. Due to her Down syndrome, Candace has been unable to get routine help with her dental care for the past 10 years. She was missing several teeth, which made eating painful and difficult. Spending her free time going to the McDonald’s Training Center four days a week and going bowling once a week, Candace longed not only to be pain-free but also for a restored smile that reflected her active life.
Candace was not a candidate for dentures because of her strong bite/tongue thrusting. Getting by on their supplemental security income, Candace and Patricia were unable to afford the dental care she needed to eat painfree again.
Dr. Redd and Candace R.
Sign up to volunteer with Dental
Lifeline by scanning the QR code to the right and make a difference in the lives of those in need of life-changing and saving dental care.
The Solution
Thankfully, a team of amazing DDS volunteers went above and beyond to find another solution. Dr. John Redd II, a general dentist who referred Candace to the program, partnered with Bayshore Dental Studio to provide a more durable solution for Candace with two upper and lower porcelain-fused-to-metal and zirconia bridges. Bayshore Dental Studio also donated a diagnostic wax-up and full arch model to help with the process.
Thanks to this generous team of volunteers, what once seemed like a hopeless situation was turned around and Candace received thousands of dollars in donated treatment that restored her oral health and smile.
“I am just so thankful that they gave her a smile again,” said Patricia, Candace’s mom. “Now Candace finally shows off her teeth.”
How You Can Help
Currently, more patients like Candace are on the DLN • Florida waitlist and are in desperate need of care. Whether you are in a dental office or a lab, DLN makes it easy to volunteer and give back.
“Bayshore Dental Studio has been working with DLN for over a decade,” said Kayla, production supervisor at Bayshore Dental Lab. “Being able to donate life-changing restorations for these patients is extremely important and rewarding work for us. I always love sharing the success stories with our whole team here.”
Volunteer with DLN today and become part of a community dedicated to changing lives, finding purpose and redefining success. Dr. Redd was honored with the top FL DDS volunteer award in June and has a message for those considering volunteering — a favorite song lyric that captures the spirit of giving back:
“One love. One blood. One life. You’ve got to do what you should.”
Don’t wait! Visit WhyIDental.org or scan the QR code above to transform the lives of individuals in need. Your involvement makes a difference.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR 2024 BENEFACTORS
PRESENTING BENEFACTOR
STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
PLATINUM BENEFACTORS
GOLD BENEFACTORS
SILVER BENEFACTORS
DR. GERALDINE FERRIS
BRONZE BENEFACTORS
WEST COAST
NORTHWEST
Dr. James & Mrs. Susan Antoon
Ms. Paula Britten
Dr. Andy Brown
Dr. John E. Craig
Dr. Marcos Diaz
Dr. Daniel Gesek, Jr.
Biowaste
Dr. Gerald & Mrs. Jerilyn Bird
Brasseler
Dr. Terry & Mrs. Karen Buckenheimer
Colgate-Palmolive
Ameris Bank - Tallahassee
Dr. Dhiren Agrawal
Dr. Nolan Allen
Dr. John Bindeman
Dr. Christopher Bulnes
Dr. Natalie Carr Bustillo
Dr. Brittney Craig
Dr. Bethany Douglas
Dr. Glen Barden
Mr. Kenneth Barton
Dr. Gregory Chace
Dr. John Cordoba
Direct Primary Care
Dr. Douglas Fabiani
Dr. Kristopher Harth
Dr. Bertram Hughes
Dr. Don Ilkka
Dr. Oscar & Mrs. Denise Menendez
Dr. Samira Meymand
Dr. Jeff Ottley
Dr. Thomas Plunkett
Dr. Joe Richardson
Scott Orthodontics
Dr. Richard Stevenson
Dr. Beatriz Terry
QualiMed Respiratory & Mobility, Inc.
PATRONS
Dr. Christopher DeTure
Dr. Victor Dea
Dr. Bradley Harrelson
Dr. Michael Kirsch
Dr. Rudy Liddell
CHAIR SPONSORS
Dr. Isabel Garcia
Dr. Nathan Hall
Dr. Jordan Harper
Dr. Cecilia Hines
Dr. Alana Humberson
Ms. Martha Linder
Dr. Eddie Martin
Dr. Ryan McAlpine
FRIENDS OF FLA-MOM
Dr. Karen Glerum
Dr. Joshua Golden
Dr. Jake Hester
Dr. Steven Hochfelder
Dr. Bernie Kahn
Dr. Lisa Klein
Dr. Brent Mayer
Dr. Barry Setzer
Dr. Bruce Tandy
Richmond Dental
Dr. Paul Miller
Dr. Elizabeth Nixon
Dr. Paul Palo
Dr. John Paul
Dr. Robert Payne
Dr. Donald Thomas
Dr. Steve Zuknick
Mr. Mark Lally
Dr. Ryan Mendro
Dr. Nicholas Ressel
Dr. Franklin Rios
Dr. Rebecca Warnken
Dr. Paul Werner
2024 FLA-MOM IMPACT
LAKELAND
Florida Mission ofMercy (FLA-MOM) is the state’s largest charitable dental clinic. FLA-MOM provides care to any patient at no cost,with the goal of serving the underserved and uninsured in Florida.
The 2024 FLA-MOM was held in Lakeland on May 30 - June 1.
PATIENTS TREATED
$2.3 MILLION
14,176
PATIENTS TREATED
1,877
fla-mom 2024
FLA-MOM Leadership
Thank you to the amazing volunteers who contributed their time and talents to make the 2024 Florida Mission of Mercy a great success!
Dr. Tim Garvey
Dr. Dan Gesek
Dr. Bert Hughes
Dr. Reza Iranmanesh
Dr. Bernie Kahn
Dr. Lance Karp
Mr. David Keough
Dr. Lee Anne Keough
2024 FLA-MOM LEADERSHIP
Dr. Chris Bulnes ▪ 2024 Co-Chair
Dr. Paul Palo ▪ 2024 Co-Chair
Dr. Andy Brown ▪ Statewide Co-Chair
Dr. Oscar Menendez ▪ Statewide Co-Chair
2024 FLA-MOM COMMITTEE
Dr. Brandon Alegre
Ms. Diana Alter
Mr. Clay Archer
Mr. Richard Blackman
Dr. Dan Branca
Mr. Joshua Braswell
Ms. Karen Buckenheimer
Dr. Terry Buckenheimer
Ms. Kelsey Bulnes
Ms. Beth Burwell
Ms. Amanda Burwell
Dr. Natalie Carr Bustillo
Dr. Brad Cherry
Dr. Sam Desai
Dr. Marcos Diaz
Dr. Sam Elias
Dr. Lisa Klein
Dr. Steve Krist
Dr. Gabriella Larrea
Dr. Charlie Llano
Dr. Stephanie Mazariegos
Ms. Jenna Milavickas
Dr. Belkis Musalen-Jones
Dr. John Obeck
Ms. Bo Palo
Dr. Jolene Paramore
Dr. John Paul
Dr. Queanh Phan
Dr. Tom Plunkett
Ms. Teresa Posada-Wilcher
Dr. Joseph Richardson
Ms. Brenda Sanchez
Ms. Katie Schutte
Dr. Jenna Schwibner
Dr. Greg Scott
Dr. Rick Stevenson
Dr. Bruce Tandy
Dr. Vanessa Watts
Dr. Steve Zuknick
FDA FOUNDATION STAFF
Ms. R. Jai Gillum ▪ Director of Foundation Affairs
Ms. Kristin Badeau ▪ Foundation Coordinator
Ms. Madelyn Espinal ▪ Foundation Assistant
fla-mom 2024 recap
The 2024 Florida Mission of Mercy (FLA-MOM) was held in Lakeland on May 30 through June 1 at the RP Funding Center. FLA-MOM, the signature program of the Florida Dental Association Foundation, is the state’s largest charitable dental clinic that provides care to any patient at no cost, with the goal of serving the underserved and uninsured in Florida. This year, more than $2.3 million in donated dental care was provided to patients at the clinic.
Thank you to the more than 1,800 volunteers from across the state who provided 14,176 procedures to 1,850 patients during the two-day clinic. Please visit flamom.org to get information about the 2025 FLA-MOM taking place in Daytona Beach March 21 through 22.
“I am just so grateful that our dentists in Florida and volunteers beyond dentists, care enough about Floridians to give their time and talent to take care of people.”
– Colleen Burton, Florida State Senate – District 12.
Post-op CBCT (left) and verification of unchanged
The Wounded Veterans Relief Fund aims to change veterans’ access to critical dental services across Florida, and we need your help.
85% of Disabled Veterans enrolled in the VA do not qualify for VA Dental Care. Help Us Save Lives, Become a Dental Partner Today
WVRF’s Critical Dental Assistance Program Pays Dental Partners Directly for treating veterans in our program.
To inquire about becoming a dental partner with WVRF's Critical Dental Assistance Program, contact our Dental Outreach Coordinator, Tami Martin.
SPEAKERS:
•
•
• Dr. Dimple Desai
• Dr. Brandon
• Dr. Mark Limosani
• Dr. Christine Sison
2024 Florida Dental Convention
Plan to join us June 19-21, for the 2025 Florida Dental Convention.
As always, FDC2025 will feature free registration for FDA members.
The 2024 Florida Dental Convention (FDC), “Your Future. Your Design,” was held June 20-22 at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando. FDC2024 was an unforgettable event where more than 7,900 dental professionals, including 1,290 Florida Dental Association (FDA) members from across Florida and the country, came together to sharpen skills, discover new techniques and connect with peers.
This year, more than 130 courses ranging from lectures to handson workshops and mini-residencies for the entire dental team were offered, including AI in dentistry, dental photography, forensic dentistry, 3D printing, bone augmentation, full arch restoration and more. Attendees earned up to 20 hours of continuing education (CE) credit at FDC2024. The Exhibit Hall buzzed daily with attendees learning about the latest technologies and buying products from 300+ leading dental vendors.
Come for the CE, Stay for the Fun™ continued to be the FDC motto with family-friendly social events. On Thursday, attendees had the opportunity to mingle with exhibitors during the cocktail reception in the Exhibit Hall, followed by a night of fun with their peers at the new LIVE! at FDC event featuring Blonde Ambition Band. On Friday, FDA members honored their colleagues at the annual Awards Luncheon, including Dentist of the Year Dr. Chris Bulnes and J. Leon Schwartz Lifetime Service Award recipient Dr. Jolene Paramore. Friday evening, attendees explored prehistoric times at the Jurassic Party, featuring fun for the entire family. It was a can’tmiss event!
Plan to join us June 19-21 for the 2025 FDC. As always, FDC2025 will feature free registration for FDA members, exceptional education courses, and a bustling Exhibit Hall all under one roof at the Gaylord Palms in Orlando. The course/speaker listing will be available in October 2024 and registration will open March 2025 at floridadentalconvention.com. We can’t wait to see you there!
FLORIDA DENTAL CHATTER
This Facebook group is designed for dentists to interact with other members, receive the latest updates and information, and engage with FDA leaders and sta across the country. This is the place to be in the know!
Join u s at fa ceboo k . co m /g ro u ps/ flo r i dadenta lchat te r.
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Diagnostic Quiz
By Shamim Neduvanchery*, Nadim M. Islam, DDS
Indraneel Bhattacharyya, DDS and Sumita Sam, DDS
A 31-year-old male was referred to Dr. Nathan M. Harper, an oral & maxillofacial surgeon in Jacksonville, to evaluate a solitary growth on the palate. A welldefined, solitary soft tissue mass measuring approximately 1.5 x 1.5 cm near the hard palate’s midline was noted during clinical examination. The overlying mucosa was non-ulcerated and the patient was asymptomatic. The patient’s medical history was unremarkable. Upon CT evaluation, there was no bony involvement and the lesion appeared encapsulated upon surgical removal. The lesion was completely excised and submitted to the Oral Pathology Biopsy Service at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
Question:
Based on the given history and clinical picture, what is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Necrotizing Sialometaplasia
B. Pleomorphic Adenoma
C. Squamous Cell Carcinoma
D. Lipoma
E. Palatal Abscess
2A: A fibrous capsule surrounds the tumor (blue arrow) with a prominent chondroid-myxoid stroma (black arrow).
Fig. 1: Solitary, dome-shaped, well-defined soft tissue growth the midline of the palate.
Fig.
Fig. 2B: Ductal structures within the tumor (blue arrow) and a myxoid stroma (black arrow) are highlighted.
diagnostic discussion
A. Necrotizing Sialometaplasia
Incorrect. Necrotizing sialometaplasia is an uncommon inflammatory condition of the salivary glands. It is most often seen in middle-aged adults. This entity is important when a swelling is seen on the hard palate since it most frequently occurs in this location. This condition is reactive and usually preceded by surgery or trauma to the affected site. Initially, necrotizing sialometaplasia presents as a non-specific localized swelling on the hard palate. The swelling may last for two to three weeks and is followed by the formation of a necrotic, crater-like ulceration of the hard palate. This ulceration may be significant, ranging from one to a few centimeters in diameter. While a swelling was observed in the current case, no ulceration or precipitating event was noted. In necrotizing sialometaplasia, a previous event compromises the blood supply to the involved glands, resulting in ischemic necrosis at the site of the lesion. In addition, this condition is often associated with pain or paresthesia, which was absent in the current case.
Microscopically, salivary acinar necrosis and duct metaplasia are observed within the salivary gland tissue. These features were not observed in the current case. Necrotizing sialometaplasia is a self-limiting condition and typically resolves within six weeks.
B. Pleomorphic Adenoma
Correct! The clinical and histopathologic findings are compatible with pleomorphic adenoma, a benign salivary gland neoplasm. Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common salivary gland tumor and accounts for 60-70% of parotid tumors. When seen intraorally, the most common location is the palate, followed by the upper lip and buccal mucosa. Although the age range can be broad, most pleomorphic adenomas are found in young to middle-aged patients, with a slight female predominance.
Clinically, pleomorphic adenoma appears as a firm, slow-growing mass. In the initial stages, the tumor tends to be mobile, especially when located in soft tissues. However, on the hard palate, it is often fixed and closely attached to the surrounding tissues. Although patients are usually asymptomatic, they may present with pain if the lesion has been traumatized. Due to the indolent
growth of this tumor, some patients may wait for years before seeking medical attention.
Microscopically, pleomorphic adenomas are composed of a mixture of elements. The cells are usually of glandular, ductal and myoepithelial origin. A myxoid stroma is often seen in the background. The tumor is typically well-circumscribed or encapsulated (Fig. 2). Keratin, chondroid or osteoid material may also be present within these tumors.
Pleomorphic adenomas are treated with surgical excision, and the surgical approach varies depending on the tumor site. For tumors on the palate, complete excision down to the periosteum is indicated. When the tumor occurs in the deep lobe of the parotid, a total parotidectomy with preservation of the facial nerve when possible is usually indicated. If the tumor is present within the superficial lobe of the parotid, partial parotidectomy with preservation of the facial nerve is sufficient. Local enucleation is not recommended because of the potential for seeding of the tumor, which may result in recurrence.
The prognosis for pleomorphic adenoma is excellent and the recurrence rate is under 5%. Only a small percentage (3-4%) of pleomorphic adenomas may undergo malignant transformation. Risk factors include large size, advanced age and recurrent tumors. Therefore, complete excision of the tumor is advised.
C. Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Incorrect. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common oral cavity malignancy, making it a significant concern when dealing with non-healing oral lesions. More than 90% of oral cancer is diagnosed as SCC. Most patients are over 50 years of age, and males are more commonly affected than females. The etiology is multifactorial, though tobacco smoking and alcohol are well-established risk factors. Squamous cell carcinoma is notorious for its ability to mimic various conditions since it exhibits a diverse clinical presentation. It may present as an exophytic mass, an endophytic lesion, leukoplakia (white patch), erythroplakia (red patch) or erythroleukoplakia (white-and-red patch). The most common intraoral location is the posterior lateral and ventral tongue and the floor of the mouth, which accounts for more than
50% of cases. The current case exhibits a well-defined erythematous swelling on the palate, which would be a highly unusual presentation for SCC. While SCC may present as an exophytic swelling, it will typically exhibit an irregular surface, with areas of ulceration and induration. These features are not appreciated in the present case. Nevertheless, it’s sagacious to consider this carcinoma as a potential diagnosis when dealing with longstanding intraoral lesions. Conducting a biopsy is essential to exclude the possibility of this life-threatening disease. Microscopically, SCC is characterized by malignant epithelial islands that invade the underlying connective tissue, often eliciting an inflammatory response. Treatment is dictated by clinical staging of SCC and typically involves surgery, with or without radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
D. Lipoma
Incorrect. Lipomas are benign soft tissue tumors that contain adipose tissue. They are slow-growing, painless, and have a soft and “squishy” feel on palpation. These tumors are commonly found in patients above 40 years of age and do not have a gender preference. Lipomas are one of the most common mesenchymal tumors and are seen most frequently on the trunk and the extremities. It uncommonly occurs in the oral cavity, and represents 1% to 5% of benign tumors in this location. In the oral cavity, lipomas are most commonly seen on the buccal mucosa or buccal vestibule. The palate is an unusual site for a lipoma. Lipomas are usually under 3 cm, though some may grow larger. Clinically, a lipoma appears as a submucosal mass that is sessile or pedunculated with smooth surfaces. The surface may appear pink in color, though a yellow hue is frequently noted. In the present case, while the lesion is a submucosal mass, the erythema and location make a lipoma an unlikely consideration.
Microscopically, lipomas are composed of a well-circumscribed mass of mature fat cells. Lipomas are treated by conservative excision and recurrence is unlikely.
E. Palatal Abscess
Incorrect. A palatal abscess is most commonly caused by a nonvital tooth but may also occur from a traumatic injury. Abscesses frequently result in soft tissue enlargement, and patients may complain of tightness or fullness in the area. Clinical examination will almost always reveal an involved tooth as the source of dental infection. In
the current case, the patient has no associated nonvital teeth, and the swelling is in the palate’s center rather than towards the dentition, so periapical pathology can be excluded. In addition, no previous trauma to the palate was noted. Microscopically, a collection of inflammatory cells, mainly consisting of neutrophils and necrotic debri is noted within an abscess. Treatment of a palatal abscess involves drainage and removal of the source of infection.
References Available Upon Request
Diagnostic Discussion is contributed by University of Florida College of Dentistry professors and Drs. Indraneel Bhattacharyya, Nadim Islam and Sumita Sam who provide insight and feedback on common, important, new and challenging oral diseases.
The dental professors operate a large, multi-state biopsy service. The column’s case studies originate from the more than 16,000 specimens the service receives annually from all over the United States.
Clinicians are invited to submit cases from their practices. Cases may be used in the “Diagnostic Discussion,” with credit given to the submitter.
Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported for Drs. Bhattacharyya, Islam and Sam.
* Resident, Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology
Drs. Bhattacharyya, Islam and Sam can be reached at oralpath@dental.ufl.edu.
The Florida Dental Association is an American Dental Association (ADA) CERP Recognized Provider. ADA CERP is a service of the ADA to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. Concerns or complaints about a continuing education provider may be directed to the provider or to ADA CERP at ada.org/goto/cerp.
Dr. Bhattacharyya
Dr. Islam
Dr. Sam
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Itinerant (in house ) Periodontist
Available in South Florida. I am available to offer in house full scope periodontal, dental alveolar, implant and all on x surgical procedures in your office. I have extensive experience in delivering specialty surgical services within GP offices. This model, allows for better direct communication between the patient and all providers, allows patients to receive specialty care within a familiar and comfortable environment and provides a revenue stream to the general practice that would not be unavailable otherwise. All surgical instrumentation is provided and the highest quality of care is delivered along with patient care follow up. Single procedure coverage is possible but regular monthly, bimonthly or weekly schedules are preferred (based on patient volume). The multi specialty practice model is now extremely common with the dental practice arena. Patients prefer to receive care within your office and now you have the opportunity to offer that specialty care without compromising quality nor stressing over the various concerns with outside referrals. All replies will be strictly confidential. Please reply to: intinerantperio@ gmail.com. Visit careers.floridadental.org/ jobs/20216938
Assistant Medical Director of Dental Services in Clearwater. Are you looking to make a difference in the community? Are you looking for opportunities to further your career in healthcare? Come join us at Evara Health, a growing community health center organization serving the uninsured and underserved in our community for 40 years. With 14+ centers in locations
throughout Pinellas County, FL - you can help us innovate beyond barriers to provide quality healthcare for all! Evara Health is seeking passionate, strategic, and driven leaders to grow our Dental services. General Description: Responsible for the oversight and coordination of the dental plan, dental activities, day to day operations of oral health services and the resident program. This position will still see patients, as well. This position will oversee multiple centers and will see patients as well, outside their admin duties. Essential Duties & Responsibilities: Provides dental services to Evara Health patients, which may include hygiene, radiology, etc. in a patient centered medical home model • Oversees all dental services scheduling and related patient services
• Directs supervision of Dentists, Dental Hygienists, Dental Assistants and Residents • Creates and implements QI plan • Oversees the dental department operational activities, related to utilization of dental supplies, pharmaceuticals, and office supplies • Establishes, maintains and updates appropriate systems, standards and protocols to ensure the quality of patient care • Serves on relevant national and/or local boards and committees as needed • Strict adherence to all Evara Health, HIPAA, HRSA, State, Federal and accreditation agency rules and regulations. Minimum Qualifications: • Graduation from an accredited dental school • At least 3-5 years of managing operations in multiple centers • Valid license to practice dentistry in the State of Florida • Valid DEA certificate. Visit careers.floridadental.org/ jobs/20194084/.
Tampa, Florida Oral Surgery Practice for Sale.
Tampa, Florida is widely recognized for its beautiful waterfront, rich history, and thriving business environment, making it an ideal location for both residents and businesses alike. In the heart of this bustling city lies a well-established oral surgery practice that has been a cornerstone of the community for nearly two decades. The practice boasts a remarkable base of goodwill built by the current surgeon. Remarkably, the practice conducts between 145-150 exams per month with minimal advertising, underscoring its strong reputation and loyal patient base. Situated in a spacious, standalone building, the practice offers substantial growth potential. Additionally, the real estate occupied by the practice is available for purchase at the time of the sale, offering further investment incentives. The premises currently house five fully equipped operatories, with the possibility to expand into an additional 2,000 square feet. This expansion capability presents a unique opportunity for future growth if desired. Over the past year, approximately 1,800 exams were performed, indicating a high level of ongoing patient engagement and throughput. The current surgeon is seeking to improve their worklife balance by partnering with another oral surgeon or dental group interested in co-managing the practice. They are committed to a smooth transition and are willing to remain actively involved in the practice for at least a year post-sale. This scenario presents an exceptional opportunity for incoming dental professionals to collaborate with and learn from an experienced oral surgeon, while also securing a practice with
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a substantial operational foundation and expansion potential in Tampa. HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS TAMPA ORAL SURGERY PRACTICE: 5 operatories with expansion potential, Collections of $2.102 million, EBITDA of $813,000, Real estate available, 150 exams per month. Tampa, Florida offers a dynamic blend of arts, culture, and outdoor activities that make it an appealing place to live. The city hosts numerous festivals and sports events, supported by excellent art venues and museums. Tampa is known for its accessible outdoor recreation, including pristine beaches and nature parks. The cost of living is reasonable compared to other major U.S. cities, and its school system is robust, attracting families. The business environment is thriving, consistently ranked highly for growth. With its blend of leisure and economic opportunities, Tampa is a top choice for residents and businesses alike.Interested in learning more about this Tampa oral surgery practice? Contact Professional Transition Strategies; email: BAILEY@ PROFESSIONALTRANSITION.COM or call: 719.694.8320. Reference #FL51424. We look forward to speaking with you! Visit careers. floridadental.org/jobs/20131810/
Tampa, FL General Dental Practice for Sale. Tampa, Florida is a bustling hub known for its beautiful beaches, thriving business environment, and welcoming community. Located in this dynamic setting is a well-established general dental practice that has been serving the local community for twenty-five years. Situated in a sought-after neighborhood, the practice is recognized for delivering exceptional patient care and achieving high levels of pa-
tient satisfaction. The founding dentist has built a solid reputation over the years and is now open to various transition options, including selling the practice to another dentist or entering into a partnership with a dental group. This turnkey practice features four fully equipped operatories with the potential to expand to six, accommodating growth and greater patient throughput. Currently, the practice maintains a robust 610 active patients and continues to attract 15-20 new patients monthly, largely due to its strategic yet minimal advertising efforts. As a preferred provider for most major PPOs, the practice ensures a steady influx of clientele. With over $312,000 in SDE (seller’s discretionary earnings), this practice represents a prime opportunity for dental professionals seeking to invest in a lucrative business in picturesque Tampa. Don’t miss your chance to own and lead a top-tier dental practice in one of Florida’s most appealing cities! HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TAMPA DENTAL PRACTICE: 4 operatories with room for 2 additional ops, Collections of $875,000, SDE of $312,000+, 610 active patients, Attractive & desirable location. Downtown Tampa is a bustling hub that offers a rich mix of cultural, recreational, and economic opportunities. The area is alive with a variety of arts and entertainment options, from the acclaimed Tampa Museum of Art to vibrant performing arts theaters. It’s a sports enthusiast’s dream, with easy access to major sporting venues and events. The waterfront parks invite residents to enjoy Florida’s sunny weather. Economically, downtown Tampa is a fertile ground for professionals, with a booming business sector and promising job market.
Seeking Qualified Dental Radiographer?
Train your dental assistants to expose radiographs using the FDA’s MyDentalRadiography online course that combines self-paced learning with clinical proof of competency. Call Lywanda Tucker at 850.350.7143 for details or visit mydentalradiography.com/FDA to create a supervising dentist account and complete the necessary tutorial on how the program works.
This district combines urban convenience with a plethora of activities, making it a prime living and working destination. Interested in learning more about this Tampa, FL general dental practice? Contact Professional Transition Strategies – email BAILEY@ PROFESSIONALTRANSITION.COM or call: 719.694.8320. REFERENCE #FL51524. We look forward to connecting with you! Visit careers.floridadental.org/jobs/20131803/
Pediatric Dentist in Fort Myers.
Dental Hygiene Centers for Kids is a start-up Pediatric dental practice in sunny Southwest Florida providing unparalleled care to our pediatric and adolescent communities. We are looking for an ambitious Pediatric Dentist to provide care at a beautiful new facility which is non-corporate! Meet the professional, ethical, and moral standards of the American Dental Association. Obtain accurate and thorough data on each patient through medical histories and radiographs (as needed). Examine, evaluate, and treat
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each patient who comes under his/her care. Provide preventive, therapeutic and restorative dental care. Educate the patient/parent care in the prevention of dental caries and other dental conditions. In-depth knowledge of the current standards of care for dentistry and the latest oral health treatments available. Possess a current Dental License for the state of Florida certified in Pediatrics. Possess current BLS/CPR licensure. Visit us at https://careers.floridadental. org/jobs/20104551/pediatric-dentist.
Orlando, FL Metro Area Dental Practice for Sale. Orlando, FL, is widely celebrated for its world-class attractions, thriving economic landscape, and a warm, welcoming climate that attracts residents and tourists alike. Situated within the dynamic Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford MSA and just 20 miles from downtown Orlando, a modern general dental practice presents an exceptional opportunity for prospective buyers. The current owner, open to various transition options, including a complete sale or a partnership, plans to remain involved for several years to facilitate a seamless transition to the new ownership. This practice boasts a contemporary setup with six fully operational operatories, plus an additional operatory plumbed and ready for equipment, underscoring it’s readiness for expansion. Located in a sought-after suburb of Orlando, the practice is conveniently in network with most major PPOs and maintains a robust clientele of 1,750 active patients, with an average influx of 35-40 new patients monthly. Generating over $100,000 in EBITDA, this dental practice offers a lucrative turn-key solution for anyone looking to establish or expand their footprint in Florida’s flourishing dental care industry. HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS ORLANDO AREA DENTAL PRACTICE: 7 total operatories. 6 equipped + 1 plumbed. Collections of $1.072 million. EBITDA over $100,000. 1,750 active patients. Orlando, FL, offers an appealing blend of cultural, recreational, and economic attributes that make it a desirable place to live. The city thrives on a dynamic art scene and regular cultural festivals that cater to diverse interests. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy year-round sports and recreation, including numerous lakes and parks ideal for boating, fishing, and hiking. Home to major sports teams and frequent sporting events, Orlando keeps sports fans engaged. Its cost of living remains relatively affordable compared to other major cities, and the school systems are well-regarded for their innovation. The business environment is robust, supported by a growing tech sector and business-friendly policies. Orlando has received positive ratings for its overall quality of life, making it an attractive location for both young professionals and families. Interested in learning more and reviewing the prospectus of this Orlando, FL dental practice? Contact Professional Transition Strategies. Email Bailey ones: BAILEY@PROFESSIONALTRANSITION.COM or call: 719.694.8320. REFERENCE #FL50124. We look forward to speaking with you! https://professionaltransition.com/properties-list/
General Associate Dentist in Plantation. Plantation
Dental Associates is a busy family practice just west of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We are seeking an associate general dentist for full or part time to join us as we grow the practice into our newly renovated and expanded office space. PDA is a privately owned office that has been well established in the community for over 30 years, and currently supports 3 dentists and 6 hygienists, each working between 30-38 hours weekly. We are a full service general dentistry office providing care in cosmetic crown and bridge, restorative, orthodontics, endodontics, and implant placement and restoration, including ALL on X cases. We have a healthy mix of fee for service and insurance patients that come to us mainly from the tri county areas of Palm Beach, Broward, and Dade counties. As an associate here at PDA, you will be practicing with state of the art equipment including digital imaging, scanning, x-rays, and CBCT. Our office also provides a daily income to start with a competitive production based compensation to follow. In addition, for full time, PDA also provides access to our 401(k) savings plan with percentage matching along with choices for health care plan. Visit careers.florida dental.org/jobs/20007685/
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See One, Do One, Teach One ...Still the Best Training
By Hugh Wunderlich, DDS, CDE, FDA Editor
He was dead.
Everything was happening so fast, yet time seemed unfocused. I was using my cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training, but the only heartbeat I could hear was my own. The only pulse I could detect in the room was beating through MY shirt. There was no life in his eyes. He had lifeless, black “doll” eyes. His body was cold. It was hard to position the body for proper CPR; his arms were stiff and gray. So much activity was buzzing around him, yet he was so still. The energy was not infectious.
He was dead.
And yet, he was the second person I didn’t revive that day.
Two weeks prior to this panurgic day, I was treating a recall patient in my office that I really enjoyed seeing. He was a local emergency medical technician and was
always willing to share stories about the occupational challenges in our aged area. I was riveted by his tales. At some point, he picked up on my interest and offered a “ride-along” in his ambulance, but he warned me, “We will put you to work.” He was not kidding. This became CPR training in situ. The two dead men I just referenced were not patients in my office, but they did provide me with real CPR training and confidence that I did not have before.
We all “cut our teeth” on manakins, carved wax molars and sutured severed oranges, but there is no substitute for guided, experienced instruction on the real thing.
When my office has its required biennial CPR training, I can see the anxiety in my staff’s eyes. I know they are looking to me to take the lead in any office medical emergency. Do the training regularly. Make sure each staff member knows their role. Make it as real as possible. And if you can, take a ride in an ambulance.
FDA Editor Dr. Hugh Wunderlich can be reached at hwunderlich@bot.floridadental.org.
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