Focus Magazine

At the 2025 MDA House of Delegates June 21, officers were installed by Dr. H. Fred Howard, ADA Sixth District Trustee. These included Drs. Ron Wilkerson, President; Dr. Emily Mattingly, President Elect; Mack Taylor, Treasurer; and, Amanda Fitzpatrick, Speaker.

In addition to officers, some board representatives changed, including Dr. Emily Hahn will replace Dr. Lori Roseman as the Greater St. Louis Trustee and Dr. Fallon Stiens will replace Dr. Emily Mattingly as Northwest Trustee.

University School of Dentistry in 2012 and completed her Pediatric Dental Residency at Lutheran Medical Center in 2014.

Dr. Fallon Stiens is a general dentist and owner of Fallon Stiens Family Dental in Stanberry. She is a past president of the Northwest Dental Society and MDA New Dentist Committee. Dr. Stiens received her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from UMKC in 2013. 

The MDA thanks those members going off the Board and welcomes these new officers and trustees. We appreciate the service of all outgoing and new Board members. See all Board members here. 

by Jon Jennings

I am a big believer that everything in life comes down to trust. The smartest strategies, the newest technology and hiring talented people — none of that matters without trust. Trust requires that you commit to something and get the job done. Trust starts with a conversation. When Dr. Copeland reached out to me for  cup of coffee last November, I jumped at the opportunity.

We spent a lot of time going over the results from the MDA payer survey. While it was painful to hear the frustrations and disappointment you have with Delta Dental, as a new COO, the insights were extremely valuable to me. This matched closely with what I was hearing from my team — we were struggling with the transition to a new claim system, worsened by a wave of staff retirements. I grew up as a farm kid in rural Nebraska where my father would ask me, “Well, are you going to stand there feeling sorry for yourself, or are you going to do something about it?” The choice was easy; we went to work right away. I’d like to provide you with a few updates on the progress we’ve made.

Delta Dental re-energized our focus on making the provider experience a top priority. We invested a lot of energy in our customer service team, hiring and training several new groups of customer service representatives. More than half of our staff have prior dental office experience. We also restructured the department to ensure the proper ratio of team leaders and supervisors to handle escalated calls. We implemented several technology changes to address dropped calls and unreturned callbacks. Our statistics have improved dramatically — call wait times are down over 95 percent. Several of our most important metrics — calls handled, number of abandoned calls, percentage of calls answered in 30 seconds, average wait time — are all better than before the new claim system. Our most recent change is the introduction of a new quality assurance program and our hire of a full-time quality assurance analyst. Beyond having great metrics, we want to ensure your offices get correct and consistent answers across the entire team. I am happy with the progress; however, we have several items yet to complete to reach our ultimate goal of outstanding service.

We heard from many dental offices that our online provider portal was outdated and lacked important functionality. We did several site visits to observe how dental offices use payer portals. We had six offices as part of our focus group to vet the new portal design, and 60 offices signed up to be in our pilot program to test the new portal. Our new dental office portal went live in April. Beyond a modern feel and navigation, we added important new functionality, including the ability to look up benefit information at the CDT code level specific to each patient. We added the ability to submit and view pre-treatment estimates and claims online. Our 2025 portal roadmap includes many additional enhancements.

We also focused on several process improvements related to claims processing and want to share a few notable examples. In response to many complaints about our request-for-information denials, we worked with the clearinghouses to improve the information received on claim submissions. We created an educational quick reference guide for offices to clarify exactly what is required for each CDT code. We updated our denials code descriptions, so it was easier to understand what information was missing. The results so far this year are a 40 percent decrease in request-for-information denials and a 70 percent reduction in claims that are resubmitted two or more times. We also made some major improvements to our coordination-of-benefits (COB) process. We completely revamped our approach to setting up COB last month and already are seeing a dramatic improvement in processing times. Our team is energized by the improvements and is already working on the next round of ideas.

I am looking forward to that next cup of coffee. There is still work to be done. In many ways, this is just the beginning. There is much value in continuing the conversation. Trust takes time. We will continue to deliver on our commitment to improve the dental office experience. We will look for ways to engage with your office staff more actively. We also want to look for ways to partner on innovative and interesting initiatives to increase the overall health in our local communities. More to come.

Jon Jennings is the chief operating officer at Delta Dental of Missouri. He joined the organization in 2016 and currently directs the company’s operations, including its customer service, claims processing and project management teams. He previously served on Delta Dental of Missouri’s senior leadership team as chief actuary and vice president of underwriting, directing all aspects of underwriting, actuarial, client reporting and project management. 

by Phil Nieto

Surcharging patients’ credit card payments is a trend that is seeing another resurgence as dental offices seek to lower overall business costs. Many credit card processing companies are aggressively promoting this model as a way for businesses to save; however, they often don’t explain the effects — both positive and negative — surcharging can have on a practice. 

The payments industry is full of sales jargon and aggressive sales tactics, so it’s good to take a moment to evaluate the types of surcharging programs and considerations a dental practice should think about before deciding to surcharge.

Although the practice is legal in most states, there are important reasons why many businesses, including dental practices, choose not to surcharge their customers. In dentistry, the consequences of surcharging can be particularly impactful, influencing both patient satisfaction and long-term revenue.

The Costs of Attracting and Retaining Patients

Before deciding to surcharge, it’s essential to understand the cost of attracting new patients and their value to your practice. On average, dental offices spend between $150 and $300 on marketing for each patient they acquire. Additionally, dental practices face a patient attrition rate of approximately 17 percent, which means they must consistently attract new patients just to maintain their current numbers. Given the average patient generates around $4,500 in revenue across their lifetime with the practice, retaining loyal patients is crucial for sustained growth.

The financial risk of surcharging becomes more apparent when considering these numbers. Nationwide, dental practices process average transactions of about $250. Under a 3 percent surcharge model, the fee on a $250 payment is $10, which is paid by the patient. Although this saves the practice on processing costs, that additional $10 fee can be enough to motivate patients to seek services elsewhere. Research shows that more than 60 percent of customers are less likely to return to a business that imposes surcharges.

For dental practices, this can be particularly damaging. Consider the losses of the investment to attract a new patient and the expected earnings over the course of the relationship. Losing that patient because of a $10 surcharge represents a significant financial loss. While surcharging increases profits for credit card processors, it may come at the expense of patient loyalty and long-term practice revenue.

Why Many dental Practices Avoid Surcharging

Surcharging may initially seem like a convenient way to offset processing fees, but the long-term implications can be far-reaching. Patients generally dislike surcharges. Studies indicate that between 65 percent and 95 percent of customers are less likely to revisit a business after being surcharged. In the competitive dental industry, where patient loyalty is crucial, such high rates of customer dissatisfaction can significantly impact a practice’s growth and sustainability.

Moreover, the cost savings are not always as beneficial as they appear. Most surcharge programs require dental practices to pay a flat monthly fee, typically $40 or more, while patients are charged an additional 3 to 4 percent on their transactions. This model effectively shifts the cost of processing fees to the patient, but at a potential cost to the practice’s reputation and patient retention rates.

An additional complication arises with Virtual Credit Cards (VCCs), which are increasingly issued by insurance companies. These cards are programmed with an exact balance and will decline if a surcharge is added. Because industry regulations require that all credit cards be surcharged if any are surcharged, practices would have to lower service fees to accommodate the VCC’s exact balance, effectively absorbing the surcharge cost themselves. Even more concerning, the reported surcharge can trigger audits from insurance companies, potentially leading to reduced reimbursement rates for procedures.

Many dental practices find that increasing prices by a modest percentage — without adding a separate surcharge — is a better way to offset rising operational costs. This strategy allows practices to maintain transparency with their patients while avoiding the negative perceptions associated with surcharges.

Navigating the Complexities of surcharging

For practices that still wish to explore surcharging, navigating the complex regulations is crucial. Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express each have strict guidelines that must be followed. If a practice decides to surcharge any credit cards, they must surcharge all credit cards, maintaining consistency across all transactions. However, debit cards cannot be surcharged under any circumstances, which adds another layer of complexity.

Additionally, businesses cannot surcharge customers from states where surcharging is illegal, even if the practice is located in a state where it is permitted. Surcharges are also capped at the average processing fees paid over the past quarter, up to a maximum of 3 percent for Visa and 4 percent for the other card brands. This is why many processors default to a flat 3 percent rate. These rules apply regardless of how the surcharge is labeled — whether as a “Cash Discount” or otherwise — any additional fee added based on the type of card needs to comply with card brand regulations, state and federal laws.

Surcharging requires careful consideration, strict adherence to regulations and transparent communication with patients. The potential cost savings must be weighed against the risks of losing patient loyalty and damaging the practice’s reputation.

The Bottom Line: Is Surcharging Worth It?

While surcharging may offer short-term cost savings on credit card processing fees, it also carries significant risks. Patient dissatisfaction, complicated insurance regulations and strict compliance requirements make surcharging a potentially risky strategy for dental practices. In an industry built on trust and patient loyalty, maintaining transparent and predictable pricing is often a better approach.

At Best Card, we understand the complexities involved in credit card processing. Should you determine you wish to surcharge, Best Card successfully sets up your practice for surcharging, ensuring compliance with all regulations. Our focus is on offering consistently low rates and transparent processing, whether surcharging or using traditional pricing.

To learn more or for a cost comparison on credit card processing for your practice, visit BestCardTeam.com or call 877-739-3952.     

Phil Nieto is the President of Best Card, the endorsed credit card processor of more than 50 dental medical associations and ADA Member Advantage. He enjoys working with thousands of dental offices to help minimize the headaches of accepting card payments by focusing on providing what the merchant services industry often lacks: innovation and integrity. 

References

• How Much Can a Dental Practice Spend on Marketing? 
• Pros and Cons of Surcharging Credit Cards 

by Lindsey Kutscher

Have you ever received a demanding letter from the state of Missouri requiring you to provide proof of workers’ compensation insurance for your business in the next 10 days or face penalty? It happens; you are not alone. 

Aside from being required by Missouri law, there are multiple advantages for a practice owner to purchase workers’ compensation insurance. My goal is to provide a better understanding as to the purpose of workers’ compensation coverage and its role in your practice. The reasons outlined in this article are not ranked in order of importance, as value may vary by employer and circumstance.

Advantages of Workers’ Compensation Coverage 

No. 1: To avoid being charged with a Class A misdemeanor and paying a fine of up to $50,000, Chapter 287 RSMo states that employers with five or more employees must carry workers’ compensation insurance. This total number would include you, as the employer, and family members on payroll. However, there are circumstances in which a practice owner may exclude themselves and any family member within the third degree of consanguinity. 

For example, counting yourself, there are five workers in your office; therefore, you must have workers’ compensation insurance in place but may exclude yourself, as the owner. While MDIS does not recommend excluding yourself, as you are just as likely as an employee to sustain a work-related injury (and cost savings is minimal), it is an option. 

No. 2: Providing coverage for employees in the event of a bodily injury, by accident or by disease, is an important benefit an employer can offer by way of workers’ compensation coverage. Four benefits are found within the policy: medical, disability, rehabilitation and death (or survivorship).

Medical benefits will provide payment for necessary and reasonable medical treatment. Despite what you may think, health insurance will not cover work-related injuries. Without workers’ compensation insurance, you may be liable for the cost of medical expenses incurred by an injured employee—out of your own pocket.

Disability benefits are structured to compensate employees for lost wages due to their inability to work with respect to an employment-related illness or injury. After a waiting period of three business days, employees receive a percentage of their pay through each week they are unable to work. There are four types of disability: temporary total, permanent total, temporary partial and permanent partial. In some cases, a disability can result in a lump-sum settlement. 

Death or Survivorship benefits can be paid if an employee dies because of a job-related incident. A burial allowance and income benefit to compensate the dependents for the deceased employee’s lost wages are customary as well. 

No. 3: Employers liability insurance is another feature of workers’ compensation coverage. This part is designed to pay damages (other than those outlined in No. 2) resulting from a claim or lawsuit if an employer is found legally liable. Minimum limits in the state of Missouri are as follows:

• Bodily injury by accident: $100,000/each accident
• Bodily injury by disease: $500,000/policy limit
• Bodily injury by disease: $100,000/each employee

With a lawsuit against you, if a court judgement for damages exceeded any of the limits shown, you may still be liable for the difference. The cost to increase limits for a dental practice is minimal. Instead of opting for the state minimum coverage, consider looking into the cost to raise your limits, for your own financial protection. 

No. 4: Fortunately, workers’ compensation rates are affordable for dental practices, unlike labor trades or other professions who are faced with much higher rates due to the potential for injury on the job.  A dental practice is a reasonably safe place to work, so carriers rate accordingly. Premiums are estimated at a rate per $100 of payroll. Therefore, because workers’ compensation premiums are estimated, the state requires an audit to be completed at the end of each policy year. 

Why Audits Are Important

A workers’ compensation audit provides an opportunity to report your actual payroll as compared to the originally estimated payroll at the beginning of the policy period. This helps ensure you are not over or underpaying for your exposure. These audits are required by the state, and it’s your responsibility as the insured to make sure you comply with the terms of your policy by completing your audit when requested by the carrier. Keep in mind, an audit may result in an additional premium to reflect new hires or raises, or it could generate a refund if your employee count dropped, or payroll was reduced for any reason. 

Failure to comply with a carrier’s audit request will likely result in a penalty assessed by the carrier. This is called an audit noncompliance charge and is intended to compel you, the insured, to comply with the requirements necessary to conduct an audit on your workers’ compensation policy at the end of the policy period. Failure to cooperate with the audit process could result in a penalty assessed by the carrier (usually a significant increase in premium) or cancellation of coverage. These audit reports are easy to complete by using your 941 quarterly reports and following their instructions, which typically take 15-20 minutes to complete. 

Workers’ Compensation insurance is there to protect your practice and your employees; are you protected? 

Contact Lindsey at MDIS to review your workers’ compensation coverage or to get protected today. She is a licensed agent and the MDIS Practice Insurance Manager. Call 800-944-7550.  

by Marc R. Leffler, DDS, Esq.

Recording events with friends and family members is an entirely commonplace happening in many people’s daily lives, with some of those recordings ending up on social media platforms. The same might be said for conversations in general, albeit to a much lesser extent. So, it isn’t beyond the realm of likelihood that patients might want to record dental procedures and conversations with their dentists, for a variety of reasons. Here, we will explore a number of issues relating to recordings in dental offices, with the underlying caveat being that, although legal concepts are discussed, this article is not meant as legal advice, but rather as a dental risk management tool; formal legal advice should be obtained only from attorneys licensed in Missouri.

An initial point to address is the fact that Missouri is a “one-party consent” state when it comes to recording conversations, which means that only one party to any given conversation must consent to its being recorded in order for that recording to be lawful. In this context, that concept comes into play when a patient surreptitiously records a conversation between a dentist (or hygienist or dental assistant) and that patient. Whether the recording of a dental procedure falls into the same category as the recording of a conversation is murkier and likely subject to specific court rulings, but for the purposes here, we will go by the created assumption that both follow the one-party rule, thereby taking the legality question away.

To state the obvious, dental offices are places where patients get healthcare treatment, so those offices are subject to the privacy protection constraints set forth by HIPAA. Because patients in dental offices might be physically close to one another, and because audio and visual recording devices can be extremely sensitive to picking up sights and sounds, dentists are obligated to take reasonable precautions against the invasion of any patient’s privacy rights, and such an invasion might occur if Patient A records their own conversation with the dentist but that recording device also “picks up” a conversation between Patient B and their dentist in an adjacent treatment room: Patient B might well point an accusatory finger at the dental office for not protecting their privacy, by having allowed Patient A to record, if the office staff was aware of that recording. So, from a privacy/HIPAA standpoint alone, allowing recordings should be seen as elevating a dentist’s risk exposure, making that dentist more likely subject to a HIPAA violation or a privacy-violation-based Dental Board inquiry and possible sanctions.

Now, let’s suppose that a dentist considers recording a particular conversation — such as a treatment plan proposal or an informed consent discussion — even in an environment where the privacy of all is protected. 

In the informed consent process, for example, there is ideally a back-and-forth between dentist and patient during which the goal is for the dentist to make the patient an informed consumer, so that they know the foreseeable risks, benefits and alternatives before making decisions about undergoing treatment. In this setting, recording such a conversation can be a real positive, effectively serving as an amplified signed consent form, because a patient later claiming during a malpractice lawsuit that they were not told of a particular risk can easily and successfully be confronted with the recording, proving that the risk was explained and that they voiced understanding. 

On the other side of the coin, if the dentist being recorded during that process were to forget to transmit a particular risk to the patient, or if the dentist did not view that risk as important or common enough to disclose, and that risk were to come to fruition, that would make the dentist’s position virtually indefensible if a suit were to arise, because irrefutable proof of the omission would exist.

The same set of issues exists for the recording of dental procedures. While dentists might wish to show recordings of procedures they perform on their websites or social media platforms or when presenting case studies to dental groups, that is an excellent way to promote and build a practice … if the procedure goes as planned. But if a mistake occurs and that leads to an injury or other bad result, that well-intended recording now becomes a convincing piece of malpractice evidence for a judge and jury to see, in real time. And it is no different if it is the patient rather than the dentist who does the recording.

In the world of risk management, many issues come to a weighing of pros and cons. Is it worth the risk to record, or allow recordings of, conversations and procedures in the office? 

If the answer is no, then the dentist needs to decide how to have the greatest chance of preventing patients from recording. A dentist in private practice can reasonably take the “my house, my rules” approach, and make it known by posted notices, papers given to patients to read and sign, or verbalized statements from staff, that recordings of any kind are not permitted in the office due to privacy concerns. 

But if the answer is yes, the dentist might provide immediate gratification to patients who post online their own dentistry before they even leave the dental chair, while simultaneously increasing their own risk, from various perspectives. Ultimately, given the wide array of tech now available, there is essentially no way to prevent the occasional surreptitious recorder — even with the best precautions taken — so a self-protective rule of thumb is to always consider that somebody might be recording everything that goes on, so act only in ways that will not later come back to bite.

To address the issue that some patients might argue that their rights are being violated by preventing in-office recordings, those patients are well within their rights to leave and go to another office that will allow recordings.

Marc Leffler is the MedPro Group Dental Risk Solutions Lead and Head of the Dental Advisory Board. Dr. Leffler wrote this article for MDA based on an actual member inquiry received about this issue. Find risk management resources at medpro.com/dynamic-risk-tools. 

by Paul Roberts

My column title hopefully evokes some emotion and reflection from you. For me, it made me recall my early teen years when my very short sighted and selfish view of the world around me led me to proclaim “Who Cares” anytime my insolent behavior resulted in pain for others. I couldn’t yet see beyond my immediate needs and wants. Global thinking for the good of others was not in my skill set. Hopefully over time and with maturity, I’ve softened a bit and have at least recognized that there are always things bigger than me at play, and I should be the one who cares, at least to some reasonable extent. 

Care in action is usually in response to a need or an injustice. Orphanages are born from caring for abandoned children. Shelters and food drives arise from caring for the less fortunate. A community recreation area is built out of care for the health of others. In every instance, caring requires sacrifice, funding, leadership and perseverance. And few ever regret it when they see good flourishing beyond themselves. 

You don’t have to build an orphanage to get it. We all instinctively care about something. Usually, it’s family or things that consume a lot of our time like a career or a hobby. But caring about things beyond our immediate realm in this modern world offers a unique challenge. Convenience and speed are antithetical or at least crimping to the act of caring. Do you feel your care for patients compromised at all when the schedule is over packed? Do you feel an impulsive drive to make every minute count? Is your commute filled with business calls? Are your Zooms conducted while feeding the kids, paying your bills or scrolling on socials? I’m not against solid time management but when every thought and task is divided, the capacity for true empathy or insightful feedback is diluted. It’s not that you and I don’t care about anything, it’s just that we feel “so busy”. After all, isn’t that the cardinal American value — busyness? 

Dentistry has long been a caring profession. My interaction with members is mostly outside of a clinical setting, but I’m always encouraged when I see you in your professional provider role. The kindness, the leadership, the skill are all impressive. I’m proud to be associated with the MDA. And after 14 years of being around many of you in other settings, I’ve seen how you care for family or missions or your community. The title question is not designed to be a guilt trip. Rather let it be a stimulant as you evaluate your profession today and specifically in your community and your state. 

So, who cares that many young grads choose not to renew? And who cares that meetings are cancelled due to a lack of interest? And who cares to fill an open position? And who cares that different practice models need to be embraced because it’s still dentistry and we need everyone? And who cares that our future viability could be at risk? 

Sure, some things need to change, and change is scary. Leadership (Board of Trustees, House of Delegates) is reviewing the best way to position our structure and workflow for a more engaging future that yields a strong membership. But it starts with caring. When we care enough to show up, speak up and pony up, there’s no limit to our positive progression for the profession. But like an orphanage, caring will require sacrifice, funding, leadership and perseverance. I believe it will happen. And who cares if it doesn’t? You do. I know you do. So, let’s keep pushing forward through hard dialogue, through mutual support, through awkward change. And we all enjoy seeing good flourish beyond ourselves. 

Contact Paul at  and subscribe to the weekly MDA Blog he authors at modental.org/blog.

Save the date for the 2026 event on March 4.

Despite some last-minute whacky weather that sadly kept a big bus of UMKC dental students from attending, we still had a strong and positive turnout for the March 5 Dental Day at the Capitol. There was confidence and pride in the profession as groups of members met with elected officials, and we even had some meet with Governor Mike Kehoe. Everyone also enjoyed mingling with each other outside their busy practices. 

Check out the photos to get a better feel for the day. A big thanks to all who took the time to speak their voice! 

by Dr. Doug Wyckoff, MDA Editor

Most of my writings here are inspired by day-to-day happenings at meetings, the office or in my personal life. This edition is no different. The last few weeks for my wife, Melinda, and I have included daily visits to a hospital. A family member had a life-changing medical condition that has required a lengthy stay in the hospital and hopefully will be followed by time in a rehabilitation facility. This began on a routine Sunday afternoon when we received a call that our loved one had been found on the floor of her home, barely responsive. Best we can determine, she was in that position for at least 48 hours. Paramedics were already in place taking her to the hospital for treatment and evaluation. 

When we arrived at the hospital with all our legal paperwork in hand, we immediately were greeted by staff  and started the process of entering her into their system. One of the first questions was about whether she had a DNR order or not. Confidently we said yes and started to pull out all the paperwork that had been completed a couple of years ago. We were sure we had all our I’s dotted and Ts crossed … until we realized that in all this paperwork, somehow Power of Attorney rights for medical purposes had been overlooked. We were not able to tell them that she did not want to be intubated, nor did she want resuscitation in case of cardiac arrest. In a swing of good fortune, she was able to make it through the initial stages without event and was able to sign directives to correct that a few days later. 

All of this has weighed very heavily on my mind and with ample time to think about what we have experienced, I feel the  need to at least jiggle your brain cells to think about what happens in the event you have a medical emergency or pass away. What would happen if today you had a stroke, heart attack, serious accident or otherwise that rendered you unconscious and unable to make decisions for yourself? Does your family have the legal documents needed to tell medical personal your wishes for intubation, resuscitation or life support? What would your family be able to do if the event was so tragic that you passed suddenly? What would happen to your office, home, autos, personal belongings? How would your family know what they should do with your assets, and do they have the ability to take over and make those decisions without having to go through probate court? 

I know thinking and talking about our own death or debilitation isn’t comfortable, but its something we must prepare for  to ensure those around us aren’t caught scrambling under stress to make decisions that impact what you have left behind. I am definitely not an expert on this subject and in no way is what I am discussing here a complete list of things to think about. It would be money well spent to make time to speak with your attorney and accountant to make sure your family has the least amount of stress possible in handling these issues. Here are some ideas of things you should consider in preparing for an event that makes it impossible for you to take care of your health and/or assets: 

Power of Attorney: This is documentation of the appointment of someone you trust to handle your financial and medial affairs. There are different types  of POA which deal with when they go into effect. They types are: non-durable, immediate and durable, and springing. Also, it is important to note there are financial and healthcare POA.

Last Will and Testament or Living Trust: This spells out who receives assets after death. It can also list a guardian for minor children. A living trust is similar, with the exception that a trust can allow your heirs to avoid probate court. Again, this needs to be counseled by an attorney. 

Inventory Everything: Home, auto, jewelry, furniture, bank accounts, brokerage accounts, retirement accounts.

Digital Information: Many would overlook this. Think about your phone, computer or any other technology you use. In the day of social media, apps and other technology, we use passwords and login information that others would have no clue about. Document these and keep them in a safe place so that an executive knows where to find them. This includes banking information. 

Document Your Wishes: Have a written game plan on the how’s, what’s, when’s and where’s for those who will be taking care of your estate. Making sure they know where to find important documents and information just discussed is extremely important. 

The best time to plan these things is now. You’re not too young or too old to think about all of this. While we appreciate and are thankful for every day, tomorrow is not promised. Our normal daily lives can change in a heartbeat. Do yourself and your family a favor; make plans for what happens when you can’t make these important decisions.

by Dr. Jon Copeland, MDA President

“Leadership is not about being in charge, it is about taking care of those in your charge.” — Simon Sinek

When I told patients, family and friends that I was going to be the next president of the MDA, their commonly asked questions were: “What is YOUR plan? What are YOU going to do as president?”

These questions confused me a little bit and my response usually was something to the effect of “I’m just going to continue the mission and hopefully not break it!”

As I write this article, the MDA is coming off a busy week. Along with the normal business, we had a very successful lobby day and a leadership conference to help us make sure we are following that mission. 

I’ve said mission a couple times already, so what is it? The MDA mission is: “Helping All Dental Professionals Succeed.” It is important you know that, because you need to hold us to it. As a board, we do our best to make decisions with our mission and strategic plan in mind.

The Wednesday morning of lobby day was full of activity and anticipation. Everyone there was on a mission to advocate for change. Our main issues are Dental Loss Ratio insurance reform, the dentist and hygienist compact and discussing the OPA project with legislators. Dentists, hygienists, and assistants all benefit from these initiatives, which are in line with our mission. In the past five years, the MDA has brought forward 15 initiatives that have changed a law in favor of our profession. Fifteen! We have also helped block multiple things that would hurt our profession. We are good at it. We are good at it for YOU. This is why you pay your dues and donate to MODentPAC.

After lobby day, some of us went back to the executive office to strategize the future of the MDA. This was the second annual leadership summit. As to how this event began, as little as three years ago, MDA’s lobby day attendance was substandard. I realize there can be unforeseen circumstances that keep dentists away, yet I still have a concern about the lack of overall member attendance from all components. I realized, we as the MDA, had failed to demonstrate the value of their presence in the advocacy fight. We failed those members and other members across the state. We determined the best way to get more involvement is to invite leaders from each component to the summit (after lobby day) to increase understanding of the value of advocacy and adapting to change. Noticeable growth in lobby day has been created, yet more dentists need to be in the fight to become winners in tackling the MDA advocacy agenda.

Change was the theme of this year’s summit. Representatives from the ADA talked about changes in ADA structure and how the pilot projects are working in other states. We also had Dean West, founder of the Association Laboratory, talk about changes affecting all organizations (see his article on page 30). There was a lively discussion, and we will continue those discussions and adapt to our changing environment. At a break, I gave Dean a tour of our new EFDA training center located in MDA headquarters. Last year, we offered 22 different courses and trained 299 assistants for EFDA certifications. We also facilitated several Basic Skills Review courses and are now offering Nitrous Oxide certification courses. These courses are offered to assistants and hygienists so they can come back to your practice and improve your efficiency in serving patients. This facility helps all dental professionals succeed. This is why you pay your MDA dues.

When you think of what the MDA is doing for you, the first two things that pop in your head should be Advocacy and Workforce (EFDA, primarily). But we do a lot of other things. Take Connect4Success as an example. It is our annual conference, and besides being fun, we have great speakers and entertainment, and great events that are connected to it. You should come! But because there is so much competition in the dental education marketplace, we know we are not going to be a leader in this area. We do have courses for dentists and the rest of the dental team, so it is in line with our mission, but you can get those things elsewhere. That meeting shouldn’t be what you think of when you think of “us”. Think Advocacy and Workforce.

And let me not mislead you: Advocacy doesn’t just happen on one day at the Capitol. Advocacy is a single word that encompasses a myriad of regulatory and legislative activities happening day in, day out to protect YOU in YOUR profession. The same can be said for workforce: Although we excel at EFDA training provided by our own dentist members in a top-notch facility, we are working to expand that to serve YOU and YOUR profession, including the previously noted Basic Skills Review and Nitrous Oxide courses, with others in the queue to add, such as a basic radiography course. And, we hope to eventually add the Oral Preventive Assistant, a pilot program that is currently in its clinical trial.

In closing, as MDA President, I am continuing the mission like the presidents before me and the presidents that will come after me. I want YOU to know our mission so you know “the why” behind what we are doing, but more importantly, so you get in the fight with me. Next March 4 at lobby day, come find me and tell me “I am here to get in the fight” and I will show you the value of your dues. See you then. 

Don't miss this fluoride handout to share with your team and patients.

by Julie Boeckman, Unit Chief & Gwen Sullentrup, Public Health Program Supervisor

The Office of Dental Health (ODH) has had a busy start to the year. We held interviews for the Chief Dental Consultant position and plan to make an official announcement soon. Our former office manager, Dione Snitker, was promoted within ODH and we pleased to welcome Annika Griggs, who will start April 1. 

ODH completed the restructuring of the Preventive Services Program (PSP). The program is now led by Dione, Public Health Program Associate, and Kelsey Siegel, State Dental Hygienist. Even though PSP has had changes in personnel, the program itself has not changed. PSP still provides oral health screenings, oral care supplies, two applications of fluoride varnish and education. Kelsey and Dione have contacted many new school nurses and potential PSP partners to expand the program’s reach and are currently in discussions with several large school districts to work out the logistics of PSP participation. Nearly 56,000 children have participated in PSP thus far this school year. Kelsey also conducts oral health screenings, provides oral care supplies and oral health literature, applies fluoride varnish and notifies school staff about needed referrals at the State Schools for the Severely Disabled.

Another program ODH has in the school setting is our Evidence-based Preventive Services (EBPDS) program, which is funded by CDC. ODH contracts with Lincoln and Jefferson County Health Departments, Missouri Southern State University, St. Louis Community College, University of Missouri—Kansas City, and Swope Health Center to provide EBPDS which include dental sealants and applying fluoride varnish. 

Kelsey is meeting with the national 100 Million Mouths Campaign coordinators to establish how to move this program forward through ODH. 100 Million Mouths Campaign provides oral health education to primary care providers as way to work medical-dental integration into the primary care setting which complements another piece to medical-dental integration. ODH works with providers to conduct diabetes screenings with their patients during dental visits. If the patient scores high on the screening form, the provider refers them for further screenings and counseling.

ODH has a fairly new ODH program called Pregnant Moms Need Dental Visits Too to provide oral health education in a non-traditional setting. ODH contracts with six local public health agencies (LPHAs) (Mississippi, Barton, Ste. Genevieve, Carter, Ripley and Osage counties) to offer oral health education and screening to the pregnant women who come into their clinics. The LPHAs also educate the obstetricians in their area and set up dental visits for these women at a local dental provider. 

In providing care through a non-traditional dental setting, a new program was initiated this year with the Dental Assisting program in high school technical centers. With funding from Delta Dental of Missouri, ODH purchased the supplies and equipment needed to provide adequate training to the dental assisting students. Clinical rotations are held at Compass Health Centers and students can volunteer at dental events in the area. It is exciting to see these young adults giving back to their community while learning a trade they are interested in! The students started as high school juniors and plan to participate in Expanded Function Dental Assisting training their senior year.

The HRSA grant also supports workforce. ODH is working to improve dental care for long term care facility residents using dental hygienists, expanded function dental assistants (EFDAs) and teledentistry. The dental hygienists and EFDAs gather information during initial visits so the dentist can determine a care plan and the appropriate team member to provide the care. The dentist is also available via telehealth. The project goal is to identify a sustainable way to expand the workforce by enabling the hygienist to work to the top of their scope of practice. Providing care to long term care residents can decrease cases of aspiration pneumonia, which is common among this population. The three contractors—Enable Dental, Ozark Community Health Center and McCoy, Samples, Mattingly Dental Clinics—provided oral care to 74 residents during 2024.

ODH also received funding from Veterans' United to continue its partnership with A.T. Still University to support Veterans’ oral health. Through our Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) grant, ODH provides scholarships to A.T. Still University dental students who provide services to Veterans seeking care in the Affinia St. Louis dental clinic. Through the work of these students and the Smiles for Vets program, 129 Veterans received free dental services through August 2024. 

ODH has noted an uptick in questions about Community Water Fluoridation and has worked to dispel any misinformation. ODH has hosted five water fluoridation training sessions around the state. This is the first water fluoridation training in approximately 20 years. There were 62 people (water operators, public health, and dental professionals) that attended the trainings, representing 49 public water systems. ODH will be hosting training sessions after May 1, for dental, medical and public health professionals. Dental professionals may receive questions regarding both water fluoridation and fluoride varnish. The ODH fluoridation webpage includes educational materials, videos and other resources relating to water fluoridation. The ADA and the American Academy of Pediatrics ILikeMyTeeth.org also have several fluoride resources available. ODH staff are always willing to help educate on water fluoridation. Additionally, through a collaborative effort, DHSS developed a statement on water fluoridation which is available upon request by emailing oralhealth@health.mo.gov. 

Currently three communities have started the 90-day notification process to discontinue fluoridation: Rolla, Hannibal and Crane. Rolla will hold a final vote after May 15; Hannibal will hold a public vote after May 24 and Crane will host a town hall on June 9 with a vote following the meeting. ODH continues to offer support through educating on the benefits of water fluoridation, answering questions about the notification process and providing data for communities. OSH has created a fluoride information page to share when patients and community members have questions about fluoridation.

Thank you to all our partners and collaborators. Together, we are making great strides in improving oral health and the oral health workforce for all Missourians and will continue this important work in 2025!

For questions about ODH projects and programs email oralhealth@health.mo.gov or call 573-751-5874. For all available resources, visit oralhealth.mo.gov.

Can You Survive a Loss with Your Current Policy?

by Lindsey Kutscher, MDIS Licensed Agent

As a dentist, you face a fair amount of liability in your day-to-day practice and if you own a practice, you face additional liabilities you may not have previously considered. While you probably already realize the importance of professional/malpractice liability, how much do you know about your business owner’s policy and its liability coverages?

Often, we notice our clients use the term liability or general liability interchangeably when referencing premises liability or professional liability. 

General liability from a commercial standpoint is typically in reference to premises liability. If you are a practice owner and/or independent or sub-contractor, make sure you have general liability in place. In the event a patient or other third party were to be injured on the premises, this is the only way to insure your exposure. For example, a patient falling on their way to an operatory: Whether you own the practice or are working as a sub/independent contractor, your premises liability is the same. A patient was in the office to see YOU. Therefore, you or your legal entity can be held liable for an injury on the premises. Because this is not a treatment related issue, professional liability would not come into play. However, general liability does because the incident occurred in/on the premises in which you practice. 

If you are a practice owner who also owns the building your practice occupies, you have an even greater exposure! In this instance, your liability is not limited to the office space in which you practice, but extends to common areas of the building, space occupied by other tenants (if applicable) and even the parking lot.

You’ve heard it before: you get what you pay for. That said, not all business owners’ policies are created equal. While most captive agencies are hyper focused on property, contents and general liability coverage, MDIS knows these are just a few of the many coverage considerations you should be aware of to protect your practice from what could be detrimental loss. Some of the most utilized coverages by our insureds aren’t even included in a captive agency’s policy and when they are, the limits tend to be insufficient. Such as: 

Business Interruption 

What would you do if your practice sustained a tremendous physical loss, such as a fire? Would your current policy provide business interruption coverage helping to pay overhead expenses for your practice while you’re not able to work? It’s likely if you have a loss, you’ll need to find a temporary practice location while restorations take place. This type of coverage will help pay rent, utilities, staff salaries and other business-related expenses when your practice suffers a physical loss. 

Computers and Media 

Does your policy have a separate limit of coverage for computers and media? If not, it should. The replacement of computers and media (i.e. digital x-rays) could be time-consuming and costly. Some agencies might tell you that these items are covered in your business personal property (or content limit) but may not increase your limit of coverage accordingly. If your policy does have coverage outlined for computers and media, make sure your business owners/contents limit will suffice.

Reimbursement for Legal Expense Coverage for Court or Review Boards 

While most carriers do not offer this endorsement as part of their business owners policy, MDIS’ carriers do! This is an important coverage to have if you’re called in front of a court or review board for issues other than treatment of patients and it does just what it says: reimburses you for legal expenses.

Tenants Improvements and Betterments 

Do you lease your office space? If so, check your current policy to see if you have coverage for leasehold improvements (otherwise known as tenants’ improvements and betterments). Often, we learn that our insureds (as tenants) are responsible for the improvements they make to their office space. Unsure? Check your lease agreement. Tenants’ improvements and betterments or leasehold improvements would include items such as operatory cabinets, light fixtures, paint, flooring, etc. If you don’t have insurance protection for items such as these, you may end up paying out of pocket to restore these enhancements.

As an insured, you may or may not realize commercial property insurance rates are often based on the property value in which your practice is housed, as well as overall location, building type (age, construction, condition of building), and not only your own loss history but losses nationwide. Due to widespread losses across the nation, we saw significant increases in property rates over the last year. Especially for building owners. This is yet another reason to take the time to look over your policy. We know this task may seem daunting but it’s important to make sure you have adequate coverage and that your liability exposures are being addressed. If you are not sure where to start, MDIS is happy to review your current policy, offer suggestions or even provide a no-obligation quote. MDIS is here to help!

Missouri dental schools call on dental professionals at all career stages to serve in academia

Give to MODentPAC at this link. Register for MDA Dental Day at this link. 

by Dr. Doug Wyckoff, MDA Editor

We are now on the heels of another national general election. An election that covered all facets of our lives — national, state and local. We have voted for those who will lead us and propositions and amendments that will guide us. I do not know about you, but one of my favorite days is the day after the election. A day I know I will not see any political ads on TV nor receive any campaign messages in the mail!

Our political process at times seems so long and drawn out. I have always wondered why when political reform is discussed, they do not talk about shortening the amount of time allowed to campaign for office. Another realm that should be corrected is the matter in which vote counts are totaled. In our modern-day technology, why is it taking days to tally votes? You would think with a push of a couple buttons we should be given results in just a few moments.

Elections tend to bring out the best and worst in people. Political bantering between opponents and even voters can get very heated. We have all seen this with the most recent election and at times it gets embarrassing. We have seen the lines divide us on all levels and it really is time for it to stop. We all must be respectful of each other and our beliefs, even when we do not agree.

I am not intending on this editorial being one in which I try to persuade you into thinking one side is better than the other. Red, blue, left, right, Republican, Democrat, conservative, liberal or whatever other third party you want to insert here; they’re all just labels. I have personally been all over the board in my life with where I have stood in my political beliefs. I have always tried to do what I think is best for myself, my business and family. That sometimes means I just don’t line up with one way of thinking.

Similarly, in our dental profession we must think more along the lines of not being associated with one certain party or group. This is especially true when it comes to many of our dental issues we bring forth that require legislative efforts on the state and national level. We must be able to speak to both sides of the aisle when we try to gain support on issues important to our practices. On the national level, especially with the ADA and ADPAC, they refer to it as the “Tooth Party.” This is something we must keep in mind. We must have open doors to communicate effectively with the legislators in Jefferson City and Washington, D. C., and if we just lean toward one party or the other, it will hamper our success. We all must work together toward the common good for our profession. What happens outside of that is completely up to you but, within the confines of our association’s work, we must take the middle road.

The MDA has one of the best legislative teams in the state. From our lobbyists to our Legislative and Regulatory Committee, we have the finest individuals around. They spend an inordinate amount of time working on our behalf speaking to our legislators individually and within their committees. Time spent that allows you and I to still maintain our practices.

Over the years, we have done a pretty good job with members donating to MODentPAC. Decreasing membership and some apathy has caused our donated dollars to dip in recent times. We must continue to fund our PAC at our highest and even higher as our legislative agendas continue to grow. If you have donated to our PAC, thank you. I would ask that you increase what you have given in the past. If you have not given, it is time to start. You can give lump sum donations or make a monthly contribution. All of this can be done by contacting the MDA office.

I am challenging everyone to give at least $100 per month. If you are able, give more. We all must give to ensure that we continue to get the support we need in the legislature. If you have questions about giving, contact Halie at the MDA office or any Board of Trustee member and your questions will be answered. Let us make 2025 the best year of giving ever for MODentPAC.

It is no surprise that 2024 was yet another successful year in the legislative realm for the MDA. Since the last Focus, we’ve been working toward gearing up for 2025. As dedicated members, you know the association and profession are not strong without a strong political action committee. MODentPAC gave more than $68,000 to candidates — and was successful: Only one of those candidates lost in the general election. A big thank you to every MODentPAC donor from the past year. You can donate to invest in your profession at any time by visiting modental.org/pac.

In early December, the MDA advocacy team attended the annual ADA Lobbyist Conference in a chilly Hilton Head, South Carolina. This is always my favorite conference to attend because the ADA and every state gather to focus on advocacy goals, discussions and how to keep dentistry moving forward. I always take away a few nuggets from the conference. This year those were new ideas for PAC fundraising and campaigns for our upcoming legislative agenda items, as well as strategies to deal with ERISA.

With that being said, the Board of Trustees approved the 2025 legislative agenda, and the MDA has pre-filed legislation already to establish a Dental Loss Ratio (DLR) in Missouri. We filed this bill last year, but due to a gridlock in the Missouri Senate and political factors out of our control, it didn’t see much movement. We are hopeful this year with work having been done in the interim, this legislation will receive more movement in both chambers. Our bill establishes a DLR at 85 percent for both large and small group plans.

Outside of filing legislation, work is still being done to maintain Dental Medicaid reimbursement rates, as well as fix issues within the system to make it more efficient for providers to enroll and provide these services. Along with Medicaid appropriations, we will be advocating for increased funding for Elks Mobile Dental Services.

We’ll also continue to strategize on the future of the Oral Preventive Assistant EFDA. The clinical testing of that pilot project commenced in December with sites reporting on outcomes for the next several months that will inform future progress.

Rounding out this advocacy update for 2024, please be sure to register for 2025 MDA Dental Day at the Capitol on March 5! Last year we had more than 80 dentists, dental team members, dental students and spouses attend, which helped to directly impact our successes last session! It is important to advocate for your profession and keep moving dentistry forward in Missouri. You can register until February 11 by visiting modental.org/advocacy.

Additional Resources | Visit the ADA Managing the Dental Staff page with topics on effective team meetings, avoiding hiring mistakes, dental employment agreements and dental team training, to name a few. Don't miss this great all-in-one resource, Guidelines for Practice Success: Managing the Dental Team, a free download. It’s filled with practical and easy-to-implement ideas to help you lead your team.

by Dr. Doug Wyckoff

I want the dentists out there to think back a little to your beginnings in the dental profession. The journey began as we entered dental school. I am sure you remember the hours spent inside the four walls of your training grounds. The blood, sweat and tears that came with progressing through the rigorous training. 

Four years later, a day arrived that seemed so distant: you received your diploma. You were the fledgling in the nest, about to embark on your future as a dentist. You had completed your training to the point that your instructors and training institution said it was time to leave and continue your journey. They provided the training necessary for you to pass boards and go on to provide care in whatever modality you had chosen.

At this point, if you were like me, you were on top of the world. You had labored long and hard and conquered the requirements it took to get your license. Suddenly, however, you probably came to the same realization I did — I had learned how to do the treatment and provide the care for my patients, but there were so many other pieces to the puzzle I now had to learn to put together. My training did not include many of the other necessities of a successful private practice: being an employer and trainer for my team, setting and collecting fees, getting and repaying loans, and all the other pieces we do daily. 

And just like that, we were thrust back into the “learning” mode, but this time in the business of dentistry. Looking back, I can say this journey has been a continual learning process. The adage of “the older I get the more I realize I don’t know” is most appropriate. When I think about how I have arrived where I am now, one thing is very clear, I didn’t get here by myself. Many people have played a role in my success and for that, I am very thankful. I want us to focus on the group that has played a vital role for you and I and that is the dental team we work with daily.

The bottom line is we cannot do what we do by ourselves. It takes management, business, assistants, hygienists, lab technicians and other personnel to make a dental team successful. Attracting and retaining these teams is the key to our success. Some of you are more successful than others in the retention part of the puzzle, but no matter what, we must show appreciation in some manner to keep our teams together and build on that base. The following are some ways that I have witnessed in my time practicing:

PRAISE

A kind word can go a million miles. Giving words of encouragement to our team members builds self-esteem. Getting caught up in being negative and always criticizing will not build a positive environment. 

SAY THANK YOU

Being polite is just the right thing to do. We must express gratitude for what our team members do for us daily. Even a simple “thank you” when an instrument is handed to us lets our teammates know we appreciate their help. Taking time to do this frequently is imperative.

BUILD CONFIDENCE

There are many ways to build confidence within your team. You must show you believe in and will stand by them in every way possible. When they know you are confident in their abilities, they will grow and help the team grow as well.

PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

This varies from office to office. Determine what is valued and what you can do to work toward that. Building a good employment package with vacation, holiday pay, insurance and uniform allowance are some of the perks many of us use.

PAY COMPETITIVELY 

They say money isn’t everything but having a competitive salary schedule for the area you are practicing in is key. As much as we would like to think this doesn’t play a significant role, it does. Team members who are content with their salaries have increased satisfaction.

INSTITUTE A BONUS PROGRAM 

This may or may not be for every dental office around. I have seen this work in both positive and negative ways. Bonuses don’t have to be financial in nature. They can include additional time off or prizes, for example. There are so many ways to set up a bonus system, but make sure goals are clear and attainable.

CELEBRATE & HAVE FUN

You need to take time to celebrate your success and, in my opinion, it should be away from the office. Taking your team to dinner, going shopping, getting pampered at a spa or even going to the movies are some great ways to have fun and enjoy time team building.

Of course, this is not an all-inclusive list but some of the ways I have seen other colleagues build great teams and say “thank you” to those who make the doctors and practices the best they can. No matter what we do, we must take the time to be appreciative of those who make our days go smoother. We need them to know we have their backs just as much as they have ours. Go out there and have fun with this and positively encourage your team. It will make your time in the practice go much smoother.

“We are looking forward to getting started with actual care and collection of data,” said Vicki Wilbers, MDA Executive Director. “We are hosting a refresher course at the end of September for all candidates, and the dentists and teams at pilot sites are poised to begin.” 

She also noted that in this period of waiting, pilot sites have been collecting data on patients for a comparative analysis that will be part of the reporting. Pilot sites will report various metrics to the ADA Health Policy Institute (HPI) to analyze the data.

“We often talk about the Power of Three: what the ADA, MDA and local levels provide in member benefits,” said Wilbers. “This is a great example of that, because the HPI team is a trusted powerhouse that will analyze this data and communicate it effectively to all stakeholders, which adds validity to the pilot, and at no cost. Ultimately, this data will be paramount to the OPA EFDA becoming available for more practices in the state, which will be a great benefit to members who continue to communicate to us the great need for this.” 

What’s next for the OPA EFDA project?

The MDA continues to receive interest in the OPA program from both doctors and assistants asking about participating in the training. At this time, the project remains in the pilot stage, which requires the MDA to limit the training and certification to dental sites already approved. The information from the data gathered at these pilot sites will be used in legislative and regulatory work in the future.

In the meantime, the MDA remains committed to EFDA and dental assistant education. MDA continues to host all five current EFDA courses at its new clinical training center in Jefferson City. This facility offers the latest technology, with all courses taught by MDA member dentists who have been trained specifically for teaching EFDA programs. So far this year, 18 courses have been hosted, successfully training 227 dental assistants. 

Additionally, the MDA has created and continues to host a quarterly Basic Skills Review Course. This in-person review, taught by Linda Twehous, CDA, EFDA and longtime dental assistant educator, has been successful in preparing students to pass the Missouri Test of Basic Dental Assisting Skills, which is a prerequisite to take EFDA courses. The final review course of 2024 will be October 18. Learn more and register at moefda.org. 

The MDA is in the process of creating a Nitrous Oxide Monitoring course, which members continue to express is greatly needed as it is hard to find this training consistently provided in the state. The MDA is finalizing the curriculum, clinical course components and testing to present to the Missouri Dental Board for approval, and hopes to begin offering the hands-on course at its clinical training center in Jefferson City in early 2025.

Longstanding Scheduling Formats 

(Read reliable patients) have been scrapped, and now you use every tool available to keep your chairs full. 

Your Favorite Authority 

Diluted into a thousand voices leaving organized dentistry somewhat in pieces. While custom platforms and new voices are valuable in many ways, they can overlook the unifying power of the common ground you share as dental professionals. 

Dentistry in Print

Waning. Reading habits and attention spans have changed. The profession’s new media focuses on digital, social media and podcasts. 

The Traditional Dental Workforce 

In flux but optimistic. On the heels of Covid, the dynamics shifted. Finding and retaining skilled team members is a challenge. The MDA steps into the void and provides first rate Expanded Function Dental Assistant courses in its dedicated training center. The result develops team member loyalty and enhances practice efficiency. New solutions like the recently approved Oral Preventive Assistant pilot project could help expand the universal goal of more care for more Missourians. 

Meanwhile, the existing 100-year-plus-old membership structure has (finally) officially begun a needed facelift raising the culture of dentistry to be even more sophisticated and efficient and inclusive. Just last month a new association management system was launched promising members a much more user-friendly and connected membership experience. New membership models are being piloted to simplify and customize the member experience at value-driven rates. The best minds are investing wisely, using cutting edge resources, working with new tools, and displaying great passion with a win-now mentality to both modify and preserve the profession for this generation and beyond. 

How will all this play out? How many of you will ride the occasionally turbulent wave of transition? How many wins will it typically take to secure success? 

There could be some difficult seasons. Just how committed are you to this grand profession and the effort it takes to protect it, promote it and advance it to the trophy presentation? We’re all going to find out together.

Whether all this strikes you as exciting or disorienting, or both, is up to you. New expectations and new rhythms on the calendar are going to take some getting used to. But there is no going back. At the end of the day — or the end of an era, as it were — it’s still dentistry, being conducted at a higher level than ever before.