GDA Action May 2014 by Delaine Hall

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ACT ION

THE JOURNAL OF THE GEORGIA DENTAL ASSOCIATION

MAY 2014

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VOLUME 33, NUMBER 5 • MAY 2014

ACTION

on the cover

ACT ION

THE JOURNAL OF THE GEORGIA DENTAL ASSOCIATION

GDA ACTION (ISSN 0273-5989) The official publication of the Georgia Dental Association (GDA) is published monthly. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to GDA Action at 7000 Peachtree Dunwoody Road N.E., Suite 200, Building 17, Atlanta, GA 30328. Phone numbers in state are (404) 636-7553 and (800) 432-4357. www.gadental.org. Closing date for copy: first of the month preceding publication month. Subscriptions: $17 of membership dues is for the newsletter; all others, $75 per year. Periodicals postage paid at Atlanta, GA. Dr. David Bradberry GDA Editor 1070 Woodlawn Dr NE Suite 250 Marietta, GA 30068

Delaine Hall GDA Managing Editor 7000 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd NE Suite 200, Building 17 Atlanta, GA 30328

2013-14 Georgia Dental Association Officers Marshall H. Mann, DDS, President Douglas B. Torbush, DDS, President Elect Greg G. Goggans, DMD, Vice President James B. Hall III, DDS, Secretary / Treasurer R. David Bradberry, DMD, Editor

GDA/GDIS Executive Office Staff Members Frank Capaldo, Executive Director Nelda Greene, MBA, Associate Executive Director Delaine Hall, Director of Communications Skip Jones, Director of Marketing (GDIS) Courtney Layfield, Director of Member Services Victoria LeMaire, Medical Accounts Manager Melana Kopman McClatchey, General Counsel Denis Mucha, Director of Operations (GDIS) Margo Null, Property and Casualty Accounts Manager Patrice Williams, Administrative Assistant Phyllis Willich, Administrative Assistant Pamela Yungk, Director of Membership & Finance GDA Action seeks to be an issues-driven journal focusing on current matters affecting Georgia dentists, patients, and their treatment, accomplished through disseminating information and providing a forum for member commentary. © Copyright 2014 by the Georgia Dental Association. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission. Publication of any article or advertisement should not be deemed an endorsement of the opinions expressed or products advertised. The Association expressly reserves the right to refuse publication of any article, photograph, or advertisement.

MAY 2014

Target and Michaels recently reported breaches into systems that held information about customer credit cards and online data. The Heartbleed vulnerability recently made the news, prompting web sites like Tumblr to issue warnings to users about changing their passwords. Do you really want to be online? Certainly. Is it safe? There are steps that everyone can take to protect their online identities and personal information, and monitor the lives they lead in the virtual world. Turn to page 8 for some tips to use today.

other features

sections

Donate Items for GADPAC Silent Auction by July 1

Parting Shots

Editorial

GDA Meeting Features Power Hours of CE on Saturday

News and Views

Calendar of Events

Classifieds

12 13

We Are One GDA: Register for 147th Annual Meeting

Top Ten Ways Dentists Can Improve Patient Collections

GDA Dental Health Month Activities Reach 16,000 Children

Member Publication American Association of Dental Editors

index of advertisers Note: Publication of an advertisement is not to be construed as an endorsement or approval by the GDA or any of its subsidiaries, committees, or task forces of the product or service offered in the

advertisement unless the advertisement specifically includes an authorized statement that such approval or endorsement has been granted.

AFTCO Transition Consultants . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Dr. Mark Padolsky—TMD Dentist . . . . . . . . . .33

Map Laboratory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Andrew Shaul Law Firm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

E-VAC INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Medical Protective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Center for TMJ Therapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

GDA Dental Recovery Network . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Officite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Coast Dental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Georgia Dental Insurance Services . . . . . . . . .36

Paragon Dental Practice Transitions . . . . . . . .31

Craniofacial Pain Center of Georgia . . . . . . . .26

Hospital Dentistry—Dr. Kurtzman . . . . . . . . . .28

Southeast Transitions

Dental Care Alliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Law Office of Stuart J. Oberman . . . . . . . . . . .27

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editorial perspective Welcome to Mr. Frank Capaldo

R. David Bradberry, DMD

Change is hard. Haven’t we all heard that at one time or another? It is an amazing fact to observe as we grow older and seemingly more mature that our ability as human beings to embrace change seems to decline. We age and presumably become wiser but we resist change more and more aggressively. (For those who don’t believe that, just give it time.) I am here to tell you that change is not only coming, but arriving as we speak, and we all need to embrace it with open arms, happiness, and a welcoming heart. For many months now I’ve let you know of many of the internal and external forces working to change the environment called our profession in which we live and thrive. Much like in the film The Matrix, change is occurring at the speed of light and sometimes we only subtly notice enough to say, what was that? To that end there is a major change on the Good Ship GDA. The new captain at the helm is Mr. Frank Capaldo. He already has a firm grip on the helm, peering outward and inward, and taking in the full scope of the environment internally and externally. He, President Marshall Mann, and the presidents to come are fully prepared to chart a course for smooth sailing through the choppy waters that surround us. Whether it is mid-levels or Medicaid, they are prepared and already working to achieve the best for you—the Georgia dentist. Frank comes to us after having stewarded the Independent Bankers Association of New York State and the National Franchisee Association through choppy waters into smooth sailing. He understands the small business arena and is well suited to help guide us forward through the many obstacles we face as entrepreneurs and health care providers. He also understands the importance

of a member-representative, member-driven association that works for “we” the members of the GDA. Though Frank may have to learn the specifics of dental practice, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that we need and that he is willing and able to use for our benefit in many areas. He has vast experience in advocacy, public relations, and media relations. Though he has many aspirations for the GDA, I believe he truly desires to leave it someday better than he found it. We already have a great Association that is nationally respected and sought after often for advice and counsel but there is always progress to be made. I would be remiss if I did not express for all of us our greatest thanks to Nelda Greene for her hard work and dedication in guiding the ship during this transition period. Thank you, Nelda. Blockbuster, Kodak, and other organizations found out the hard way that if you do not recognize changes approaching and adapt to them, those changes will consume you and leave you a footnote in history. We are in the midst of great change and must recognize and respond appropriately. We have a new executive director at the helm with our president, state officers, House of Delegates, and Board of Trustees ready and capable of leading all members and potential members forward into the future. I believe the best times for the dental profession have yet to come. I feel younger already.

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general news NORTHERN

EASTERN

ENDORSED

Dr. Greenlea Taylor

Dr. Rogers

BCBSGA BlueCard

Kudos to GDA member Dr. Judy Greenlea Taylor of Union City. She was chosen in April as a Channel 11Alive (Atlanta) Community Service Award honoree for her mentorship of students at all levels of education from grade school to college, her Grant a Smile charitable dental program, and participation in other local and international charitable dental programs. A video the television station produced featuring Dr. Greenlea Taylor may be viewed at www.greenleadental.com. “It is an overwhelming feeling of joy knowing that you are making a difference,” Dr. Greenlea Taylor said in the video. “It is just next to none.” The general dentist was honored during the 11Alive Community Service Awards dinner on April 26. Each year for the last 38 years, the 11Alive Community Service Awards have honored “11 Who Care,” outstanding local volunteers who have demonstrated selfless devotion for the betterment of the community. Atlanta native Dr. Greenlea Taylor is a past president of the North Georgia Dental Society. She received her dental degree from the University of Iowa and did a General Practice Residency with an emphasis in Oral Surgery at Emory University. She served as Speaker of the House for the National Dental Association for 2013. Gov. Nathan Deal recently appointed Dr. Greenlea Taylor to the board of the Georgia Department of Community Health.

(From The Augusta Chronicle) After finishing less than 90 seconds before last year’s explosions, GDA Past President Dr. Mike Rogers returned to the 2014 Boston Marathon for one purpose: closure. Dr. Rogers received it during the April race while also besting his time from a year ago. “Today was a great experience,” Rogers said. “They estimated that 1 million spectators were on the streets and you could really feel their presence. Just the way they cheered us on and gave us high fives along the way was amazing. I’m very glad I chose to come back.” Dr. Rogers crossed the finish line in just over four hours, nearly nine minutes faster than 2013. With his time, he automatically qualified for next year’s race. As for when he crossed the finish line, Rogers says the feeling was bittersweet. “It definitely brought back some emotions,” he said. “I was so close to everything last year—it’s a feeling I won’t ever forget. Still, just seeing how happy everyone was by the finish line was incredible. It was such a different feeling than a year ago.”

GDA dentists and their family and staff members covered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia through Georgia Dental Insurance Services can take their benefits with them when they travel outside of the U.S. Through the BlueCard Worldwide® Program, covered individuals can get help finding doctors and hospitals in nearly 200 countries. Plan ahead before you travel. Visit www.bluecardworldwide.com for details on paying for care and filing claims should you be required to seek health care while abroad.

Dr. Judy Greenlea Taylor was honored in April as an 11Alive Community Service Award winner for her mentorship of students and charitable dental work.

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ADA RESOURCE Employment The Center for Professional Success, the American Dental Association’s membersonly interactive web resource, recently published a document for members contemplating contracts of employment or associateship positions. “Dentist Employment Agreements: A Guide to Key Legal Provisions,” was developed as part of a response to a 2012 House of Delegates resolution to establish an educational program for all ADA members, with specific reference to senior dental students and postgraduate student / resident members who are contemplating employment contracts. Visit http://success.ada.org for this and additional information.

DENTAL PORCELAIN VSU Conducts Research (From www.valdosta.edu) Students in Valdosta State University’s Engineering Studies Program are working to improve the field of cosmetic dentistry by examining the physical and mechanical properties of porcelain. “Those in the field of dentistry are finding that dental ceramics prostheses do not last very long because of issues related to laboratory techniques, thermal incompatibility, and relatively large biting and chewing forces,” said Dr. Barry Hojjatie, professor and coordinator of the engineering studies program at VSU, who supervises student research in dental materials. “They are supposed to last on average 15 years, but many of them fail sooner, particularly those in the posterior (back) area of the mouth. With this in mind, an experimental investigation of the strength of dental porcelain crowns and bridges, which dentists use for the restoration of patients’ damaged teeth, was conducted.” The research was conducted through a directed study course in engineering offered by Hojjatie. The project is supported by Valdosta State’s Undergraduate Engagement in Discipline-Based Inquiry Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), which helped the engineering studies program

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secure a dental vacuum furnace and its accessories for fabrication of various porcelain samples. “The original plan was to pay a dental lab in Valdosta so they could make the porcelain samples that we studied,” said Hojjatie. “However, after some trials, the dental lab realized creating the samples with specified shapes and dimensions would be a challenge. As a result, we purchased equipment and learned how to create samples consistent with ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standards ourselves. The students—Carlos Ponce, Lauren Hale,

Minh Tran, and Byung Kim—had to go through specific laboratory procedures to mix powders with water, place it inside molds, dry and put it in the furnace at appropriate temperature and heating rate, then grind it to specified dimensions to become ready for testing.” The students received training by local technicians as well as technicians from the University of Florida’s College of Dentistry on how to create the samples out of porcelain powders. “There are more than 200 different batches of dental porcelains out there,” said Hojjatie. “Each one of them has dif-

ferent physical, thermal, and mechanical properties. In order for technicians to understand the longevity of each batch, testing should be done to understand compatibility of thermal and mechanical properties. If those properties are not compatible the prostheses made from dental porcelains could contain micro-cracks, which can lead to premature failure. This type of testing helps provide knowledge of different ceramics and helps dental labs and dentists improve their selection of appropriate porcelain powders for construction of crowns and bridges.”

Upcoming GDA / Dental Events Please visit the GDA Calendar at www.gadental.org for more detailed information on the events listed.

JUNE 2014 Fri, June 6: GDA Finance Committee Meeting, GDA Office. Wed, June 18: GRU Clinic Day. GDA staff will attend to talk to students. Fri-Sat, June 20-21: Expanded Duties for Dental Assistants, Athens. Fri, June 27: Board of Dentistry LEAP Course, GDA Office. Sat, June 28: GDA Board of Trustees Meeting, GDA Office. Sat, June 28: Fisher Foundation for Dental Education Board Meeting, GDA Office.

Sat, Aug 23: Northern District Spring Meeting, Druid Hills Golf Club, Atlanta. Sat, Aug 23: Special Olympics, Special Smiles Program, Warner Robins

SEPTEMBER 2014 Mon, Sept 1: GDA Office Closed for Labor Day Holiday. Mon, Sept 8: Northern District Executive Council Meeting, GDA Office. Fri-Sat, Sept 12-13: ADA Fifth District (AL, GA, MS) Meeting, Atlanta. Wed, Sept 17: Northern District CE Program, Villa Christina, Atlanta.

JULY 2014

Fri, Sept 26: Northern District Diversity Meeting, Brio, Atlanta.

Fri, July 4: GDA Office Closed for Fourth of July Holiday.

OCTOBER 2014

Mon, July 7: Northern District Executive Council Meeting, GDA Office. Thur, July 17: GDA House of Delegates Meeting, Amelia Island, FL. Thur-Sun, July 17-20: GDA Annual Meeting, Amelia Island, FL.

AUGUST 2014 Fri, Aug 8: GDA Foundation Board Meeting, GDA Office. Sat, Aug 9: GDA Board of Trustees Meeting, GDA Office.

155th ADA Annual Session in San Antonio, Texas. + CE Program: October 9-12 + Exhibits Open: October 9-11 + House of Delegates: October 10-14 Wed, Oct 15: Northern District CE Program, Dr. Wayne Kerr. Tue, Oct 21: GDA Officers Visit Western District.

NOVEMBER 2014 Mon, Nov 3: Northern District Executive Council Meeting, GDA Office. Thur, Nov 6: Southwestern District (Albany) Legislative Reception. Thur, Nov 13: Southwestern District (Valdosta) Legislative Reception. Fri, Nov 14: GDA Spokespersons Training, GDA Office. Sat, Nov 15: GDA Board of Trustees Meeting, GDA Office. Tue, Nov 18: Eastern District (Athens) Legislative Reception. Thur-Fri, Nov 27-28: GDA Office Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday.

DECEMBER 2014 Wed, Dec 3: Northwestern District Legislative Fish Fry, Clarence Brown Center. Tue, Dec 9: Hall County (NDDS) Legislative Reception, Chattahoochee Club. Wed, Dec 10: Northern District Legislative Reception, 103 West, 6PM. Wed-Fri, Dec 24-26: GDA Office Closed for Christmas Holiday.

Mon, Oct 27: GDA Officers Visit Northern District, 103 West. Tue, Oct 28: Eastern District (Augusta) Legislative Reception.

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Ten Tips for Securing Your Personal and Professional Data News programs reporting online data breaches have become a near-weekly occurrence. In just the last six months, hackers have attacked major retailers like Target, Michaels, and Neiman Marcus and stolen debit and credit card information and customer contact details. A vulnerability in some “secure socket layer” software (picture the software that turns “http” into “https” when you are, hopefully, conducting a secure online transaction) existed for more than two years before discovery this April. These constant reminders about the vulnerability of online data are enough to make a person throw their iPad up in the air and say “No more Internet for me!” Right? Not very likely. Too much of our day to day business and social interaction is conducted in the virtual online world. So what steps can an individual take to secure their online selves? Here is a look at some of the most recent breaches in the news and some actions you can consider to make yourself a little safer.

Heartbleed Vulnerability You may recall hearing about an Internet security flaw with the memorable name of Heartbleed a few weeks ago. Heartbleed was born in 2012 when a new version of the Internet encryption software OpenSSL, which protects nearly 66 percent of web sites, rolled out with a security hole. The hole was not found until 2014. That means for more than two years that hackers and other nefarious sorts who stumbled on this flaw could secretly listen to and potentially access information you shared with servers running web sites like Yahoo, Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Netflix, YouTube, DropBox, and dozens more. To add to the woes of the Healthcare.gov web site, site administrators reset consumers’ passwords after learning about HeartBleed “out of an abundance of caution.” What does this mean for you? Affected web sites scrambled to apply software patches to vulnerable systems. Some have been astute about alerting users, but some have not. You

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should check on the security status of sites you use most often by visiting www.ssllabs.com/ssltest. Type in the domain names of sites you use the most often (i.e., www.gadental.org) and SSL Labs will grade the domain and alert you to key security vulnerabilities and concerns. (The GDA web site via its Officite.com server has an “A” grade by the way and is NOT vulnerable to the Heartbleed bug.) You may have received emails from sites you use encouraging you to change your passwords. If a site tells you to change your password, do so immediately! If you have not received such an email, visit the web page of the providers you use most often and check for a statement about the Heartbleed bug. Please note that you should not change your password until you are sure that a particular site has applied a patch that addresses the vulnerability. Otherwise, you may be changing your password again a short time later.

What about GDA Transactions? The GDA reached out to web sites that handle the financial transactions for online GDA dues payments and Annual Meeting registrations and received good news. The GDA utilizes PayPal.com as the main merchant account. PayPal account details were not exposed to the Heartbleed bug and remain secure. In addition, GDA endorsed credit card services provider TransFirst confirms that the Heartbleed vulnerability does not exist in its environment.

Should I Ever Go Online Again? Yes, with Caution A January 2014 survey from the Pew Research Center finds that 8% of online adults have had important personal information stolen such as their Social Security number, credit card, or bank account information. Meanwhile, 21% of online adults said they had an email or social networking account compromised or

taken over without their permission. While news about Heartbleed and data breach statistics are daunting, there are steps you can take to minimize your chances of becoming a data breach victim.

Create Strong Passwords To create a strong password, avoid certain patterns such as replacing letters with numbers, simply capitalizing the first letter of a word, or adding a number to the end of a word. A long, complex password is a better password. Your password should include letters and numbers, make use of upper and lower cases, and incorporate characters such as exclamation points and dollar signs. Consult the web site SplashData.com to ensure your password is not on their annual “worst actually used passwords” list. (The top five are 123456, password, 12345678, qwerty, and abc123.)

Use a Different Password for Each Site An important security strategy you can use is to select a different password for each site you visit. This limits the damage that can be done if a hacker breaches the site. It’s especially important to select unique passwords for email accounts, because hackers with access to your email can use it to initiate a “forgot my password” recovery process for other sites. In his look at the top seven human risks associated with computing, Lance Spitzner, director of the “Securing The Human” program at the SANS Institute, listed password reuse as number two on the risk list. “With passwords, the surprise we found was not password complexity, but people using the same password for several different accounts,” said Spitzner. (www.zdnet.com)

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INTERNET SAFETY Continued from page 8

Consider a Password Manager Use a unique password for every site? What?!?! you may say. According to the results of a 2012 Online Registration and Password study conducted by Janrain and Harris Interactive, 58 percent of online adults have five or more unique passwords associated with their online logins and 30 percent of people have more than 10 unique passwords. You could write them down in a notebook that is stuffed in a home desk drawer when you need it at the office, or you might consider using a password manager. These services generate random, long, and complex passwords for

your sites and use a completely different password for each account. Some popular password managers include LastPass, KeePass, or 1Password. The managers offer both free and premium accounts. For example, LastPass has several free options, but charges users $12 per year for a premium account that covers several different devices.

Utilize Two-Factor Authentication Google’s WebSpam team leader, Matt Cutts, defines “2FA” as a feature that asks for more than just a password. It requires both ‘something you know’ (like a password) and ‘something you have’ (like a phone number). After you enter a password, for example, you’ll get a second

Dentists Can Obtain Peace of Mind with Data Breach Coverage When Target publicly confirmed that the credit and debit accounts of 40 million customers had been compromised in December 2013, many consumers received a rude awakening to the real danger of entrusting businesses with so much data. Then the recently exposed Heartbleed OpenSSL vulnerability made the state of data security even more frightening. For businesses, especially those of the small-to-medium variety, the need for data protection is vital. For smaller businesses, according to research compiled by data and documentation manager Imprima, data breaches don’t only mean a potential lawsuit—they could mean bankruptcy. In fact, 72% of businesses that suffer major data loss shut down within 24 months. Not all of this data loss occurs through malicious breaches like hacking. Some is simple negligence—not backing up data (which 60% of small and medium businesses admit to being guilty of), installing applications with vulnerabilities, and human error (employees losing data via an improperly secured mobile device, for example). The purchase of cyber liability coverage from Georgia Dental Insurance Services and The Hartford could mitigate these concerns for your practice. GDIS clients: In order to purchase cyber liability coverage you must also have a Hartford property policy in force or make this coverage an endorsement to a policy you will purchase through The Hartford. The cost of cyber liability coverage can start at around $500 per year. Costs will vary according to the size of your practice and other risk factors, such as the sensitivity of the data in your possession, the controls you already have in place to protect patient information, and the limits of coverage that you select. A GDIS representative can help you determine the cost of this valuable coverage for your practice. Call (800) 432-4357 or (404) 636-7553.

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code sent to your phone, and only after you enter that can you log into your account. Some sites that allow you to use two-factor authentication (and if a site offers it, you should consider using it) are Gmail, Apple, Facebook, Twitter, Dropbox, Evernote, PayPal, and Amazon. You can access a full list of sites that allow you to use 2FA at http://evanhahn.com/2fa. (www.lifehacker.com)

Use Temporary Credit Card Numbers Many credit card companies offer their customers the ability to activate temporary credit card numbers for online shopping use that are linked to their financial account, but are valid only for single or limited transactions. This technique protects a cardholder’s actual credit card account from fraud and theft. (www.wsj.com)

Keep Anti-Malware Programs Up to Date When browsing online you may intentionally download any number of files, such as desktop applications and songs, and unintentionally download tracking files, some of which can be malicious. Ensuring your computer has up-to-date anti-malware software is an important part of protecting your personal information online.

Keep Your Browser Up to Date All of the major Internet browsers, such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Safari, continue to add and modify the privacy features they provide. You should regularly check to see if you are using the latest version of your browser and take advantage of any new privacy controls.

Use a “Sign-Up” Email Address Signing up for new accounts and services or making purchases online usually requires you to share your email address. You may wish to use a secondary email address in these cases. This way, if the web site shares your email address with marketers or other third parties without your permission you will not be flooded with spam or potentially malicious emails at your personal email account. (www.truste.com)

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Protect Your Mobile Devices Because theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re smaller, portable, and tend to slip out of pockets and purses, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re more likely to suffer device theft or loss using a mobile device compared to your desktop computer or even laptop. These mobile devices can also store vast amounts of data comparable to desktop computers and laptops. Considering using encryption, and enabling options that will allow you remotely wipe data on the device in the event of loss or theft. (www.truste.com)

Minimize Personal Information Sharing When signing up for a new online service or account you will often see a long list of fields to complete asking for different bits of personal information. Only certain pieces of personal information are usually required to register, and these are often noted with an asterisk (*) or the color red. There is no need to enter more information than that which is required to use the service or sign-up for an account.

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GDA Annual Meeting Clinical Program Preview

Multi-Disciplinary Presentations from Georgia Clinicians Planned for Attendees The GDA Annual Meeting this July in Amelia Island, Florida, will feature a wide range of continuing education. On Thursday, Dr. Gary Glassman will bring attendees a hands-on event on improving endodontic technique. Dentists and staff members will have a chance to laugh and learn during Friday’s course on improving communications with Jody Urquhart. Attendees will also have a chance on Friday to hear from two dentists who can help them thrive in a challenging dental practice environment. Saturday will bring a “flash” series of one-hour sessions from top Georgia clinicians. “I am very excited about the educational program for the GDA meeting,” said Program Director Dr. Tom McDonald. “On Saturday we will have a fast-paced, multi-disciplinary presentation from five of our own Georgia clinicians. Our speakers will address topics from new technologies and high-tech clinical procedures to controversies and challenges faced by modern clinicians. We have one-hour presentations all day from clinicians who would normally speak for 3-6 hours. “These speakers are generously donating their time to the GDA for this program,” continued Dr. McDonald. “This is a huge gift from these talented clinicians so please thank them whenever you can during the meeting. This program will be outstanding and if you are not in Amelia Island you will absolutely miss a great continuing education opportunity.” Take a look at the backgrounds for this meeting’s clinicians below! Remember to register for the meeting for the single price of $195 and attend all GDA CE courses (note that Dr. Glassman’s course is limited attendance)! Are you are New Dentist who graduated from dental school 10 years ago or less? If you are also a current GDA member and have not ever attended an Annual Meeting, you can attend this meeting for free. See the registration form in this issue for details.

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July 17: “Endodontic Solutions: Strategies for Performing Endodontic Treatment Predictably Profitably and Painlessly” Dr. Gary Glassman: A graduate of the Endodontology Program at Temple University in 1987, he received the Louis I. Grossman Study Club Award for academic and clinical proficiency in Endodontics. The author of numerous publications, Dr. Glassman lectures globally on endodontics, is on staff at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry in the graduate department of endodontics, and is Adjunct Professor of Dentistry and Director of Endodontic Programming for the University of Technology, Jamaica. He maintains a private practice in Toronto, Canada. July 18: “The FACE of Comprehensive Clinical Dental Care in 2024: Is There Room to SMILE?” Dr. Roger Kiesling: A Helena, Montana, general dentist and current 11th District Trustee of the American Dental Association. He is a past president of the Montana Dental Association and past chair of the ADA Council on Dental Practice. He served a four-year term on the ADA Council on Dental Education and Licensure from 2004 to 2008. He has extensive experience in the development of dental policy related to national, state, and local dental program and policy positions. Dr. Kiesling recently participated in the development of the new ADA Strategic Plan 2015-19. Dr. David Preble: Vice President of the Practice Institute of the American Dental Association. The institute provides input on programs, products, and services that help ADA members better operate their practices and promote the interests of the dental profession on health care finance, health outcomes, and quality, and informatics and standards. He practiced general dentistry in both private practice

and public health settings for over 20 years before coming to the ADA. He graduated from Georgetown University Dental School in 1980 and St. Thomas University School of Law in 1994. July 18: “I Love My Job-It’s the People I Can’t Stand!” Ms. Jody Urquhart: Jody is passionate about spreading the message of the importance of fun at work. A motivational speaker for over 14 years, Jody is a keynote speaker at over 60 organizations and associations every year. July 19: “Teeth in a Day, Teeth in An Hour—What is THAT All About?” Dr. Gordon Brady: A Board Certified American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon with multiple practices in Georgia. The Medical College of Georgia graduate also specializes and has helped perfect procedures in the techniques of placing Zygomatic and Pterygoid implants during TIAH (“Teeth-in-an-Hour”) and TIAD (“Teeth-in-a-Day”) surgeries. He speaks at meetings around the Southeast and was a featured clinician at the 2011 Thomas P. Hinman Dental Meeting. July 19: “Pearls for Soft Tissue Grafting Around Natural Teeth and Dental Implants” Dr. Lee Silverstein: An Associate Clinical Professor of Periodontics at Georgia Regents University. He lectures nationally and internationally on periodontal plastic surgery, implantology, hard and soft tissue regenerative surgical techniques, and oral medicine. Dr. Silverstein has authored more than 140 articles published in refereed

PROGRAM PREVIEW Continued on page 27

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Top Ten Ways Dentists Can Improve Their Patient Collections Steven W. Brown District Manager Transworld Systems, Inc.

It’s a problem faced by virtually every dental practice at some point—how to deal with patients who pay their bills late, or not at all. While patients expect prompt and professional service, they don’t always meet the same standard when it comes to paying their bills. Accounts not paid within terms can severely impact the cash flow of your practice. A clearly defined, carefully communicated, and diplomatic payment policy may help you avoid the difficult situations that arise when patients don’t pay. Developing and implementing a sound collection policy is a vital part of running a successful practice. Follow these 10 simple steps and watch your practice thrive while retaining a good professional relationship with your patients.

who has “skipped” or moved without informing you of a new address. The U.S. Postal Service has a procedure to address this situation. Any statement or correspondence sent from a business should have the words “Address Service Requested” printed or stamped on the envelope, just below your business’ return address. If a statement is sent to a patient who has moved and the words “Address Service Requested” appear on your envelope, the Postal Service will research this information. If they can locate a change of address for that person, they will send you Business Form #3547 with the correct address for a small fee. This also keeps your office’s address file up to date.

1. Have a Defined Credit Policy The first step is to clearly define when accounts are to be paid. If patients are not informed that accounts are to be paid on time, chances are that some patients will pay late or sometimes not at all. Make sure that your terms of payment are clearly stated in writing to and acknowledged by each patient.

2. Invoice Promptly and Send Statements Regularly If your practice doesn’t have a systematic invoicing and billing process, you should implement one now. Many times the patient hasn’t paid simply because they haven’t been billed or reminded to pay in a timely manner. This situation frequently occurs in smaller or newer practices where there are not enough staff members to handle the billing and necessary follow up.

3. Use “Address Service Requested” One of the most difficult collection problems is tracking down a patient

4. Contact Overdue Accounts More Frequently No law states your office can contact a patient only once a month. The old adage “the squeaky wheel gets the grease” has a great deal of merit when it comes to collecting past due accounts. Contacting late payers every 10-14 days can enable your staff to diplomatically remind the patient of your office’s terms of payment.

5. Use Your Aging Report, Not Your Feelings Many practices (or well-meaning staff members) let certain accounts age beyond the point of ever being collected because they “felt” the patient would pay eventually. While there certainly are isolated cases of unusual situations where this happens, the truth is that if your office isn’t being paid, someone else probably is. So stick to your systematic plan of following up. Soon it will be apparent who intends to really pay and who does not.

Appropriate action can and should be taken once you know where you stand.

6. Make Sure Your Staff is Trained Even experienced staff members can sometimes become jaded when dealing with past due accounts. This usually occurs when the patient has made and broken promises for payment. Make sure the staff is firm, yet courteous when dealing with these accounts. Your billing staff may benefit from customer service training because, in effect, they must “sell” the patient on the idea that you expect to be paid on time. Make sure that your staff is trained to not only bring the account current but to also maintain good will.

7. Admit and Correct Any Mistakes on Your Part Sometimes patients don’t pay because they think there has been a billing error. If that is the case, quickly admit and correct the error. Generally, patients realize that mistakes can happen. Unfortunately, some patients may believe that “the doctor doesn’t need the money.” Denying an obvious error only feeds the fire of resentment the patient may already feel.

8. Follow the Collection Laws in Your State The FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act) and TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act) are federal laws designed and enacted to protect consumers and govern the collection activity of both creditors and third party agencies. However, laws vary by

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GDA Children’s Dental Health Month Activities Reach 16,000 Children Dentists and staff members from every GDA district provided free dental care and oral health education to Georgia’s children during February—National Children’s Dental Health Month. In addition, each of the seven GDA districts conducted events on February 7, which was the 12th Annual Give Kids A Smile Day (GKAS)! The American Dental Association (ADA) let the GDA know that 28 Georgia programs registered with the ADA to provide GKAS events. The ADA estimates that GDA volunteers provided care and services valued at over $100,000 in just one day! Kudos to the GDA Council on Dental Health members listed below that spearheaded the district programs. They also oversaw the distribution of over 10,000 toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes, and goody bags across all seven of the GDA districts during their various CDHM and GKAS events. Special thanks to our Children’s Dental Health Month liaison Dr. Ryan Vaughn for his efforts.

Council on Dental Health Chair Dr. Byron Colley Southeastern District Dr. Amy Loden (Central) Dr. Andy Chandler (Eastern) Dr. Jennifer Wells (Eastern) Dr. Ryan Vaughn (Northern) Dr. Aaron Schwartz (Northwestern) Dr. Chris Shim (Northwestern) Dr. Stephanie Skinner (Southeastern) Dr. Amanda Merritt (Southwestern) Dr. Alex Cranford (Western) The Council in turn sends out a big “thank you” to all the GDA member dentists, dental staff members, GDA Alliance members, dental hygiene educational programs, and community volunteers who helped to make Children’s Dental Health Month and Give Kids A Smile Day a tremendous success in Georgia. The GDA could not conduct these valuable charitable events without dedicated volunteers. Despite the unex-

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pected winter weather and storms that rolled across Georgia the week before GKAS Day, the GDA still reached out to more than 16,000 children in February! This is just one more example of dentistry at its finest! Several GKAS and CDHM programs and GDA members were featured in local newspapers and television news stations. The outlets that printed and broadcast stories about our GDA events included CBS Atlanta, Gainesville Times, Marietta Daily Journal, WTOC Savannah, WALB Valdosta, Macon Telegraph, and the Adel News Tribune. This event round-up reflects reports submitted from around the state on or before April 1. Please continue to submit your project information to Courtney at layfield@gadental.org so the GDA can keep a more complete record of volunteer care provided by GDA dentists.

Central District Thank you to Drs. Nitsa Gilbert, Amber Lawson, Amy Loden, Margaret Moore, Marilyn Murphy, Jennifer Roberson, Carl Shaw, and the members of the 78th Dental Squadron for their time and commitment to improving the oral health of over 200 children in the Macon and Warner Robins areas.

Eastern District Volunteers provided oral health education and other services to 5,200 children during events in Athens, Augusta, Lincolnton, Evans, and Martinez, as well as McDuffie County. Special thanks to Drs. Lee Andrews, David Brantley, Andy Chandler, Doug Clepper, Greg Clepper, Celia Dunn, Greg Griffin, Grant Loo, Rosanna Masciadri, Jim Morang, Tina Moses, Tommy Neal, Steve Powell, Mike Rogers, Chris Siebert, Barbara Utermark, Jennifer Wells, and Erik Wells, as well representatives from the Department of Pediatric Dentistry in the College of Dental Medicine at Georgia Regents University for taking care of your area children!

Dr. Glenn Sasser of Darien holds his young audience spellbound with an oral health demonstration.

Northern District GDA members in this district really stepped up! Volunteers conducted oral health presentations and educational programs, as well as provided screenings and treatment services, to 7,200 children! Kudos for their dedication to Georgia’s children goes to Drs. Lindsey Anderson, Evis Babo, Gretchen Blanchard, Todd Britt, Ron Cavola, Sean Cochran, Brad Cox, Meredith Dempsey, Cindy Greene, Stephanie Greene, John Haffner, Ben Hawkins, James Hicks, Kiran Kamdar, Diane Kelly, Sam Kwon, Svetlana Lekht, Heather Perry McGee, Sidney Tourial, Matthew Vaughn, Ryan Vaughn, Thomas Weyrich, Janice Wilmot, Ron Wilson, and Carol Wolff.

Northwestern District The district’s volunteers reached 1,500 children with oral health education and

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dental care services. Thank you to Drs. David Bradberry, Brian Choate, Philip Davidson, Darlene Davis, Atusha Patel, Alex Patrick, Aaron Schwartz, Chris Shim, Kathy Smith, John Taylor, and Kelly Vaughn for your time and expertise.

Southeastern District SEDDS members provided oral health education and other services to 1,100 children in Savannah, St. Simons, Tybee Island, and Darien. Special thanks goes out to Drs. Chris Comer, Cara DeLeon, Chris DeLeon, Mark Dusek, Ben Duval, Suzanne Hailey, Billy Jamerson, Felix Maher, Yulinda Rhodes, Glenn Sasser, Larry Schmitz, Chad Schnabel, Stephanie Skinner, Jim Vaughter, and Donihue Waters for helping children smile in southeastern Georgia!

Dr. John Taylor with Judy Cone. “Miss Judy” typically talks about good oral health and nutrition with between 1,000 to 1,200 kids ages 3-6 each February in the Marietta area. She and Dr. Taylor have conducted this outreach for 22 years.

Southwestern District District volunteers provided free dental services and oral health education to 70 children in Valdosta, Adel, and Albany. Thank you to Drs. Bo Broadfoot, Chris Hilliard, Stacey Marshall, Amanda Merritt, Robert Moss, Bonita Richter, Charles Stewart, Carly Thomas, and Jessica Watson for your commitment to these children.

Western District Kudos and big thanks go to Drs. Camilee Beall, Fred Beall Jr., Alex Cranford, and Paul Garcia for visiting local schools, as well as Boys and Girls Clubs and other charitable organizations, to put smiles on the faces of more than 1,500 children in Americus, Newnan, and Columbus.

It’s all smiles during a dental care outreach event in Marietta that was featured on an Atlanta television news station. Kudos to Dr. Philip Davidson, Dr. Alex Patrick, Dr. Darlene Davis, Dr. Chris Shim, and on-camera interviewee Dr. Aaron Schwartz.

This Council on Dental Health also commends the Georgia Section of the Pierre Fauchard Academy for providing free dental services to 37 children at PFA events held in Barrow and Jackson counties. Drs. Joe Dufresne, Stan Halpern, Peter Vanstrom, Karyn Stockwell, Shirley Fisher, George Mason, and Mark Shurett deserve thanks for helping to make these events successful.

CDHM ACTIVITIES Continued on page 24

Happy smiles abound during a school presentation in Macon by Dr. Jennifer Roberson and dental assistant Michelle Mercer.

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CDHM ACTIVITIES Continued from page 23

(L to r) Dr. Brian Choate, Heather Lowe, RDH, â&#x20AC;&#x153;tooth fairyâ&#x20AC;? Madeline Lewis, and teacher Ashley Cole during a school presentation in Cartersville.

Dr. Janice Wilmot (r) of Lilburn conducts a dental health presentation with orthodontic assistant Abby Harrison.

Smiling dental assistant Leisa Weaver (l) and Dr. Jennifer Wells taking care of patients in Athens.

Southwestern District conducted a well-received outreach and care event at Wiregrass Technical College in Valdosta.

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Dr. Bo Broadfoot and dental assistant Tiffney King encourage students at a Valdosta area school to apply Silly String® “toothpaste” to teeth prior to brushing.

GDA member Dr. Shirley Fisher and a patient smile during a Pierre Fauchard Academy GKAS event.

Dr. Ryan and Julie Vaughn spearheaded a super charged dental health event at Lanier Technical College near Gainesville that saw 150 volunteers provide care to 200 children.

Dr. Stephanie Greene and Dr. Gretchen Blanchard, members of Northern District, with Andrea Collins, RDH, and smiling students at Buford Academy.

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COLLECTIONS Continued from page 21

state, and in some states, businesses are governed by the same laws that regulate agencies. For example, calling to collect on an account at odd hours or disclosing to a third party that a person owes your practice money are just a couple of the collection practices that can cause serious repercussions. Contact your state’s department of finance for any clarification on the collection laws.

9. Use a Third Party Earlier If your practice has systematically pursued a past due account for 60-90 days, and the account still isn’t paid, the patient is sending a message. More than likely your staff has requested payment four to six times in the form of statements, letters, and phone calls. The time and financial resources bud-

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geted for internal collection efforts should be focused within the first 90 days when the bulk of accounts can and should be collected. From that point on, a third party can motivate a patient to pay in ways you cannot, simply because the demand for payment is coming from someone other than you. You should consider using a flat fee collection service to avoid overcharging by percentage based contingency agencies. Most of the money collected by agencies and attorneys is collected through the mail. Industry sources say it may be as much as 88% of all collected money. Make sure you are not paying a full contingency fee for letter collections. In doing your research, other important qualifications to consider are if the agency you’re considering using is compliant with all federal and state collection laws, if the agency is licensed to collect in all states, and if the agency has a specialized focus in medical and dental collections.

10. Remember that Nobody Collects Every Account Even with a carefully designed and administered collection strategy, there are a few accounts that will never be collected. Save yourself time and money by identifying these accounts early. At the same time, your practice will benefit from the improved cash flow from the vast majority of accounts that do pay on time. Transworld Systems Inc. is newly endorsed by the Georgia Dental Association. Transworld is the collection agency redefined, and they are committed to deliver the most progressive, effective, and compliant cash flow tools available to thousands of dental clients nationwide. For more information contact Steven Brown at Steven.Brown@transworldsystems.com or (404) 538-6099.

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PROGRAM PREVIEW Continued from page 12

journals and nine textbook chapters. He is the director of Advanced Dental Educational Seminars and maintains a private practice at Kennestone Periodontics in Marietta. July 19: “Cone Beam Computed Tomography in Endodontics: Uses and Abuses Dr. Jeffrey Pafford: The Medical College of Georgia graduate received his certificate in Endodontics and his Master of Science degree from The Ohio State University. He maintains a private Endodontics practice in Decatur and serves as part-time faculty at Georgia

Regents University. He lectures regularly on Endodontics topics including restoration of endodontically treated teeth, conservation of dentin in shaping, endodontic access design, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) use in endodontics, nonsurgical retreatment, ultrasonic irrigation, and treatment planning of compromised teeth. July 19: “The Future of DentistTechnician Partnerships” Terry Fohey, CDT: A past president of the Georgia Dental Lab Association, former board member of the Southeastern Conference of Dental Laboratories, and the founder of NuCraft Dental Arts and The Dental A.R.T.S. Center. Dr. Peter E. Dawson describes Terry as “a master technician and credit to our profession.” Terry is also the founder of the Walter Gebhard Study Club.

July 19: “CBVT In a General Practice: It Came, I Saw, We Conquered” Dr. Thomas Kauffman: A Loyola University School of Dentistry graduate who completed at GPR at Reynolds Army Hospital at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, and active duty in the USADC, Ft. McPherson. His private practice began in 1978 and currently continues in Atlanta. His last six years of practice have led to a strong interest and use of both CEREC CAD / CAM dentistry as well as a growing partnership with ENT and neurology colleagues in the diagnosis and treatment of complex nonresolving chronic sinus disease. His favorite pastime is to spend time on his farm in rural Benton, Kansas.

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classified ads How GDA members can place classified ads AD FORM: Submit all ads on a GDA Classified Advertisement Form. To obtain a form, call Skip Jones at (800) 432-4357 or (404) 636-7553, or email jones@gadental.org. (Note: The GDA may accept or reject any ad for any reason and in its sole discretion.)

AD DEADLINE: Ads and ad check payments are due by the first of the month before the publication month (i.e., Dec. 1 for January).

AD RATES: ADA member dentists pay $75.00 per 60-word ad per month. There is a 25 cents per-word charge for each word over 60. Non-dentist-owned companies (real estate firms, etc.) pay $195 per 60-word ad per month (additional word charges as above). Non-member dentists may not place ads.

LATE FEE: Ads for which full prepayment is not received by the first day of the adâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s publication month (i.e.; Nov. 1 for a November ad) will incur a $25 late fee in addition to the ad rate.

FORMS OF PAYMENT: Submit a check or money order with the ad form. (Make checks payable to GDA.) Credit cards are not accepted as payment.

WEB SITE PLACEMENT: Prepaid ads will appear on the GDA Web site www.gadental.org for the month the ad appears in print. Non-prepaid ads will NOT be placed online.

Dentists Available for Locum Tenens Dentist will fill in for illness, vacation, or continuing education. Licensed, insured, DEA #. Call (404) 786-0229 or email breighard@gmail.com. DENTIST: Need Part Time Fill In? Vacation, Illness, Maternity? GENERAL DENTIST SOLD LONG ESTABLISHED PRACTICE. GA & DEA LICENSED. (Available Expanded Atlanta Area.) Cell: (404) 219-4097. Home: (404) 842-1196. Jesse Hader, DDS. Dentist available during emergencies, vacation, and CDE courses. I have a current license, DEA certificate, and insurance. Contact me at (706) 291-2254 or cell (706) 802-7760. I hope I can be of service to you. Patrick A. Parrino, DDS, MAGD.

Dental Equipment for Sale For Sale: E4D crown milling machine, like new, $60K, 1/2 price of new E4D, awesome deal! Call or email Dr. Will Miles for more details at (229) 344-5636 or wmilesjawbreaker@yahoo.com.

Dental Related Services GEORGIA X-RAY SAFETY CERTIFICATION FOR DENTAL ASSISTANTS: They take it ONLINE in the convenience of their home and off the clock, saving you money. Make sure your assistants are working legal and safe, for both them and your patients. The training is required by law. Order your course now at www.gaxray.com or email drh20s@uga.edu for more information.

Positions Available Full-Time Associate Dentist Needed: Busy general practice with locations in Locust Grove and Stockbridge area. Excellent career opportunity. Wonderful, stable staff and modern facilities. Contact the owners for more information at (404) 992-8760 or fax resumes to (770) 477-0032. Full-Time Associate Dentist Needed: Busy general family practice with locations in Peachtree City and Newman looking for a full-time general dentist. This is an excellent opportunity for an energetic, motivated dentist with a great personality. Modern facility with 9 ops, digital radiography, and intraoral camera. Employee benefits include; Competitive salary, 401(k) retirement, and health insurance. Allowance for CE and professional liability insurance also provided. Candidate must practice all aspects of dentistry and encompass ability to build good rapport with patients and staff. Please email resume to aberdeendental@bellsouth.net.

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CLASSIFIEDS Continued from page 29 Pediatric Dentist needed including hospital and sedation care in either of two thriving Atlanta Area offices: Atlanta—the cultural center of the South; and, Greensboro—a golf and lake resort community (Lake Oconee) convenient to Atlanta and Augusta, GA. The Greensboro office is a National Health Service Corp Site for a scholar, HPSA Score 19. Full-time or part-time employment, medical benefits, and paid vacation are available. Email resumes to info@familyandchildrensdentistry.com. For additional information please contact Jackie Williams at (404) 671-3802 direct or (404) 349-7777 x-106. Help us provide dental care to kids in need. Travel daily to schools around your area. No evenings or weekends. Excellent compensation. For more information and to apply, visit www.smileprograms.com.

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General dentist needed to help growing mobile dental practice in the Atlanta and South Georgia areas. Must be comfortable with extractions. Excellent compensation. For more information and to apply contact Kristen at admin@ mobiledentistga.com or call (478) 952-7522. Small pediatric office in Kennesaw area seeks help for maternity coverage in June & July 2014. Thursday and Fridays preferred. Please email to cdwestcobb@ bellsouth.net or call (770) 294-6696. Wanted: FT / PT Dental Associate for established family practice in Athens. Energetic, Personable, and Willingness to learn required. Opportunity for possible purchase. Experience preferred. Send resume to dmd_t@bellsouth.net.

Associate Dentist (Northeast Georgia): Do you enjoy practicing fast-paced, high tech dentistry, but still love the small hometown atmosphere where you know all your patients by name? Bring your sense of humor and love for dentistry and we’ll take care of that tedious business side of dentistry that you didn’t bargain for when you went to dental school. Enjoy an easy commute from metro Atlanta OR fall in love with the NE Georgia Mountains and enjoy golf, canoeing, fly-fishing, hunting, mountain biking, and hiking in those carefree hours away from the office. 30-hr week, no Saturdays, and guaranteed daily minimum salary plus percentage of collections. This is a great opportunity for a semi-retired dentist or a recent graduate looking to enjoy life while doing what you love—DENTISTRY! Interested applicants: Please email your resume / CV with contact information to: jobs@comeliadental.com.

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Pediatric Dental Office in metro Atlanta is seeking Pediatric Dentist and General Dentist to work in quality-oriented expanding business. We offer a team motivated working environment and competitive salary. Please contact Ms. Daniel at (404) 668-1155 or send your resume to pdentistryjobs@gmail.com. GAâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Cartersville, Hiram, & East Point: Outstanding opportunity available for a skilled & enthusiastic General Dentist to join our successful multi-specialty, group practice. Become a part of our team that provides all phases of patient care: General, Orthodontic, IV Sedation, Endodontics, & Oral Surgery. Our offices are paperless, with digital radiographs & state-of-art equipment. Excellent benefits package based on experience. Email CV to hr@asmile4u.com or call (678) 387-2783 x-1204.

Outstanding associate opportunity for a General Dentist to join our highly successful practice in Woodstock, GA. This is a non-chain dental practice with an emphasis on serving children & adults. Our success comes from doing what is best for our patient, and an extreme focus on a positive company culture and employee support. Great practice environment & culture; Continually trained & dedicated staff to support you; No day-to-day headaches of practice management; Full Digital; Well-established 30(+) year patient base & growing; Strong Internal systems for increased efficiency bringing you, the doctor, the opportunity to see patients in a productive, yet quality driven manner. 100% doctor support when and where you need it. Please submit resumes reggieworksws@yahoo.com.

Pediatric Dentist Needed: We have an outstanding full time opportunity for a Pediatric Dentist / General Dentist (would require a minimum of at least 3 years experience in pediatric dentistry) in our successful, well-respected quality oriented private pediatric dental practice for the right candidate. We are seeking a special, motivated, personable full time pediatric dentist to join in our success. We are a booming practice with tremendous growth and earning potential. We offer in office sedation. We offer excellent compensation and benefits. For more information, please contact Dr. Vishant Nath at (678) 763-2600 or email drnath@kidshappyteeth.com or contact Amanda at (678) 352-1090 / (678) 4299931 or amanda@kidshappyteeth.com.

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CLASSIFIEDS Continued from page 31 ATLANTAâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;ASSOCIATE DENTIST, ENDODONTIST, and PERIODONTIST NEEDED. We currently have three positions available in our quality-oriented, wellestablished group practice with multiple locations. This is a very lucrative opportunity for an experienced candidate with good interpersonal skills. Large patient / referral base with abundant new patients each month. Well appointed, beautiful office including CAD / CAM and the latest technology for General Dentistry; state of the art surgical suites for Periodontics; and new microscope for Endodontics. We have successful systems in place, including an exceptional team of assistants and support staff. Come be a part of our team and join us in creating an atmosphere of excellence, fun, and productivity. Email resumes to 1careerinfo@gmail.com.

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GEORGIAâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;ATLANTA. Multiple pediatric dental offices in Metro Atlanta are seeking pediatric dentist and general dentist to work in an extremely successful, expanding business. We offer a team motivated working environment and a competitive salary. We believe in a high level of patient and parent education and making sure that children have an excellent dental experience at each visit. Our practice provides all levels of care, including oral sedation, IV sedation, and general anesthesia at local hospitals. Candidate must have excellent communication skills, be enthusiastic and motivated. For more information please call (678) 923-4466 or email brian.friedman@ dentistry4children.com. Visit our web site at www.dentistry4children.com.

Practices / Office Space Available Former Ortho Suite Available with Courtyard Views! Located in North Cobb. This 2,000 SF Office (w/Large Windows) is fully plumbed and equipped. Potential for Large Ortho referral base from adjacent Pediatric dental practice. Floor plan features 2 Restrooms, 6 Opertories plus 2 Consults, Private Doctors suite, Hygiene Prep, Lab, & SteriCenter all include Built-ins. All utilities included. Flexible Lease Available. Contact Mike at (404) 509-4146 or mike@morceauproperties.com. For Sale: High Net Practice. $850,000 gross, 4 ops, FFS & INS <1% PPO. Excellent location to raise a family. Atlanta 2 1/2 hours, Beach 2 1/2 hours, Mountains 3 hours. Call Bill Morris at (678) 725-6459.

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Equipped Dental Office available. 3333 Northside Dr, Macon, GA. 1750 to 2800 square feet. Located in North Macon. Convenient to I-75. Contact: Larry Crumbley, Fickling & Company, (478) 746-9421. Dental Space for Specialist in Greater Atlanta! Stockbridge, Fayetteville, Duluth, Dunwoody, Woodstock, Stone Mountain, and Riverdale locations. Ideal for Pediatric Dentist, Periodontist, Endodontist, or Oral Surgeon looking to add satellite location or new startup. Already plumbed & fully equipped with 5 operatories and room for 2-3 more. Save time & build-out costs! Contact us at: dentalspecialist2@gmail.com. Dental Space Available! Duluth, GAâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; Already built-out and plumbed with dental equipment! Convenient location located off Sugarloaf Parkway near I-85. Built in 2007. Up to 6 operatories if needed, sterilization, consultation room, kitchen, front office, and private doctor office. Split design dental space, perfect for new dentist or specialist satellite office. Upscale building in a high growth area with excellent demographics. Move in ready! Contact: Lee Eastwood, CCIM, at (770) 390-9970 or email Leastwood@Eastwoodres.com. CLARKE COUNTY: Long-established family practice in a medical complex available for purchase. Practice consistently collects over $700K annually with over half of patients FFS. Five ops with room for expansion in 2,600 sq.ft. facility. Refers out implants, perio, and third molar surgery. For more information, please visit www.southeasttransitions.com, call (678) 482-7305, or email amanda@ southeasttransitions.com using listing ID GA1057. ROCKDALE COUNTY: PPO and FFS practice collecting $850K/year. Mostly crown and bridge, referring out most Endo. Short doctor transition period is available, and staff is to stay. 5 treatment rooms (4 equipped.) Office is located in a medical facility and lease is assignable. For more information, please visit www.southeasttransitions.com, call (678) 482-7305 or email amanda@ southeasttransitions.com using listing ID GA1045.

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Inside This Issue • Enjoy Early Bird Pricing When You Register for the GDA Annual Meeting • Top Ten Ways Dentists Can Improve Patient Collections DATED MATERIAL PLEASE DELIVER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

ACTION

Suite 200, Building 17, 7000 Peachtree Dunwoody Road Atlanta, Georgia 30328-1655 www.gadental.org