SEATTLE KING COUNTY DENTAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP GUIDE FALL 2022

PREMIER BUILDERS DENTAL FACILITIES

Seattle-King County Dental Society Fall Quarterly

Contributors:

Ms. Angela Bond

Dr. Randy Ogata

Dr. Christy Kirchner Dr. Jason Tsai

Publisher: Bill Newcomer, Vancouver, WA

OFFICERS

Dr. Christy Kirchner, President

Dr. Harlyn Susarla, President-Elect

Dr. Adam Kennedy, Past President Dr. Ryan Lemke, Secretary Dr. Lisa Egbert, Treasurer

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Dr. Elena Andronova, Executive Council

Dr. Kate Christian, Executive Council

Dr. LeRoy Horton,Executive Council

Dr. Mamiko Kuriya, Executive Council

Dr. Stephen Pong, Executive Council

Dr. Christine Shigaki, Executive Council

Dr. Christopher Shyue, Executive Council

Dr. Randy Ogata, Executive Director

Contact and Change of Address: To ensure continued receipt of issues, change of address must be reported to: SKCDS Central Office , 1111 Harvard Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122-4205, as soon as possible Phone: 206.448.6620 | Fax: 206.443.9308. Email: skcds@skcds.com | website: www.skcds.org

The information in this publication is for the exclusive benefit of Seattle-King County Dental Society members. Neither the Society nor the publisher makes any express or implied warranties as to the information herein, including the contents of any advertising. Opinions in The Quarterly do not necessarily express the official policies of the Seattle-King County Dental Society, nor the opinions of the editor, unless so stated. Publication of advertising is not an endorsement, qualification, approval or guarantee of either advertisers or product.

For advertising and publishing details, contact: Mr. Bill Newcomer, 503.318.5916, bill.newcomer@me.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

From the Desk of Dr. Ogata 4

President’s Message 6 New Members 9

Member Feature: Dr. Jason Tsai 10 Patient Dismissals: Why, When and How .................................................... 14 SKCDF Grant Applications 16 Foundation Impact Report 21-22 19-22

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INSURANCE

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PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Dentofacial Imaging Northwest 5 Keller | Rohrback Law Offices 5 Nakanishi Dental Laboratory ....................................................................... 8 Garde Capital ............................................................................................ 9 Katharine Christian DMD - Sleep Apnea and Snoring ...................................... 9 Bank of America...................................................................................... 11 Jeffrey W. Doneskey DMD Sleep Apnea and Facial Pain Ctr ........................... 12 Hiossen Implant 13 Shikosha Dental 15 Knutzen McVay Group 15 Nelson Boyd Attorneys ............................................................................. 16 Olympic Collection Inc. ............................................................................. 17 Ann Durham Attorney at Law .................................................................... 18 The Dental Group LLC 23 Omni Practice Group Back Cover

Cover Photo: Headshots and Happy Hour and an MTI Clinic

From

the

desk of

Randy Ogata Executive Director

Dr.

Race for Relevancy (or Irrelevancy)

Organized Dentistry stands at a crossroads of relevancy vs irrelevancy. We are losing membership at an alarming rate, and in five years we are projected to dip under 50% membership for the first time in the history of the ADA. We cannot allow this to happen to our profession – as our relevancy at Olympia and the other Washington (DC) will be greatly diminished. To be successful you need to set a goal and know where you are going, then plan to get there and execute the plan. Often, we need to apply adaptive leadership to tweak the plan along the way, to make course corrections. The goal didn’t change, the direction the ship was sailing just needed to be adjusted for factors like tide, wind, waves and current. The factors contributing to membership declines are multi-factorial as well – but as the tides and wind change, so must the SKCDS to stay relevant to our dental profession.

How can adaptive leadership meet dentists’ needs?

1. Accepting Drivers of Change. Technological Advancements – think how you watched news growing up vs how you obtain news today? Few wait until 6:20 or 11:20 to get scores for the Mariners, Seahawks or Storm – most will have their notifications tailored for various apps and social media. If you can embrace this ease of advancement in your personal life, why reject the ease these types of advancements can make to the improvement of your practice?

2. Moving from Revolutionary to Evolutionary. Clinging to tradition can be dangerous; SKCDS is nimble enough and has visionary volunteers in leadership who recognize the changes occurring right now. To embrace the evolution of our profession – and if SKCDS is to look like whom we represent – we need to be intentional in our actions.

3. Achieving Strategic Incumbency. “An established firm’s ability to dynamically convert age, size, and tradition into the key advantages of market power, trusted relationships, and deep insights.” (Harvard Business Review). SKCDS can do this better when everyone is involved not only in leadership, but in volun teer activities and attending events.

4. Building Excitement for Our Next-Level Future. Today’s organized dentistry should not look like, nor act like your “Father’s Organized Dentistry” – but who should define what it looks like? The answer is every dentist… regardless of where they graduated from, race, gender, creed, religion, culture, practice type, or any other demographic label that are used to separate people vs. uniting dentists together as one profession.

5. Working Today - Toward Tomorrow. “What got us here… Won’t get us there.”

Sincerely, Dr. Randy Ogata

Website: www.skcds.org

Honored to Serve SKCDS and all the Dentists of King County

Executive Director: Dr. Randy Ogata randy@skcds.com

Membership and Administrative Manager: Angela Bond angela@skcds.com

The President’s Message

Give Back! It Will Help You Live a Longer and Happier Life

In 1938, as the world began to see glimpses of hope that would signal the end of the Great Depression, Harvard scientists began tracking the health of 268 sophomores (all males as the college was not yet co-ed), in the hopes of revealing clues that would lead to healthy and happy lives. The study is ongoing today and has expanded beyond the original 268 participants (a few are still alive today) to include their spouses and offspring. Along with the above, 456 Boston inner city residents were added to the group in the 1970s, and their spouses were added more than a decade ago*.

Over the last 80+ years of research, the most surprising finding has been this: “how happy we are in our relationships has a powerful influence on our health…Taking care of your body is important but tending to your relationships is a form of self-care too.” Now, no one is saying to stop enjoying your Green Goddess smoothies, and you should still aim to “eat the rainbow”. But embracing your community is part of the not-so-secret secret of living a longer, happier, and likely more fulfilling life.

Constantly remaining upbeat in a time of staffing shortages, stagnant third-party reimbursement rates, increasing regulations, and rising inflation can feel downright impossible. We don’t have to look terribly hard to find the negatives in our news cycle, but it’s the positives we seek out that matter. The research mentioned above has offered up the following strategies to finding that positivity:

1) Stay connected - Personal connections create emotional stimulation, which is an automatic mood booster.

2) Volunteer - Volunteering provides a sense of purpose and has been scientifically proven to improve your mood.

3) Perform acts of kindness towards others - SKCDS has a host of volunteer opportunities (MTI Clinics, the Sealant Program, GKAS in February at KidsQuest) and within the Society itself on Committees and helping to connect the Foundation with community partners!

4) Find your inner child and see more green - If you have read any of my previous messages, I encouraged you to get out and try something that has brought you joy…one of the best ways to do this is by exploring the natural beauty around us.

I understand that giving back can come with some major hurdles: you’re tired from the full week of working, shuffling kids around to various activities, and being a dentist. However, remember that by giving back you’re contributing to your own long-term health and happiness! My wish for all of you that are reading this is that we all live long, healthy and happy lives. Not sure where to start? Like point #3 says, SKCDS has a plethora of volunteer opportunities available, both through our partnership organizations and by joining the leadership of the Society and the Foundation. Click around on the website to learn more or reach out directly to your Society team!

*For more information on the study mentioned, Google “Harvard Long Term Happiness Study”.

Sincerely,

Dr. Christine Kirchner

Dr. Christine Kirchner

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Dr. Tanvi Galohda

Dr. Loan Nguyen

Dr. Seung Beuk

Dr. Diana Chan

Dr. Jennifer Cheng

Dr. Jose Cordoba

Dr. Jonathan Dang

Dr. Mannat Dhillon

Dr. Scott Graham

Dr. Neha Gupta

Dr. Kevin Hou

Dr. Donna Le-Barnes

Dr. Reed Lederman

Dr. Lily Lou

Dr. Katherine Merritt

Dr. Roxan Joy Molina-Abenoja

Dr. Amritpal Multani

Dr. Andy Nguyen

Dr. Natasha Paranjapye

Dr. Sarah Park

Dr. Aiman Pourahmari

Dr. Naila Rani

Dr. Amal Samatar

Dr. Deepak Sharma

Dr. John Shim

Dr. Boden Slagle

Dr. Peter Smolke

Dr. Colleen Tee Dr. Kateryna Tonyuk

Dr. Shannon Wilson Dr. Shan Yu

Dr. Austin Neal Dr. Vina Lu Dr. Fawaz Hatem

Dr. Russell Johnson Dr. Jakob Holtzmann

Dr. Gabija Revis

Dr. Serena Tham

Dr. Debera Wang

Dr. Alex Tanielian

Dr. Saif Matti

August

Dr. Kristie Cheng

Dr. Gurpreet Kaur

Dr. Sookyung Jun

Dr. Candace Kountz

Dr. Elizabeth Kaminsky

Dr. Sofia Mehr

Dr. Jun Sun

Dr. Andre Ritter Dr. Yaman Alkhatib

Dr. Gordon Gill

Dr. Neha Khanna

Dr. Olivia Wolfe Dr. Christopher Benson

September

Dr. Sydney Kerre

Dr. Colton Feider

Dr. Madeline Harris

Dr. Julia Higgins

Dr. Naomi Hoang

Dr. Anuradha Kote

Dr. Gracie Luo

Dr. Eric Mullins

Dr. Lena Ogiwara

Dr. Nicole Reitz

Dr. Samar Haghighi

Dr. Simarpreet Singh

Dr. Lisa Wang

Dr. Hee Yoon

Dr. Cheng Lin

Dr. Samantha Gallia

Dr. Karanvirinder Khatkar

Dr. Cindy Chou

Dr. Alina Tran

Dr. Hayoung Yun

Dr. ShinJung Hsieh

Dr. Victoria Hanna

Dr. Lorenzo Marcil

Dr. Setareh Enghiad Dr. Ha Lee

Dr. D’Angelo Blackhorse Dr. Hyun Hyo Choi Dr. Shin Deng

Dr. Ellie Rahmani

MEMBER FEATURE:

Dr. Jason Tsai

Pro-athlete seems to be a life goal for many kids growing up, at least for some period of time. Jason was going to be the next Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods. He was flexible like that, didn’t matter if he was the best in basketball or in golf, he’d take either one…which is a pretty broad spectrum! Unfortunately, he’s had to settle for being a dentist (something perhaps a few of you reading this can relate to)!

Prior to even applying to dental school, while slogging his way through various pre-requisite courses at UW, Jason volunteered at Seattle Union Gospel Mission as a dental assistant. While this was an eye-opening experience, it was all fairly standard, until one day he can vividly remember assisting a dentist who repaired a traumatic pulp exposure #9 with endo and then freehand composite. Nowadays, it might be fairly common for him to perform such a procedure in his practice, but at the time…it was the coolest thing on Earth. And it solidified that desire to attend dental school and get to do cool things all the time!

After those early days of dipping his toe in the dental pond, Jason attended dental school at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine in Newark, NJ, graduating as Dr. Tsai, and continued on to his residency at Wichita State University’s AEGD program. He made his way back to the Pacific Northwest where his journey first began and he now proudly owns his practice ‘Complete Family Dentistry’ in Bellevue! Where he estimates he’s been bitten only…maybe a dozen times? Probably?

Since leaving school (not so long ago), one of the most increasingly important changes Dr. Tsai has noticed in the dental field is the need to establish a solid digital presence. This comes from the fact that yes, there are some new patients that come to the practice from internal marketing and referrals (always appreciated), but an almost equal number of new patients cite the practice’s Google reviews and online presence as a reason for making an initial appointment.

Outside of his dental bubble, two of Dr. Tsai’s favorite things about himself happen to both be under two years old: Nicholas, almost at that two-year mark, is rambunctious and starting to string together short sentences; while Heidi, barely touching six months, is sweet, smiley, and likely thinking deep thoughts to solve the world’s problems every time she smiles up at her dad. As the weather starts to turn to crisp autumn air, Dr. Tsai is looking forward to outfitting these two in Seahawks garb, sitting on his comfy couch with his darling wife Colleen, and cheering on his favorite team (who he is sure will have a winning record this year).

Admittedly, Dr. Tsai has accomplished quite a lot in his life, but there’s one big goal he still hasn’t quite gotten started on yet: learning how to fly and getting his pilot’s license. So if anyone has recommendations on where to start learning or has any kind of pointers, reach out!

Practice financing1

• New office start-ups

• Practice sales and purchases

• Business debt consolidation 2

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• Owner-occupied commercial real estate 3

• Equipment financing

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Practice, Equipment, Start Ups, and Projects 206.290.3185

matthew.muller@bofa.com

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1 All programs subject to credit approval and loan amounts are subject to creditworthiness. Some restrictions may apply. Bank of America may prohibit use of an account to pay off or pay down another Bank of America account.

2 Bank of America may prohibit use of an account to pay off or pay down another Bank of America account.

3 For Owner-Occupied Commercial Real Estate loans (OOCRE), terms up to 25 years and 51% occupancy are required. Real Estate financing options are subject to approval and product availability is subject to change. For SBA loans, SBA eligibility and restrictions apply

Bank of America Practice Solutions is a division of Bank of America, N.A. Bank of America and the Bank of America logo are registered trademarks of Bank of America Corporation. ©2022 Bank of America Corporation | MAP 4794600 | Rev. 06/22.

Patient Dismissals: Why, When and How

Patient Dismissals: Why, When and How

When a cyberattack hits, your practice comes to a screeching halt. A compromised system can mean no access to schedules, billing or patient records. Learn how to proactively protect your systems, prevent cyber incidents and responsibly respond to a ransomware attack.

A recent call to the The Dentists Insurance Company’s Risk Management Advice Line showcases the unique complexities of dismissing patients prior to completion of treatment.

Case Study: A Noncompliant Orthodontic Patient

Advice Line analysts received a call from an orthodontist regarding a minor patient who was noncompliant with treatment recommendations. The patient was breaking brackets by eating hard foods, failing multiple appointments and otherwise showing up late. The patient’s noncompliance had already caused significant treatment delays.

When the dentist spoke with the minor patient’s parent, the mother refused to accept responsibility for the delay in her son’s case and instead attributed the delay to the office closure during the pandemic. The orthodontist simply requested that they please keep all future appointments and be on time. He also provided a reminder about the acceptable foods to eat to avoid bracket breakage.

The patient was on time for his next appointment. However, the mother refused to wear a mask, becoming more combative by slamming the door and shouting profanities directed at the dentist and staff.

After reviewing the case, the Risk Management analyst advised the orthodontist that he should consider patient dismissal. Even though the patient was still receiving treatment, there were adequate grounds for dismissal due to the patient’s noncompliance and the parent’s escalating abrasive treatment of the orthodontist and staff members. The analyst reminded the orthodontist to fully document the interactions with the mother in the patient file. They also guided the orthodontist in composing a letter to the patient providing a 30-day notice of dismissal, which allowed reasonable time for the patient’s parents to find a new orthodontist.

T To Dismiss or Not To Dismiss?

Unsure whether to pursue dismissal? Some common and acceptable indicators that a dentist may need to consider dismissing a patient from care are:

• The patient is noncompliant with treatment recommendations.

• The patient tries to take dental care into their own hands through actions such as attempting to make adjustments to a prosthesis or orthodontic appliance.

• The patient has not been in for an extended amount of time.

• The patient demonstrates abrasive behavior or makes inappropriate comments to the dental team or other patients.

When dismissing a patient, provide a formal written notice stating that you are withdrawing care and requiring the patient to find another provider. Mail the confidential written notice to the patient by both first-class and certified mail with a return receipt requested. Risk Management analysts can provide guidance on the dismissal process and letters along with resources to protect dentists before finalizing the separation.

P Patients in Midtreatment

In situations where orthodontic patients elect to discontinue treatment and establish care elsewhere or there is a behavioral problem with a patient midtreatment, automatic dismissal is not recommended. Allowing the patient to remain in appliances without ensuring the patient will be monitored could expose you to liability risks, such as patient abandonment. Furthermore, there is potential for the patient to increase the likelihood of relapse, broken brackets, loose wires, decay, decalcification, etc.

If the patient dismisses themselves or if the dismissal is a last resort due to nonpayment, then the treating orthodontist should offer to remove the appliances and provide a retainer to maintain existing tooth positions and any orthodontic tooth movement achieved if appropriate.

If you have questions or concerns about a possible dismissal, seek guidance before moving forward. TDIC policyholders benefit from access to the Risk Management Advice Line. Remember that careful patient case selection, thorough or complete documentation and clear communication are essential to minimizing your risks.

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Seattle-King County Dental Foundation is accepting Grant Applications

Are you involved with a program or project that can make a difference in the dental health of the community? If so, you might consider encouraging these groups to apply for a grant from the Seattle-King County Dental Foundation. The grant application process has gone digital to make this easier for all involved so check out the Foundation section of the SKCDS website, peruse the ‘Grant Giving Guide’ and if your group fulfills the outlined requirements, then get to work on an application!

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Email me at: nelson@nelsonboydlaw.com

SKCDS Sealant Program

For the initial launch of this program, the Highline School District was approached to gauge interest in a program to apply sealants to six-year molars and provide dental education in the classroom. The program launched at Midway Elementary with a focus on the second grade class (107 enrolled) on May 20, 2022. The second, and final, treatment day for this school year took place on June 8, 2022. Discussions have already begun with principals at other elementary schools in the district who are excited to welcome this program to their own campuses during the next school year.

Swedish Foundation

In 2021, the Swedish Foundation applied for a grant from the Seattle King County Dental Foundation for the final amount needed to purchase a new Sirona Cone Beam CT for the Swedish Community Specialty Clinic

The new CBCT was installed on July 11, 2022 and has already had profound impacts on the quality of care delivered to patients This new machine allows the doctors and staff to take real time, high quality three dimensional imaging in order to rapidly facilitate surgical planning and diagnosis of pathology With the three dimensional imaging, the providers at the Clinic can obtain a precise view of the patient’s hard tissue structure to allow for surgeries to occur more quickly and safely

Prior to the installation of this unit, the patients were required to obtain three dimensional imaging from the medical radiology unit at Swedish First Hill This process was lengthy and tedious for these patients d i ifi tl di upted their access to care

Community Oral Health Advocate Program

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The Community Oral Health Advocate Program (COHA) by the Office of Educational Partnerships and Diversity in the University of Washington School of Dentistry intends to develop and implement curriculum to reduce oral health disparities by assisting individuals with lack of access to professional dental care to find dental home and improve their oral health literacy and oral health self efficacy Another goal of the program is to train students from underrepresented minority communities to be the COHA’s in their own communities with the goal of supporting their pathways to the health professions

Unfortunately, the program start date was delayed due to pandemic complications, but the curriculum has been under development and a website prototype has been created The program administrators will be hiring Master’s level dental hygienists for program coordination and have already had meetings with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Migrant Educations Programs to engage high school counselors and administrators

COHA scholar selection will begin in November 2022, with online and in person training starting this same month Clinical internships with patients will run from April 2023 to September 2023