F EB RUARY 2 022
Volume 35 • Issue 1
Still a Ways to Go Latest NIH report details disappointing progress in improving oral health in America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
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Looking for a Winner New York State Dental Foundation wants to reward outstanding children’s dental health program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
NYSDA Loses Groundbreaker Dr. John Scullin made support for troubled dentists an Association mission . . . . . 10
AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NEW YORK STATE DENTAL ASSOCIATION
Briana Byrnes meets with patient Dana Brighton, beneficiary of Dr. Byrnes’s generous donation of dental work, borne out of a desire to give back to the community.
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Troy dentist Briana Byrnes: “People will only care what you know when they know how much you care.”
Meet Briana Byrnes Troy dentist driven by desire to help others.
n a recent article about Briana Byrnes, D.M.D., the writer described her as a “socially conscious dentist.” It’s an apt description for the Troy practitioner, who only recently acquired her practice from her employer and mentor, Jeffrey Adams, D.D.S., and has already used it to further her desire to empower women.
Toward the end of last year, Dr. Byrnes began treating a 41-year-old woman whose past history included being a runaway teen, battered woman, homeless person and heroin addict. Now in recovery, employed full time and housed in her own apartment, she wished she could have her much-neglected teeth fixed so she could feel better about herself and her appearance. Enter Dr. Byrnes, who found the woman when she contacted the Troy YWCA and explained she wanted to donate dental work to a woman in need. That donation amounted to $25,000 of dental work—extractions, bone grafting, dental implants, crowns and cosmetic dentistry—provided free-of-charge to one very grateful woman. CAREER TRAJECTORY
Briana Byrnes grew up in a racially diverse neighborhood in Maplewood, NJ. Her mother, who emigrated from Guyana, worked as a nurse, and her father was a construction manager. She received her dental degree CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
NEW YORK DENTIST Given Top Post at NIH
LAWRENCE A. TABAK, D.D.S., Ph.D., former associate dean at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, was named acting director of the National Institutes of Health to replace retiring director Francis Collins. Dr. Tabak has been with the NIH since 2000, including 10 years as director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. His most recent position was principal deputy director and deputy ethics counselor. Dr. Tabak is a Brooklyn native who got his undergraduate degree from City College of New York, his D.D.S. from Columbia University and Ph.D. from the University at Buffalo. He was the senior associate dean for research and professor of dentistry, biochemistry and biophysics at the University of Rochester from 1986 to 2000. z Lawrence Tabak
F E BRUARY 2 022 Volume 35 • Issue 1
NEWS EDITOR
NYSDA OFFICERS
Chester J. Gary, D.D.S., J.D.
Kevin A. Henner, President James E. Galati, President-Elect Anthony M. Cuomo, Vice President Frank C. Barnashuk, Secretary-Treasurer Steven Gounardes, Speaker of the House
MANAGING EDITOR Mary Grates Stoll
ADVERTISING MANAGER Jeanne DeGuire
ART DIRECTOR Ed Stevens
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Editorial and advertising offices are at Suite 602, 20 Corporate Woods Boulevard, Albany, NY 12211-2370. Telephone (518) 465-0044. Fax (518) 465-3219. Email info@nysdental.org. Website www.nysdental.org.
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The NYSDA News (ISSN 1531684X) is published quarterly, in February, May, October and December, by the New York State Dental Association, Suite 602, 20 Corporate Woods Boulevard, Albany, NY 12211-2370. It is available in digital form only and accessible online in the members-only section of the NYSDA website, www.nysdental.org, under publications.
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New NIH Report Describes Oral Healthcare in America as Still in Need of Improvement
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he picture of oral health in America presented in a report released at the end of 2021 by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is not particularly good. “Oral Health in America: Advances and Challenges,” a follow-up to the 2000 surgeon general report on the nation’s oral health, describes “many” people as still having chronic oral health problems and lacking access to care.
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Photos by Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
UB Receives Grant to Expand Dental Care For Patients with Disabilities in Western New York THE UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO SCHOOL of Dental Medicine has received a nearly
UB dental van will be on the road again in Western New York bringing critical treatment to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
$735,000 grant from the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation to increase the delivery of critical dental treatment to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Western New York. It is also expected to aid in growing the oral healthcare workforce prepared to treat this population. The funding will help resume and expand a previous initiative between the School of Dental Medicine’s S-Miles to Go program and nonprofit Arc GLOW that provided dental care to patients with disabilities in the university’s mobile dental clinic. The grant will broaden services to reach nearly 2,000 individuals with disabilities served by Arc GLOW in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties. The services will be provided in a new mobile dental clinic that is expected to begin operation early this year. The clinic, operated by UB staff, faculty and students, will offer comprehensive oral healthcare, including preventive, restorative and surgi-
Mobile dental van is equipped to offer comprehensive oral healthcare.
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cal procedures. Care that cannot be provided in the mobile dental van will be delivered at the UB Dental clinic. z
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Come Spring, Kids Will be Getting Smiles NYSDF readies its annual award to aid programs working to improve children’s oral health.
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G. Kirk Gleason, D.D.S. Chair, New York State Dental Foundation
s I write this, I’m looking out at a world of snow and bare tree limbs. But the sun is out, the sky is a brilliant blue, and the temperatures at least are in double digits—it’s a promising sign of spring, and for me, spring means Give Kids A Smile
(GKAS).
Since 2007, the New York State Dental Foundation has given out close to $300,000 to community health centers or service programs as part of its GKAS Award program. In choosing recipients, our Board recognizes innovation, improved outcomes, and the incorporation of education, screening, prevention and access. Most years, the Foundation honors multiple organizations.
PRASAD Children’s Dental Health Program’s state-of-the-art mobile clinic brings much-needed services to youngsters in rural Sullivan County.
Among our past recipients is PRASAD Children’s Dental Health Program in Liberty, NY, which has actually won multiple times, for the simple reason that everything it does raises awareness among the community at large that children deserve optimum oral health. (PRASAD stands for philanthropic, relief, altruistic, service and development.) PRASAD CDHP delivers comprehensive services, including education, prevention, detection and treatment, via a state-of-theart mobile clinic, which alleviates transportation issues within rural Sullivan County, where there is a lack of public transportation. Services are provided through arrangements with schools and local agencies, such as Sullivan County Public Health and the Head Start program.
Liu sisters Queenie and Melanie, have benefitted from PRASAD CDHP outreach since 2017.
I’ve had the pleasure of presenting the GKAS Award to PRASAD in person, and each time, I was joined by the entire Sullivan County Legislature, as well as many other policymakers and stakeholders. Clearly, PRASAD has a presence and sets an example from which so many organizations statewide can learn. Leading the dental component of PRASAD is Dr. Cecilia Escarra, who explains why PRASAD succeeds: “We are passionate about our work because we know the difference it makes in children’s overall well-being now and throughout their lives.” NEWS
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Chemical Dependency Pioneer Dies at 97 DR. JOHN P. SCULLIN, D.D.S., a founding member of the NYSDA support group that evolved into the Committee on Substance Abuse and Well-Being, died Jan. 29 at the age of 97. Dr. Scullin resided in Oswego. Dr. Scullin was a pioneering proponent of intervening to aid professional colleagues whose lives and careers were upended by alcohol and/or substance abuse. He himself was a recovering alcoholic, a fact he didn’t attempt to hide. He went on to devote 30 years to NYSDA’s Chemical Dependency Committee, including eight years as its chair. In 1990 he was presented with the NYSDA Distinguished Service Award. Dr. Scullin was a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Dentistry. He served as a lieutenant in the Naval Dental Corps during World War II and the Korean Conflict and was a colonel in the Army Dental Corps Reserve. He was in private practice in Oswego until 1989 and a dentist for the New York State Department of Corrections from 1989 until his retirement in 1995. He was a past president of the Oswego County and Fifth District Dental societies and achieved life membership in organized dentistry in 1989. A member since 1948, he recorded 71 years of service. Dr. Scullin is survived by his seven children, 12 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and a niece. z
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Office of Professions Names Assistant Commissioner for Licensure
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avid Hamilton, Ph.D., LMSW, has been appointed to the position of assistant commissioner for professional licensure and practice, Office of the Professions, New York State Education Department. Dr. Hamilton previously served as executive secretary for the State Boards for Social Work and Mental Health Practitioners. He assumed his new post in mid-December.
Dr. Hamilton, a licensed master social worker, has been with the Education Department since 2001, when he was named executive secretary for the State Boards for Physical Therapy, Podiatry and Ophthalmic Dispensing. Prior to that, he worked in government relations for the New York State Catholic Conference and the National Association of Social Workers. Dr. Hamilton holds a Ph.D. in social work from Virginia Commonwealth University, a Master of Social Welfare from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Bachelor of Science from Loyola Marymount University. z
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Meet continued from page 1
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from Rutgers University in 2018 and completed a dental residency at Ellis Medicine in Schenectady. Her husband, Kellen Byrnes, whom she met while still in dental school, is a senior data scientist at Homes and Community Renewal, the state’s affordable housing agency. Prior to establishing her practice in Troy, she held associateship positions in practices in Saratoga and Coxsackie. Her association with Jeffrey Adams proved to be especially important to her developing career, as it led to her first venture as a practice owner and put her in touch with a man who reinforced her already existing desire to help others. Dr. Adams, she said, encouraged her to volunteer and do pro bono work. We asked Dr. Byrnes more about herself and her philosophy.
Briana Byrnes on mission to Dominican Republic assembled by International Dental Implant Association with peers and student dentists. Dr. Byrnes, third from right, stands next to Dr. Arun Garg, IDIA founder. At far right is Dr. Maria Pilar, dental surgeon from South America, IDIA instructor and mentor to Dr. Byrnes.
The altruism you exhibit. Where does it come from? Was there something or someone in your background that fostered its development?
People will only care what you know when they know how much you care. This is a sentiment my mother instilled in me from her years of experience in healthcare. Her words continue to ring true and drive my passion for dentistry to this day. I’ve been very lucky to have both personal and professional role models along my journey who have reinforced the importance of patient-centered care. When searching for an office to purchase, it was imperative to find one that had a strong foundation in not only clinical services, but also promoted a positive patient experience. This patient-provider relationship is the focal point to our operation at Adams-Byrnes Dentistry. As an extension of this philosophy, it is important for our community to know we are actively engaged with issues and grateful for their support through acts of giving back. We see that as an undergraduate at Brandeis University, you cofounded the Women of Color Alliance to focus on female empowerment through community service. What are “women’s empowerment issues?” How do you define them, and what are specific examples?
I have been the recipient of much goodwill and support from the women who came before me as business or academic leaders and it’s truly realigned my horizons in terms of what is possible. I define empowerment as facilitating someone’s ability to accomplish goals they had previously considered impossible. This can be done through mentorship, opportunities for continuing education and bringing voice to those who may not have one. Our recent work with the YWCA and donation of a smile makeover was about giving confidence and care to a woman who overcame adversity. A new smile will give her confidence and courage within herself, as she works to empower others. We believe this effort will transform our community one smile at a time, and we hope to continue demonstrating the importance of interdisciplinary teamwork among dental professionals. How do you see your future/career developing? What is left to do?
On the clinical side, I’ve committed myself to being a lifelong learner. As a graduate of the Dawson Academy, I am confident in my skills as a comprehensive general dentist. According to Pete Dawson, the interdisciplinary approach to general dentistry works best with a strong team of specialists. I am able to transcend single-tooth dentistry by providing reliable, comprehensive care to our patients.
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Meet continued from page 12
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I define my clinical success through continuing education and keeping up with the clinical advances in dentistry. Although there are continuous innovations in dentistry, it is my hope to remain informed and educated as the field progresses forward. In the future, as I look back on my career, I hope to reflect on providing a positive impact on the standard of care within my community and my quest having provided a meaningful career for my staff. You recently spent time in the Dominican Republic on a mission trip to help people without access to care. Are you working through a particular organization/charity?
At present, I am an active member of the International Dental Implant Association (IDIA), which combines training in implant dentistry with mission trips to communities where access to care is limited. These trips are centered around giving back and building camaraderie between dental professionals who are passionate about providing the best possible care for their patients. What role does mentorship play in your career outlook as a dentist?
The field of dentistry faces challenges moving forward, many of which can be overcome through better mentorship and collaboration between dental providers. As dentists we all share common challenges and mutual interests. We have all had a frustrating dental insurance experience, or staffing shortages due to events beyond our control, all while trying to navigate the public image of dentistry’s value and build trust in the public. The more our experienced dentists can mentor younger providers, the healthier our field will be overall. Fostering collaboration and goodwill between providers and supporting new dentists as they enter the field is imperative to the dental profession. This would be the ultimate win given that this collaboration would not only benefit our profession but the patients we serve by elevating the standard of care and, ultimately, transforming communities. There’s one other thing you should know about Dr. Byrnes. She minored in sculpture at Brandeis and hopes to return to it. In a previous interview with an Albanybased writer she put it this way: “It paired well with dentistry. I bring my artistic side into cosmetic dentistry. I consider dentistry both an art and a science.” z
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New NIH Report continued from page 4 The new report, which is intended to provide a roadmap on how to improve the nation’s oral health, draws primarily on information from public research and evidence-based practices and was compiled and reviewed by the NIH’s National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and a diverse, multi-disciplinary team of more than 400 experts. Major takeaways from the report include: •
Healthy behaviors can improve and maintain an individual’s oral health, but these behaviors are also shaped by social and economic conditions.
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Oral and medical conditions often share common risk factors, and just as medical conditions and their treatments can influence oral health, so can oral conditions and their treatments affect other health issues.
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Substance misuse and mental health conditions negatively affect the oral health of many.
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Group disparities around oral health, identified 20 years ago, have not been adequately addressed, and greater efforts are needed to tackle both the social and commercial determinants that create these inequities and systemic biases that perpetuate them.
The authors’ recommendations for improving the oral health of Americans include the need for healthcare professionals to work together to provide integrated oral, medical and behavioral healthcare in schools, community health centers, nursing homes and medical care settings, as well as dental clinics. The authors also identify the need to improve access to care by developing a more diverse oral healthcare workforce, addressing the rising cost of dental education, expanding insurance coverage and improving the overall affordability of care. The full report can be found on the NIDCR website, www.nidcr.nih.gov/oralhealthinamerica. z
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Among the patients who have benefited from PRASAD are adorable sisters Queenie, 6, and Melanie, 7, who have been receiving dental treatment and education from PRASAD CDHP since 2017. Their mother, Qiian Zhen Liu, said because the PRASAD dental team specializes in children, she trusts their care and experience. Ms. Liu and the children have learned about and practice flossing and brushing their teeth twice daily. PRASAD CDHP also provides her children with toothbrushes and floss. She added, “Queenie loves to come here. And Melanie, who was nervous at first because she used to have many cavities, is now no longer fearful. It’s a very good program; I love bringing the kids there. The doctors give me good advice. I tell my neighbors to take their kids to PRASAD.” The Liu family’s story is just one example of why so many people trust PRASAD CDHP. Community members are happy to have a program that offers easily accessible and affordable, expert dental care tailored to children, that treats the whole family with kindness and care, and teaches children how to take care of their teeth so that they can look forward to a lifetime of healthy, happy smiles. PRASAD is one of many organizations that NYSDF has been able to help annually. And I can’t lie – presenting the GKAS Award, visiting these programs, is truly one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had as NYSDF Chair. To see people hard at work, sharing their passion for improving oral health, and to be but a small part of that, is heartening, and an excellent example of what your Foundation does on behalf of the profession and the public it serves. If you know an organization like PRASAD that is worthy of consideration, we are accepting GKAS Award applications for 2023 until April 1. Each awardee will receive up to $5,000, as determined by the full Board. For more information and to access the application, go to NYS Give Kids A Smile – New York State Dental Foundation (www.nysdentafoundation.org) z NEWS
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Call for Nominations! The New York State Dental Foundation Give Kids A Smile Award THE FOUNDATION is now accepting applications, due April 1, 2022, for the 2023 GKAS awards, which will award up to $5,000 to organizations to enhance children’s oral healthcare. Nominated programs must provide answers to how they are: •
Driving innovation
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Improving outcomes
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Incorporating education, screening, prevention and access
NOMINATORS MUST: •
Complete the online application: https://www.nysdentalfoundation.org/nys-give-kids-a-smile.html
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Provide a one-page written statement detailing how the nominee meets the criteria to merit recognition and how GKAS Award funding would be used
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Submit at least one letter of support from a local public health organization.
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Provide a statement indicating why, OTHER THAN FINANCIAL NEED, the nominator has chosen to seek GKAS funding from the New York State Dental Foundation.
ONCE-A-YEAR ACTIVITIES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR GKAS AWARD CONSIDERATION. GKAS Award recipients MUST include NYSDF logo and references in all promotional and press materials related to the activities for which they are receiving the GKAS Award. All recipients MUST submit a progress/ update report, as described in NYSDF Grant Guidelines/Agreements, to the Foundation. z
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