Dr Cesar R. Sabates – ADA President

What do you see as the greatest challenge for you as president of the American Dental Association (ADA)?

Although there may be complex issues to handle, I wouldn’t call them challenges – I’d call them opportunities. These are areas where I’d like to see the ADA get stronger in service to our members and their patients. I would say the three biggest opportunities ahead for the ADA are dealing with the continued realities of the COVID-19 pandemic; third party payer issues, which often rank among members’ top concerns; and optimizing the ADA’s business model to adapt to the evolving needs of the 21st century dentists and patients.

What gives you the most joy in this role?

I consider it a blessing to be able to give back to a profession and a community that has given me so much. The work is very important, and I also derive a sense of joy from getting to know dental colleagues all around the country. There’s something about meeting a fellow dentist and feeling the immediate connection because it’s likely that we have the same passion for patients.

ADA members span four generations. How does the ADA meet the needs of such diverse members?

The generational diversity within the ADA is one of the many topics we’re facing right now. And meeting the needs of a diverse membership requires us to understand our members’ value and identify where there is common ground. We certainly want to be a more inclusive organization, where our leadership reflects the makeup and varied perspectives of our overall membership. Arriving at this point means embracing different backgrounds and points of view.

In my opinion, there are some things that matter to everyone, no matter their age or career stage – everyone wants to thrive, everyone wants to equitable opportunities to contribute and everyone wants to feel supported in their professional endeavors by their association. Everything we do is in service to our mission of helping all dentists succeed.

What is one piece of advice you would give to a new dentist? A midcareer dentist? One nearing retirement?

Find ways to give back. I believe that before anything else, dentists are agents of helping and healing. We should be everything we can to promote the health of our communities and to bolster dentistry’s role in the big picture of health care. Giving back can take a number of forms. Maybe you volunteer with your dental association at the state, local or national level. Maybe volunteer with projects like Give Kids A Smile or Donated Dental Services. Or offer a helping hand to a colleague who may need support. practice to undergo treatment out of state. But my friends stepped in and offered to help me. It meant the world to me, and it also meant everything to the team I work with and the patients we cared for, many of whom I’d known for decades.

Generosity – whether it is with your time or talent – doesn’t have just a singular impact. It creates a ripple effect that goes beyond one act of kindness and reaches so many others. Your service on a committee or council could result in good changes for our overall profession. Volunteering to provide dental services to underserved children can alleviate a burden on their entire families. I even say that my colleagues saved my life; because of them I could focus on healing. My family, my team and my patients felt the love.

Many dentists are experiencing challenges in finding hygienists, assistants, and other team members. Is the ADA addressing that?

The pandemic has certainly compounded the staffing shortages facing many dental practices around the country. Yes, the ADA is working to address the issue and we’re looking to support state societies in strengthening the dental workforce. It’s certainly on our radar and there’s more to come.

In your opinion, what is the No. 1 reason to belong to organized dentistry?

The sense of community. I consider the dental community a professional family. The relationship that I’ve cultivated have been priceless, and I believe that everyone who is a member of the ADA should experience that sense of warmth and belonging.

I’ve talked about the ADA being a “third place” for dentistry. The third place is a sociological concept that posits the importance of providing communities a chance to gather aside from home or work. We often take for granted the connections we make in places like our book clubs, coffee houses, social clubs, or sports teams that we or our children are involved in. But these third places are where we convene on ideas and engage with others who share our passions, and they’re vital for keeping a community strong. I want the ADA to be a third place for all dentists – it’s where they can connect on their passion for patients and for moving our profession forward.

In addition to the interpersonal benefits of being an ADA member, there’s also the recognition of strength in our numbers. The greatest example of this has been during the COVID-19 pandemic – we were able to do more together as an association than any one dentist could have accomplished on his or her own. The ADA amplified dentists’ voices before federal agencies, and we were able to secure small business relief for practice owners and have dentist prioritized for personal protective equipment. We were able to provide the dental perspective to the White House, the U.S.