sfdda Volume 61, No.3 www.sfdda.org Winter/Spring 2020
Inside this issue:
President’s Message, pg.3
Editors Message: The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Sci-Fi Movie? Or Living in a New Normal?, pg.4
What you need to know is just a few clicks away, pg.7
ADA president appoints task force for dental practice recovery after COVID-19 pandemic, pg. 9
Congratulations to the
2020-2021 SFDDA Officers and Trustees!, pg. 10
2020 GKAS Poster Winners, pg. 12
Thank you Sponsors!, pg.14 Classifieds, pg. 17
President’s Message -Oscar Peguero, D.M.D.
What a year it has been! As we round the corner into the home stretch of the 2019-2020 “SFDDA Season,” I can’t help but reflect on the whirlwind of events that defined the past 10 months and made my presidential year a very unforgettable one. As an organization, we faced unprecedented challenges during this time– some of which remain – but each bump in the road presented an opportunity for unity and betterment, and I humbly believe we are in a stronger place now for having faced them. Through it all, I have always sought to serve you well, and hope that I have made you and our profession proud.
times. If there’s one thing I’m sure of now more than ever, it’s that our dental associations will continue to be there for us to ensure a brighter day for dentistry on the other side of this. And because of this, there’s no better time to become involved!
This issue remains ongoing, but rest assured, your leadership board is currently making strides toward a beneficial outcome. Moving forward, our hope is to continue to provide our grass roots members and local leadership with a meaningful voice in this election process, with the end goal of better representation of component perspectives and interests at the FDA level.
Secondly, we once again surpassed our sponsorship goals for the year, which is a testament to member engagement at our local level. As always, we are extremely grateful for the support of these generous sponsors. They truly make everything that we do possible, and believe that they are invaluable adjuncts to all of our practices. I hope that they also appreciate our mutual symbiosis, as we look forward to continue working with them in the future.
The year regrettably kicked off with the successful challenge of our South Florida District’s duly-nominated candidate for Secretary of the Florida Dental Association, at the 2019 FDA House of Delegates (HOD) in June. While legal, this challenge upended decades of protocol and practice at the HOD. And this set us on a difficult trajectory toward reconciliation between the SFDDA’s opportunity for representation at the state level and the remainder of the state’s control over that decision.
More recently, all of us have had to face the new reality presented by COVID-19. This novel virus has challenged us in ways we probably never thought possible. Our livelihoods have been put on hold and the health of our families, friends and staff has been threatened. Additionally, we face the legitimate possibility of a forever-altered professional landscape on the other side of this quarantine.
Still, it is important to consider that this virus has also allowed us a moment of introspection often missing in our daily rush. And I know I speak for many of us when I say that this “forced break” has only reaffirmed my passion for the dental profession and my belief in the importance of organized dentistry. Thanks to the constant work of your ADA/FDA/SFDDA representatives, especially our very own Yolanda Marrero and Jackie Quintero, we have had constant access to up-to-date resources, informative webinars, and policy proposals that have been immeasurably helpful during these extremely fluid
Now, I would also be remiss if I only focused on the tribulations and didn’t mention all the positives that were realized during the earlier part of our year. First and foremost, our affiliate societies continue to thrive and are bursting with opportunities for networking and great CE. Local presidents, Laura Herschdorfer, Tim Franklin, and Freddie Salbo worked diligently to organize CE programs that were very well received and we all owe them a debt of gratitude for their service. It is a core SFDDA mission to support our local affiliates, and we see our greatest rewards from the success and satisfaction of our members. We promise to continue to prioritize your concerns and input so that every grass-roots member can feel supported in the same way that organized dentistry appreciates your support. As we enter into a post-COVID19 world, which will force us to re-examine ever-changing practice and infection control guidelines, this mutual support will be more beneficial than ever and add real value to your membership dollars.
Last but not least, you have a wonderful slate of officers to look forward to as they assume their new positions in July. I can assure you that our organization will be under tremendous stewardship for the years to come, with up-and-coming thoughtful, driven and engaged leaders to guide us through. I would like to thank this incoming board and our outgoing immediate past-president for their input and support throughout the year. I have learned from each and every one of them, and our relationships have made my experience worth the while. I hope to see everyone again in the Fall! I wish you and your families the best during these trying times. And, I encourage you to always remember that there will be brighter days ahead.
-Oscar Peguero, D.M.D. 3
The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Sci-Fi Movie? Or Living in a New Normal? Richard Mufson, DDS, Editor
Ok. I’m sure I’m not alone in this. Or is it just me?
Has anyone felt as if we have been living our lives in a sci-fi movie? Or possibly a bad dream that we keep hoping would end when we wake up the next morning, but does not?
I also feel as if I have awoken from sleep at least once or twice this week to see, staring at me at the foot of my bed – the two twin girls from the movie, The Shining.
Or, at any given moment, will Rod Serling appear in the corner of the room and offer this? “Submitted for your approval…You have been traveling through another dimension, one not only of sight and sound, but of mind… a land of both shadow and substance, you have entered into the Twilight Zone.”
I know what you’re thinking. I am certifiable and/or have too much time on my hands, in relative isolation, to think about such ridiculous outside-the-box things?
The Day The Earth Stood Still Beyond your average sci-fi movie, or Twilight Zone episode, I also could not help but think of another moment in time which on some level would also seem to provide yet another metaphor for what we have been experiencing locally, nationally, and across the globe - “The Day The Earth Stood Still.” This would be the 1951 movie, also reinvented in 2008, and a storyline that involves a humanoid alien visitor (Klaatu) that comes to Earth, accompanied by an eight-foot tall robot (Gort). He announces that they have “come in peace” to deliver an important message to our president
and all world leaders. Due to a concern by “the people of other planets” that humans on Earth had developed rockets and a rudimentary form of atomic power, the alien declares that unless we can put down our weapons, abandon our current course, and learn to live in peace, our planet will be destroyed (see figures 2, 3). I realize this is admittedly an outrageous stretch, and a reflection of the fact that we have all had too much time on our hands to think of such unusual thoughts, many of which have been shared in the form of memes, gifs, and other posts on our ubiquitous array of social media platforms. But like it or not, our world as we know it, at least for now - has in effect, stood still. No NBA. No NFL. No NHL, MLB, NCAA, nor any other sports readily identifiable by their initials - with perhaps a notable exception: At least one April 18 MMA event, the same day as the final editing of this article, is still scheduled! No Preakness. No Kentucky Derby (for now), no Broadway, no movie theaters, no restaurants, no concerts, no Times Square (!), no Disneyland, no anything!
But Ticketmaster is apparently still in business. If anyone wishes to join me, I recently purchased tickets, with backstage passes to “Stay at Home and Do Nothing” (see figure 4). In Florida – no beaches, no hotels, no tourism, and as an inevitable result of all this - the economy, as we all know, has also effectively been brought to a standstill.
figure 2
4
figure 3
No Dental Offices As with the rest of the world, our professional lives and our dental practices have come to a halt. I will not attempt to review or repeat much of the information you have already come to know through other sources, such as the FDA, ADA, CDC and others.
However, we all know that for all intents and purposes, most dental offices are in effect closed – except for some that have chosen to remain partially open on some level, and available for the treatment of emergency conditions. The FDA/ADA definition of “emergency condition” on one hand appears very specific, narrow, and largely consists of those with high levels of severity, such as uncontrolled bleeding, cellulitis, or diffuse soft tissue infection that potentially could compromise the patient’s airway or result in hospitalization (see figure 5, pg. 6). On the other hand, this definition is also is very much broadened by inclusion of other less-threatening conditions, although still very important, such as replacement of a loose or lost temporary restoration, biopsy of abnormal tissue, etc. The recommendations also add significant latitude by including the ever-important “use of professional judgment” into the equation on what constitutes a “dental emergency.”
Unfortunately, we have learned through both first and second-hand sources that a number of dental offices, both in our area and elsewhere in Florida, are either not aware, or have chosen not to follow, figure 4 such recommendations, and are operating at either partial or full capacity, as if nothing has changed in the world around them.
Have We Ever Been Through Anything Like This Before? The short answer is, “No.” But, to add perspective, a number of occurrences in my lifetime, and those of our parents, grandparents, and their parents, while none are directly comparable, have taken place and shattered the world in which we live.
Previous pandemics have included Cholera (the 6th occurring in 1910-11; death toll - 800,000+), the Flu (1889-1890; 1918-1920; 1968 – death tolls of 1 million, 20-50 million and 1 million respectively), Asian Flu (1956-58; death toll - 2 million), and HIV (peak in 2015-2012; death toll - 36 million).
The “boomers” among us recall what would seem as unimaginable, if it were taking place today - that many of our parents
were called off to fight in a World War, and their parents, in the first of the two World Wars in our history.
And then there was an event virtually all of our members and readers, regardless of age, will recall – “9/11,” when on an unsuspecting Tuesday morning on September 11, 2001, thousands of lives were lost when two planes flew into two World Trade Towers in New York City, and two others into the Pentagon and into the ground in rural Pennsylvania, at the hands of Islamic Al-Qaeda terrorists. And then there have been fires devastating half of the state of California, tornadoes in the midwest and elsewhere, Hurricanes Andrew, Katrina, Irma and many others.
One cannot help but appreciate the most significant difference between the latter disasters (i.e., hurricanes and the like), when not related to an out-of-control infectious organism. And that would be fact that, at the very least, a beginning, an ending, and a period of recovery were generally known and within one’s site and grasp.
This is in stark contrast to the pandemics throughout history involving infectious organisms, in which known endpoints have been all but uncertain, elusive and outside of our complete control – and, as with the current COVID-19 pandemic, thereby creating an immeasurable source of increased hopelessness, despair and apprehension among so many.
Are There Any Positives In This? Again, it is all too tempting to offer the short answer – “No.” However, on the “bottle-half-full” side of things – if nothing else – we have all been brought back to a simpler time in our lives. We have gained a renewed appreciation for being with and sharing conversations with family, and the love we feel for family and friends, or finding enjoyment in basic and mundane activities such as doing crossword and jigsaw puzzles, exercising, and savoring the beauty of being in the great outdoors, within which - especially in South Florida - we are all so fortunate to live.
I wish I could conclude by offering some profound or greatly uplifting message, or share ground-breaking information of which you were already not aware, or some other in-theclouds pontification of “where we go from here,” or some imaginary date that our lives and dental practices may resume as normal. But I regretfully cannot.
What we can all say to each other is also not new. We will get through this, and somehow be better for it. Above all, be kind, loving and considerate to others, stay safe, and be well. ________________________________________________ Richard A. Mufson, DDS is the editor of the SFDDA Newsletter and many be contacted at (305) 935-7501 or MufsonOralSurg@aol.com Continued on pg, 6
The Covid Pandemic - Continued from pg, 5
figure 5
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What you need to know is just a few clicks away. We have been through much, and we are still standing, taking matters into our own hands as best as we can. We didn't expect to be homeschooling or setting up technology in our kitchens to continue working and staying in touch while practicing “social distancing.”
tion to you as quickly as possible. And the information is getting better and more concise, so keep checking your email for updates and webinars to help you through this. Send your questions to southfloridadistrict@gmail.com. If we don’t have the answer, we will find it.
Working together with the American and Florida Dental Associations, the South Florida District Dental Association is getting the most current informa-
Click on the logos below to be directed to the latest information available.
In the begining, navigating through all the explanations and presentations on financial, human resources, practice managment and health issues was head spinning and hard to put a pin in it.
We are doing our best to continue to serve the members of our district. Please know we are thinking of each of you and your families as we continue on this journey.
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Don’t miss out on these great benefits! If you haven’t, Renew your ADA Membership today! l l l l
Affiliate C.E. dinner meetings close to home or office included with your membership Discounted dental supplies through The Dentists Supply Company Advocacy - the more members the louder the voice on legislative issues Up-to-date information during these trying times
CLICK TO RENEW
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ADA president appoints task force for dental practice recovery after COVID-19 pandemic
Dr. Chad P. Gehani
American Dental Association President Chad P. Gehani has assembled an advisory task force to oversee the ADA's development of tools for dentists as they bounce back from the effects of practice restrictions and closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The COVID-19 crisis has had a challenging impact on our dental community. Yet, the strength of our profession has never been more evident — for now, we may be distant, but we are not disconnected," Dr. Gehani said in an April 14 letter to ADA councils and committees and dental society executive directors. "While we guide dentistry through these trying times, the American Dental Association also has its eye on what will come next." The ADA's Advisory Task Force on Dental Practice Recovery, which began meeting in April, has the overall goal of helping dentists get back to serving their communities while protecting patients, office staff and themselves.
The task force is comprised of practicing dentists with support from ADA experts in science, practice, law, regulation and other key areas. The cochairs are Drs. Rudy Liddell, chair of the ADA Council on Dental Practice, and Kirk M. Norbo, 16th District trustee. The ADA issued an interim recommendation April 1 that advised dentists to keep their offices closed to all but urgent and emergency procedures until April 30 at the earliest, keeping in line with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendation to perform only urgent and emergency dental care.
"Our community is in it together as we navigate these trying times," Dr. Gehani said. "And as dental practices reopen their doors and our colleagues get back on their feet, we will be in it together still."
For COVID-19 resources from the ADA, visit the ADA Coronavirus (COVID-19) Center for Dentists.
Task Force Co-Chairs:
Dr. Rudy Liddell
Dr. Kirk M.Norbo 9
SFDDA 2019-2020 Officers and Executive Council President Oscar Peguero, D.M.D. (786) 519-3636
President Elect Mariana Velazquez, D.D.S. (305) 595-4122 Secretary Ernesto Perez, D.M.D. (305) 220-9393
Treasurer Orlando Dominguez, D.D.S. (305) 386-2766 Immediate Past President Enrique Muller, D.M.D. (305) 707-2266 Young Member Melissa Sedeño (305) 822-7684 Trustees
Jeannette Peña Hall, D.M.D., 305-667-8766
Congratulations to the 2020-2021 SFDDA Officers and Trustees! Please join us in congratulating the 20202021 incoming officers and trustees as they take the mantle of leadership in June of this year.
Joining incoming President, Dr. Mariana Velazquez will be Dr. Ernesto Perez, President-elect, Dr. John Aylmer, Secretary, and Dr. Ahmed Elkoussa, Young Member Representative.
Alternate Trustees
Gina Marcus, D.M.D (305) 446-6655
Mark A. Limosnai, D.M.D. (954) 800-3453
Delegates to the Executive Council from the Affiliates Societies Miami Dade Dental Society Carlos Sanchez D.M.D. Laura Herschdorfer, D.D.S. North Dade/Miami Beach Dental Society Richard Mufson D.D.S Tim Franklin, D.M.D.
South Broward Dental Society John Aylmer, D.D.S (SBDS) Fredericka Salbo, D.D.S. (SBDS) Affiliate Society Presidents
Laura Herschdorfer, D.D.S. (MDDS) Tim Franklin, D.M.D. (ND/MBDS)
Fredericka Salbo, D.D.S (SBDS)
Richard A. Mufson, D.D.S., Editor Yolanda Marrero, Managing Editor Jackie Quintero, Advertising SFDDA NEWSLETTER Copyright: © SFDDA 2019 Published by the South Florida District Dental Association 420 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 2E Coral Gables, FL 33146
Send announcements and correspondence to the Editor at address abovePhone: (305) 667-3647 FAX: (305) 665-7059 or email to: southfloridadistrict@gmail.com Disclaimer: Opinions stated in the SFDDA Newsletter are not necessarily endorsed by the South Florida District Dental Association, its Executive Council or Committees. Advertisements printed should not be construed as an endorsement by the Association of the company, product or service.
Pictured here, Clockwise Drs. Mariana Velazquez, Ernesto Perez and Oscar Peguero
They, along with Dr. Oscar Peguero, who will take his seat as immediate Past President and Dr. Orlando Dominguez, Treasurer will comprise the SFDDA Officer line for 2020-2021. Dr. Gina Marcus will join Dr. Irene Marron as Trustees to the FDA, along with Dr. Elaine deRoode and Dr. Mark Limosani, who will serve as Alternate Trustees to the FDA.
Pictured above clockwise: Drs. John Aylmer, Ahmed Elkoussa, Elaine deRoode, Orlando Dominguez, Irene Marron Tarrazzi, Gina Marcus and center, Dr. Mark Limosani.
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2020 Children’s Dental Health Month Poster Contest Winners! Students from Miami Dade County Public Schools in the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade participate each year in our annual dental-themed poster contest. This year’s theme was “Visit Your Dentist to Keep a Healthy Smile.” The winning posters were colorful and even included an extraterrestrial!
“Thank you” to the teachers, Ms. Mona Schaffel and Mr. Rai Jui, and parents for their encouragement and participation. And special thanks to Ms. Mabel Morales, MDCP District Supervisor, Arts.
The winners this year, were:
3rd Grade Division 1st Place - Ambrielle Marquez 2nd Place - Dylan Garcia 12
4th Grade Division 1st Place - Rosabely Lara 2nd Place - Elijah Salomon
5th Grade Division 1st Place - Jennifer Del Risco 2nd Place - Abraham Aviles 3rd Place - Edward Tobares
Thank you Sponsors! We couldn’t do it without you!
I want to take a moment to thank the com- This year, we also had the support of these panies that sponsor our association year excellent companies: after year. Gold Sponsor Sponsors help us keep your membership Dental Brokers, Hector Yusti fees down, and pave the way to provide Steszewski-Medina Law Firm affiliate continuing education dinners at no extra cost to you. Bronze Sponsors Surgically Clean Air, For the last few years, Bank of America, Kettenbach, Carestream Dental, and Hiossen have Digital Resource, understood the value of creating relationMedixall Group, ships with you and have happily supported Care Credit, the organization as Platinum and Gold Advantage Technologies Sponsors. Henry Schein
Once we get back on our feet, please be sure to reach out to them and let them know you appreciate their support of the South Florida District Dental Association.
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Classifieds
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Dr. Gary Weider is collecting PPE for use by Aventura Hospital when needed. If you wish to donate, please email Dr. Weider at garyweiderdmd@gmail.com.
To run classified or display advertising in the SFDDA Newsletter or SFDDA Website, please contact: Jackie Quintero at (305) 667-3647 ext 13 or email jackie.sfdda@gmail.com
OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE: in Coral Gables. Wholefoods building directly across from Sunset Place. Three fully equipped operatories, digital pan/ceph machine, private consult room, lab, break room, sterilization area, private restrooms, large waiting room, Class “A” building with plenty of free parking for specialty practice. For further information contact Jilien 305984-3240
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Free Webinars for you! Check them out on www.sfdda.org
We have teamed up with some of our sponsors to provide you with a few educational webinars. Make sure to register on our website at www.sfdda.org under the professional resources tab.