October 2010 TDA TODAY

OCTOBER 2010

VOLUME 11, ISSUE 10

AVAILABLE ONLINE AT TDA.ORG

TDA Past President Named ADA Second Vice President Patricia L. Blanton, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D., of Dallas was named the second vice president of the American Dental Association (ADA) at its 151st Annual Session in Orlando, Florida, October 9 – 12, 2010.

TDA Smiles Foundation Cactus Smiles on Wheels TDASF Welcomes a New Volunteer

She was installed as second vice president during a meeting at the ADA House of Delegates. As the second vice president, she will serve on the ADA Board of Trustees which reviews policies and makes recommendations to the ADA’s governing body. Next year Dr. Blanton will move into the position of ADA first vice president.

TDA 2014: An Update Membership — A Collaborative Effort

Dr. Blanton served as the TDA president 2004-05. She is a periodontist and graduate of Baylor College of Dentistry. She is a past president of the Southwest Society of Periodontists, the Texas Society of Periodontists, and the Dallas County Dental Society (DCDS). Dr. Blanton has served as a delegate and alternate delegate to both the ADA and TDA Houses of Delegates.

For more information, visit ada.org.

TDA Council on Dental Economics Free Contract Review and Legal Services

Dr. Patricia L. Blanton of Dallas was named ADA second vice president at the ADA 151st Annual Session earlier this month in Orlando, Florida.

Dr. Hilton Israelson Named 15th District Trustee-elect

TDA Perks Perks Partner News

Delegates to the ADA 15th District elected Dr. Hilton Israelson of Richardson as the delegation’s trustee-elect at the caucus in Grapevine in August. Dr. S. Jerry Long of Houston will remain the 15th District trustee through 2011, representing the Texas Dental Association on the ADA Board of Trustees. Dr. Richard C. Black of El Paso will serve as the delegation’s vice chair.

Dr. Israelson is a periodontist and was TDA president 2008-09. He has served as an ADA delegate and as past president of the DCDS.

Inside

TEXAS Meeting Preview Israelson

Long

Black

Alliance of the TDA

Council Appointments New ADA council appointments include: Dr. James R. Foster of Weslaco to ADA Sessions; Dr. Philip H. Hunke of McAllen to Access, Prevention and Interprofessional Relations; and Dr. Gregory W. Rashall of Liberty to Members Insurance and Retirement Programs.

Head Start Dental Home Initiative Visits Houston TDA Presents Award to Rep.

On September 17, 2010, Head Start Dental Home Lois Kolkhorst Initiative (DHI) leader for

Texas Dr. Paul Kennedy, Jr., of Corpus Christi visited Houston to give interested dentists and their staff information about the DHI program and the importance of oral health care for young children.

(L-R): Dr. Paul Kennedy, Jr., Dr. Linda Altenhoff, Ms. LaShonda

TDA past president Dr. Brown, and Dr. Thomas Harrison are pictured at the Head Start Thomas C. Harrison of Katy Dental Home Initiative event in Houston last month. and State Dental Director Dr. Linda M. Altenhoff of New Braunfels participated in the event. Drs. Kennedy and Altenhoff started the seminar with a PowerPoint presentation about Head Start, the importance of the dental home, and how establishing dental homes improves health outcomes for Head Start children.

The group then talked with Ms. LaShonda Brown, director of the Texas Head Start State Collaboration Office. Dentists and their staff shared challenges in communicating with parents about the importance of regular dental care and reinforcing positive oral health habits at home.

The discussion also yielded very positive feedback about the collaborative efforts thus far between Head Start and organized dentistry.

The seminar ended with Dr. Altenhoff teaching the State of Texas First Dental Home course.

This course trains and certifies Texas Health Steps (Medicaid) dentists to provide dental homes for children from 6 through 35 months of age. Many dentists participating in the First Dental Home project also participate in the Head Start DHI.

A final article detailing the last Head Start DHI event on September 22 in El Paso will be featured in the next issue of the TDA Today. If you want to be involved in this important initiative please e-mail headstart@tda.org. YOU can make a difference in a child’s smile!

At the conclusion of each legislative session, the TDA Board of Directors approves “Excellence in Patient Advocacy Awards” to select lawmakers who were instrumental in assisting the TDA with its legislative agenda.

On October 1, members of the TDA Council on Legislative and Regulatory Affairs (CLRA) presented Texas Rep. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) with the award for her help and service as Chair of the House Public Health Committee. In her role as Committee Chair, Rep. Kolkhorst supported the TDA’s legislative agenda thereby improving access to dental care for all Texans.

After accepting the award, Rep. Kolkhorst met with CLRA to discuss the numerous issues facing the Texas Legislature in 2011. Rep. Kolkhorst, whose father was a dentist, understands the importance of dentistry in the overall health care delivery system and looks forward to working with the TDA during the 82nd Legislative Session.

TSBDE Rule Update

November Journal News Special Pediatric Dentistry Issue Part 1 of 2

Around the State November 6 Smiles on Wheels Hondo November 12 & 13 TDA Board of Directors meeting Austin November 19 Texas State Board of Dental Examiners meeting Austin

Click & Connect

About Head Start Dental Home Initiative Head Start provides comprehensive health and education services for lowincome preschool children between the ages of 3 and 5, including support service for their families. Federal regulations mandate that each child enrolled in Head Start has an ongoing source of continuous, accessible health care including a dental home.

Dentists agreeing to participate in the DHI become the dental home for children enrolled in an identified Head Start center(s). Texas is a large, geographically diverse state, with more than 1,200 centers serving approximately 78,000 children.

Since 2007, the TDA has been leading the Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s Head Start Dental Home Initiative in Texas. The TDA, with valuable support from the Texas Academy of General Dentistry and the Texas Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, has partnered closely with Head Start to continue improving the oral health of all children enrolled in the program throughout Texas.

TDA Express tda.org — Features Personal Web Page tda.org — Contacts (L-R): TDA president Dr. Ronald L. Rhea of Houston is pictured next to Texas Rep. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) as she receives the TDA’s “Excellence in Patient Advocacy Award” from CLRA chair Dr. Richard C. Black of El Paso earlier this month.

October Journal tda.org/tdapublications

Council on Dental Economics

TDA 2014: An Update

Free Contract Review and Legal Resources from TDA/ADA David Ward, DDS, TDA Council on Dental Economics

Arthur C. Morchat, DDS, TDA Future Focus Committee

Membership — A Collaborative Effort This is the last of eight articles highlighting the objectives and goals in TDA’s current strategic plan, TDA 2014.

As we near the end of 2010, the Texas Dental Association is experiencing record growth in membership as we approach 8,300 members. How have we reached these numbers at a time where the economy is of concern for many in the nation and in Texas? The TDA 2014 Strategic Plan clearly outlines our objectives of increasing membership for new dentists, dental students, and nonmember dentists as well as promoting adherence to the Code of Professional Conduct and educating members about peer review and ethics and judicial programs. However, it is the collaborative effort between the ADA, TDA, and the component societies, and the work of the councils and committees, volunteer dentists, and staff that bring the objectives to fruition and yield such growth.

The TDA, along with the Greater Houston Dental Society and the Dallas County Dental Society, participated in a marketing pilot project with the ADA in 2009 offering nonmember dentists $0 last quarter dues for 2009. The pilot project was successful in that the joint effort resulted in 107 new members.

Also in 2009 and for the third consecutive year, TDA received awards from the ADA for the Greatest Net Gain in New Dentists, the Greatest Net Gain in Membership, and the Greatest Percentage of Nonmembers to Membership. This notable accomplishment was also a result of collaboration, leaders, volunteers, and staff working together to promote organized dentistry.

Our goal is to once again receive these prestigious awards for the 2010 year.

We also sit in a very unique position for transitioning dental students into membership as they begin their professional careers. At the 2010 House of Delegates, a state student organization was formed, the Texas Dental Association Student Organization (TDASO).

TDASO is the only constituent dental student organization of its kind. The original concept was developed by student participants in the 2009 Summer Externship Program as a way of expanding the current program to increase student involvement and to expand their understanding of the Association. The TDASO will create additional leadership opportunities at all three dental schools and within organized dentistry while enhancing the tripartite’s strength at the dental school level.

Our strength lies in our ability to work together and our growth is evidence of our strength.

As the TDA continues to grow, we encourage every member to get involved. Volunteer for a Texas Mission of Mercy. Participate in Legislative Day. Attend the TEXAS Meeting or your monthly local society meeting. Reach out to a nonmember or serve in a leadership role. Each of these collaborative efforts helps increase the strength of organized dentistry and of the profession.

So, Doctor, where did you get your law degree? Yes, there are a few dentists practicing who can answer that question, but most of us cannot. Perhaps the typical response of a dentist when confronted with contract legal jargon is a glassy eyed stare, a few choice words, and multiple cups of coffee. Since Rosetta Stone doesn’t have a program to teach the “legalese” found in contracts, the obvious options for the dentist may be limited to either a) assuming it must be a “standard” contract that is surely fair to all concerned; or b) paying big bucks for an attorney to explain the contract line by line to you before advising you accordingly.

The TDA Council on Dental Economics wants you to know that other options exist and are offered at no charge to TDA members. Now, first the disclaimer. When any type of contract is involved…managed care, partnership, associateship, etc…professional legal counsel is highly recommended. The following resources do not replace legal counsel, but should help you use counsel more efficiently and effectively.

The American Dental Association (ADA) Contract Review Service is offered through the ADA legal department. So what is contract review? Contract review is a paragraph by paragraph written translation of the “legalese” into more understandable language and the implications thereof. It should be of no surprise to you that the lawyers who wrote the contract that you are about to sign were being paid by somebody and the contract as written will often benefit that party. Don’t you think it would be wise to at least know what it means?

Knowledge is power. Once you know what the contract actually means, you can start to negotiate if desired. Until you sign the contract, nothing is written in stone. The other party may well be willing to modify provisions that you may find unacceptable. In regards to managed care contracts, this can even include the fee schedule. Speaking of fees, some managed care contracts even allow the insurer to change the fees during the course of the contract without your consent.

Be careful what you sign.

The Contract Review Service is free if the contract is forwarded to the ADA from a state association. If an ADA member sends a contract directly to the ADA the service costs $50. The contact person at TDA is Ms. Cassidy Neal who can be reached at (512) 443.3675, ext 152 or via e-mail at cassidy@tda.org.

The ADA has several other legal resources for its members in the form of informative brochures and pdf files on its website. Titles include: Considering a Dental Benefit Contract; What Every Dentist Should Know Before Signing a Dental Provider Contract; Model Contract for Third Party Dental Service Agreements; What Every Dentist Should Know before Affiliating with a Dental Management Service Organization; and Anti-trust Laws in Dentistry.

It is not the intention of the TDA or the Council on Dental Economics to encourage or discourage entering into a managed care dental contract. This is a decision that each individual dentist or dental group must make themselves. It is our intent to make you aware that this contract analysis service is available to help you better understand the implications of the language within the document you are thinking about signing.

Happy, Healthy Smiles … That’s Our Mission!

Cactus Smiles on Wheels

As the Smiles on Wheels trailer rolled up to Cactus Elementary School in Cactus on September 24, the local football team was on hand to unload the equipment. With the help of many volunteers, the operatory was set up and ready to go in record time!

On Friday, volunteers provided a Sealant Day for the 2nd-4th grade students at the Cactus Elementary School. A total of 77 children received sealants, a prophy cleaning, and fluoride treatment. Another 40 pre-kindergarteners sat in a dental chair (many for the first time!) and received a toothbrush cleaning. Every one of the 430 students went home with a new toothbrush, floss, and toothpaste.

On Saturday, the citizens of Cactus lined up by 5:00 AM waiting to receive dental treatment. This event was packed with people from different cultures. Many of Cactus’ citizens moved to Texas from Burma. Others were from Mexico and even Guatemala.

Several children ages 5-12 served as translators, helping people they didn’t even know!

The event ended with record-breaking numbers: 193 patients were treated on Saturday, and 117 children received treatment on Friday for a total of 310 people and more than $102,000 worth of charitable dental care! A huge thanks to Dr. David M. Bonner of Dumas and all of the volunteers who helped create many new smiles in the Texas Panhandle.

TDASF Plans Fluoride Fest in Conjunction with Give Kids a Smile Dr. Natalya Mendez of El Paso provides charitable care to a young patient at the Smiles on Wheels in Cactus in September.

Welcome, New Volunteer!

TDASF welcomes its newest volunteer dentist Dr. Natalya Mendez of El Paso to the TDASF family. Dr. Mendez graduated in May and is currently practicing in El Paso.

In a show of true dedication to the mission of TDASF, Dr. Mendez drove 9.5 hours from San Antonio to Cactus, worked a full day, and then drove 9.5 hours back to San Antonio.

Volunteers are needed for the Smiles on Wheels in Hondo on November 6, 2010.

Register to volunteer by visiting tdasf.org.

A pre-kindergarten student learns how to properly brush her teeth at September’s Smiles on Wheels in Cactus.

Friday, February 4, 2011, will be the American Dental Association’s 9th Annual Give Kids A Smile (GKAS) event. This nationwide program was designed to provide oral health care and education to underserved children. In 2010 GKAS delivered more than $31 million in dental education, screening, and treatment to more than half a million children!

TDA Smiles Foundation is planning a Fluoride Fest in conjunction with GKAS in February 2011, and we would like to encourage all of you to plan your own GKAS day. The ADA offers information, planning guides, and some supplies for the event. Go to tdasf.org to get the information needed to plan your own event and be a part of helping children in your area have happy, healthy smiles.

TDA Smiles Foundation Holiday Cards Is it really time to begin planning for the holidays already? Indeed, it is!

This year, consider honoring friends, family, colleagues, and patients with a gift. For a $25 donation, a TDASF staff member will send a card to each person on your recipient list. Honor those who support your practice through this tax deductible gift.

It’s simple to do: • Option One: Log onto tdasf.org, purchase your cards, and share your giving list with us. We’ll hand process, hand address, stamp, and mail out your gifts on your behalf. Finally, a truly hassle-free, one-stop shopping experience!

• Option Two: Send us an order form printed from the same website with your payment enclosed, and we’ll send your cards in a package to your office for personal handling.

Thank you for planning to make the TDASF the recipient of your holiday honorariums and part of your practice’s ongoing annual celebration.

We appreciate your support.

October 2010 / TDA Today / 2

Perks Partner News TDA Perks Program-endorsed partner, The Institute of Medical Emergency Preparedness (IMEP), will provide its medical emergency preparedness program to University of Texas Health Center San Antonio (UTHSCSA) faculty and students beginning this year.

UTHSCSA is the first dental school to partner with IMEP, and implement IMEP’s medical emergency program into its curriculum.

IMEP prepares dental healthcare professionals and their team members for medical emergencies, and is an innovative leader its field.

For more information regarding IMEP, visit tdaperks.com.

Perks Program Continues Tour

TDA Perks Program recently presented its “Value for Your Profession” video to Greater Houston, Fort Worth, El Paso and Laredo Dental Societies. The short video illustrates how TDA Perks Program benefits both TDA members and TDA by negotiating discounts for many products and services, and earning non-dues income for TDA that helps keep membership dues lower.

Nueces Valley, Seventeenth District, and Panhandle Dental Society meetings are up next in October and November. The upcoming round of presentations follows the heels of a successful summer tour that made stops at: Sixth District (in Corsicana), Brazos Valley, Thirteenth District (in Wichita Falls), Guadalupe Valley, and South Plains (in Lubbock) Dental Society meetings.

TDA Financial Services Board members, accompanied by Perks staff member, Mr. Josh Epstein, will be available to answer questions regarding the Perks program after the video presentation. TDA Financial Services, Inc. is a wholly-owned affiliate of TDA, and manages the Perks Program. For more information, call (512) 443-3675, or visit tdaperks.com.

Texas Dental Association Notice of Grant Availability for 501(c)(3) NonProfit Dental Organizations

The TDA announces availability of financial assistance for qualifying 501(c)(3) non-profit organization affiliated with dentistry.

The monies are derived from TDA Relief Fund interest income earned over the previous fiscal year. Grantees will be determined by the TDA Board of Directors.

Eligibility: Grantees must be 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations affiliated with dentistry.

Application: Letters of interest detailing the proposed project(s) and including a budget(s) should be mailed to: TDA Board of Directors — Attn.: Mr. Terry Cornwell 1946 S. IH 35, Ste. 400, Austin, TX 78704 Deadline: Letters of Interest must be received no later than January 31, 2011.

Approval: Letters of Interest will be reviewed and considered by the TDA Board of Directors at its March 2011 meeting.

Notification: All applicants will be notified in writing by May 15, 2011.

Previous Recipients: In 2010, grants were awarded to Christian Community Action in Lewisville, Community Health Center of Lubbock, Dentists Who Care in the Rio Grande Valley, and the HOPE Clinic in Alvin.

For more information, please contact Mr. Terry Cornwell, TDA, (512) 443-3675 or terry@tda.org.

Ron’s Ruminations Ronald L. Rhea, DDS, TDA President 2010-11 Having just returned from the 151st Annual Session of the American Dental Association (ADA), I could not be more pleased to announce that logic and traditional values prevailed in the House of Delegates.

The House unequivocally stated that no one but a dentist should be allowed to perform irreversible/ surgical procedures and no one but a dentist should make diagnoses and prepare treatment plans for citizens of the United States.

When we arrived in Orlando, Florida, for the opening of the annual session, the ADA Council on Dental Practice (CDP) presented resolutions before the House of Delegates that would have removed the policies of the ADA restricting these procedures to a dentist. Our own member of the CDP Dr. Craig S. Armstrong of Houston, with help from our TDA staff, wrote the dissenting Minority Report to these resolutions. Following this, the ADA Council on Government Affairs, the Academy of General Dentistry Board of Directors, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and the National Dental Association, all took positions against these resolutions. Finally, the ADA Board of Trustees voted to recommend to the House to vote “No” to the resolutions (although it was not unanimous!).

In the Special Reference Committee on Workforce, the membership of the ADA testified strongly against these resolutions, with a few persistent members of the ADA Council on Dental Practice testifying for the resolutions. It seemed that the strategy of proponents of these egregious resolutions was to say, “You just don’t understand what we are trying to do. We must change policy in order to ‘get at the table’ with the Foundations who are working to redesign the dental care delivery system in our country. Let’s just change a few words here and a few words there and then it will be better for you.” It reminded me, and I said so to the reference committee, of a car salesman, trying to sell you a new car by asking how many cup holders you wanted, what kind of CD player, what color you wanted, when the whole time, you didn’t even want a new car at all!

“Dentistry is Healthcare that Works!” Nothing has changed about that. While in some limited areas, the capacity to deliver care is inadequate, we do not need a non-dentist with a drill in hand to correct this problem. We will examine expanded function dental assistants to expand the capacity of licensed dentists in these areas. Secondly, we must continue to work with our legislators, so they realize dental care for the indigent must be funded.

Most dental offices operate with a 60 percent to 70 percent overhead. New technologies, an increase in the cost of materials, supplies, rent and labor, and of course taxes, will not allow this overhead percentage to decrease. If government insists that dentists provide for the economically disadvantaged at reduced fees or no fee, then this is a hidden tax on those who do pay for their dental care. The dental care fees of the paying dental patient must go up to keep the office doors open while we treat those that cannot or will not pay. The landlord continues to want his rent, your employees want their salaries, the suppliers continue to send bills.

Yes, we will continue to have and fund our charitable projects, give of our time to those really in need, and be compassionate to those who are suffering. We would not be dentists worthy of respect if we did otherwise. And since most dental diseases are preventable, we will work to educate the public to seek preventive care, rather than waiting for painful and life threatening emergencies. We cannot drill and fill our way out of the access problem.

Thank you all for your support in keeping dentistry “Healthcare that Works.”

Evidence-Based Practice Tip of the Month Stephen R. Matteson, DDS, TDA Editor

141st Annual Session of the Texas Dental Association May 5 – 8, 2011 • San Antonio, Texas

Come to the Party Frank Higginbottom, DDS, TDA Council on Annual Session

The 2011 TEXAS Meeting is one celebration you won’t want to miss! You and your staff get quality continuing education and a chance to network with other dental professionals and friends. Give your staff a great opportunity to be rewarded for their hard work, and return to San Antonio for the TEXAS Meeting.

Chairman Dr. Roger Macias and the Council on Annual Session have planned an incredible event for you. What an opportune time of year to come to the great convention city, San Antonio. The TEXAS Meeting gives you the opportunity for continuing education, with over 90 clinicians presenting more than 220 educational sessions. But, that is only the beginning!

TDA Exhibits Manager Paula Tait, CEM, has secured more than 350 exhibitors eager to share information on the latest and greatest dental products and services. The TEXAS Meeting exhibitors provide many meeting specials and all the new dental tools for you and your professional practice. Take time to have our special artist digitally sketch a portrait of you and your friends, visit the TDA Pavilion to investigate the many treasures in the DENPAC Silent Auction, learn how to “give back” to your community through activities of the TDA Smiles Foundation, and check-out details of the TDA Perks Program. Wrap up your Thursday and Friday with a complimentary beer and wine happy hour in the exhibit hall from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM.

Thursday evening is the Texas Party with live entertainment from the band “Morning” featuring our very own Dr. “Bud” Luecke of San Antonio. In addition, there will be complimentary food and beverages at this social event, and your badge is your ticket to get in. If that isn’t enough fun for you, remember all of the breakfast meetings during the 3-day convention, including the American College of Dentists and International College of Dentists, Christian Medical Dental Society, Pierre Fauchard Academy, and many more. Friday morning features the 8th Annual Healthy Smiles Golf Classic, and later that afternoon don’t miss the ADA Candidates Forum, the New Dentist (GOLD) Reception, followed by the TDA District Caucuses.

What a great party agenda and of course the beautiful San Antonio Riverwalk offers outstanding restaurants and activities for you and your staff. “Party On...TEXAS Style”

Here is information on bonding vs. non-bonding of amalgam restorations. To view the Cochrane Library Report and the referenced article, enter in Google: CD007517.

Alliance of the TDA Donates to the TDA Smiles Foundation Members of the Alliance of the Texas Dental Association (ATDA) presented TDA Smiles Foundation chair Dr. W. Kurt Loveless of Lubbock with two donation checks.

ATDA recording secretary Ms. Paula Owens (left) and Ms. Diane Bogan present a check for Sensors for Digital X-rays in the amount of $13,000.

For more information on the ATDA, please see its listing under Allied Groups at tda.org.

ATDA third vice president Dr. Kelly Lemke (right) presents a check for $2,150 of donations from Alliance districts across the state.

October 2010 / TDA Today / 3

TSBDE Rule Update

This recurring section is designed to help TDA members keep up with important Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE) rules, other regulations, and state law affecting their practices.

As part of its ongoing statutory rule review process, the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE) recently gave final approval to both new and amended rules that went into effect on September 14, 2010. Due to the significant number of rule modifications going into effect, two issues of the TSBDE Rule Update — September and October — were dedicated to summarizing the recent rule changes. This is the last installment of the two-part series. Use the following link to access the current version of the complete set of TSBDE rules at http://www.tsbde.state.tx.us. A brief description of each new or amended rule follows: §107.203 – Aggravating and Mitigating Factors The TSBDE adopted this new rule to formalize the process under which aggravating and mitigating factors are taken into account when the Board considers formal disciplinary action against a licensee or registrant. §§108.7 - 108.9 – Minimum Standard of Care General, Records of the Dentist, & Dishonorable Conduct §108.7 relates to the minimum standard of care in the practice of dentistry; §108.8, relates to records of the dentist; and §108.9, relates to dishonorable conduct.

Amendments to §108.7 provide an expanded, though not

exhaustive, list of standard of care violations. Amendments to §108.8 clarify requirements regarding records transfer agreements and records maintenance agreements. The amendments also specifically require dentists to provide diagnostic quality x-rays and legible records in response to requests from patients and the SBDE. The amendments do not substantively change the records requirements for dentists, but integrate language that better reflects current interpretation of the section. The amendment to §108.9 implements wording that reflects current statutory provisions.

For more information, please contact TDA policy manager

Ms. Diane Rhodes, (512) 443-3675, diane@tda.org.

EDITORIAL STAFF Dr. Stephen R. Matteson, D.D.S., Editor Nicole Scott, Managing Editor Barbara S. Donovan, Art Director Paul H. Schlesinger, Consultant BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ronald L. Rhea, D.D.S., President J. Preston Coleman, D.D.S., President-elect Matthew B. Roberts, Immediate Past President Vice Presidents R. Lee Clitheroe, D.D.S., Southeast John W. Baucum III, D.D.S., Southwest Kathleen M. Nichols, D.D.S., Northwest Donna G. Miller, D.D.S., Northeast Senior Directors Karen E. Frazer, D.D.S., Southeast Lisa B. Masters, D.D.S., Southwest Robert E. Wiggins, Jr., D.D.S., Northwest Larry D. Herwig, D.D.S., Northeast Directors Rita M. Cammarata, D.D.S., Southeast T. Beth Vance, D.D.S., Southwest Michael J. Goulding, D.D.S., Northwest Arthur C. Morchat, D.D.S., Northeast Ron Collins, D.D.S., Secretary-Treasurer Glen D. Hall, D.D.S., Speaker of the House Michael L. Stuart, D.D.S., Parliamentarian Stephen R. Matteson, D.D.S., Editor Mary Kay Linn, Executive Director William H. Bingham, Legal Counsel TDA Today (USPS 022-007) is published monthly except for December by the Texas Dental Association, 1946 S. IH-35, Ste 400, Austin, Texas 78704-3698, (512) 443-3675. Periodicals Postage Paid at Austin, Texas and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to TDA TODAY, 1946 S. IH-35, Ste 400, Austin, TX 78704-3698.

Annual subscriptions: Texas Dental Association (TDA) members, $5. In-state American Dental Association (ADA) affiliated, $15 + tax. Out-of-state ADA affiliated, $15. In-state non-ADA affiliated, $30 + tax. Out-of-state non-ADA affiliated, $30.

Single issue price: TDA members $1. In-state ADA affiliated, $3 + tax. Out-of-state ADA affiliated, $3. In-state non-ADA affiliated, $6 + tax. Out-of-state non-ADA affiliated, $6.

Contributions: Manuscripts and news items of interest to the membership of the Association are solicited. Manuscripts should be typewritten, double spaced, and the original copy should be submitted. Please refer to Instructions for Contributors in the annual September Directory of the Texas Dental Journal for more information. The Information for Contributors is available at tda.org. All statements of opinion and of supposed facts are published on authority of the writer under whose name they appear and are not to be regarded as the views of the Texas Dental Association, unless such statements have been adopted by the Association. Articles are accepted with the understanding that they have not been published previously. Authors must disclose any financial or other interests they may have in products or services described in their articles.

Advertisements: Publication of advertisements in this publication does not constitute a guarantee or endorsement by the Association of the quality of value of such product or of the claims made of it by its manufacturer.

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OCTOBER 2010

VOLUME 11, ISSUE 10 AVAILABLE ONLINE AT TDA.ORG

SAVE on Prescriptions Look for your FREE Perks Discount Pharmacy Card in your TDA-Dues Statement Envelopes!

This year, when you open your TDA-dues statement envelope, don’t miss your valuable discount pharmacy card tucked inside—another great benefit TDA Perks Program is bringing TDA members, their staff and patients! Save 10%–60% on your prescription medications,* and receive the best price—regardless of promotions or discounts. Please note: The pharmacy discounts are not insurance, and are not intended as a substitute for insurance. *The discount is only available at participating pharmacies.

Questions? Visit tdaperks.com, or call: (512) 443-3675.