OCTOBER 2008
VOLUME 9, ISSUE 10
AVAILABLE ONLINE AT TDA.ORG
Hurricane Ike Hits Texas Disaster Assistance Gears Up Hurricane Ike came ashore September 13, 2008, and the Category 2 storm left $27 billion in damages to U.S. coastal areas. Homeowners and businesses in many Texas counties are trying to recover from the third costliest U.S. hurricane of all time. The American Dental Association Foundation (ADAF) provides a small measure of immediate financial assistance to needy eligible beneficiaries who are victims of a disaster (a sudden occurrence which inflicts widespread catastrophic damage to a large geographic area and/or which generally affects a large number of individuals). Disasters can be both natural and caused by human conduct. Examples include civil disorders, explosions, fires, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, tidal waves, forest fires, and hurricanes. Your TDA disaster team staff provides application forms, affirms that the person applying is a dentist, and forwards the completed application to the ADAF for consideration. Once approved, an ADAF check is mailed directly to the applicant. If you need and have not yet applied for disaster grant assistance, please call your TDA at (512) 443-3675, and ask to speak to a TDA disaster team member.
Texas Counties Declared “Presidential Disaster Area” • • • • • • • • • • •
Angelina Austin Brazoria Chambers Cherokee Fort Bend Galveston Gregg Grimes Hardin Harris
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Harrison Houston Jasper Jefferson Liberty Madison Matagorda Montgomery Nacogdoches Newton Orange
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Polk Rusk Sabine San Augustine San Jacinto Trinity Tyler Walker Waller Washington
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The Texas A&M University Health Science Center (Baylor College of Dentistry), University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSC-SA Dental School), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UT Dental Branch), Texas Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Texas Academy of General Dentistry, Texas Society of Periodontists, Texas Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Texas Association for Long Term Care Facility Dentistry, and Texas Association of Orthodontists.
TDA’s lead legislative consultant David Sibley, former Texas senator and an oral surgeon, presented an overview of the state’s political landscape and the November elections. TDA’s other legislative consultants, Ms. Nora Del Bosque and Ms. Susan Ross, provided additional comments. Dr. Black briefly described TDA’s legislative agenda and initiated a discussion of the Association’s proposed workforce legislation, which would implement a mandate from the 2008 TDA House of Delegates to clarify and modestly expand the authority of Texas dentists to delegate certain procedures to dental assistants. TDA is working with the Texas Academy of Pediatric Dentistry on the proposed legislation, which would also clarify continuing education requirements for dental assistants who hold certificates issued by the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners to perform certain procedures. During a roundtable discussion, participants outlined their entity’s activities, programs, and concerns, and identified opportunities to work together.
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TMOM Williamson County in Leander TDA Smiles Foundation volunteer dentists provide charitable care Alliance of the TDA Dallas members raise money for dental health care projects 15th District Trustee Report Dr. S. Jerry Long prepares delegates for ADA Annual Session TEXAS Meeting Update TDA gears up for next year’s meeting, the biggest annual session to date TSBDE Rule Updates
November Journal News 2008 Gold Medal for Distinguished Service Dr. Sam W. Rogers, Jr. of Houston awarded TDA’s highest honor
TDA Hosts Legislative Summit for Organized Dentistry On September 26, the Texas Dental Association’s Council on Legislative and Regulatory Affairs (CLRA) hosted representatives of dental specialty organizations and other dental stakeholders at a legislative summit to discuss next year’s Regular Session of the 81st Texas Legislature. The legislative session begins on January 13, 2009, and ends on June 1, 2009. CLRA chair Dr. Richard Black of El Paso opened the summit and welcomed participants, including representatives of the following organizations and institutions:
Inside
125 Years and Counting Texas Dental Journal celebrates its quasiquicentennial anniversary Self-Study CE Course Root Caries — A Review of the Etiology, Diagnosis, Restorative and Preventive Interventions (L-R) Texas Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons president Dr. David Grogan, former State Senator Jim Rudd, and TDA lead legislative consultant Dr. David Sibley attend the 2008 TDA Legislative Summit in Austin.
Around the State November 1: Dallas County Dental Society Centennial Gala Ritz Carlton, Dallas November 7 & 8: TDA Board of Directors Meeting, Austin November 14 & 15: Corpus Christi TMOM
(L-R) Texas Academy of General Dentistry president Dr. Ronald Theiss and Dr. David Tillman discuss the legislative agenda with UTHSC at Houston legislative research manager Mr. Scott Barnett.
Click & Connect Hurricane Ike Efforts tda.org — Current Issues TDA Smiles Holiday Cards tda.org — Current Issues TDA Express tda.org — Features Personal Web Page tda.org — Contacts
(L-R) TDA legislative consultant Nora Del Bosque and TDA director of public affairs Jess Calvert meet with Texas Academy of Pediatric Dentistry contract lobbyist Mr. Charlie Schnabel.
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