Issuu

SUMMER ISSUE 2014 VOL. 46, NO. 3

Bulletin

Dsg Davis DentaL LaBoRatoRy PResents

AdvAnced Dental Sleep MeDicine Dr. KEnT SMiTh’S nEwEST SLEEP SEriES LECTurE. September 12, 2014 | 7 ce creditS

this one day program is designed for participants that have already taken courses on dental sleep medicine or already have experience in treating patients with oral sleep appliances.

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disordered breathing for the last 17 years.

luncheon, handout materials,

In 2012, he was among the first group in the

and an open pass to the Frederik

u.S. to be awarded a Dental Sleep Medicine

Meijer Gardens until 5:00 pm

Facility Accreditation. he is the creator of

on the day of the seminar.

the “Best Sleep Hygiene” app, which is a free

and polysomnogram or attended

download, and in 2013, he was asked to host

sleep study at a sleep center

a weekly radio show on sleep disorders.

how to regiSter online – register at dentalservices.net/registration By phone – contact Sue isenga at 800.632.9131 or 616.261.9191 ext. 5234 By email – sisenga@dentalservices.net

DSG Americus Dental Lab is designated as an Approved PACE Program Provider by the Academy of General Dentistry. The formal continuing education programs of this program provider are accepted by AGD for Fellowship, Mastership and membership maintenance credit. Approval does not imply acceptance by a state of provincial board of dentistry or AGD endorsement. The current term of approval extends from 6/1/09 to 5/31/2014.

dAteS/locAtionS: September 12, 2014 Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park 1000 East Beltline Avenue nE Grand rapids, Mi 49525 888.957.1580

RegistRation: 8 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. PRogRam: 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Luncheon: 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.

L a b o r a t o r y

N e t w o r k

www.dentalservices.net/davis www.facebook.com/DentalServicesGroup

Contents President’s Message...................................................................................................... 2 Editor’s Thoughts......................................................................................................... 4 Trustee Report.............................................................................................................. 6 Editor

Dr. Jeff Smith

Associate Editors

Dr. Seth Vruggink Dr. Derek Draft Dr. David Huyser Dr. Brian Licari

Advertising Editor Elaine Fleming Executive Secretary WMDDS 511-F Waters Building Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (616) 234-5605 efwmdds@aol.com West Michigan District Dental Society Executive Board 2014-2015 President Dr. Samuel Bander President-Elect Dr. Steve Conlon Vice President Dr. Leonard Bartoszewicz Secretary-Treasurer Dr. Tyler Wolf Editor Dr. Jeff Smith Immediate Past Dr. Margaret Gingrich President Directors Dr. Brian Mulder Dr. Lathe Miller Dr. Kathleen Ellsworth Area Representatives Kent County Dr. James Papp Ionia-Montcalm Dr. John O’Donald County Mecosta County Dr. Erick Perroud Ottawa County Dr. Kevin Rebhan MDA IV District Trustees

Dr. Brian Cilla Dr. Colette Smiley

Big Rapids Dental Study Club Officers President Dr. Erick Perroud Vice President Dr. Christa Stern Secretary Dr. Christa Stern Treasurer Dr. Erick Perroud Holland-Zeeland Dental Society Officers President Dr. Meredith Smedley Treasurer Secretary Immediate Past President Ionia-Montcalm Dental Study Club Officers President Treasurer Dr. Kirkwood Faber Kent County Dental Society Officers President Dr. Michael Palaszek Vice President Dr. Kathryn Swan Secretary Dr. James Papp Treasurer Dr. Kathleen Eisin West Michigan Dental Foundation Officers President Dr. Michael Palaszek Vice President Dr. Sarah Mahar Secretary Mrs. Dawn Kamyszek Treasurer Mr. Joe Van Laan The Bulletin of the West Michigan Dental Society is published six times a year (the winter issue, spring issue, summer issue, directory issue, fall issue, and holiday issue). The opinions expressed in The Bulletin are not necessarily the opinions of the West Michigan District Dental Society. Contributions to The Bulletin are welcome and should be addressed to The Bulletin Editor, 3050 Ivanrest SW, Suite B, Grandville, MI 49418. Requests for purchase of advertising space should be directed to the Advertising Editor, Elaine Fleming, (616) 234-5605. The deadline is the 1st of the month prior to publication. © 2013-2014 West Michigan District Dental Society Bulletin

2015 – 2017 PR Dues Assessment Renewal.................................................................. 9 Points of Light: From Inception to Success................................................................10 The Age One Dental Visit............................................................................................11 The Infant Oral Health Screening Form: A Counseling Tool for the Age One Dental Visit....................................................12 Would You Like More Patient Referrals? Dental Referral Guide..............................16 Working MOM.............................................................................................................18 HDVCH Pediatric Clinic Fluoride Varnish Project...................................................20 2014-2015 WMDDS Continuing Education Programs.............................................21 WMDF Golf Outing.....................................................................................................23 2014 Steel Water Award Winner: Doug Mack, MD...................................................24 Technically Speaking....................................................................................................25 Beyond Traditional Asset Classes: Exploring Alternatives.........................................26 Help! I’ve Been a Victim of Tax Identity Theft..........................................................28 Classified Ads................................................................................................................30 Advertiser Index............................................................................................................31 About the Cover Pediatric dentist, Dr. Veronica Hamilton, performs an age one dental visit on one-year-old Gwyneth Hamm with the help of her mom, Elizabeth Hamm.

Mission Statement The Bulletin is the newsletter of the WMDDS and its mission is to inform the membership of upcoming and recent events, state & local issues related to dentistry, and as a forum for its officers, representatives, and members to discuss appropriate topics of interest to the membership. Communication & Advertising Policy The Bulletin will publish submitted articles from members and others that relate to the practice of dentistry, small business, social, or political issues affecting dentists, or other subjects of interest to the membership. All published items are subject to space restrictions and the community standards of the WMDDS. The editors reserve the right to reject any article or advertisement deemed inappropriate and to edit submissions as they see fit. Submission & Publication Policy: Articles and advertisements must be submitted no later than the 1st of the month preceding publication date. The Bulletin has six publications: the winter issue, spring issue, summer issue, directory issue, fall issue, holiday issue. Direct submissions or correspondences to:

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

Dr. Jeffrey S. Smith • 3050 Ivanrest SW, Suite B • Grandville, MI 49418 Phone: 616.531.1554 FAX 616.531.6947 • Email: jssmith@comcast.net Include “Newsletter” in the subject line

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Bridging the Generation Gap By Samuel Bander, DDS, WMDDS President

very year at this time, the WMDDS bylaws call for a “changing of the guard.” Welcome back to Dr. Tyler Wolf (Secretary-Treasurer), and Dr. Kathy Ellsworth, serving as First-Year Director. Ellsworth joins our other directors, Dr. Lathe Miller and Dr. Brian Mulder. Dr. Len Bartoszewicz moves up to Vice President, Dr. Steve Conlon is President-Elect, and I will be serving as President of the WMDDS for the next twelve months. I graduated from the University of Michigan Dental School in 1981 (seems like yesterday) and came back home to Grand Rapids to practice with my dad, Dr. Thomas Bander. We practiced together for about 15 years or so until his retirement. I miss those days of having another dentist in the office to bounce ideas off of. Those of you who practice with a family member or mentor should cherish those days. The experience of our senior colleagues is PRICELESS! I served on the WMDDS Board for a while in the 80s – then went on to be involved in the Grand Rapids Jaycees (thanks to Dr. Chuck Caldwell), and served as its president in 1989. All the practice management speakers of the day said that community service was a great way to build your practice, so I got involved with my church and my community. What I found out was that “service” of any kind is good for the soul – and practice growth is just the icing on the cake. Bottom line – GET INVOLVED – in organized dentistry, in your community, in your church, with your kids’ school … anything! Just get involved because all the good things you do reflects well on all dentists and on dentistry. Five years ago, Seth Vruggink asked if I wanted to serve on the WMDDS Board again. I was 52. I reluctantly said yes – and now at 58 – I am President of the WMDDS (thanks

for asking, Seth). Wendie and I are empty nesters, and life is pretty good (knock on wood). So now you know a little about me and my story. But enough about me. From now on it is about US! We are all in this together. And together we have a responsibility to give back to insure this organization thrives. I would like to encourage YOU to get involved and give back to organized dentistry. Whether you are a recent graduate or a seasoned dentist, you have something to offer. Whether you are in solo practice, group practice, corporate practice, or community practice, we can all use the help of the WMDDS. The mission of the MDA is to “help member dentist’s succeed.” By getting involved and giving back, you can help yourself and your fellow WMDDS members succeed. We all have an obligation to help keep the ADA, MDA, and WMDDS as the recognized authorities on dental care in our community. We have a committed Board of Directors and a thriving organization thanks to outgoing President Margaret Gingrich and all who went before her. Our executive secretary Elaine Fleming is passionate about dentistry and keeps us on the right track even as presidents and boards of directors come and go. We have many members who volunteer in many ways, locally, statewide, and nationally. Thank you for your service and I look forward to working with you this year. Please contact me with any questions, concerns, or ideas at 616.949.5980, or email drsambander@gmail.com.

New Dentist Forum Golf Outing Friday, September 5, 2014 Quail Ridge Golf Club in Ada Watch your mail for more information on registering or contact Dr. Devin Norman at drd@nfdentistry.com

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

WMDDS Presidents 1932 1936 1937 1938 1944 1946 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967

Dr. Ward Moore Dr. Jack Beukema Dr. W. B. Steele Dr. Vernor Eman Dr. Russell Klinesteker Dr. Titus Van Haitsma Dr. Claire Cartier Dr. Carl Anderson Dr. Henry Sullivan Dr. Richard Elias Dr. Henry Walcotten Dr. O.H. Mc Connell Dr. Henry Homan Dr. Howard Sparkie Dr. Gerald Moore Dr. Fred Prescott Dr. Julius Lubbers Dr. Robert Richards Dr. Harry Luton Dr. Robert VanDragt Dr. Robert Hoek Dr. Charles Malaney Dr. Robert Reagan Dr. Joseph Ellis Dr. Gerald Vander Wall

1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974-75 1975-76 1976-77 1977-78 1978-79 1979-80 1980-81 1981-82 1982-83 1983-84 1984-85 1985-86 1986-87 1987-88 1988-89 1989-90 1990-91 1991-92 1992-93

Dr. William Creason Dr. Robert Streelman Dr. John Cook Dr. Donald Cole Dr. Julius Franks Dr. Dennis Winn Dr. Claude Raby Dr. David Seibold Dr. Gerald Knape Dr. Thomas Sommerdyke Dr. Thomas Bander Dr. Robert O’Brien Dr. Lawrence Marcotte Dr. Eugene Bonofiglo Dr. William Avery, Jr. Dr. Daniel Kemp Dr. Charles Van Dyken Dr. Arnold Baker Dr. Lawrence Manning Dr. Herbert Carpenter Dr. Charles Caldwell Dr. Timothy Gietzen Dr. Michael Vander Veen Dr. Richard Nezwek Dr. Erick Rupprecht

1993-94 1994-95 1995 1995-96 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15

Dr. George Baumgartner Dr. Lisa Sostecke Dr. Robert Mitus Dr. John Vander Kolk Dr. Chris Smiley Dr. Greg Oppenhuizen Dr. James Eldersveld Dr. Steve Schultz Dr. John Garlick Dr. John Marshall Dr. John Marshall Dr. Debra Peters Dr. Norm Palm Dr. Brian Cilla Dr. Laura Fogle Dr. John Frey Dr. Amy DeYoung Dr. Doug Killian Dr. Doug Klein Dr. Seth Vruggink Dr. Larissa Bishop Dr. Tyler Wolf Dr. Margaret Gingrich Dr. Samuel Bander

WMDDS IPHONE 7.5 x 3.25.ai 1 2/26/2014 10:21:18 AM

BRINGING MORE C

“EUREKA!”

MOMENTS TO YOUR BUSINESS.

CMY

RICK CHRISMAN, CPA, MANAGING SHAREHOLDER rchrisman@hungerfordnichols.com (616) 949-3200 WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

EDITOR’S THOUGHTS

Introducing the WMDDS Points of Light Task Force Submitted by Scott Van Timmeren D.D.S., Chairperson, WMDDS Points of Light Task Force

hroughout this issue you will see a number of different articles focusing on infant oral health, and more specifically the Age One Dental Visit. These articles are the product of a new task force that formed over the last few years. The people that make up this task force are a small group from our dental community who are passionate about the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists’ recommendations on early visits to the dentist, and the positive impact we believe it can have our community’s oral health. We have taken on the name “Points of Light Task Force” because we are basing some of what we are doing around the Points of Light program and its ideals. We are all registered with Points of Light, and we believe this program has a lot of potential to impact children’s oral health state wide. But even beyond that, it is more about what Points of Light stands for, and why we believe that is so important. Also, the task force has a goal of helping others implement the ideals of Points of Light, and going beyond just signing up on a website. The task force includes a few general dentists, a pediatric dentist, an orthodontist, and others who care about this mission. Our goal is to help our West Michigan community do a better job of integrating infant oral health into our practices, and reach more parents and kids who need our help in this area. You will not find a lot of discussion about access to care in this issue, as that is a somewhat different topic that could fill a whole issue on its own. You probably have seen the statistics on Early Childhood Caries (ECC), and the high incidence of this disease in kids in the United States. ECC has become one of the most, if not the most, common diseases in our children, and it extends well beyond those struggling for access to care. No matter what

information parents are getting from their pediatricians, they often are not doing enough to follow through with their kids’ oral health. I am sure you all have had the experience of seeing a 3-, 4-, or 5-year-old child for the first time that has multiple areas of decay. What a terrible experience! There is nothing I hate more than looking in a kid’s mouth for the first time and seeing decay. It is such a sad event, especially because it is so preventable. If we can get to these kids earlier, and more importantly get to the parents early to educate them, this disease is completely preventable. In the end, prevention and education is what this is really about. The Age One Dental Visit is the best way to make sure that we can properly educate parents about the things they can, or must do, in order to start their kids off on the right path. We can all hope and wish that the information parents are getting from pediatricians is enough to get them doing the right things, but it is clear that is not the case. It is up to us to make sure we are doing everything we can to get information in front of parents, and intervene early with kids using Age One Dental Visits. If we can get the education out there earlier, we can do a better job of keeping these kids away from ECC throughout their childhood. There is no doubt that there is some resistance to the Age One Dental Visit. Some of you reading this right now are thinking that this is something you don’t ever see yourself doing. You haven’t done it before, so why are you going to do it now. Or, you see the point, but you just don’t have time to go about figuring out how to do this. Or, and probably the most common reason, you understand the problem, but just don’t have the desire to have a screaming infant in your chair, that you are not going to be able to do anything for anyway. I get it. It is not fun to picture trying to deal with an uncooperative infant or 2-year-old disturbing your whole office just so you can look in their mouth, and then you have to try to imagine what it will be like to fix a problem if you find one. These are all valid concerns. Part of our goal with the Points of Light Task Force is to try to make it easier on you. Many of us have the systems in place already in our office to do this well, and we are going to try to share that with you, so you don’t have to do as much to prepare for it. The articles you see in this issue will give you tips on how you can make this run smoothly in your office. WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

EDITORâ€™S THOUGHTS

We will also offer you examples of forms and codes you can use to simplify the process. We will explain Points of Light, and how you can use it to market yourself to physicians and parents. We will be placing a wealth of generic information on the WMDDS website in downloadable formats that you can access, print, alter, and use in your office as you see fit. There will be packets that you can provide to parents ahead of their initial Age One Visit to go through, or that you or your hygienist can go through with them when they come in. We will even have sample protocols on the website for your staff and letters that you can use to tell people why you are encouraging these visits. Our goal is to make this easy on you with the hope it will encourage as many offices as possible to start integrating Age One Dental Visits in to practice. 5WMDDS Bulletin Zac ad OUTLINED.pdf

4/15/14

There are many other conversations and things that we need to wrestle with within our profession about how we can better serve the children of West Michigan. Eventually, if you talk to other medical professionals about what you are doing, you may get questions about Medicaid, Healthy Kids, and other programs, and whether you are including those things now that you are doing these exams. There are no easy answers to those questions, and groups like ours and the Kent County Oral Health Coalition are wrestling with them, too. But for now, there is a large population of kids out there who have the ability to get in to see you at an early age, but just donâ€™t know that they need too. It is time for us to shift that paradigm, and we need your help. Please be one of the people who will make a difference in fighting against this problem.

9:58 AM

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

TRUSTEE REPORT

Summer 2014 Trustee Report By Dr. Brian Cilla, MDA Trustee

ummer has finally arrived. Time to fire up the grills. Have fun at all of the open houses, receptions and picnics. Speaking of parties, the MDA Annual Session was once again well received by our colleagues from around the state. This year’s MDA Spirit of Michigan Annual Session, held April 30–May 3 in Grand Rapids, saw an increase in the number of dentists registered for the meeting compared to the last time the annual session was held in Grand Rapids. A total of 1,192 MDA member dentists were present. The overall registration for this event was 4,113. It was nice to see that the exhibits and MDA courses were well attended. The MDA House of Delegates (HOD) had a significant session as well. Bylaw changes were made that change the way that the MDA operates. These governance changes were a long time coming and are intended to improve MDA operational efficiency. It is expected that this will enhance responsiveness and allow for increased organizational expertise. The process for developing the proposed revisions involved three HOD meetings and hard work by the MDA Governance Work Group. A special thanks need to be extended to Drs. Kevin Rehban and Connie Verhagen for their efforts on the Work Group. Our HOD Speaker, Dr. Deb Peters, did an absolutely fantastic job stewarding the whole process by keeping everyone informed and on task. These governance changes are as follows: • Make the MDA Board of Trustees the governing body of the association, with the House serving in an elective and representative capacity; • Reduce the number of trustee positions from 17 to 9 and make them all at-large positions, no longer elected by trustee districts but instead elected by the house itself; • Create a house nominating committee to select all can-

didates for MDA officers, MDA trustees, delegates/alternatives to the ADA meeting, and the ADA 9th District Trustee; • Combine the secretary and treasurer officer positions on the Board; • Eliminate the Vice President officer position; • Give the House and Board the authority to suspend or remove Board members; • Give the Board the authority to form an Executive Committee as needed, to be comprised of the association’s officers; • Create a House of Delegates Bylaws Committee. Dr. Norm Palm will be chair of the new House Nominating Committee and Dr. Seth Vruggink will be the first West Michigan/Muskegon representative on that committee. The first meeting will take place on August 1st at the MDA headquarters. Other House Actions The topic of genetics being used for dental insurance benefit determination was addressed by a series of resolutions. The HOD adopted a resolution that the MDA opposes the switching of plan participants into new dental plan designs that have the consequence of circumventing the spirit of the GINA regulations (which are intended to protect the patient from health plan discrimination based upon genetic information). The Board of Trustees will continue to monitor the standards for genetic tests as utilized for determination of patient risk factors for dental disease. This information will be provided to the House of Delegates via the Delegate Digest and to the general membership via the MDA website and/or the MDA Journal. Also, it was resolved when a patient’s risk status is used by a plan to determine benefit coverage, all services supported by evidence-based clinical recommendations for care of patients with such risk should be considered for coverage. Additionally, the Board of Trustees will act on an ongoing basis to establish policy on the Application of Risk Assessment in Dental Benefit Plans to protect the patients of Michigan. The BOT was directed to prepare an annual report to the House of Delegates on progress made in eliminating performance gaps identified by the Governance Work Group in 2013, as well as identifying any new gaps and how they are being addressed. WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

TRUSTEE REPORT

A new House Committee on Bylaws has been formed in order to report annually to the House of Delegates about how well our governance process is working. Mission of Mercy (MOM) I would like everyone to know that Dr. Margaret Gingrich played an instrumental role in making the MOM a great success. Also, everyone at the MDA would like to offer a sincere thanks to all of those that participated with this years’ MOM event up in Big Rapids. Without your help and participation, this type of event could not succeed. It is only through the dedication of volunteers that a Mission of Mercy is even possible. Giving your time and talent for others is the greatest expression of care and compassion. Our volunteers are the heart of a MOM event. Here are some key statistics from the event: There were 1,329 patient visits. Overall, 858 patients were treated. The value of the services rendered was priceless (actually $847,064). MDA members and volunteers provided an average $987.25 per patient. This is well above the national average of $500–$600 for this type of event. New Delta Dental Benefit Plan Concerns The validity of using genetic testing to assess an individual’s risk for periodontitis was the subject of a standing-room-only continuing education seminar held Friday, March 21 at MDA headquarters in Okemos. More than 120 dentists and staff attended the seminar, which was the largest CE seminar ever held at the MDA headquarters, reflecting growing member interest in the topic. The speaker was Thomas Hart, DDS, PhD who is a nationally recognized expert on the topic. Dr. Hart is a periodontist and has a doctorate in human genetics. Hart took the attendees through a crash-course in human genetics, emphasizing the rapid emergence of new information and new techniques in analysis, driven in large part by the ready availability of data for research and analysis. As a result, a great deal more is now known about the role of genetics in disease conditions. He explained that for some conditions, there is an obvious link between a single gene and a related condition. In dentistry, amelogenesis imperfecta is an example of this kind of one-toone relationship. “If you have AI, we can figure out what kind you have through genetic testing,” Hart said. “We can also start to figure out why this occurs, so we can try to develop treatment.” But for most conditions, including chronic periWEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

odontitis, there are hundreds to thousands of small genetic factors which may contribute, as do many environmental factors. Hart took issue with the validity of using genetic testing to predict an individual’s risk of chronic periodontitis. It is important to note that the retrospective claims analysis study sited by Delta as a basis for the new plan design used tooth loss as a surrogate outcome for severe periodontal disease. No clinical exams were performed and no attempt was made to verify the actual reason for tooth loss. Additionally, neither Delta nor the researchers have disclosed that the SNP’s (segments of genetic material being assayed) used by Delta test are also found with over 300 other diseases. Also, Delta has not clearly elaborated on the specificity and sensitivity (false positive/false negative) of the genetic test being used as a tool to determine dental benefits. This study was partially funded by Delta, and 100% of the patient data was provided by Delta. In the interest of full disclosure, Delta owns a portion of the genetic testing company that processed the saliva samples and until recently held a seat on that companies’ board of directors. The Delta RightSize dental plan provides benefits for use of this particular genetic test. This will now create a market for a product with which Delta has an ownership interest. This fact should be known to plan participants and clinicians considering implementing its use in their practices. The use of a genetic test by Delta Dental of Michigan in determining benefit eligibility is controversial. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) includes provisions that generally prohibit group health plans and health insurance issuers from discriminating based on genetic information. Specifically, genetic information is to be used to provide enhanced benefits and not for underwriting that limits access to services. RightSize plan participants were switched into this plan design from a traditional plan that covered two cleanings annually as a core benefit. Plan participants now must consider a genetic test as one way to gain access to a service that was a traditional benefit in their previous plan. The implementation of the RightSize plan may conform to the letter of the GINA, but may not comply with the spirit or intent of the law. Application of evolving science into determination of benefit eligibility should require a high level of evidence supporting anticipated outcomes. Questions persist about the science surrounding the genetic test used by Delta Dental

TRUSTEE REPORT

of Michigan for risk determination in its new RightSize plan. Representatives from the American Dental Association described this test as “unproven.” Analysis of systematic reviews of the genetic test shows data that may be statistically significant, but does not necessarily rise to the level of having clinical validity. Periodontal disease is a complex disease impacted by thousands of genes. At best the science supporting this test is debatable. Based on the supporting evidence, its suitability for use in determining eligibility for benefit coverage is of justifiable concern. Governor Snyder signs Bill Improving Care for Mobile Dentistry Patients Gov. Rick Snyder recently signed legislation supporting patient protection and higher care standards for patients of mobile dental facilities. “Good dental health contributes to good overall health. Children and seniors are among our most vulnerable residents and they are also the most common customers of mobile dental facilities,” Snyder said. “Raising the quality of care delivered by these facilities will help ensure all Michiganders receive the services needed to live healthy lives. Mobile dental facilities travel to schools, head-start centers and nursing homes on a regular basis, delivering diagnostic and preventative services to patients. However, they often do not return to the same locations, and local dentists have experienced difficulty contacting them to retrieve x-rays, patient information, and payment records. House Bill 4865 requires mobile dental facilities to establish formal relationships with local area dentists (memorandum of agreement) to ensure patients are referred for proper follow-up dental procedures and improved treatment. Owners of these facilities must apply for a permit through the Department of Community Health. The bill also defines appropriate equipment and supplies for a mobile dental facility. Public Health Code Review Project The Public Health Code of Michigan (Act 368 of 1978) is the regulatory framework for health care in Michigan. In addition to numerous other roles, the Act primarily serves “to protect and promote the public health.” Since it was originally enacted in 1978, there have been amendments and repeals passed to ensure that the Act continues to serve its’ intended purpose. However, there has not been a review completed since the Act was created 35 years ago. As a result, Governor

Snyder called for a review of the Public Health Code in his 2011 Health and Wellness Message. In July 2013, an Advisory Committee was assembled to begin the high-level review and recommendation process. Based on feedback that will be gathered from numerous stakeholders and the public, the Advisory Committee will conduct the review and prepare a report of recommendations to the MDCH Director and Governor Snyder in the spring of 2014. The Advisory Committee will be making only recommendations, not changes, to the Public Health Code. The committee is primarily comprised of nurses and individuals from a public health background. An attorney chairs the workgroup. There are no private practice health care providers as constituent members of this group. As of now, the Advisory Committee has not held public hearings nor made any attempt to solicit commentary from the Michigan Dental Association. MDA Radiography Training Program The MDA has updated the popular radiography-training program. This revision debuts in an online form only. It is a self-paced, in-office training course. Additionally, this new course meets the State of Michigan radiography certification requirements. Further information can be found on the MDA website under “Tools for Success.” Point of Personal Privilege I would like to thank Dr. Norm Palm for his time as MDA President, and for his years of WMDDS and MDA service. His dedication to our profession is unrivaled. When expert knowledge was required about complex topics, we could always depend on Norm’s ability to gather the pertinent facts, analyze, process and thoughtfully communicate that information. He has been a mentor and friend. I find it humorous that just when Norm thought that he could coast, he now has to chair the House Nominations Committee. Don’t worry about Norm, he will have fun with this new role. Thank you for taking the time to read this report. As always, I make myself available for questions or concerns about MDA activities. Any suggestions, recommendations or complaints will be welcomed. I can be reached at blcilla@aol.com or 616-481-7747.

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

WMDDS NEWS

2015–2017 PR Dues Assessment Renewal By Suzanne K. Port DDS, MS Chairperson, WMDDS Public Relations Committee Matthew Gietzen, DDS Brian Mulder, DDS

ear West Michigan District Dental Society Members,

Since the 1980’s, part of the cost of membership in the West Michigan District Dental Society (WMDDS) has included a $45 dues assessment designated for public relations. This three-year assessment, approved by a membership vote, has enabled the WMDDS Public Relations Committee to keep the WMDDS name before the public through education and service to the West Michigan community. These funds have been effectively used in a variety of ways, but the message is the same: West Michigan District Dental Society member dentists care about our communities. Recent past projects have included Tooth Time at the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum during February’s National Children’s Dental Health Month. This is a two-day event that had over 1,000 children come and learn about oral health. We also helped 500 underprivileged kids attend the Grand Rapids Griffins matinee game that was preceded by a health education expo, that included a booth that was sponsored by WMDDS and staffed by GRCC dental hygiene students who promoted good oral health practices. During the Whitecaps season, we sponsored two innings per each home game where our message of importance of “visiting a member dentist” is prominently displaced on the jumbo computer score board in the outfield. With this year’s Mission of Mercy project in Big Rapids on May 30 and 31, we have made a generous financial donation from WMDDS. This two-day event is projected to provide dental care to 2000 low-income patients. We have also donated to the Kent County Oral Health Coalition, which is a newly-formed project aimed at increasing access to care for low-income families. We are also working with the WMDDS Points of Light task force as they work to increase the number of dentists who will provide age one visits in their office. Lastly, we are in the process of updating the WMDDS webpage for better exposure and communication for our member dentists. Our public relations efforts have focused attention on the significance of membership in our Society. Continued efforts will enable us to strengthen the positive, caring image that WMDDS members have in their communities. WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

The Board of the WMDDS and Public Relations Committee recommends that the $45 per member per year public relations assessment be renewed for 2015, 2016, 2017. This means there will be NO increase in the cost of the WMDDS membership. This article serves as notification of the vote that will be done by mail-in-ballot later this summer. The WMDDS Public Relations Committee thanks you for your consideration of this request.

WMDDS AT THE GRIFFINS HEALTH EXPO

POINTS OF LIGHT

Points of Light: From Inception to Success By Colette Smiley, D.D.S.

he American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Dental Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics all recommend that children have their first dental visit by age one. And the Points of Light project embraces this recommendation; seeking to improve infant and children’s oral health by connecting them with a dental home by age one. The Points of Light project was initiated in 2004 with statewide grassroots efforts in eight Michigan communities – Brighton, Flint, Holland, Jackson, Lansing, Muskegon, Traverse City, and Ypsilanti. These efforts focused on fostering relationships between physicians and dentists, and with a relatively small number of pediatric dentists in the state, solving the issue of physicians not knowing who in the dental community would accept infants and toddlers as patients. Since that time, the Points of Light concept – timely referrals before potential problems arise – has grown to include seven states, including Indiana and California, with its largest participation in Michigan and Missouri. Over the last ten years, Points of Light has connected thousands of children with hundreds of dentists and has continued to evolve as an organization. Today Points of Light serves multiple patient groups by building networks of dentists within communities that accept not only infants, but also Head Start students, children with special healthcare needs, Healthy Kids Dental patients, and pregnant women. Pointsoflightonline.org provides a database for families and physicians to find you! On the Points of Light website, the Parent Resources page offers a zip code-driven search function that enables parents to locate dentists in their area that accept infants. As a registered Points of Light provider, you can specify the patient 10

population you desire to treat – infants, Head Start patients, children with special healthcare needs, Medicaid patients, pregnant women, or Healthy Kids Dental patients. Check only those patients you are comfortable treating – there is no requirement to check all boxes! In West Michigan, a Points of Light Task Force has come together with the goal of increasing the network of West Michigan practices willing to accept infants and address the oral health needs of the youngest among us. Once a tipping point is achieved, the task force plans to approach the medical community to stimulate early referrals to this network. The oral and overall health of the community, starting with the youngest members, will improve as a shift occurs from a surgical caries intervention to prevention. Log on to pointsoflightonline.org and click on the Professional Resources tab. Here you will see “Register as a Points of Light Dentist.” It’s good for kids and good for you – register for Points of Light today.

The Points of Light project

If you would like more information regarding our project or would like to register as a participant,

please visit our website at: pointsoflightonline.org. WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

POINTS OF LIGHT

The Age One Dental Visit By Stephanie Benton-Langejans, D.D.S.

ou are now well aware of the recommendations that infants have their first dental visit by age one. But if a dentist has never before completed an infant exam, the thought of a baby in your operatory may seem quite intimidating. One of our goals is to provide West Michigan dentists with tools and information so infant exams can be performed easily and confidently in your offices. You may find seeing an infant an enjoyable change in your normal daily routine! While the specific protocols for infant visits vary among offices, I will share how they typically go in our practice. I greet the infant and parent in the reception room and escort them back to an operatory. Some offices will have the hygienist greet the family first as well. You can decide based on what works best for your office flow and the personnel in your office. We start with a medical and dental history. Then we begin to gather information from the parent on current habits and provide anticipatory guidance and counseling specific for the patient. The details of those recommendations will be included in a later article in this edition of the Bulletin, and you can access more information on this from the WMDDS website. This part of the visit will take the longest, as the time you spend learning from the parents, and educating them, is really what this visit is all about. The knee to knee exam is the next component of the visit. I first explain to the parent how the exam will be performed and what I will be evaluating. We use an upright chair in the corner of our operatory, but the dental chair may be used. I ask the parent to hold the baby facing them, with baby’s legs straddling the parent’s stomach. I then position my operator stool so my knees are touching the parent’s knees. While the parent holds the baby’s arms, I guide the infants head gently into my lap. Infants all react differently to this. Some WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

one-year-olds are quite cooperative, others cry loudly. If you are having difficulty getting the infant to open, gently slide your pointer finger along the mucosa of the cheek back to the retormolar pad area, this will gently force the child to open. If nothing is successful in getting the infant to cooperate, then it may be advantageous to cancel the exam for that day, and reappoint the child. Maybe a different time of day would be better, aim for right after a nap when they are well rested. Once in the mouth, if the child will allow it, I perform either a toothbrush or rubber cup prophylaxis. This is helpful to remove surface stain or plaque to facilitate the examination. If the child is screaming, which may happen, you are probably not going to do any prophylaxis, but at least you will be able to see inside the mouth. Evaluate hard and soft tissues, oral hygiene, eruption sequence, and perform a caries risk assessment. Depending on the outcome of your caries risk assessment and the behavior of the child, fluoride varnish can be applied at this time. The individual dentist can decide to treat or refer to a pediatric dentist if decay is diagnosed. “Watching” lesions in an infant is not advised as decay progresses quickly. A recall frequency can also be determined based on the caries risk assessment. Generally infants can be seen on a six-month recall basis. Unless they are considered high risk, then three-month recalls are advised. If it is determined that the child is stable, some prefer to see the child yearly until they reach three years old, and then they switch to six-month recalls. Seeing an infant can be a really enjoyable time of your day. And you actually get paid for it, too! The initial visit for an infant under the age of three is coded as D0145. Recall visits for infants are coded as a periodic exam, D0120. Depending on what level of prophylaxis was performed, a pediatric prophy may be billed, as well as the fluoride varnish application. As general dentists, we don’t need to be intimidated by the possibility of finding decay in an infant and actually having to treat it. We have specialists to help. But there are too many infants for our pediatric dentists to screen themselves. It is our responsibility to see these infants and their families at a young age so we can intervene with counseling and guidance and provide oral health literacy that builds healthy kids and healthy mouths. I challenge any of you who have not performed an infant oral exam to try one!

POINTS OF LIGHT

The Infant Oral Health Screening Form: A Counseling Tool for the Age One Dental Visit By Veronica R. Hamilton D.D.S., M.S. The original form designed by The Ohio State University is quite long. With permission from the program director at OSU, Dr. Homa Amini, we have created an abbreviated version which can be used in your practice in order to assist you in the counseling portion of the age one dental visit. There are several key components to the Infant Oral Health Screening Form: Oral Hygiene Practices, Dietary Habits, NonNutritive Sucking Habits, and Caregiver Caries Risk.

he American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends the first dental visit take place at age 12 months, or six months after the first tooth erupts. Despite these recommendations, many dentists may find themselves asking: Why is the age one visit important? Infants have unique caries risk factors such as the ongoing establishment of oral flora and host defense systems, newly erupted teeth which are still going through the post-eruption maturation process, and the development of dietary habits. By establishing a dental home for the infant dental patient and their parents early on in life, we are able to detect decay early, ease patient anxiety regarding the dental office, and most importantly, provide a lifetime of preventive education. Anticipatory guidance and counseling is arguably the most important component of the age one dental visit. Our goal as dentists is to “provide practical, developmentally appropriate information about children’s health to prepare parents for significant physical, emotional, and psychological milestones.” i So what should we be discussing with parents at this visit, and what questions should we be asking them regarding their childs’ habits and oral health? The Ohio State University Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program has developed a questionnaire that is used to interview parents and caregivers at the beginning of the age one dental visit. The questions help identify areas of concern in the childs’ or parents’ habits, thereby guiding the dentist in their discussion with the caregivers. Dentists are able to use the information gathered as well as clinical findings to determine caries risk, and establish an appropriate recall interval and fluoride exposure routine. The same form is completed at each recall visit, allowing the practitioner to evaluate any changes in the patient’s caries risk. 12

Oral Hygiene Practices It is important to establish with the parents who is brushing the patients’ teeth, how often, and what type of toothpaste is being used, if any. Recommendations: Children at moderate or high caries risk should brush their teeth twice a day. Patients ages 0-2 years should use a smear of toothpaste, and those ages 3-5 years should use a pea size. Rinsing after brushing should be eliminated altogether. It is important to start Oral Hygiene practices no later than when the first tooth erupts.ii Dietary Habits Dietary habits are established by 12 months of age and are maintained throughout early childhood. The age one dental visit gives us a unique opportunity to discuss these habits early on in the child’s development. Key questions to ask the parent are: What does the child eat or drink between meals? Do they go to bed or naptime with a bottle? If so, what is in it? It has been demonstrated that “prolonged or frequent bottle or training cup feeding with sugar-containing drinks and frequent between meal consumption of sugar-containing snacks or drinks will increase risk of caries.” Higher frequency consumption of sugary liquids increases caries risk in children.i It is also important to establish if the patient is still breast feeding on demand. While breast milk alone has not been shown to be cariogenic, once other carbohydrates are introduced into the diet, it can become cariogenic.ii The literature has demonstrated that ad libitum breast feeding has been associated but not consistently implicated in ECC.ii Recommendations: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children 1-6 years old consume no more than 4-6 oz. of fruit juice per day, from a regular cup as part of a meal or snack.ii Ad libitum breast feeding should be discourWEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

POINTS OF LIGHT

aged once the first primary tooth erupts and carbohydrates are introduced into the diet.ii Patients should be weaned from the bottle at age 12-18 months, and parents should try to reduce the frequency of sugar-containing snacks between meals.ii Non-Nutritive Sucking Habits Non-nutritive sucking habits such as pacifier use or thumb or finger sucking are normal in early development, but can affect facial development and occlusion if used for sufficient frequency, intensity or duration. It is important to ask the parent what habits the child has and how often the patient practices this habit. Recommendations: It is recommended that the habit is discontinued by age 3.i Caregiver Caries Risk Establishing the caregivers caries risk is an important part of anticipatory guidance. Parents and caregivers who had untreated decay place their child at higher risk for caries. Vertical transmission of Mutans Streptococci has been documented in the literature. Infants whose mothers have higher

levels of MS as a result of untreated caries are at greater risk of acquiring the organism than children whose mothers had low levels.iii Recommendations: Saliva sharing activities should be discouraged, and caregivers should be encouraged to seek care for their decay.iii Caries Risk Assessment The outcomes of the Infant Screening Form can be combined with the clinical examination to determine caries risk.

iii. Guideline on Periodicity of Examination, Preventive Dental Services, Anticipatory Guidance/Counseling, and Oral Treatment for Infants, Children and Adolescents. AAPD Reference Manual 2013/14; 35(6):114-121 iii. Policy on Early Childhood Caries (ECC): Classifications, consequences, and Preventive Strategies. AAPD Reference Manual 2013/14; 35(6):50-52. iii. Guideline on Parinatal Oral Health Care. AAPD Reference Manual 2013/14;35(6): 131-136.

COMING SOON IN LATE JULY Please visit the newly re-designed WMDDS website to find more information and resources that you can use for Infant Oral Health From the website you will be able to access: • printable or downloadable files to give to parents to take home covering all important infant and children’s oral health topics; • the parent questionnaire you found in this issue; • a guide you can use to train staff following the methods others are already using with success in their offices; • a sample letter you can use to send to patients, or to provide with your packets if you decide to give them away to people who are not already patients. All files will be available as pdf or Word files that can be altered to fit for your individual needs.

www.wmdds.org WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

POINTS OF LIGHT

Infant Oral Health Information Patient Name: _____________________________________ Date of Birth: _____________________________________

11. Does an adult brush the childs’ teeth? a. Yes b. No 12. How many times a day are the childs’ teeth brushed? a. 1 b. 2 c. 3 13. Does the child use tooth paste? a. Yes b. No 14. If the child uses toothpaste, what kind? a. Training toothpaste/infant toothpaste b. “Kids” toothpaste c. Adult toothpaste d. Other e. N/A 15. Is the child currently breastfeeding on demand? a. Yes b. No 16. Does the child use a bottle? a. Yes b. No 17. Does the child use a sippy cup? a. Yes b. No

18. What does the child drink from the bottle or sippy cup? a. Water b. Milk c. Juice d. Pop e. Kool-Aid f. Other g. N/A 19. Does the child go to bed or nap with a drink? a. Yes b. No 10. If the child goes to bed or nap with a drink, what type of drink? a. Milk b. Pop c. Water d. Juice e. Kool-Aid f. Other g. N/A 11. How many times a day does the child snack? a. 1-2 b. 2-3 c. 3-4 12. Does the child have any of the following habits? a. Thumb sucking b. Finger sucking c. Pacifier d. Other 13. Do the child’s parents/caregivers have dental decay? a. Yes b. No

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

y a d n o Call M n o e t o u for q e c n a r u car ins You know how to restore your patient to perfect occlusion. But do you know if youâ€™re getting the best discounts on home and auto insurance? We do. Find out what thousands of Michigan dentists already know. Get all your insurance from the most trusted and knowledgeable source. Visit mdaprograms.com or call today at 800.860.2272.

POINTS OF LIGHT

Would You Like More Patient Referrals? Dental Referral Guide By Karen O’Rourke D.D.S.

ould you like more patient referrals from respected physicians without additional outlay of time or money? Do we have your attention? The primary mission of the Points of Light Program is to promote the first dental visit by age one. Additionally, the Points of Light program provides an online database, serving as a parent resource, of participating dentists that accept infants, Head Start students, or children with Special Health Care Needs. This is a great resource, but it may not be enough to just have a website with some names and addresses on it, that parents have to search out in order to find a dentist for their child. We would like this database to be reproduced and made available to the Pediatric and Primary Care medical community in the form of an Infant Oral Health Dental Referral Guide – distributed in paper form similar to the Hospital & Pharmacy Directory that is published and distributed by AMR. The guide will include names, addresses, and likely even a map of participating dental offices. Your West Michigan District Dental Society and members of the Points Of Light Task Force are going to do the leg work for you. If you sign up for Points of Light, you will automatically be included when the guide is created. We will take it from there. If for some reason you do not wish to join Points of Light, but are willing to start, or are already seeing infants and children under the age of three in your practice, we would love to include you as well. We envision this directory to be specific by county or smaller area, and foresee distributing the pertinent directory to physicians in that area that see infants and children on a regular basis. Our friends in Genesee County have instituted a program like this with good success, and we

are happy to follow in their footsteps (see “Baby Those Baby Teeth” guide on the next page for an example of the guide). Even with all of the information we now know is out there about the importance and benefits of early dental visits, many pediatricians and family practice doctors are still not making it a point of emphasis to parents of young children. It may be that some of that is just a lack of understanding about our willingness as dentists to see infants in our offices. This guide can work as a starting point to make those doctors aware of the opportunities parents have to find a dental home for their kids at an early age. Hopefully, now that the physicians have moved to an electronic records system and standardized forms, they are asking about dental health and dental visits in their health histories. Young patients that don’t have a dentist would be guided to this list by their primary providers. This directory would also be available as an online resource, but we feel paper distribution will be key initially to educate front office staff and physicians of those dentists willing to accept age 1 referrals. The exact method of how and when this referral guide will be distributed is still being ironed out. This will be the start of a great collaborative effort by our dental community to work with the medical community in a visible way to improve the overall health of the children in our area. You will not want to miss out on this very visible sign of your willingness to help an infant find a dental home that can grow into a lifetime of healthy and happy patients in your dental family. Please keep your eyes and ears open for more information on this in the near future.

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

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Mount Morris Rd.

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Genesee County Dentists 475 Accepting Infants and Toddlers

Use this guide to make an appointment for your infant or toddler to see a local dentist and establish a dental home. Ask your own primary dentist if they would accept your 55

Why Dental Care for Baby Teeth?

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52 For additional information, please contact the 52 52 Greater Flint Health Coalition Silver Lake

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52 52

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This information is brought to you by the Greater Flint Health Coalition Children’s Oral Health Task Force in cooperation with 15the Genesee District Dental Society.

75 75

48 48 50 49 Maple50St. 49 49 Maple 50 Maple St. St.

Last Updated 2013

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

MISSION OF MERCY

Working MOM By Margaret S. Gingrich, D.D.S.

OW, what a weekend! After 12-plus months of emails, planning, and hard work, the Mission of Mercy took place at Ferris State University, Big Rapids on May 29–June 1, 2014. If you were there, then I don’t need to tell you what a great time was had by all. The semi-truck of equipment was dropped off on Wednesday, and at 7 am Thursday morning it was opened for setup. As locals from the Big Rapids area joined dental team members and MDA dentists from across the state, the setup was complete by early afternoon. The first patient, Dwayne Dallas, arrived about 8 pm Wednesday night! I offered to take Dallas home and bring him back on Thursday afternoon. He was coming from ten miles South in Standwood and took four days off work to get his teeth fixed. As I introduced myself, Dallas was eating nuts and had a case of water under his chair. He sheepishly put his nuts away and said,”Don’t let the nuts fool you, I am only eating on two good teeth. I have been waiting months for this clinic to come. I have wanted to get my teeth fixed for a while, but couldn’t afford it on a cook’s salary. I don’t qualify for help from the state because I don’t have any kids.” I can truly say Dallas was not there for a free handout – he volunteered for setup all day Thursday (we promised to hold his spot) and after all the dental work was completed, Dallas volunteered Saturday afternoon for cleaning up! Dallas received over $2,600 in dental treatment including extractions, fillings, and flippers. Dallas told me when he left that this was a lifechanging event, and he was thankful to all involved. And to think he received a flier from a friend and saw it on Facebook! For most volunteers, the next morning started between 4:30-5:30 am on Friday. For a few lucky souls, myself includ-

ed, the morning started at 3 am. This year we received a $5,000 grant from Osceola County Community Foundation to feed patients while they waited. Volunteers served food such as yogurt from Yoplait (who made a cash donation), to hot hotdogs and chips from Frito-Lay (who donated chips), and water from Ice Mountain (who also donated). The line was over 200 people long by 4 am that morning – people arrived from all over the state! I talked with patients throughout the weekend from Wayne County to Cheboygan to Three Rivers – and everywhere in between. Although this MOM was held in a rural area of Big Rapids, it didn’t stop people from coming to get relief from pain and fix their smiles. Saturday morning was much the same. We had great weather that made it easier on volunteers and patients alike. With the help 1,164 volunteers (including 170 dentists), we saw 858 patients for a grand donation of over $847,000! This was the biggest volunteer project our most northern county of WMDDS has every seen, and with the help of volunteers like many of you it was very successful. By Sunday, June 1 at noon, the entire clinic was packed up and everyone was heading home. Many had changed lives, both patients and volunteers alike. If you are interested in seeing more on this event, go to YouTube and search “Mission of Mercy 2014.” This MOM Project was also mentioned in local newspapers, newscasts such as WZZM 13, and Detroit News for over two weeks after the event. There are Facebook postings, including one from a Big Rapids native on the MDA Facebook page. Our presence was noticed by several legislators and other important public figures. With all that was accomplished, we even have a surplus to pass on to the next mission! Now that my reign as WMDDS president is over and I have completed my other duties as local lead for the mission, I am picking up my “other” mom duty with my daughter, Lexi. I am sure wherever the next MOM is held, you will see volunteers from WMDDS and especially from the Big Rapids area! THANK YOU, WMDDS for all the support. It was nice to see West Michigan shine all over the state. I hope to see you in 2016 at the next Mission of Mercy!

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

MISSION OF MERCY

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COMMUNITY NEWS

HDVCH Pediatric Clinic Fluoride Varnish Project By Colette Smiley, D.D.S.

act: Dental caries represents the number one chronic infectious disease of early childhood. In our community, the Helen DeVos Childrenâ€™s Hospital (HDVCH) Pediatric Clinic cares for approximately 10,000 children, with the majority receiving health insurance through Medicaid plans. Due to a number of complex factors, although the recommendation is that children be seen for their first dental visit six months after first tooth eruption or no later than 12 months of age, most children in this population are not evaluated by a dentist until they are much older. An initial visit and caries diagnosis delayed until the age of 3 or 4 often requires a more invasive restorative approach and the benefit of prevention and early intervention is lost. Evidence is showing a 37% decrease* in caries for children at high risk who receive prophylactic fluoride varnish application to primary teeth. As children in the 0-3 age group see a physician at greater frequency than they do a dentist, to improve the oral health of young children and decrease early childhood caries, the Michigan Department of Community Health VARNISH! Program provides education on varnish application and supplies fluoride varnish to Medicaid medical providers (pediatricians and family practitioners). In 2013, the Michigan Department of Community Health accepted the HDVCH Pediatric Clinic as a site for this preventive varnish program. Managed by Dr. Karen VanderLaan, fifty-eight pediatric and internal medicine/pediatric resident physicians and ten attending pediatricians completed the varnish educational program and last December, began applying fluoride varnish to children beginning at nine months of age. Varnish continues to be applied at all well-child visits (two-four 20

times a year) until the child reaches three years of age. Prior to each application of varnish, a caries risk assessment and screening for signs of dental decay is completed; proper referral to a dental home is made for children with apparent caries. Dr. VanderLaan reports families have been receptive to this oral health service since its inception. The benefits of the program include an oral screening, parent/caregiver education about decreasing exposure to sugary containing liquids and foods, emphasis on promoting increased water intake, and oral hygiene instruction on brushing twice daily with an appropriate amount of fluoridated toothpaste. Medicaid medical providers participating in the VARNISH! Program are required to collect certain oral screening data on each child that receives a varnish application. This data will be used by the Michigan Department of Community Health for the enhancement of future oral health programs in Michigan. * Fluoride varnishes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents. Retrieved May 15, 2014, from http://summaries.cochrane.org/CD002279/ fluoride-varnishes-for-preventing-dental-caries-in-children-and-adolescents

Karen S. VanderLaan, MD Pediatrics & Pediatric Neurofibromatosis, Helen DeVos Childrenâ€™s Hospital

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

2014–2015 WMDDS CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS

F r i d ay, Oc t o b e r 2 4 , 2 0 1 4

Dr. Farran’s One Day Dental MBA Seminar: You went to dental school, now Dr. Farran teaches you and your staff the business of dentistry Presented by Dr. Howard Farran Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park | Registration 7:30 — 8:00 AM | Seminar 8:00 AM — 4:00 PM | 7 CEU’s For information, call Elaine Fleming at 616.234.5605 or email at efwmdds@aol.com

F r i d ay, J a n u a r y 1 6 , 2 0 1 5

TEN Minutes to Save a Life: Emergency Medicine in Dentistry Presented by Dr. Stanley Malamed Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park | Registration 7:30 — 8:00 AM | Seminar 8:00 AM — 4:00 PM | 7 CEU’s For information, call Elaine Fleming at 616.234.5605 or email at efwmdds@aol.com

F r i d ay, M a r ch 1 3 , 2 0 1 5

Successful Management of Acute Dental Pain and

Managing the Endodontic Infection Presented by Dr. Ken Hargreaves Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park | Registration 7:30 — 8:00 AM | Seminar 8:00 AM — 4:00 PM | 7 CEU’s For information, call Elaine Fleming at 616.234.5605 or email at efwmdds@aol.com (*fulfills 1 hour pain management credit needed for license renewal)

Registration forms will be mailed 2 months prior to each course and will also be available online at www.wmdds.org. WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | HOLIDAY ISSUE 2013

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WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

WMDF NEWS

WMDF Golf Outing Submitted by Dr. Mike Palaszek, Chairperson, 2014 WMDF Golf Committee

beautiful, warm, sunny day greeted 106 golfers on Friday, June 6th at Egypt Valley Country Club for the West Michigan Dental Foundation’s annual golf outing. It was a perfect day for golf ! This year, the golf committee decided to try a new format with a 9:00 am shotgun start and it was very well-received. As golfers arrived, they could assemble their own Bloody Mary at the “Rise and Shine” Bloody Mary bar and enjoy a continental breakfast. At 9:00, the golfers spread out across the Ridge course where a fantastic 18 holes of golf was had by all. Following their round of golf, everyone gathered in the clubhouse for lunch, awards, and the raffle prize drawing. This is the WMDF’s largest fundraiser, raising over $19,000 at this year’s event. Thank you to the WMDF golf committee, chaired by Dr. Mike Palaszek. Also serving on the committee were Dr. Larissa Bishop, Mr. Jim Ditta, Dr. Matt Gietzen, Dr. Tim Meade, Dr. Ken Mulder, Dr. Devin Norman, Dr. Mark Powell, and Dr. Ryan Zolman. Helping to make the outing a success were GRCC dental assisting students who worked contest holes and sold raffle tickets. Thanks too to Renee Biggs, Sara Van Horn, and Lisa Israels who expertly managed registration, sold raffle tickets, and manned the Hole-in-One hole. A special thank you to the sponsors who made this year’s outing such a success:

Birdie Sponsors ($500) Bank of Holland Caldwell & Christopherson Orthodontics Chase Bank DDS Integration Founders Bank & Trust Grandville Dental Health Care Center – Dr. Larissa Bishop Henry Schein Dental Dr. Bruce Jackson MDA Insurance MDA Services Norman Family Dentistry Dr. Thomas Nykamp Partners in Dental Care, PC Dr. Mark Powell Professional Consulting and Accounting Group, Inc.

Lunch sponsor ($2500) Davis Dental Laboratory

Here is a list of event winners: Men’s Scramble: Devin Norman, Matt Peal, Tom Williams, Andy Knowlton Women’s Scramble: Elizabeth Christopherson, Heather Gietzen, Sarah Masterson, Hilary Lane Play Your Own Ball: Gary Mancewicz, Steve Mancewicz, Kim Jones, Scott Bolkema Longest Drive – Men’s: Jared Van Ittersun Longest Drive – Women’s: Juli Wemmer Closest to the Pin #3: Brad Bruinsma Closest to the Pin #6: Dale Shoemaker Closest to the Pin #15: Steve Mancewicz Closest to the Pin #17: Don Vander Linde

On course beverage sponsor ($2,300) Bredeweg & Zylstra LLC Eagle sponsors ($1,000) Grand Management Grand River Endodontics – Dr. Sarah Masterson Grandville Endodontics – Dr. Brian Licari Great Lakes Financial Insurance Company – Molly Murray Mac Dental Lab – Bob Mac Tavish OMSA of Western Michigan, P.L.C. Oral Surgery Associates Patterson Dental Suppy Swan Orthodontics – Dr. Kathryn Swan West Michigan Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, PC WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

Major Patron Sponsors ($250) Dental Art Laboratories Herremans Orthodontics Dr. Jacob Lueder Valleau and VanDeven Pediatric Dentistry The following golf courses also donated golf packages: Gleneagle • Ironside • Maple Hill• Pilgrim’s Run • The Meadows • The Rogue • Saskatoon • Treetops

Watch for an announcement about the 2015 golf outing in a future issue of the WMDDS Bulletin or at wmdds.org.

STEEL WATER AWARD

2014 Steel Water Award Winner: Doug Mack, MD Submitted by Dr. Jim Wieland

he Steel Water Award is presented to a non-dentist who has made significant contributions to dentistry and the West Michigan dental community. This year’s award was presented at the WMDDS summer board meeting on June 25th to Dr. Doug Mack. Dr. Doug Mack received his MD from Loma Linda University and became a Medical Examiner in 1968. He received his Master’s in Public Health from the University of Michigan in 1971. Doug’s involvements have included academic appointments at Michigan State University, the University of California Davis, and the University of Michigan. He has been the Director of Public Health in the BranchHillsdale-St. Joseph District Health Department, the Merced County California Department, and Kent County Health Department where he was not only the Director of Public Health, but also the Chief Medical Examiner from 1977-79 and 1983-2001. Doug’s professional activities include pages of appointments, committees, and involvement on the National, State, and local levels where he has served all of us with his leadership, his vision, and his heart. He served two terms on the Michigan State Board of Medicine from 1992-1999. As our top public health officer, Doug was always very supportive of the Adult Dental Services Program. During his watch, the AIDS crisis was in full swing and this crisis needed to be met by the public health community. Policy issues, treatment and care issues, and a myriad of other things had to be developed on the national, state, and local levels. Doug was very involved with all of this at all levels and he was always sensitive to the fact that dental care was an important part of 24

this challenge. Locally, Doug consistently supported dental representation in this process. We had a seat at the table. What about the man Doug Mack? Have any of you ever been on Mount Everest? Well, Doug has – and he has also climbed the highest peak on every continent including Antarctica. The only highest peak he did not reach is Everest, and that is because he and another climber had to save the life of an unconscious French climber who had developed brain edema. Additionally, how many of you have run a marathon in Antarctica? Well Doug has, but he has also run a marathon in every other continent. Somehow, Doug found time to serve on the first Fluoride Commemorative Committee, and when fundraising floundered and our committee also failed in its efforts to make this celebration national and international, Doug almost single-handedly turned that around by getting his compatriots at the CDC in Atlanta involved. We were almost ready to fold up our tent when Doug said to the committee, “We cannot let this die. We are the only community in the world that can have this commemorative celebration.” When all was said and done, Grand Rapids had a truly international symposium and unveiling of the commemorative. There was a good representation of dentists and public health officials from Europe, Asia, South America, and North America. For all of Dr. Mack’s contributions, it is only fitting that the WMDDS give the Steel Water Award to Doug for all of his service to our community, and specifically our dental community.

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING

Fixed Before It’s Broken Submitted by Greg Feutz, President, DDS Integration

Greg Feutz is President of DDS Integration, a Grand Rapids based dental technology company.

like car examples, so let’s all imagine hopping into our car and driving down the road on a nice summer day. Pretty easy so far, right? Let’s next imagine our check engine light comes on and the car starts to chug, at first just a little, then so much that you decide to pull over and give that little light your full attention. Next comes popping the hood, checking for obvious problems, and ultimately calling for a tow truck. Remember that nice summer day? It’s pretty much over now. Let’s rewind a bit. The Check engine light comes on, your car starts chugging, and then suddenly the light goes off and the car starts running great again. Just as you’re wondering what in the world just happened, your phone buzzes. You check it (after pulling over for safety obviously) and your mechanic has just emailed you to let you know your car’s Engine Control Unit was receiving strange data from the Mass Airflow sensor, so he reset it. The details you don’t really care about, just the last part of his email that says “Your car notified me, I logged in and fixed it, and just wanted to let you know. I’ll keep an eye on it”. You continue on your journey to the golf course and wish your golf swing had a magic mechanic like your car. If your imagination is like mine, the second scenario was much nicer. While this type of technology may eventually be making its way into cars, this article is really about computers. The computers in your practice impact your ability to take x-rays, schedule patients, process payments, check face … insurance coverage, and ultimately, to meet production. I would ask you to imagine the same scenario as above except with a computer in your practice but I don’t need to. You’ve been there. It’s not fun. You’d probably prefer the car scenario. WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

The point is, this type of technology that actively reports on what your computer is doing does actually exist and can do amazing things. Not long ago, cost was prohibitive except for large enterprise level networks but now it is affordable and cost effective in dental practices, especially compared with the “call when it’s broken” model. Getting your IT company in the loop on what is happening with your computers in real time means less downtime, less hassle and wasted time for staff, and ultimately, far less reactionary cost. Just like the car scenario above, often times the problems will be detected and solved before you even know it. Imagine that. More and more companies are beginning to offer these proactive services, because the value makes sense for their clients. Proactive services can minimize and regulate IT costs. Why? Big problems cost big money. Getting your IT costs into a structured plan helps keep costs consistent and predictable. Additionally, when your IT company is providing proactive services for its clients, it frees them up to be more available to you. Proactive work (think scheduled hygiene appointments) are much more predictable and easier to schedule than reactive work (think emergency appointments) Here’s what to look for in a plan like this: Active monitoring for: • Memory & CPU usage • Virus detections • Added or removed software • Low disk space Software patch management (updates) for: • Microsoft • Adobe (Acrobat & Flash) • Java Other items • Data backup monitoring • Quarterly on-site maintenance • Quarterly staff training • Mobile device tracking/locking/recovery assistance What are your thoughts? Comment on our blog or facebook article. We’d love to hear your opinions. How do you feel about your check engine light? Facebook: facebook.com/ddsintegration Blog: ddsintegration.com/blog

FINANCIAL NEWS

Beyond Traditional Asset Classes: Exploring Alternatives By Bernard Bowhuis, CLU, ChFc, CFP®, CEO, Benchmark Financial Design Group, Inc. Hedge funds originally derived their name from their ability to hedge against a market downturn by selling short. Though they may invest in stocks and bonds, hedge funds are considered an alternative asset class because of their unique, proprietary investing strategies, which may include pairs trading, long-short strategies, and use of leverage and derivatives. Participation in hedge funds is typically limited to “accredited investors,” who must meet SEC-mandated high levels of net worth and ongoing income (individual funds also usually require very high minimum investments).

tocks, bonds, and cash are fundamental components of an investment portfolio. However, many other investments can be used to try to spice up returns or reduce overall portfolio risk. So-called alternative assets have become popular in recent years as a way to provide greater diversification. What is an alternative asset? The term “alternative asset” is highly flexible; it can mean almost anything whose investment performance is not correlated with that of stocks and bonds. It may include physical assets, such as precious metals, real estate, or commodities. In some cases, geographic regions, such as emerging global markets, are considered alternative assets. Complex or novel investing methods also qualify. For example, hedge funds use techniques that are off-limits for most mutual funds, while private equity investments rely on skill in selecting and managing specific businesses. Finally, collectibles are included because the value of your investment depends on the unique properties of a specific item as well as general interest in that type of collectible. Each alternative asset type involves its own unique risks and may not be suitable for all investors. Because of the complexities of these various markets, you would do well to seek expert guidance if you want to include alternative assets in a portfolio. Hedge funds Hedge funds are private investment vehicles that manage money for institutions and wealthy individuals. They generally are organized as limited partnerships, with the fund managers as general partners and the investors as limited partners. The general partner may receive a percentage of the assets, fees based on performance, or both.

Private equity/venture capital Like stock shares, private equity and venture capital represent an ownership interest in one or more companies, but firms that make private equity investments may or may not be listed or traded on a public market or exchange. Private equity firms often are involved directly with management of the businesses in which they invest. Private equity often requires a long-term focus. Investments may take years to produce any meaningful cash flow (if indeed they ever do); many funds have 10-year time horizons and you may not have access to your funds when you want them. Like hedge funds, private equity also typically requires a large investment and is available only to investors who meet SEC net worth and income requirements. Real estate You may make either direct or indirect investments in buildings – either commercial or residential – and/or land. Direct investment involves the purchase, improvement, and/or rental of property. Indirect investments are made through an entity that invests in property, such as a real estate investment trust (REIT), which may be either publicly traded or not. Real estate not only has a relatively low correlation with the behavior of the stock market, but also is often viewed as a hedge against inflation. However, bear in mind that physical real estate can be highly illiquid, may involve more work on your part to manage, and may be subject to weather hazards, rezoning or other factors that can reduce the value of your property. The value of a REIT will depend not only on fluctuations in the value of its real estate holdings – it’s subject to the risks associated with the real estate market in general – but on investor sentiment and market volatility. Also, some types of REITS are considered more illiquid than others, which could mean problems if you need to sell quickly. WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

FINANCIAL NEWS

Precious metals Investors have traditionally purchased precious metals because they believe that gold, silver, and platinum provide security in times of economic and social upheaval. Gold, for instance, has historically been seen as an alternative to paper currency and therefore may help hedge against inflation and currency fluctuations. As a result, gold prices often rise when investors are worried that the dollar is losing value, though prices can fall just as quickly. There are many ways to invest in precious metals. In addition to buying bullion or coins, you can invest in futures, shares of mining companies, sector funds, and exchangetraded funds (ETFs). Natural resources/equipment leasing Direct investments in natural resources, such as timber, oil, or natural gas, can be done through limited partnerships that provide income from the resources produced. In some cases, such as timber, the resource replenishes itself; in other cases, such as oil or natural gas, it may be depleted over time. Timberland also may be converted for use as a real estate development. Some limited partnerships pool your money with that of other investors to invest in equipment leasing businesses, giving you partial ownership of the equipment those businesses lease out, such as construction equipment. Commodities and financial futures Commodities are physical substances that are fundamental to creating other products and are basically indistinguishable from one another. Examples include oil and natural gas; agricultural products; livestock such as hogs; and metals such as copper and zinc. Commodities are typically traded through futures contracts, which promise delivery on a certain date at a specified price. Futures contracts also are available for financial instruments, such as a security, a stock index, or a currency. Though the futures market was created to facilitate trading among companies that produce, own, or use commodities in their businesses, futures contracts also are bought and sold as investments in themselves, and some mutual funds and ETFs are based on futures indexes. Futures allow an investor to leverage a relatively small amount of capital. However, they are highly speculative, and that leverage also magnifies the potential for loss.

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

Art, antiques, gems, and collectibles Some investors are drawn to these because they may retain value or even appreciate as inflation rises. However, those values can be unpredictable because they are affected by supply and demand, economic conditions, and the quality of an individual piece or collection. Why invest in alternative asset classes? Part of sound portfolio management is diversifying investments so that if one type of investment is performing poorly, another may be doing well. As previously indicated, returns on some alternative investments are based on factors unique to a specific investment. Also, the asset class as a whole may behave differently from stocks or bonds. An alternative assetâ€™s lack of correlation with other types of investments gives it potential to complement more traditional asset classes and provide an additional layer of diversification for money that is not part of your core portfolio, though diversification cannot guarantee a profit or ensure against a loss. Tradeoffs you need to understand Alternative assets can be less liquid than stock or bonds. Depending on the investment, there may be restrictions on when you can sell, and you may or may not be able to find a buyer. Performance, values, and risks may be difficult to research and assess accurately. Also, you may not be eligible for direct investment in hedge funds or private equity. The unique properties of alternative asset classes also mean that they can involve a high degree of risk. Because some are subject to less regulation than other investments, there may be fewer constraints to prevent potential manipulation or to limit risk from highly concentrated positions in a single investment. Finally, hard assets, such as gold bullion, may involve special concerns, such as storage and insurance, while natural resources and commodities can suffer from unusual weather or natural disasters. Securities offered through Founders Financial Securities LLC Member FINRA/SIPC and Registered Investment Advisor Benchmark Financial Design Group, Inc. Bernard Bowhuis, CLU, ChFC, CFPÂŽ, CEO 2358 S. Garden Ct., Jenison, MI 49428 616.667.8834 | 616.443.4334 bbowhuis@mibenchmark.com | www.ddsMoneyCoach.com

FINANCIAL NEWS

Help! I’ve Been a Victim of Tax Identity Theft Brian LaFrenier, CPA, Audit Partner, Beene Garter, LLP required when filing future tax returns to verify that the return belongs to you. The IPPIN number is only good for one year and a new one will be issued annually as long as the Identity Theft Indicator is on your account.

he IRS releases their “Dirty Dozen Tax Scams” to be on the lookout for at the start of each new tax season. This year it seems doctors and dentists were hit hard by the number one tax scam – Identity Theft. The issue was so prevalent among the dental community that it prompted the Michigan Dental Association (MDA) and the American Dental Association (ADA) to send out email notifications to their members. According to an article published by the Associated Press in early May, nearly 100 doctors in Connecticut, 150 health care providers in New Hampshire and Vermont, and more than 300 dentists in Michigan claimed to be victims of tax identity theft. If you were a victim of tax identity theft this year, you’re probably asking yourself, “how could this happen to me?” According to a U.S. Department of Justice article published in December 2013, approximately 16.6 million individuals, or 7% of all U.S. Residents over the age of 16, were victims of some form of identity theft in 2012. A majority of these cases (77%) involved the unauthorized use or attempted use of a credit card or bank account. Unfortunately, there has been an uptick in tax identity theft cases. According to IRS commissioner John Koskinen, “Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes nationwide, and refund fraud caused by identity theft is one of the biggest challenges facing the IRS.” If you’ve been notified that you may have been a victim of tax identity theft, there are a few steps you need to take: 1. Notify your accountant and they will prepare an Identity Theft Affidavit Form 14039, which will be attached to a paper filing of your return. The affidavit will inform the IRS that you have been a victim of identity theft, which has affected your federal tax records. You will be required to attach your social security card or photo identification. 2. Once the IRS processes your tax return, you will receive a notice assigning you an Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IPPIN). This number will be 28

There are additional steps that should be considered, as well: • Notify the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and file an Identity Theft Report. • Contact the IRS Identity Theft Protection Unit. • Contact the three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. • Contact your bank and credit card companies. • Notify local authorities and consider filing a police report using the FTC’s Identity Theft Report. If you haven’t been the target of Identity Theft, or if you’re recovering from being a victim, consider taking these proactive measures: • Create strong passwords for all of your computing devices, including your cell phone, and change them often. • Exercise discretion when sharing information on social media. A number of individuals post personal information such as date of birth, address, and telephone number on social media outlets, which can then be used to crack security questions. • Make sure you store your sensitive documents in a secure place. Items like birth certificates and social security cards should be stored in a safe or safety deposit box at the bank. • Shred documents that include banking or other personal information when they are no longer of use. • Check your credit report. You are entitled to a free credit report each year. Make the time to request it and check the activity. • Never respond to emails requesting personal information. The IRS will never communicate or request personal information via unsolicited email. Remember, if you’re a victim of Identity Theft, you’re not alone. The sooner you report the incident the better. Connect with Brian LaFrenier on LinkedIn at: www.linkedin.com/in/blafy Like Beene Garter on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BeeneGarter Follow Beene Garter on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/BeeneGarter WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

Smile Design Case of the Month: Mark Salhaney. D.D.S. Grand Rapids, MI

Original before and after views

Our Same-Day Crown Lab Service… Pressing e.max in the mouth &

Photos of recent 6 unit veneer case courtesy of Dr. Salhaney 2405 32nd Street SE Kentwood, MI 49512 Ph. 616-957-2140 info@studio2dental.com www.studio2dental.com

Since the official launch of our Smile Design same-day crown/bridge/veneer program at the MDA Expo, dentists who have prescribed the program for their patients are suggesting that our CAD/CAM e.max restorations have the esthetics and fit of pressed e.max. Experience Smile Design for your patients and yourself.      

Eliminate temporizing and experience perfect fitting restorations Transition your practice to digital impressions and achieve precision Double your chair-time profit versus conventional restorative methods Powdering not required with Sirona Omnicam digital impressioning Differentiate your practice and drive patient acceptance Reduce and eliminate post restorative tooth sensitivity

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Your practice depends on the individualized service you provide each and every client. So does ours.

Tax Planning and Preparation

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With extensive hands-on experience in the healthcare industry, our team focuses on the financial and operational challenges you face everyday. We are committed to providing industry-specific expertise relevant to you, without compromising your patient focus.

Accounting Software Installation and Support

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For more information please visit BeeneGarter.com or contact Brian LaFrenier at (616) 235-5200.

Bookkeeping and Assistance Start-Up Consulting Choice of Entity Analysis Cash Flow Projections

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Evolving your practice today for a healthier tomorrow.

Overhead Analysis

56 Grandville Avenue sw . Suite 100 Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 . 616 235 5200

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

CLASSIFIED ADS

The classified ad rate is $10.00 up to and including 30 words; additional words 15¢ each. Space permitting, WMDDS members may place ads free of charge as a membership service. Ads should be submitted in writing and sent with payment to Elaine Fleming, WMDDS, 511-F Waters Building, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Telephone numbers and hyphenations count as two words, abbreviations count as one word. Ads received after the first of the month prior to publication may appear in the following issue. Part Time Associate Dentist – Well established dental office located approximately one hour north of Grand Rapids in White Cloud is seeking an energetic, motivated dentist to join our busy office. We provide quality dentistry and many advanced procedures such as implants, soft and hard tissue grafts, implant borne prosthetics, sinus augmentation, CT scan analysis, third molar surgery, orthodontics and endodontics. This is a great opportunity to provide advanced dental services to patients who don’t care to drive to the big city. We are happy to work with a young dentist just getting started or with a more seasoned dentist. This position is for 1-2 days a week with the possibility of progressing to partnership or buyout. Please submit resume to lifecaredentalresumes@yahoo.com. Dental Office Building for Sale – 1600 square feet on very high traffic street. Has been a dental office since 1960. Very large signage. Free standing building with its own parking lot. Brick exterior. Remodeled in 2010, new roof 2010, high efficiency furnace/ AC 2009. Four equipped ops, dark room, lab/sterilization area, reception, business office, staff room, private office, basement and a lot more. Will be great for starting a new office or relocating your office if you want to own your building. Please contact hanyb@juno.com, or Michael R. Gantos, Gantos Group LLC, at 616.957.5500 or email mike@gantosgroup.com. 30

For Sale – Lab Master Foster Model Trimmer, Model # MT115, like new $400. Contact 616.949.7510. Busy, high tech general practice in beautiful Grand Haven searching for general dentist – Ideal candidate would have 2 to 5 years of experience, work well in a group setting, and enjoy all phases of dentistry including extractions and endo. Position is for a short associateship and a lifetime partnership. We also value someone who likes to be involved in our community. Enjoy coastal living, a great staff and wonderful patients. Please fax your resume to 616.842.0955 or email cwc@creasonwebercurtis.com. Dental Office Space for Lease/ Possible Buyin – 2554 Woodmeadow Drive, SE (near Breton and 28th Street), 1300 sq. ft., 4 ops, private office, lab, reception, staff lounge, full basement with lockable storage, excellent parking, plumbed for dentistry and cabled for digital dentistry. Three other dental suites in an all dental building. Very competitive lease rate. Available April 2014. For more information, email westmidental@gmail.com or call 616.401.5134. Immediate opening for an associate dentist in the Grand Rapids area. We are an up-to-date, modern office that is completely paperless. Our office performs all aspects of general and cosmetic dentistry. Email your resume to gr.dentalassociate@gmail.com.

Exciting Opportunities for Dentists in the Grand Rapids Area – Help enhance the quality of life for children by providing a positive dental experience right in the school setting. Excellent compensation. MondayFriday. No weekends. For more information or to apply: www.smileprograms.com. For Sale – Family practice in Grand Rapids NE that is part time with great potential, located in an excellent highvisibility location. There is 2050 sq.ft. with 5 ops and a 6th op is plumbed in. Opportunity for more footage if desired. Call 616.485.4884 for details. Seeking full-time employment in a West Michigan general practice office to contribute immediately to the success of an office with a willingness to work nights/weekends to help bolster production and practice availability, as well as generate new patients. I have a desire to be included within the practice’s leadership team to contribute to decision making, developing strategies for practice growth, and to support team development and morale. I’ve been consistently regarded as responsible, personable, a producer, positive, professional, and upbeat. I am currently in a hospital based GPR and am comfortable with all aspects of dentistry, including endodontics and surgery. For a copy of my resume and to discuss possible opportunities indetail, please contact me at grapdds@ gmail.com or call 989-225-0753.

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

CLASSIFIED ADS

Kavo Handpieces for Sale – 6000B have 5 at $400/handpiece, 6500B have 6 at $400/ handpiece, 647B have 8 at $200/handpiece, 640B have 2 at $200/handpiece, 649B have 2 at $200/handpiece. Call 616-453-6323. Panoramic x-ray unit (Gendex GX Pan. 70-98KVp. Film Size 5” x 12”) for Sale – Was in a good working order when disassembled by dental technicians. No longer needed. Asking $2000 O.B.O. Please email to hanyb@juno.com.

ADVERTISER INDEX

The Bulletin wishes to thank our valued advertisers who support organized dentistry by helping to defray the cost of printing and mailing. Advertising in the Bulletin is seen by over 90% of the dentists in the West Michigan District. This includes five of the fastest growing counties in the state: Kent, Ottawa, Ionia, Montcalm and Mecosta. For information on advertising rates, call Elaine Fleming, WMDDS Executive Secretary at 234-5605. Target your Market – advertise in the Bulletin!

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Studio 2 Dental..................................29 WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

WMDDS 2.30.2014 Ad - Dan Ted Donna Highlight.indd 1

2/28/2014 4:43:56 AM

17th Annual Alumni & Friends Golf Classic and Optional Continuing Education Course Date and Location Friday, September 19, 2014

Scheduled Events

Polo Fields – Washtenaw 2955 Packard Road Ypsilanti, MI 48197 734-434-2150

8:00 a.m. CE Course Check-In 8:30 a.m. CE Course – Pain Management 10:00 a.m. Golf Check-In PGA Pro Massage Therapist Lunch 11:30 a.m. Shotgun Start Scramble Format 3:30 p.m. Cocktails BBQ Buffet Awards Banquet

Registrant Information

Name

Address

City

State

Zip

Phone

Email Address

Registration Deadline August 15, 2014

$175 per individual golfer $700 per foursome

Golf Registration Includes 18 Holes on a Private Course, Cart, Gift, PGA Pro, Lunch, Massage Therapist, Beverages, BBQ Buffet Dinner, Raffle & Awards For additional information, questions, or to register by phone, please contact: Dawn Maynard at 734-615-2870 or dawnmay@umich.edu http://www.dent.umich.edu/alumnirelations/home/golfouting

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

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WEST MICHIGAN DENTAL SOCIETY 511-F Waters Building Grand Rapids, MI 49503

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID GRAND RAPIDS, MI PERMIT # 657