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Editor Dr. Stephanie Rashewsky Associate Editors Dr. Marcos Cid Dr. Daniel Grode Dr. Tara Meachum Dr. Emily Van Heukelom Advertising Editor Elaine Fleming Executive Secretary WMDDS 161 Ottawa Avenue NW Suite 301 Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (616) 234-5605 efwmdds@aol.com West Michigan District Dental Society Executive Board 2016-2017 President Dr. Brian Mulder President-Elect Dr. Lathe Miller Vice President Dr. Kevin Rebhan Secretary-Treasurer Dr. James Papp Editor Dr. Stephanie Rashewsky Immediate Past President Dr. Leonard Bartoszewicz Directors Dr. Kathryn Swan Dr. Sarah Masterson Dr. Kathleen Eisin Area Representatives Kent County Ionia-Montcalm County Mecosta County Ottawa County

Dr. Veronica Hamilton Dr. Scott Ribitch Dr. Erick Perroud Dr. Thomas Anderson

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. Thomas Anderson Treasurer Secretary Immediate Past President

Table of Contents President’s Message..................................................................................................................... 2 Editor’s Thoughts.......................................................................................................................... 4 Trustee Report............................................................................................................................... 6 2018 Silent Bell Recipient: Dr. Norman V. Palm........................................................................... 8 WMDDS Holiday Event Highlights.................................................................................................16 Mission of Mercy (MOM)...............................................................................................................18 Smile Drive ................................................................................................................................... 20 Technically Speaking.................................................................................................................... 22 Financial Planning........................................................................................................................ 24 Practice Management................................................................................................................... 26 Volunteers Needed for HFHC......................................................................................................... 28 Classified Ads................................................................................................................................ 30 Advertiser Index............................................................................................................................ 32

About the Cover 2018 Silent Bell Recipient Dr. Norman V. Palm. Photo by Autumn Johnson, Bird + Bird Studio

Ionia-Montcalm Dental Study Club Officers President/Treasurer Dr. Kirkwood Faber Kent County Dental Society Officers President Dr. Chris Leja Vice President Dr. Veronica Hamilton Secretary Dr. Sarah Masterson Treasurer Dr. Patrick Condit West Michigan Dental Foundation Officers President Dr. Meggan McCone Vice President Mr. Nicholas Vander Veen Secretary Dr. Stephanie Kloostra Treasurer Mr. Tim 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, 519 Ada Drive SE., P.O. Box 157, Ada, MI 49301. Requests for purchase of advertising space should be directed to the Advertising Editor, Elaine Fleming, (616) 234-5605. The deadline is the first of the month prior to publication.

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 i nappropriate 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 c orrespondences to: Dr. Stephanie Rashewsky | 519 Ada Drive SE, P.O. Box 157 | Ada, MI 49301 Phone: 616.676.9177 | FAX 616.676.8836 | Email: stephanierashewsky@gmail.com Include “Newsletter” in the subject line

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

President’s Message

Potential for Damage By Brian Mulder, DDS WMDDS President

Since I was in dental school I’ve noticed that there is constant change and progression in the field of dentistry itself. I’m using products today that didn't even exist when I was in school, or didn't have the same application that they have today. For example, zirconia crowns used to be hideously ugly white chunks of porcelain, but today they are making ever increasingly esthetic crowns that are becoming one of the most commonly used material for crowns in dentistry. There was a class in dental school called “Dental Materials” that I found to be a very interesting. This class briefly brought us through the history of so many of the dental materials that were used at different times. I always loved hearing about the materials that were tried out on the market and then later found to be a horrible product that had potentially worse consequences greater than the good it was intended to bring.

I feel like this story is similar to what is going on in the dental community in Michigan right now. We have legislation that has already passed the Michigan Senate and is now in committee in the Michigan House of Representatives at the time of this writing. It is to allow a midlevel provider or “dental therapist” to become a part of the dental workforce in Michigan. Following the support from the Pew Charitable Trust and the Kellogg Foundation, both of whom have good intentions to try to get more care to the many people in need of dental care, the bill has been able to get more and more momentum as time has gone on. That bill has the potential to allow someone with far less training than a dentist to treat patients with near complete freedom from supervision, and perform irreversible procedures on patients. This is all in the hopes that this provider would willfully move to the underserved areas of our state to provide care where it is difficult to find a dentist.

One of the products that has stuck in my mind more than any other was Sargenti paste – a product to be used as an endodontic sealer that had paraformaldehyde in it. It was to be spun down into a root canal after gross pulpal debridement had been performed and then covered and restored. What an easy and quick way to treat a tooth in need of a root canal. The main problem came when the Sargenti material was pushed through the canal and expressed out the apex – it would cause all sorts of damage to the adjacent tissue exposed to it. It could cause necrosis of the bone and destruction of nerve tissue. When in the mandible, it could cause permanent parasthesia of the Inferior Alveolar Nerve. This product was first introduced to the market in the early 1950's and was used for many years before it was found to be dangerous. I’m sure that Angelo Sargenti had good intentions when he came up with this product and unleashed it onto the public, but time has shown that it is not as safe or as effective as it was originally thought to be.

As I said earlier, I think that most of the people behind this legislation have good intentions for the health of the public – but I do not think that this is the right way to treat this problem. Many other supporters like the idea of an open market that will decide whether this new provider will work or not, but again, I do not think it’s a good thing for the health of the public to allow the market to determine the results of this bill. The idea that the dental world is opposed to this because we are greedy and want to make more money – fearing that these therapists will be hurting our bottom line – is just not true. We are all familiar with a midlevel provider that we already have in place. They are called dental hygienists. Most use them in practice to provide care the dentist could do, but feels it is better to delegate to a hygienist so the doctor can have more time to treat other dental needs. A dental therapist could be used in the same way to make dentists even more money. The big difference is that the treatment performed by a dental

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

President’s Message

therapist cannot be undone. Accidentally extracting a wrong tooth cannot be reliably replaced. The point is – it is not about the money, it is about the quality of the care to the patient. This idea of a midlevel provider has been tried before in several states, with the most relevant example being in Minnesota. There, the midlevel provider has been in place for several years so far, and they have found that less than ten percent of the providers have gone to the underserved areas. They have been most highly concentrated in the metropolitan areas. The point is, the quality of care to all patients is important, whether they live in a populous area or a more rural area. The idea that these therapists are to be working in underserved areas also promotes the idea of a two-tier system. The people that go to a dentist will be getting great care while people who cannot afford a dentist will be funneled to a therapist for their care. I do not buy the idea that any care is better than no care when the care they are getting does not hold to the professional standards of a dentist. The point is the quality of the care to the patient, regardless of the patient’s ability to pay.

As a parent teaching my kids to grow and learn in life, there are many times when I know they are about to do something wrong – but I let them make their mistakes so they can figure out how things work and eventually come to the right way of thinking. Then there are other times that they have the potential to put their hand on the hot stove and significantly and permanently hurt themselves. That’s the time to step in and stop them before the damage is done. If Sargenti knew what the long-term effects of his product were, he may not have promoted his product. But we know the damage that could happen with a midlevel provider bill. As dentists and concerned health care providers, it is up to each of us to contact our legislators and urge them to stop this legislation. For more information, visit the Michigan Dental Association website at michigandental.org and click on “Government/Insurance.” Then Legislative Action Center.”

The economics of training a dental therapist would be significant, likely near what it would be to train a dentist. This cost would be burdening these graduates with a large debt similar to dentists – but with the prospect of a much lower income than a dentist. These therapists will have a tough time living and paying back the debt. The overhead in a dental office is high, and the therapists could not expect any lower costs to operate, but would likely see lower costs of reimbursement for their work. The economics will also contribute to the need for them to work in more populated areas so they can make more money to stay afloat. WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

Editor’s Thoughts

What Are Your Goals? By Dr. Stephanie Rashewsky Jesin WMDDS Editor

This issue of the WMDDS Bulletin highlights achievement. Dr. Norman Palm was recognized by our association with the highest honor, the “Silent Bell.” This award is our Association’s highest honor and was well deserved for Dr. Palm's years of distinguished service to our profession. Dr. Palm’s contributions to organized dentistry, service to professionals, patients, and our community exemplifies that dentistry is so much more than the bubble of our private practice. We are all dentists and dental professionals, but we are also fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, aunts, uncles, friends, and many other roles. All of these hats that we wear make us even better dentists, because these relationships help us connect with our patients and teach us empathy, compassion, humanity, and respect. Upon reading the profile on Dr. Palm, you not only notice his professional achievements, but also his personal ones. He is a family man and so proud of his wife, Jan, and their children. Someone as successful and dedicated as Dr. Palm must have set goals – such as going to dental school, completing a residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery, owning his own practice, being president of the MDA, and his multitude of other achievements. I truly believe that in order to accomplish goals we need to visualize our goals. This may be my athletic background in gymnastics, but visualization of our goals is the way to realization of these achievements. In addition, I find it important to write down goals. The office that I work in encourages SMART Goals. For those that are not familiar with the concept, SMART Goals are a mnemonic acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable,

Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. SMART goal setting brings structure and accountability so goals can be realized. If you haven’t set aside some time to think about goals, I encourage you to reflect on your past achievements and look forward to the future with goal setting, both professionally and personally. Upon reflection, this has been a year of growth for me, both personally and professionally. It’s hard to believe that it has been one year since the birth of our first child, Chloe. Everyone told me time would go by quickly, but it is still hard to believe that Chloe is already ONE! This family milestone motivates me to consider personal and professional milestones over the last year along with achievements that I want for the future. I encourage you all to think about where you want to be in one year. What about in five years? And ten years? What are your personal goals? What are your professional goals? How do we accomplish our goals? Please set goals, and continue to serve our community with your strengths in dentistry so we can have many years of deserving Silent Bell award winners like Dr. Palm.

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

EARN CE WHILE HAVING FUN AT MICHIGANâ€™S LARGEST DENTAL MEETING! 30 CUTTING EDGE SPEAKERS 52 CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES 175 EXHIBITORS NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES SPECIAL EVENTS TABLE CLINICS UNIQUE CE TRACKS

ANNUAL

SESSION WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

Trustee Report

MDA January 2018 Update By Margaret Gingrich, DDS MDA Trustee

I hope you welcomed 2018 with a positive attitude and a smile! The Board of Trustees took a short holiday break and came back with a renewed energy. The last trustee update you received from Dr. Lisa Knowles covered the previous board meeting, so I will try to update you on MDA activity since then. On December 20th, the 6% sales tax on dental prosthetics was repealed. Governor Snyder signed it into law and upon recommendation from the Treasury, it was retro-activated to July 1. What does this mean for our member dentists? You will receive all the taxes back! It is expected to save patients and dentists $10 million. The Michigan Treasury has stated it is up to the labs to ask for the refund from the State of Michigan, but it is expected the monies will be refunded to the dentists. Make sure to check your most current lab billing. If the tax is still being collected, make sure you let your lab know. If you or your lab have any questions, you may contact the MDA. Thank you to our legislative team at the MDA! In other legislative news, Delta was successful in having the MDA’s approval authority for the Delta Board of Directors removed. It did not change the requirement of 40-60% of the Board being licensed dentists, just the approval of the Michigan Dental Association of these dentists. The MDA was able to have three key provisions that other dental insurances must follow, but Delta was exempt from, added at the same time. These include timely payment, genetic testing, and telemedicine. This ended our two-year litigation with Delta. The MDA is also hoping to work with legislators to introduce a bill that would forbid Delta’s use of a disallow policy.

The midlevel fight on SB541 is still the center of our legislative concerns. Please continue to contact your House of Representatives and urge them to vote NO on SB 541. At this time, the bill is in the Health Policy Committee – but that could change at anytime, and especially in an election year! Please make sure your email is up to date for action alerts and emails regarding this bill. If not, you may receive a call asking for your response to the action alert e-mail. We are hoping to update our system for action alerts in the near future – that would enable us to send text alerts out. Stay tuned for more details, and consider sharing your private cell phone number for these very important action alerts. Annual Session is April 25-28 in Lansing. You should have received your first mailing for registration of classes. There are several classes to choose from, including our own Dr. Chris Smiley talking about dental benefits and CDT coding! Also, newly launched by the MDA this year, is the “Certified Dental Business Professional Program.” This is an educational program for dental office managers and business staff. Upon completion of 30 credits, office managers/business staff can be credentialed with CDBP. Approved classes will be marked in the Annual Session book. This was launched in hopes of helping our member’s practices function more effectively and efficiently. Recertification will occur every three years and will require 18 credits of ADA CERPapproved CE in courses related to the dental business professional. If you have questions, please contact Andrea Sundermann at the MDA. As you may already be aware, the Healthy Kids Dental rebid was finalized. It was awarded to Delta Dental and BCBS. Blue Cross will be utilizing DentaQuest to administer its benefits. The MDA has been monitoring the progress, but the finalized details of the contracts and

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

Trustee Report

fee schedules have not been completed. It was brought to the attention of our local legislators at the Legislative Breakfast held at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park on January 26. Most legislators were unaware that the reimbursement rates could drop or required contracts be signed to see these children in need. Of the nine legislators that were there, all seemed open to updates on this issue. Thank you to all that attended the breakfast! There were 17 people there to voice their concerns over dental issues including Healthy Kids Dental, midlevel provider bill SB541, and the opioid crises in the State of Michigan. The first Virtual Town Hall Meeting took place on January 24. It was a very successful meeting with over 50 registered members. The town hall had presentations from President Dr. Michele Tulak-Gorecki, President-elect Dr. Debra Peters, Trustee Dr. Vince Benivegna, Executive Director Karen Burgess, and Vice President of Advocacy and Professional Relations Bill Sullivan. The topics ranged from Mission of Mercy, the opioid epidemic, and legislative updates. It gave our members the ability to type questions in and have them answered by leadership in the MDA. ZOOM was the online access used. It was very simple to download and an email was sent to launch the presentation. The MDA Foundation will be hosting their fourth Mission of Mercy in Grand Rapids at Calvin College, May 31-June 3, 2018. We need your help! Registration opens up February 1. We will need 140 general dentists, 44 oral surgeons, 12 prosthodontists, 10 endodontists, 16 pediatric dentists, 220 dental assistants, 90 RDHs, 36 medical providers, 30 lab techs, and 800 general volunteers. Do you fit into one of these categories? If the answer is YES, I hope to see you there for at least six hours of fun and frolicking. If you are looking for an

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

office team-building event, this is a great place to have it. Most get more out of their volunteer experience than what they give, and if you have volunteered before than you know what I am talking about. My personal thanks go out to all that have been involved so far. Without Dr. Lenny Bartoszewicz and the local Grand Rapids team, this event couldnâ€™t take place. I hope to see you there! The Nominations Committee announced candidates for MDA Board of Trustees and ADA delegation. Voting will take place during the last day of the House of Delegates at the Annual Session. Current contested elections include President-Elect: Dr. Margaret Gingrich and Dr. Robert Tremblay; 3 Trustees positions (3-year terms): Dr. Jonathan Berns, Dr. Margaret Gingrich, Dr. Rhonda Hennessy, Dr. Eric Knudsen, Dr. Michael Maihofer, and Dr. Vincent Lizzio; 9 ADA Delegation: Dr. Jonathan Berns, Dr. Larry DeGroat, Dr. Andrew DeHaan, Dr. Nathalie Dube, Dr. Naila Farooq, Dr. Margaret Gingrich, Dr. Chris Gorecki, Dr. Rhonda Hennessy, Dr. Gabriel Holdwick, Dr. Mark Johnston, Dr. Eric Knudsen, Dr. Mike Maihofer, Dr. Jason Mashni, Dr. Marty Makowski, Dr. Norm Palm, and Dr. Alexa Vitek-Hitchcock. Good luck to all the candidates! That wraps up the first MDA Trustee report for 2018. If you have any questions or comments, please contact me at drmargaret04@gmail.com or my cell: 616-560-2255. Thanks for your time and I hope this new year brings many good times and happy memories.

2018 Silent Bell Recipient

Dr. Norman V. Palm, 2018 Silent Bell Recipient Submitted by Distinguished Award Committee

The West Michigan District Dental Society’s Distinguished Service Award, the “Silent Bell,” is our Association’s highest honor. This award recognizes contributions to organized dentistry, including service to professionals, patients, and the community as a whole. This year’s recipient is Dr. Norman Palm, who has practiced oral surgery for 38 years. Norm Palm was born in La Porte, Indiana. His family moved to Oak Lawn, Illinois, when he was young, eventually settling in Palos Heights, Illinois, in 1956. He and his younger brother, Steve, grew up in the Chicago suburb. Norm’s father, an Indiana University graduate, worked at Johnson & Johnson as an industrial engineer and in personnel management. His mother worked in accounting for Borden Dairy in the Chicago area. While growing up, days were spent going to school, building go carts, riding mini bikes, playing in the fields, and mowing the family’s huge lawn. Norm frequently spent time during the summers with his grandparents on their farm back in La Porte. He participated in “farm life” by helping with chores, riding on the hay wagon, and fishing with his grandfather. He also reflects that much of Sunday seemed to have been spent at church with his grandparents. Norm attended Carl Sandburg High School where his extra-curricular interests included competitive speech, band, and theater. He smiles when he remembers being cast in several high school plays. After high school, Norm attended Western Illinois University where he focused on the sciences and was active on the student University Union Board. He remembers some turbulent times during college coinciding

with the Vietnam War. Like students on most campuses, he witnessed social and racial unrest along with the increasing questioning of authority. His decision to go to dental school was made during his second year as an undergraduate. He credits his family dentist, Dr. Barkowiac, with planting the dentistry seed, encouraging him, and becoming his trusted mentor. Once he decided to go to dental school, Norm’s focus became preparing for and getting into dental school. Later, Dr. Dan Kemp was another mentor that encouraged Norm to become active in organized dentistry. In 1971, Norm started dental school at Loyola University in Chicago. He describes dental school as very structured and demanding, but there was an enjoyable camaraderie with classmates. Favorite memories include doing “wax-ups” in oral anatomy lab and the dental auxiliary utilization clinic where seniors treating patients worked more independently. Norm says he did not feel stressed in dental school, but he studied constantly and steadily. He never doubted that dentistry was the right profession for him. After graduating from Loyola, he completed a General Practice Residency at the University of Chicago in 1976. He continued on at the University of Chicago for his residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Upon completing his residency, Norm moved to Michigan. After first practicing in Farmington Hills, he chose Grand Rapids to start his own practice. For the first few months, he practiced out of John English’s office in northeast Grand Rapids. At that time in 1981, Dan Kemp, Ed Herremans and John English were building office space. Norm joined them and that location remains one of the practice’s sites today. Norm

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

2018 Silent Bell Recipient

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

2018 Silent Bell Recipient

retired on July 10 of this year, which was the anniversary of his start in private practice. Today the practice, the Center for Oral Surgery and Dental Implants, currently has five oral surgeons and over 20 staff. Dr. Palm has three children. Mike and his wife Kelli live in Chicago with their two children. Emeri is seven and Theodore is four. Mike works for Driehaus Capital Management. Jennifer attended Michigan State University and is a Physician Assistant, working as a Hospitalist for Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids. Allison has a Masters Degree in Public Administration with an emphasis on non profits, and she works for ArtPrize in Grand Rapids. Norm initially met his wife, Jan, when they were both students at Western Illinois University. At that time, their personal and professional journeys went in different directions. They reconnected at a 25th University Union Board reunion at Western and were married in 1986. Jan, now retired, spent her professional life in education and program development. Her Masters Degree is in Counseling and College Student Personnel Services. While on staff at Washington State University, she worked in student counseling and student activities programming. She then joined the University of Wisconsin in Madison, working in education research and development. She developed programs for career education, special needs students, displaced homemakers, and disadvantaged youth, and was on the forefront of dropout prevention initiatives. She testified in Washington, D.C., about school dropout prevention, and the State of Kentucky recognized her for her educational work in Appalachia with the high honor of being designated a Kentucky Colonel. Norm and Jan believe that the strength of their family is a shared faith. They support each other and have the common interests of working hard, serving, and sharing their talents and interests.

Norm recalls the many role models in his life. At the top of his list are his parents and grandparents. His parents continually told him he could do anything he set his mind to do. His grandparents were hard workers and spoke of and modeled a deep, sincere faith. His mother also demonstrated the importance of service through her years volunteering for the Palos Heights Library and the League of Women Voters. The lessons from family and other role models can be seen in the way Norm lives his personal and professional life. He has been active in local and national organized dentistry holding numerous offices, giving many presentations, and publishing articles. He has also been very active in his church. He participated in a dental mission trip to Honduras and has volunteered at Health Intervention Services in Grand Rapids. On reflecting about the state of oral health, Dr. Palm noted that, “Everything has changed, yet nothing has changed.” He believes that not enough has changed in oral health in the populations served. “You see people with the same problems, and sometimes it seems the profession is losing ground with patients and their health seeking behavior. Likewise, we still need to keep reaching out to all and particularly the underserved populations.” Norm continues his involvement in dentistry. He serves on the Boards of the Michigan Oral Health Coalition and the American College of Dentists and is the Vice President for the Michigan Dental Association Foundation. He also finds time to enjoy grandparenting, golfing, boating, and gardening (especially roses). Dr. Norm Palm’s life of service to dentistry and his community has been a gift to many and clearly demonstrates the attributes intended for a “Silent Bell” award recipient. Congratulations, Dr. Palm.

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

2018 Silent Bell Recipient

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

NORMAN V. PALM, DDS CURRICULUM VITAE EDUCATION

BOARD CERTIFICATION

University of Chicago Hospitals and Clinics Section of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery July 1, 1976 to July 1, 1979 Masters Affidavit: Residency, Advanced training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Masters certificate of chief residency completion

Diplomat American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons, inducted 1984 OMS Self Assessment Examination, April 2007

University of Chicago Hospitals and Clinics, Zoller Memorial Dental Clinic July 1, 1975 to July 1, 1976 Certificate: ADA-approved general practice residency program

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES 2017

Loyola University School of Dentistry, Chicago, Illinois September 1971 to June 1975 Degree: Doctor of Dental Surgery Class rank: 14/122

Vice-president, Michigan Dental Association Foundation; Chair, Michigan Section of the American College of Dentists; Secretary-treasurer, Michigan Oral Health Coalition; Member, Advisory committee, Families Against Narcotics of Kent County.

2016

Member, Board of Directors Michigan Dental Association Foundation; Chair-elect, Michigan Section of the American College of Dentists; Secretary-treasurer Michigan Oral Health Coalition; Consultant, Michigan Dental Association Special Committee on Access to Care. Mission of Mercy participant, Macomb county, Michigan.

2015

Member, Board of Directors Michigan Dental Association Foundation; Member, Board of Directors of the Michigan Section of the American College of Dentists; Member, Board of Directors of the Michigan Oral Health Coalition; Consultant, Michigan Dental Association Special Committee on Access to Care.

2014

Immediate Past President, Michigan Dental Association; Executive committee, Michigan Dental Association; Nominating committee chairperson, Michigan Dental Association; Chairperson, executive director’s evaluation committee, Michigan Dental Association. Consultant, Michigan Dental Association Special Committee on Access to Care, Michigan Oral Health Coalition member. Participant Michigan Department of Community Health Oral Health Care Work Group. Michigan 9th District Delegation, American Dental Association House of Delegates.

2013

President, Michigan Dental Association; Executive committee, Michigan Dental Association; Nominating committee chair, Michigan Dental Association. Consultant, Michigan Dental Association Special Committee on Access to Care American Dental Association President-Elects Conference. American Dental Association Membership Recruitment and Retention Conference. ADPAC Washington Leadership Conference. Michigan Oral Health Coalition member. American Dental Association Mid-States leadership Conference. Michigan 9th District Delegation, American Dental Association House of Delegates.

2012

President-Elect, Michigan Dental Association; Executive Committee Michigan Dental Association; Nominating committee, Michigan Dental Association; Member, Special Committee on Access to Care Michigan Dental Association. Delegation Chairperson, Michigan 9th District Delegation, American Dental Association House of Delegates; Stakeholders Conference American Dental Association governance study; ADPAC Washington Leadership Conference. American Dental Association Mid-States Conference. MSAE Chairman’s Workshop; Michigan Dental Association representative PA 161 Advisory Committee. Volunteer oral surgeon, Human Intervention Services, Grand Rapids.

Western Illinois University September 1967 to June 1971 Degree: Bachelor of Science Major: Biology; Minor: Chemistry

HOSPITAL AFFILIATION Section Chief, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Blodgett Hospital, 1998 to 2001

HONORS AND AWARDS 2017

Certificate of appreciation for service, Special Committee on Access to Care of the Michigan Dental Association, 2008-2017 2016 John G. Nolen Meritorious Award, Michigan Dental Association 2015 Gies Fellowship, American College of Dentists Foundation 2014 Commendation, American Dental Association, service as president Michigan Dental Association 2014 Special tribute, 97th Legislature at Lansing, State of Michigan, service as Michigan Dental Association president 2011 Recognition of service, West Michigan District Dental Society, Region IV trustee, Michigan Dental Association, 2005-2011 2004 Recognition of service, West Michigan District Dental Society as vice-president, president-elect, and president, 2001-2004 1971–75 Loyola University School of Dentistry: Dean’s List 1972 Department of Microbiology Outstanding Student Award 1975 American Student Dental Association Service Award 1975 Mosby Scholastic Achievement Award 1970 Western Illinois University: Vice-president University Union Board 1970 Chairman, All University Welcome Week 1970 “Who’s Who in American Colleges And Universities” 1970 Blue Key National Honorary Fraternity 1970 Beta Beta Beta National Biology Honor Fraternity

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES & ASSOCIATIONS Fellow, American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Member, Michigan Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Member, American Dental Association Member, Michigan Dental Association Member, West Michigan District Dental Society Member, Kent County Dental Society Fellow, American Dental Society of Anesthesiology Fellow, International College of Dentists Fellow, Pierre Fauchard Academy Fellow, American College of Dentists Member, Academy Of Osseo Integration 12

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

2011

2010

2009

Vice-president, Michigan Dental Association; Executive committee Michigan Dental Association; Nominating committee, Michigan Dental Association; Chairperson, Michigan Dental Association Special Committee on Access to Care. Delegate 9th District American Dental Association House of Delegates; American Dental Association Mid-States Conference; Journal of the Michigan Dental Association editorial advisory committee; Michigan Dental Association representative PA 161 advisory committee. Volunteer oral Surgeon, Human Intervention Services, Grand Rapids. Secretary, Michigan Dental Association; Trustee, District 4, Michigan Dental Association; Chairperson Michigan Access to Oral Health Care Work Group; Executive committee Michigan Dental Association; Delegate, 9th District American Dental Association House of Delegates; Chairperson, Michigan Dental Association Special Committee on Access to Care; Journal of the Michigan Dental Association editorial advisory committee. Attendee, American Dental Association Workforce Conference; Michigan Dental Association representative PA 161 Advisory Committee. Volunteer Oral surgeon, Human Intervention Services, Grand Rapids. Secretary Michigan Dental Association; Trustee, District 4, Michigan Dental Association. Chairperson, Access to Care Work Group. Executive Committee Michigan Dental Association. Delegate, 9th District A.D.A. House of Delegates; Chairperson M.D.A. Special Committee on Access to Care; Journal of the Michigan Dental Association editorial advisory Committee. ADPAC Washington Leadership Conference. Volunteer oral surgeon, Human Intervention Services, Grand Rapids.

2008

Secretary Michigan Dental Association; Trustee, District 4, Michigan Dental Association; Member Committee on Credentials Rules and Order, American Dental Association; Delegate, 9th District A.D.A. House of Delegates, Liaison to M.D.A. Peer Review Ethics Committee; Journal of the Michigan Dental Association editorial advisory committee. Chair M.D.A. Task Force on Access to Care. Chair, M.D.A. Special Committee on Access to Care. ADPAC Washington Leadership Conference. VIOSH Honduras Mission Trip. Volunteer oral surgeon, Human Intervention Services, Grand Rapids.

2007

Michigan Dental Association, Trustee, District 4; Liaison to M.D.A. Continuing Education Committee; Alternate delegate, 9th District A.D.A. House of Delegates, Journal of the Michigan Dental Association editorial advisory committee. Member M.D.A. finance Committee. ADPAC Washington Leadership Conference

2006

Michigan Dental Association, Trustee, District 4; member WMDDS nominations and by-laws committees; Liaison to M.D.A. Peer Review Ethics Committee and Michigan State Board of Dentistry; Alternate delegate, 9th District A.D.A. House of Delegates, Journal of the Michigan Dental Association editorial advisory committee. ADPAC Washington Leadership Conference

2005

President, West Michigan District Dental Society; Chairman, WMDDS Nominations Committee; M.D.A. Trustee, District 4; Alternate delegate 9th district A.D.A. House of Delegates, Liaison to M.D.A. Committee on Government Affairs

2004

President, West Michigan District Dental Society; WMDDS delegate to M.D.A. House of Delegates.

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

2003

President-elect, West Michigan District Dental Society; Program Chairman, WMDDS; member, Michigan Dental Association; House of Delegates Special Committee on Governance; WMDDS delegate to M.D.A. House Of Delegates.

2002

Vice-president, West Michigan District Dental Society; W.M.D.D.S. delegate To M.D.A. House of Delegates

2001

Third Year Director, West Michigan District Dental Society; W.M.D.D.S. Delegate to M.D.A. House of Delegates; Member, M.D.A. Special Committee on Health Hazard and Regulation.

2000

Second Year Director, West Michigan District Dental Society; Michigan Society of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Committee on Specialty Certification Exam for the State of Michigan; W.M.D.D.S. delegate to M.D.A. House of Delegates; Member, M.D.A. special committee on Health Hazard and Regulation.

1999

First Year Director, West Michigan District Dental Society; Michigan Society Of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Committee on Specialty Certification Exam for the State of Michigan ; W.M.D.D.S. delegate to M.D.A. House of Delegates; member, M.D.A. Special committee on Health Hazard and Regulation; Member, Delta Dental Plans of Michigan Professional Relations Advisory Committee.

PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES Member, Lutheran Social Services of Michigan Board of Directors, 1988-1994. Member, Lutheran Social Services of Michigan Speakersâ€™ Bureau, 1988-1994. Member, Presidentâ€™s Council, Grand Rapids, Lutheran Social Services of Michigan, 1986-1994. Member Luther Village Task Force, Lutheran Social Services of Michigan, 1991-1992. Member, Trinity Lutheran Church worship and music committee, 1985-1987. Member, Trinity Lutheran Church stewardship committee, 2003-2005. Member, Trinity Lutheran Church long range planning committee, 1991-1993. Member, Trinity Lutheran Church mutual ministry committee, 1988-1992. Member, Trinity Lutheran Church Council, 1988-1991. Chair, Trinity Lutheran Church senior pastor call committee, 1994-1995. Sunday school teacher, Trinity Lutheran Church, 1997-2001. Worship assistant, Trinity Lutheran Church, 1996-1997. Member, Trinity Lutheran Church assistant pastor call committee, 2004-2005. Participant in homebound communion program, Trinity Lutheran, 2016-2017.

2018 Silent Bell Recipient

Silent Bell Past Recipients Otto Lee Ricker, D.D.S., M.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1981 Willard B. Ver Meulen, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1981 Clifford T. Nelson, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1982 William M. Creason, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1983 Vernor H. Eman, D.D.S., M.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1984 Julius Franks, Jr., D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1985 Henry L. Homan, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1986 Ray E. Stevens, Jr., D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1987 Orren A. Bolt, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1988 Robert F. Streelman, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1989 Gerald L. Vander Wall, D.D.S., M.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1990 David H. Seibold, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1991 Donald G. Hallas, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1992 Robert E. Reagan, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1993 John R. Cook, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1994 Eugene L. Bonofiglo, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1995 Lawrence R. Marcotte, D.D.S., M.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1996 Laurence J. Jensen, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1997 Harry H. Luton, D.D.S., M.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1997 Robert W. Browne, D.D.S., M.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1998 Harold O. Steele II, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1998 Lawrence J. Manning, D.D.S., M.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1999

Arnold Baker, D.D.S., M.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2000 Robert D. Mitus, Jr., D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2000 Robert W. Klinesteker, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2001 Timothy H. Gietzen, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2002 James L. Wieland, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2003 Charles R. Caldwell, D.D.S., M.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2004 Henry J. Milanowski, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2005 John J. Stepanovich, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2006 Lonny E. Zietz, D.D.S., M.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2007 Michael H. (Reggie) VanderVeen, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2008 William A. Avery, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2009 William F. Rocker, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2009 Robert F. Oâ€™Brien, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2010 Marilyn J. Stolberg, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2010 John D. Bouws, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2011 Paul F. Korte, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2012 Chase Klinesteker, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2013 Tom Sommerdyke, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2013 Christopher J. Smiley, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2014 Donald French, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2015 Colette Rumann Smiley, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2016 Scott J. Hodges, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2017

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

FREE DENTAL CLINIC

FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE!

I M P R O V I N G D E N TA L H E A L T H

MISSION OF MERCY ABOUT MISSION OF MERCY • Free dental services for ALL AGES • EVERYONE welcome – no income limitations • Doors open at 6:00 am sharp • Doors close when maximum capacity is reached • Arrive early – be prepared for long lines

WHEN: Friday, June 1 6:00 am Saturday, June 2 6:00 am WHERE: Calvin College 3201 Burton St. Se Grand Rapids, MI 49546 ON THE RAPID #6 LINE

SERVICES OFFERED*

For more information visit: www.michigandental.org/foundation/ Mission-of-Mercy

Fillings

Cleanings

Extractions

Education

* Excludes: bridges, crowns, dentures, metal-based partial dentures, orthodontics or extraction of wisdom teeth. WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

WMDDS Holiday Event Highlights Photos by Autumn Johnson, Bird + Bird Studio

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

Mission of Mercy

Say “Hi” to Your MOM! By Dr. Leonard Bartoszewicz Immediate Past-President of WMDDS

This spring, Grand Rapids will host the Mission of Mercy (MOM) event at Calvin College. Dentists, assistants, hygienists, office staff, lab techs, family members, friends and community volunteers will donate their time over the four-day event. A pop-up clinic equipped with eighty to one-hundred chairs will be set up to provide dentistry free-of-charge to those in need. This special statewide dental access program is being held in West Michigan thanks to the joint efforts of the Michigan Dental Association and the Michigan Dental Association Foundation. Drs. Steve Harris of the Detroit District and Dr. Connie Verhagen of the Muskegon District are the co-chairs for this year’s Mission of Mercy – the fourth MOM event held in our state. The event begins Thursday, May 31, when a portable dental clinic will be set up in the Track and Tennis Building on Calvin’s campus. The following two days, June 1st and 2nd, no-cost dental care will be provided – including patient education, cleanings, extractions, fillings, denture repairs, and limited root canals on a first-come, first-served basis. In an attempt to help people who sometimes face very challenging barriers (geographical, cultural, economical, etc.) the Mission of Mercy is a great way to help underserved patients access dental care in our community. Often seen lining up outside the night before, when the clinic opens the following day, adult and children patients will be triaged immediately to assess and address their most critical needs. During the event, hundreds of patients are treated by over one thousand volunteers in the clinic.

Do you have a passion and a willingness to serve those in need? Can you give up a weekend, a day, or even a few hours to be a part of something special that benefits the underserved in our community? Are there members of your staff, friends, family that might also share this passion? Please contact the MDA Foundation at: www.michigandental.org/foundation/Mission-of-Mercy to find out how you can help as a volunteer and for more detailed information. If you cannot join us in Grand Rapids May 31-June 3, please consider a tax-deductible donation to help offset costs for dental equipment and supplies, food, facility rental, and pharmaceutical expenses. You can donate by visiting the Mission of Mercy donation link at: www.michigandental.org/foundation. West Michigan has a history of giving to those in need. Dr. Margaret Gingrich, a general dentist from Big Rapids, shared her feelings of working with the MOM event, “I personally receive way more than I ever give when volunteering. I would highly recommend volunteering in time, money or talent. The reward is indescribable!” Let’s welcome this MOM to our “home” and be proud we have been given this opportunity to help others.

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

SOME DAYS YOU’RE THE PIGEON, SOME DAYS THE STATUE Presented by Dave Weber | March 23, 2018 | Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park | CE Credits: 7 Dave Weber is president and CEO of Weber Associates. He is an international speaker, humorist, trainer and author who helps people “Make Progress On Purpose”. Besides being a favorite speaker for corporations and education groups, he’s taking the dental world by storm after being discovered by Dr. Peter Dawson. Dave has been invited numerous times to the ADA Annual meeting, Chicago Mid-Winter, 100+ Seattle study clubs, and multiple state dental conferences. Come prepared to laugh and learn as one of our country’s funniest and most sought after dental speakers discusses what many doctors and staff feel is the most challenging part of their practice – The PEOPLE! Doctors and patients – staff and patients – staff and staff – even husbands and wives and parents and kids. It all boils down to relationships. Come discover the secret to making progress on purpose in all of your relationships and the amazing impact that our communication has on the culture and climate of a practice or home.

Course Objectives 1. Discover the six most powerful words in the English language and when to use them. 2. Learn the secret to bringing out the best in people we work with and the patients we serve. 3. Develop a proven process for drawing people closer.

West Michigan District Dental Society is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS WHO HAVE HELPED TO MAKE THESE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO US. Platinum Sponsors:

Gold Sponsors:

Silver Sponsor:

Supporting Sponsor:

REGISTRATION FORM NAME

ADDRESS

ADDITIONAL REGISTRANT(S) AT THIS ADDRESS

MDA-member dentist – $225 PAY BY CREDIT CARD:

VISA

Mastercard

WMDDS retired member dentist – $100 CREDIT CARD #

NAME ON CARD

EXPIRATION DATE/SECURITY CODE

1st staff member – $100 2nd-5th staff members – $90 6th-12th staff members – $85

SIGNATURE

13th staff member and over – $80

per non-member dentist – $450

TOTAL:

Sincere thanks to the West Michigan District Dental Society members for their participation in the Smile Drive benefitting Dégagé Ministries. Dégagé Ministries is extremely grateful for our growing partnership with the Kent County Oral Health Coalition and West Michigan District Dental Society. As we seek to provide holistic support to men and women experiencing homelessness and other hardships, we know physical health and oral health are key components. The items donated by the West Michigan District Dental Society provided

us with much-needed supplies! It is challenging to imagine not having a toothbrush or a place to brush your teeth. But for those we serve, it is a reality. That is why your donation makes such a difference. Upon receiving it, the recipient is given more than just a simple dental tool; they are granted dignity, respect, and an opportunity to smile again. Thank you! Bridgette Bassford Assistant Executive Director Dégagé Ministries

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

SIMPLICITY. It’s our promise to you. Providing timely solutions and proactive advice to help you meet today’s challenges and plan for the future. West Michigan’s largest independently owned accounting & business consulting rm. Learn more at BeeneGarter.com

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

Technically Speaking

If Nothing Else, Do These Three Things This Year Submitted by Greg Feutz, President, DDS Integration Greg Feutz is President of DDS Integration, a Grand Rapids based dental technology company.

You know what we all love doing? Making ALL the recommendations. If you’re a dentist, you can easily provide undeniably good reasons for brushing 2-3 times a day, flossing every day, avoiding sugary drinks (or washing down immediately with water), getting a hygiene appointment every six months, showing up to said appointments on time, etc. What did I miss? Car mechanics can do the same thing. Regular maintenance, oil changes, brake pads. And, so can I! My list of recommendations for technology are similar, and yes, you really should do all of them. Here’s a secret: I know that you don’t. Here’s another secret: While I know and believe and intend to floss every day … I don’t. There are simply too many things we all SHOULD do – from health to finances to business planning to parenting to everything else in between. So how about this: I’ll give you a short list. Three things only. My favorites, my best bang for the buck, my most critical. If you can do even a few of these in 2018, you’ll have my admiration!

1. Numero Uno (this one is my favorite) – TECHNOLOGY TIME OUT Pick a weekend. A day. An evening. A dinner out. Something. Start small. Turn off all the tech in your household. This goes for EVERYONE. No double standard for grown-ups. Phones, computers, TVs, even music systems, they’re all off limits. That’s it. If you’re on call or something, that phone can be on with everything disabled except calls. This might be a scary proposition. I would argue that it’s scary that it’s a scary proposition. Is it really so much to ask to just be together and just … be? I’m not suggesting that there will be some monumental breakthrough or moment of Zen, but I can tell you from experience it’s 100% worth doing. Being present with the people you love is, well, it. Try it once. Do it regularly if you find it beneficial. That’s all.

2. Boooooorrrriiiiinnnnngggggg – Let someone else handle your backup Not flashy. Not exciting. Not a new cone beam or impression scanner. But I promise you, it’ll be the most important thing in your practice the day it’s needed and isn’t working.

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

Technically Speaking

Outsource the monitoring of your backup. Make an external entity responsible for making sure it’s working. Your office manager, while competent and capable, has a million other things to do. Oh, and sometimes goes on vacation. We charge $50 a month to: A. Check your backup every day, and B. fix/troubleshoot it when needed. Only $50 for peace of mind? Hmmm I dunno, I might just upgrade my cable sports package instead!

What are your thoughts? Thanks for reading. Check out our website, facebook, and youtube for more. We’d love to hear your opinions on “If nothing else, do these 3 things this year” or any other topic. Facebook: facebook.com/ddsintegration Youtube: http://tinyurl.com/ddsyoutube

3. Get a current assessment and plan for Windows 10 in 2020. This is coming, so you can either plan and have an easy transition, or not plan and have a last minute panic. Either way you have to do it. Have a tech company do an assessment of your computers and other technology, and make a plan for going from Windows 7 to Windows 10. It might be really minimal, or it might mean buying new computers, cameras, and sensors. If the latter, wouldn’t you rather know now and start budgeting for it? 4-1000. If you get through 1-3 above, I promise I can get you started on the next 97 recommendations. Maybe you can convince me to floss more often, and I’ll convince you to do computer maintenance. It’d be like our own little support group!

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

Financial Planning

You May Qualify for a 20% Deduction By Brett Karhoff, CPA, MST Shareholder of Hungerford Nichols CPAs + Advisors

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) was enacted on 12/22/2017 with most changes applicable to tax years 2018-2025. One of the most complex and talked about changes relates to a 20% deduction for qualified business income (QBI) of sole proprietorships and passthrough entities.

financial services, or brokerage services. A business whose principal asset is the reputation or skill of one of its owners or employees is also included in this category.

Contrary to what you may have heard, the deduction may be available to your pass-through business, even though you are considered a “specified service business.” For reference, a specified service business is one that involves the performance in the fields of health, law, accounting, actuarial science, performing arts, consulting, athletics,

Filing Status

Taxable Income

MFJ

$315,000 or less

Other than MFJ

$157,500 or less

MFJ

$315,001 – $414,999

Other than MFJ

$157,501 – $207,499

MFJ

$415,000 or more

Other than MFJ

$207,500 or more

Understanding your classification as a specified service business is important, because the general rule is that these types of businesses are not allowed to claim the 20% deduction. There is, however, an exception to this which may fully (or partially) allow the deduction. The following chart identifies the taxable income thresholds for 2018 that will impact your deduction: Non Service Business

Specified Service Business

20% of QBI

20% of QBI and wage/investment limit phased in

QBI income phased out and wage/investment limit phased in

20% of QBI wage/investment limit applies

No deduction allowed

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

Financial Planning

During your planning for 2018, keep in mind that the deduction will be taken “below the line” (i.e. it reduces your taxable income, but not your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). Additionally, it should be noted that the deduction will not be part of the calculation for determining self-employment tax. On a positive note, the deduction can be taken by taxpayers that don’t itemize and, for those that do itemize, it isn’t subject to any of the itemized deduction limits. As a specified service business, it is highly recommended that you consult with a tax professional to assist in determining your allowable pass-through deduction. The phase-out calculations for Qualified Business Income (QBI) and phase-in limits for wages/investments are convoluted. An analysis should be completed, taking into consideration this complex new deduction as well as the other new tax reform changes to identify planning opportunities for minimizing your 2018 tax liability. Brett Karhoff is a Shareholder of Hungerford Nichols CPAs + Advisors, a Tax, Auditing and Advisory firm with offices in Grand Rapids, Greenville and St. Joseph, Michigan. If you would like more details about these changes and how they may affect you and/or your business, please do not hesitate to contact Hungerford Nichols at 616-949-3200. Brett Karhoff, CPA, MST bkarhoff@hungerfordnichols.com www.hungerfordnichols.com

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

Practice Management

Dental Practice Transitions: Considerations for Buyers By Brian LaFrenier, CPA, Partner Beene Garter LLP

The decision to purchase a dental practice could be one of the most significant career decisions a dentist makes. Regardless of experience, the decision to purchase a practice could come with stress, as well as, financial and professional pitfalls. Take appropriate actions and considerations when evaluating the opportunity to acquire an existing practice. Ask yourself: • How do I approach the practice owner about a sale? What is the timeline for negotiating a deal? • What is the value of the practice? • How has the practice been maintained? Will I need to make a significant equipment investment after the acquisition? • What types of procedures are performed by the seller? How do these dental services compare with my skill set and training? • Is real estate involved? Does that property need to be acquired? Is the property leased? If so, what are the lease terms? • What is the current cash flow of the practice? What should cash flow be after an acquisition? Once you’ve identified the right practice and negotiated the price, there are other items to consider as you move toward finalizing the deal. • What tax ramifications will I experience? How can I structure the deal to maximize tax savings and cash flow? • What expectations do staff have? Should they receive any benefits? If so, what should those benefits be? 26

• What expectations does the selling dentist have? Does he/she want to continue practicing? Will I need them to help with the transition? • What is the communication plan to current patients? • Do internal systems need to be revamped? Which one(s)? • What financial investments need to be made for the practice? Do they need to be made immediately? Can some wait? • How should we handle outstanding accounts receivable – for both patients and insurance companies? • How will the deal be financed? These are just a few questions a dental practice buyer should consider, evaluate, and decide on before making a deal. To help make the right decisions for you and the practice, you should have a team of professionals by your side. This team should include an accountant, a business valuation expert, a lawyer, a banker, and an insurance agent. The right team of advisors can help you overcome the hurdles of a practice transition and maximize the potential and profitability of a new practice. This is the second article in a two-part series that reviews considerations for buyers and sellers in a dental practice transition.

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

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WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

Volunteers Needed The Holland Free Health Clinic is looking for dentists to volunteer their time to provide free dentures to qualified patients. HFHC is a Christian health ministry that ensures access to health services for the underserved, providing free care with a holistic approach that addresses needs of the mind, body, and spirit. In December 2018, our current provider is retiring, and to keep the program continuing, we are in search of a replacement. Whether you are available to help once

a week, or twice a month, every hour helps. HFHC is open MondayThursday from 8-5, and we can fit patients to your schedule. While we are in a special need of a prosthodontist, we are always in search of volunteer dental hygienists, dental assistants, and dentists. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact the dental program manager, Tara Kimball, at tkimball@hfhclinic.org.

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

Post a Job, Find a Job on the new

MI DENTAL JOBS

Start your job search here...

The complete online resource for dental employment in Michigan, powered by the Michigan Dental Association. Positions for dentists, hygienists, assistants, and dental office staff. Fully interactive â€“ easy to use. Get started today at

jobs.michigandental.org WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

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, 301 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. For Sale – Family practice in Grand Rapids NE that is part time with great potential, located in an excellent high- visibility 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. Holland, Michigan – Associate dentist needed for busy practice one or two days a week. Would prefer Fridays. A bit early but will be retiring in three to five years. Fee-forservice practice with no medicare/medicaid. Please contact Kate at 616.399.4490. Dental Equipment for Sale – After merging my two offices – I have four rooms full of dental equipment for sale. Everything is in excellent shape and working conditions (no junk). All equipment is still installed and can be tested before you buy it. Dental chairs, delivery units, lights, x-rays, cabinets, panoramic, Dent-X 9000 zoom, compressor, separate air dryer unit, suction, lab equipment and much more. Just ask and there is a chance I have it. Please email your questions to hanyb@juno.com. Opening for a Part-Time Dental Associate – in Grand Rapids, MI. Looking for an associate two to three days a week for our beautiful general dentistry office. Well established practice with a large patient base and high earning potential. Excellent working environment, high-tech equipment, wonderful staff and fee-for-service! This is the perfect opportunity for an established dentist looking to add an extra day to their schedule or a dentist just interested in a part-time schedule. If interested please contact Hilary Tien: Hilary@proveerpm.com or 616.309.4567.

Seeking Practice Purchase Opportunity – in West Michigan region. GPR training and three years solo private practice experience. Commitment to community, putting patients’ needs first, attention to detail, and practicing emphatic dentistry. Would prefer to work alongside current owner for mentorship and to ensure the continuity of the office and practice culture, open to other options as well. Please contact me at grapdds@gmail.com. Associate Dentist Needed for Grand Rapids Office – A busy, growing private practice near downtown Grand Rapids is seeking an associate for two days per week. The surging growth in downtown will immediately provide enough new patient flow to allow the position to eventually grow into full time if desired. The practice is well established with a large patient base, up-todate technology, and a wonderful staff. High earning potential and a guaranteed daily minimum salary. If interested please contact downtowngrdentist@gmail.com. Storage Space for Lease – 400 SF of secure storage space available for lease in the lower level of 1151 East Paris Ave S.E, Grand Rapids. $6.50/SF. 24/7 access. EPS security system. Contact Dr Sam Bander at 616.450.5665. Family Practice For Sale – SE Grand Rapids. Three operatories in a 1200 sq. ft. suite. There are 850 active patients. Asking $150,000. Please contact cedarmountain50@gmail.com. Female Associate Desired – This is a unique opportunity to join an all female practice that is patient-centered, and driven by a highly qualified team of professionals. This growing practice in Grand Rapids is looking for an associate interested in an

ownership position. We understand the balance between owning a practice and balancing family. If you want to speak further about this opportunity to fulfill your ownership potential, please contact us: rxnita@gmail.com Grand Rapids Northwest Side Dental Office Space for Lease – Approximately 1030 square feet with three treatment rooms, lab, front desk and furnished reception room. Two of the rooms are equipped with dental chairs, x-ray heads, handpieces, curing light, instruments and intraoral camera. The third room could easily be plumbed for another treatment operatory. Although some of the equipment is dated, this could be an ideal opportunity for a specialist, satellite office, or a recent graduate who wants to start a practice without taking on a lot of financial burden. Please contact me at drdon2015@aol.com Associate/Partnership Opportunity for Dentist in Southwest Michigan – Successful, well-established practice that refers very few cases out. Easy commute from Kalamazoo, St. Joe, or South Bend. If you are looking for an opportunity to have a mentor (or not) and exposure to treating all aspects of dentistry along with ownership opportunity, look no further! New grads welcome to contact us too. Hilary@proveerpm.com. Wayland, Michigan (Located just south of Grand Rapids) – Seeking general dentist in an established, high quality, fee for service dental practice. This is an exceptional opportunity to move into Partnership. Must be committed to providing optimal patient care with exceptional technical skills, strong people skills and a passion for excellence. This practice has a dynamic, experienced team

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

Classified Ads

and a strong emphasis on CE and professional growth. Please send a letter outlining your future objectives and your CV to: The Sletten Group, Inc. Office: 303-699-0990 Fax: 303-699-4863 Email: pam@lifetransitions.com General Practice in Southeast Grand Rapids Looking to Expand its Specialty Services – We are seeking a pediatric dentist, a periodontist, and an orthodontist to join our cutting edge practice. As West Michigan’s premier office candidates must have a passion Zac 2018 Winter ad3.pdf

1/11/18

for providing the highest quality care and enhancing the patient experience through excellent service. If you are looking to practice without all of the hassles of ownership, this could be the opportunity you’ve been dreaming of! Experience the freedom and flexibility to practice as you want, choosing which days you want to work, and not having to worry about the day to day business issues – just practice dentistry! All of this plus a competitive compensation package with sign-on bonus and the potential to co-own if that is of interest in the future. If you would like to learn more please contact me at: grtoothdr@gmail.com.

Are you looking for a great location to host your next event? Partners in Dental Care has conference room space available! The room seats 32 comfortably without the need for rental chairs or tables. The space is tech-savvy with projector, screen and wi-fi capability. Evening availability as well as weekends (including Friday). Interested parties, please contact Carol at 616.942.3343.

2:21 PM

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

ADVERTISER’S INDEX

ANNUAL GOLF OUTING FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 2018 The Meadows on the Allendale Campus of Grand Valley State University 9:00 am shotgun start

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! Beene Garter......................................... 21 DDS Integration........... outside back cover

Watch for more information about the golf outing in future issues of the WMDDS Bulletin.

Davis Dental Laboratory.....................inside front cover Henry Schein.................. inside back cover

Questions? Contact Elaine Fleming at 616.234.5605 | efwmdds@aol.com

Hungerford Nichols .............................. 32 Lake Michigan Credit Union.................. 31 MDA IFG................................................ 27

Mission Statement: An organization dedicated to the improvement of oral health through the financial support of education and service programs to address the needs identified by the dental profession and the communities it serves in Kent, Ottawa, Ionia, Mecosta and Montcalm counties.

Nonlinear Tech...................................... 21 Shared Hands........................................ 21

“As a tax advisor, my goal is to listen to your concerns, understand the needs of your practice, and provide timely and proactive ideas to help you be successful.”

BRETT KARHOFF, CPA, MST - Shareholder Helping practice owners navigate “safely” through the current complex tax code. 32

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

Practice Care is Our Priority At Henry Schein Dental, our mission is to improve the lives of those we touch by focusing on practice care, so dental professionals can focus on patient care. Practice care is a combination of efďŹ cient solutions and integrated technologies designed to help you operate a productive practice, attain your business goals, and assist in the delivery of quality patient care.

Henry Schein Grand Rapids Center 2689 Walkent Dr. NW Walker, MI 49544 616-791-2358

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | WINTER ISSUE 2018

The way we put it all together helps you operate a productive practice and deliver the best possible patient experience. www.henryscheindental.com 33

West Michigan District Dental Society 301 Waters Building Grand Rapids, MI 49503

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

Dental Specialty Friendly Experts IT Systems/Support Forward Thinking Free consultation

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What if IT wasnâ€™t dreadful? Imagine friendly conversations with human-like words and explanations. Imagine talking to someone who understands and cares about your needs. Imagine (take a deep breath) you actually liked your IT support team and they liked you. Imagine calling DDS Integration to make all this come true. Now, stop imagining and call!

616.914.4479 info@ddsintegration.com www.ddsintegration.com PO Box 150633 Grand Rapids, MI 49515 ddsintegration