Issuu

SPRING ISSUE 2012 VOL. 44, NO. 4

Bulletin

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Contents Editor

James Papp

Associate Editors

Seth Vruggink Jeff Smith Aric Smith Larrisa Bishop

President’s Message...................................................................................................... 2 Editor’s Thoughts......................................................................................................... 3

Advertising Editor Elaine Fleming Executive Secretary WMDDS 511-F Waters Building Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (616) 234-5605 efwmdds@aol.com

Tooth Time Educates Local Children......................................................................... 4

West Michigan District Dental Society Executive Board 2011-2012 President Larissa Bishop President-Elect Tyler Wolf Vice President Margaret Gingrich Secretary-Treasurer Kathleen Ellsworth Editor James Papp Immediate Past Seth Vruggink President Directors Samuel Bander Steve Conlon Leonard Bartoszewicz Area Representatives Kent County Norman Wilhelmsen Ionia-Montcalm Kirkwood Faber County Mecosta County Erick Perroud Ottawa County Meredith Smedley

Meet the 2012 WMDF Scholarship Winners.............................................................. 8

MDA IV District Trustees

Brian Cilla Colette Smiley

Big Rapids Dental Study Club Officers President Erick Perroud Vice President Christa Stern Secretary Christa Stern Treasurer Erick Perroud Holland-Zeeland Dental Society Officers President Meredith Smedley Treasurer Robert Ankerman Secretary Immediate Past President Ionia-Montcalm Dental Study Club Officers President Treasurer Kirkwood Faber Kent County Dental Society Officers President Lathe Miller Vice President Norman Wilhelmsen Secretary Michael Palaszek Treasurer Kathryn Swan West Michigan Dental Foundation Officers President Devin Norman Vice President John Marshall Secretary Carol Klein Treasurer Joe VanLaan The Bulletin of the West Michigan Dental Society is published six times a year (the directory issue, fall issue, holiday issue, winter issue, spring issue, and summer 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, 4880 Cascade Road SE, Ste. B, Grand Rapids, MI 49546. 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. © 2011-2012 West Michigan District Dental Society Bulletin

Trustee Report.............................................................................................................. 6 First Steps...................................................................................................................... 7

Looking for Efficiency Experts? They Might Already be on Your Staff....................10 2012-13 WMDDS Continuing Education Programs.................................................15 Financial News..............................................................................................................16 Technically Speaking....................................................................................................18 Classified Ads................................................................................................................22 Advertiser Index............................................................................................................23 Don’t Cry Foul! Bad Breath is Treatable....................................................................24

About the Cover Captain Fluoride, a.k.a. T.J. DeVries, a senior at Forest Hills Eastern High School. This is his second year in this costume.

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 directory issue, fall issue, holiday issue, winter issue, spring issue, and summer issue. Direct submissions or correspondences to: Dr. James C. Papp • 4880 Cascade Road SE, Suite B • Grand Rapids, MI 49546 Phone: 616.940.9872 FAX 616.940.2854 • Email: DRJPAPP@aol.com Include “Newsletter” in the subject line

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SPRING ISSUE 2012

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Looking Forward By Dr. Larissa Bishop, WMDDS President

irst off, I would like to thank all of our membership for their support this past year. We have had wonderful attendance at all three of our continuing education courses. Our winter CE course of the Madow Brothers was staff focused and completely sold out. Almost 400 dentists and their staff, and multiple corporate sponsors were in attendance. This was a high-energy lecture that encouraged audience participation and was extremely well received. The program committee has been extremely busy setting the 2012-2013 continuing education schedule. The program committee has also scheduled another summer “mini” course on June 22 that is 3 CEUs at a reduced fee. Make sure to check out the registration form on page 20 of this issue of the Bulletin, and mark the following dates on your calendar for your office to attend: • October 26, 2012 Dr. Robert Fazio Medicine, Dentistry and Drugs (The Cheatsheets Lecture) • January 11, 2013 Dr. Rhonda Savage Your Fantastic Dental Team, What Makes it Work? • March 22, 2013 David Meinz What Good is a Dead Patient with Perfect Teeth? All of these courses will again be held at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Each course is 7 CEUs in length, and is a fantastic value with lunch included. The Board has been busy with many issues over the last couple of months. Access to care has been a big issue that we have been working on, both through trying to get the expan 2

sion of MI Child throughout the entire state, to helping on our local level. On February 19, 2012, there was an article that was published in The Grand Rapids Press through the Kent County Health Department that talked about oral health and access. The article was titled “Time to Brush Up on our Dental Health.” In this article, they mention some steps that are being looked at to help expand access to care in the area. In the article, it is quoted as saying “Currently, several leaders in Kent County are working toward providing better dental care for low-income residents. This group of stakeholders includes representatives from child advocacy groups, school districts, health clinics and hospitals, Michigan Community Dental Clinics, and the Kent County Health Department. The group is working on ideas to solve the dental crisis, including providing better education for children and parents on dental health, and creating a public health dental clinic for uninsured, underinsured and Medicaid patients.” What was disappointing in this article was that they chose to leave out WMDDS in the list of shareholder participants. We have had a representative of the Board present at all of these meetings to help share organized dentistry’s view, as well as trying to aid in a solution. The article from The Grand Rapids Press does mention a lot of what we do in our offices, through the donation of our time and knowledge to outside clinics such as Miles of Smiles, Baxter Street, and Mel Trotter, and to the work that we do in our offices in donated dental care. These are, however, small solutions to a much larger problem. If MI Child dental was able to expand throughout the entire state, thousands of children would be able to receive the dental care that they need, and more importantly, aid in the development of their dental IQ. I have mentioned this before, but WMDDS is hosting a legislative breakfast on April 27th. There are going to be several local legislators there, where we as a dental community can voice our concerns and also our support for such programs as MI Child. Even if you are not politically motivated, please try to make this event. I would love to see a full turnout at this event and have the WMDDS’ voice heard for what we feel are important issues.

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SPRING ISSUE 2012

EDITOR’S THOUGHTS

Confidence: Evidence-Based Dentistry By Dr. James C. Papp, WMDDS Editor

patients. Derived from evidence-based research, recommending products and particular techniques into proposed treatment plans gives us confidence that we personally are doing all we can in our daily practice. The kind of things that allow ourselves to sleep a little better at night (provided we all have a good conscience, of course). An evidence-based decision also breeds confidence on a professional level. Interacting with one another within our profession often involves questions, debates, and inquiries on various topics in our daily practice. Exchanging viewpoints that are derived from sound research builds confidence in our profession and what we can ast issue I started touching on the topic of evidencedo for our patients. It can often shed some clarity on particubased dentistry. In review, evidence-based dentistry lar issues, techniques, and products that may be the topic at is the integration and interpretation of the available hand. Loosely exchanging viewpoints based solely on personal current research evidence combined with personal experiexperience without sound proven ences. It allows us to make decisions evidence can be dangerous, and furto improve our clinical practice and ther clouds the air in respect to better treat our patients based on From the personal what is best for our patients. From sound clinical research. In my opina patient perspective, incorporating ion, this is what we as professional perspective, evidenceevidence-based decisions into your clinicians should strive to incorpotreatment plan leads to the patient rate into our daily practice. With a based dentistry gives having confidence in you! Providing steady dose of products and techtreatment plans that are backed by niques being thrown our way on a us confidence that we years of research and experience daily basis from various companies, really do work – and we all know vendors and/or speakers slating it as personally are doing the that when treatment plans are sucthe next best thing can easily cloud cessful, the patient is happy and the air, so to speak. But by “keepright thing for our patients. builds confidence in you as their oral ing our eye on the ball” focusing on health care provider. Incorporating evidence-based dentistry, we can The kind of things that evidence-based dentistry into your make intelligent, evidence-based daily practice is essential to build decisions to sift through the various allow ourselves to sleep a confidence in you as a clinician, our options available to us. But what else profession as a whole, and most can evidence-based dentistry do for little better at night. importantly, our patients. us in our daily practice? Utilizing For a comprehensive look at evidence-based dentistry to make evidence-based dentistry and a practical resource for sciensound clinical decisions builds confidence. Confidence from tific evidence related to dentistry, visit the ADA Center For a personal, professional and patient-oriented perspective. By Evidence-Based Dentistry at http://ebd.ada.org/. definition, confidence is generally described as a state of being, certain either a hypothesis or prediction is correct, or that a chosen course of action is the best or most effective. From the personal perspective, evidence-based dentistry gives us confidence that we personally are “doing the right thing” for our

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WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SPRING ISSUE 2012

CHILDREN’S DENTAL HEALTH MONTH

Tooth Time Educates Local Children Submitted by Dr. David Huyser, Chairperson, Tooth Time Task Force

ooth Time is a Children’s Dental Health Month project supported by the West Michigan District Dental Society and the West Michigan Dental Foundation, and held annually at the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum. Our purpose is to educate the local children about their teeth and oral health through interactive exhibits and activities. This year’s event was scheduled for Thursday evening, February 2, and Friday, February 3. The Grand Rapids Children’s Museum is an enchanting, playfully challenging space for young people. Into this great space we add several stations where the children take part in various activities. The carnival-like atmosphere of fun and games seems to heighten the suggestibility of the kids. The large number of volunteers allows us to have one-on-one interactions with the children, and stress the need for them to

personally take care of their teeth and mouth. At the conclusion of their trek around the museum to visit each station, they receive a ‘goodie bag’ containing a tooth brush, tooth paste, floss, a two-minute sand timer, and a sugar-free lollipop. The Thursday evening ‘act’ is open to the public at no charge (admission paid for by ‘us’). The Friday daytime ‘act’ is attended primarily by first-graders on a class field trip, coordinated by the GRCM staff (and underwritten by ‘us’). Since this project has been running for years, many of the first-grade teachers are familiar with the event and complete their oral education lessons prior to the event so that the museum experience reinforces their efforts. This year, we had 343 people attend on Thursday evening, and over 600 field tripping first-graders participate on Friday. Overall, we had 1,500 attend!

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SPRING ISSUE 2012

CHILDREN’S DENTAL HEALTH MONTH

A project like this is truly a group effort. Thank you to the many people whose efforts made this year’s event such a success. Volunteers from many sources make the project happen: local dentists and some of their staff members, dental assisting students from GRCC, pre-dental students from GVSU, and several local high school students. The assistance of the GRCM’s staff throughout the planning and performance is invaluable. The committee members and local dentists who volunteered do not want to appear to ‘hoard’ this awesome experience. We would love to share this great experience with YOU! Next year’s event is already in the planning stage, please contact me so we can include you in the good times (David Huyser 616.957.0909).

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SPRING ISSUE 2012

TRUSTEE REPORT

MDA Delegates Focus on Guiding Principles By Dr. Colette Smiley, MDA Trustee

ello West Michigan members and Happy Spring! Have you registered for this year’s MDA Annual Session? The “Spirit of Michigan Meeting” welcomes you back to Lansing from April 18-21. Register your entire dental team and enjoy one of the premier annual dental meetings. In preparation for the MDA House of Delegates, the Board of Trustees met in February to discuss many of the important issues facing dentistry today. The discussion centered on leadership, strategic planning, governance, and communicating with members on the critical issues facing the profession. These critical issues include the proposed anesthesia guidelines proposed by the Michigan Board of Dentistry, concerns with Blue Cross and the Dental Network of America’s delayed processing of claims, the changing oral healthcare environment, and non-covered services legislation. The MDA’s House will vote on whether to pursue all available avenues to prohibit the practice of allowing insurance companies to set fees on services they do not cover. As you well know, local, state and federal agencies are focused on addressing the “Access Issue.” As key advocates for oral health, the WMDDS, MDA, and ADA must be ready to respond. At this year’s MDA Annual Session, delegates will vote on the following “Guiding Principles.” These guiding principles have been designed with the thought that the MDA may be called upon to address the concept of a new dental team member, the mid-level provider. 1. The MDA maintains that only a dentist provides comprehensive oral health care. The dentist has the ultimate responsibility for all dental care provided under his/her direction and supervision. 2. The MDA recognizes the dentist as the leader of the dental team and is responsible for maintaining one standard of care for all patients. 6

3. The MDA supports the current dental team members to improve the efficiency of delivering oral health care services. These current team members should be used to their maximum effectiveness, with team member duties being expanded when it is appropriate to improve the efficiency of delivering care. 4. The MDA maintains that only a dentist can diagnose oral conditions, prescribe treatment and medications, perform irreversible procedures, supervise patient care, and engage in the responsibilities that require the education and training of a dentist. 5. The MDA believes that the creation of a new member of the dental team must be based upon need. The new team member must be supervised by a dentist, have sufficient education and training through a coda-accredited program, have oversight by the Michigan Board of Dentistry, and a scope of practice that ensures the protection of the public’s oral health. Awards abounded as the meeting kicked off with State Senator Geoff Hansen bestowing upon President Connie Verhagen a legislative tribute on behalf of the State of Michigan and the Michigan Legislature. That was followed up with an item of new business introduced to approve an honorary award for Governor Rick Snyder for his strong support for dental issues in the State of Michigan, including his recommendation that Healthy Kids Dental be implemented in all counties in the State of Michigan. We have much to be proud of as Dr. Dennis Engel, ADA Ninth District (Michigan & Wisconsin) Trustee, presented the MDA with the following 2011 Golden Apple Awards: • Non-Covered Services Recruitment Campaign • Comprehensive Connections to Dental Students • MDA COVER Program • “A United Voice” Report The Golden Apple Awards are recognition by the American Dental Association that our MDA is truly “Helping Member Dentists Succeed.” I thank you for the privilege of being your Trustee. Please be in contact with any concerns or comments you may have, or if there is any way I can assist you. I can be reached at 616.560.1104 or crsmiley@comcast.net. You can also send me a tweet @smileycolette. WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SPRING ISSUE 2012

ACCESS TO CARE

First Steps Submitted by Colette Smiley, DDS

ental and non-dental publications alike are discussing the disparity in access to oral health care in our community, our state, and our country. According to the Kent County Health Department’s 2011 Kent County Community Needs Assessment and Health Profile: • 25.8% of adults in Kent County have not seen a dentist in the previous 12 months, and this proportion increases to 47.9% for adults lacking health insurance. • The current supply of dentists to serve low-income patients is about 55% of what is needed in Grand Rapids. • Access to healthcare was one of the most significant concerns of community members during focus groups and interviews. Some of the issues that community members face included: — An inability to afford preventive health care — Using the emergency department to address deteriorating health — An inability to access dental and mental health providers — A lack of availability of low-cost and free providers — A lack of providers who serve patients insured through Medicaid • Approximately 65% of the children enrolled in Medicaid in the county are without regular dental care. The numbers of Medicaid-enrolled children in Kent County are significant. — 12,779 Medicaid enrolled ages 2-4 — 34,248 Medicaid enrolled ages 2-10 — 54,637 Medicaid enrolled ages 2-18 First Steps is a public-private partnership that works to strengthen and coordinate the system of early childhood services in Kent County. Since 2008, First Steps houses the CHAP program, a demonstration project that has been working on the issue of access to primary medical care for children on Medicaid. First Steps has now convened an Access to Dental Services for Children Workgroup. Members of this group include representatives from the West Michigan District Dental Society, Spectrum Health, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, Baxter Community Center, Head Start, Kent County Health Department, the Maternal Infant Health Program, Cherry Street Dental Services, Michigan Community Dental Clinics, Health Intervention Services, Grand Rapids Community College, and Ferris State University.

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SPRING ISSUE 2012

The goal of the First Steps Dental Access Workgroup is the development of a comprehensive community plan for improving oral health education, disease prevention, and access to clinical services for low-income children in Kent County. Some current strategies being discussed by the workgroup to increase access and availability of clinical dental services include: • A Kent County Health Department/Michigan Community Dental Clinics partnership, opening a Kent County Health Department clinic in the Kentwood area. This clinic would serve a Medicaid and uninsured population. • Continued investigation on the development of a pediatric dental residency program at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. • Advocating with legislators on the expansion of Healthy Kids Dental. • Future plans to add dental operatories in the Spectrum Health Center for Integrated Medicine. • Discussion on a new Federally Qualified Health Center in the Wyoming area. • An increase in the number of providers at Cherry Street Health Services. Strategies to address the First Steps workgroup goal of oral health education and prevention include: • The development of a children’s oral health marketing campaign targeting parents. • Increasing local dental and medical interest and participation in the Points of Light program. • Educating pediatric primary care providers and other early childhood providers on oral health and dental prevention, including fluoride varnish placement. The First Steps workgroup intends to have its comprehensive community plan developed by the end of 2012. If you would like a copy of the complete Kent County Health Department’s 2011 Kent County Community Needs Assessment and Health Profile, please send me an email. Be in contact with any concerns or comments you may have about Access or any other issue. I can be reached at 616.560.1104 or crsmiley@comcast.net. You can also send me a tweet @smileycolette.

WMDF NEWS

Meet the 2012 West Michigan Dental Foundation Scholarship Winners Submitted by Dawn Kamyszek

ach year the WMDF, in cooperation with several other local dental organizations, makes an investment in the future of West Michigan dentistry by awarding scholarships to outstanding dental, dental hygiene, and dental assisting students. Here are the 2012 scholarship winners:

Robert Vander Broek University of Michigan School of Dentistry Robert is an outstanding student who seems to know what he wants and how to get there. He demonstrates enthusiasm for dentistry through his passion in learning, research, and clinical roles. He has excelled in his research endeavors, which has led to many awards. While Robert’s academic schedule is busy, he is still very committed to community service such as Big Brothers Big Sisters Program, a dental mission trip, and volunteering at the Free Clinic Days. A letter of recommendation states, “Robert is bright, compassionate, and dedicated, personal characteristics that make him an exceptional addition to the dental profession.” Vernesha Jones University of Michigan Dental Hygiene Vernesha possesses a great attitude along with being very driven. Her goals “are to successfully complete her studies while being the best professional and well-trained hygienist that she can be.” Through her dental hygiene career, she would be in the position to give back to the community. Her ability to help others has been noted by faculty and classmates. “Vernesha demonstrates the utmost determination to help others.” The possibility is always there to go on to dental school for her as well. Vernesha’s personality, high dedication to studies, and work ethic won over the committee in her personal interview. 8

William Price Grand Rapids Community College Dental Hygiene William impressed the committee with his enthusiastic personality and strong work ethic. Along with his rigorous academic schedule, he is the class president, heads fundraising events, and has a part-time job. A letter of recommendation described William as “determined, organized, and has an ongoing desire to learn and grow as a dental hygiene student.” He would like to reach out to the community by helping people in need of basic understanding of oral healthcare in the future. Another goal of William’s is to further his education by obtaining a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan. Tina Stevens Ferris State University Dental Hygiene Tina is excited about her career in dental hygiene. A goal of hers “would be to give patients in the dental office a positive experience.” She works hard at her academic success, and is a member of SADHA and the Student Advisory Committee. A letter of recommendation stated, “Tina will be a valuable asset to our professional community.” The committee enjoyed her pleasant personality and positive attitude. Faculty has noticed her teamwork with others and that she is well respected by her classmates. Tina graduates in 2013 and wishes to start her career while taking bachelor classes online.

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SPRING ISSUE 2012

WMDF NEWS

Adisa Sulejmanovic Grand Rapids Community College Dental Assistant Adisa impressed the committee with her motivation and positive outlook on life. She works hard at her education and knows that dental assisting will be a rewarding career. A few of Adisa’s goals are “to be there for others and be the best person I can be.” Adisa grew up in Bosnia, but now West Michigan is her home. Adisa’s

determination and hard work is noticed by her faculty and employer. Her honesty, pleasant personality, and work ethic won over the committee in her personal interview. Adisa graduates in 2012 and will be an asset to any lucky dental practice.

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INSIDER INFORMATION

Looking for Efficiency Experts? They Might Already Be on Your Staff. Submitted by Scott Hoag, Vice President, PNC Healthcare Business Banking

ven the most efficient dental practice could be more efficient. After all, continuous improvement is a hallmark of any successful operation. There’s always the option of hiring a consultant to review your practice’s processes and make recommendations for enhancing efficiency. Before you take that step, though, look to your staff—the people who know your practice best. Their combined expertise may be all it takes to give your operation the overhaul it needs.

want to find ways to reward them. One incentive that can also benefit your practice is paying for employees’ continuing education, whether it’s in job-related skills or specificto-efficiency improvements. Even more appealing to your staff, though, will be incentives that put more money in their pockets. Consider tying specific efficiency improvements or accomplishments to bonuses or salary increases. Don’t have the budget to pay your staff more? Offer an option for flex time or additional paid vacation days.

Let Your Team Lead Holding an all-employee meeting is a positive first step. This will give you a sense of how ready, willing and able your staff is to lead your effort to improve practice efficiency. Consider making a day of it at a nearby offsite location so no one is distracted by office activities. Compensate your team for their time if the meeting is outside work hours. Facilitate a brainstorming session to identify everything that may be getting in the way of efficiency. Talking through processes as a team can shed light on concerns some people have that others may not realize. It can help to break down procedures step by step. For example, look at how you handle patients from the time they make an appointment until you process their payment. Chances are, you’re going to identify ways you could be more efficient. With that information in hand, your staff can plot out processes and assign tasks that make the most sense to the team.

PNC Healthcare Business Banking At PNC, we understand that generic financial services aren’t always the right solution for the unique needs of healthcare professionals. Your PNC Healthcare Business Banker offers you extensive cash flow options and targeted banking tools and resources to help you effectively manage the business side of your practice, finance your plans for future growth, and enable your journey toward your personal financial goals. To learn more, contact your PNC Healthcare Business Banker, Scott Hoag at 616.771.8810 or visit pnc.com/hcprofessionals.

Put Ideas Into Action Once everyone’s back in the office, the staff can put their ideas into action. It’s a good idea to hold a follow-up meeting to make tweaks to the process, too. In fact, many practices hold brief daily or weekly meetings, so the staff can talk about what’s working and what’s not. It’s a consistent way to keep everyone engaged and involved. After a few meetings, a clear leader may emerge. You might consider appointing that person to head ongoing efficiency improvement efforts. Reward Employee Efforts Remember that asking your employees to help improve your practice’s efficiency is asking them to do more work, so you’ll 10

PNC is a registered mark of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (“PNC”) Banking and lending products and services, bank deposit products, and Treasury Management products and services for healthcare providers and payers are provided by PNC Bank, National Association, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PNC and Member FDIC. Lending and leasing products and services, including card services and merchant services, as well as certain other banking products and services, may require credit approval. This article is republished from Business Insights for Dental Professionals and is prepared for general information purposes by McMurry and is not intended as legal, tax or accounting advice or as recommendations to engage in any specific transaction, including with respect to any securities of PNC, and do not purport to be comprehensive. Under no circumstances should any information contained in the presentation, the webinar or the materials presented be used or considered as an offer or commitment, or a solicitation of an offer or commitment, to participate in any particular transaction or strategy. Any reliance upon any such information is solely and exclusively at your own risk. Please consult your own counsel, accountant or other advisor regarding your specific situation. Neither PNC Bank nor any other subsidiary of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. will be responsible for any consequences of reliance upon any opinion or statement contained here, or any omission. The opinions expressed in these materials or videos are not necessarily the opinions of PNC Bank or any of its affiliates, directors, officers or employees. ©2012 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SPRING ISSUE 2012

SHAWN L. MOORE, DMD / OWNER MOORE SMILES FAMILY & COSMETIC DENTISTRY LOUISVILLE, KY SINCE 1999 10 EMPLOYEES

DREAMING BIGGER CHALLENGE: Dr. Moore always dreamed of having a cutting-edge dental practice. And with a growing patient list, he was eager to expand. But his cash ﬂow challenges were limiting his growth potential. SOLUTION: Dr. Moore had the Cash Flow Conversation with his PNC Healthcare Business Banker, who used his detailed knowledge of the industry to help Dr. Moore tackle key business issues. They consolidated his equipment leases into one monthly payment, which lowered expenses and freed up working capital — and tailored a real estate loan that helped open the door to bigger opportunities. ACHIEVEMENT: Moore Smiles Family & Cosmetic Dentistry now has a beautiful, modern space to call home. And Dr. Moore has turned his dream into a reality. WATCH DR. MOORE’S FULL STORY at pnc.com/cfo and see how The PNC Advantage for Healthcare Professionals can help solve your practice’s challenges, too. Or call PNC Healthcare Business Banker Scott Hoag at 616-771-8810 to start your own Cash Flow Conversation today. ACCELERATE RECEIVABLES IMPROVE PAYMENT PRACTICES INVEST EXCESS CASH LEVERAGE ONLINE TECHNOLOGY ENSURE ACCESS TO CREDIT

The person pictured is an actual PNC customer, who agreed to participate in this advertisement. Moore Smiles Family & Cosmetic Dentistry’s success was due to a number of factors, and PNC is proud of its role in helping the company achieve its goals. All loans are subject to credit approval and may require automatic payment deduction from a PNC Bank Business Checking account. Origination and/or other fees may apply. PNC is a registered mark of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (“PNC”). BBK-6817 ©2011 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. All rights reserved. PNC Bank, National Association. Member FDIC

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WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SPRING ISSUE 2012

2012–2013 WMDDS CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS

OCTOBER 26, 2012

Medicine, Dentistry and Drugs (the cheatsheets lecture) Presented by Dr. Robert Fazio Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park | 8:00 AM — 4:00 PM | 7 CEU’s For information, call Elaine Fleming at 616.234.5605 or email at efwmdds@aol.com

DECEMBER 13, 2012

West Michigan District Dental Society Holiday Dinner and Awards Night Cascade Hills Country Club | Grand Rapids, MI | Business Attire Socialize with friends: 6:30pm | Dinner and Program: 7:30pm WMDDS Award Presentations 2012 MDA & ADA Life Members | 2013 Silent Bell Recipient

JANUARY 11, 2013

your fantastic dental team, what makes it work? Presented by Dr. Rhonda Savage Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park | 8:00 AM — 4:00 PM | 7 CEU’s For information, call Elaine Fleming at 616.234.5605 or email at efwmdds@aol.com

MARCH 22, 2013

what good is a dead patient with perfect teeth? Presented by David Meinz Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park | 8:00 AM — 4:00 PM | 7 CEU’s For information, call Elaine Fleming at 616.234.5605 or email at efwmdds@aol.com

Watch for the 2012-2013 WMDDS Program Overview to be sent out this summer. 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 | SPRING ISSUE 2012

FINANCIAL NEWS

Improving Cash Flow in your Dental Practice Submitted by Richard L. Chrisman, CPA MST Hungerford, Aldrin, Nichols & Carter, PC

hat is the definition of financial success? Of course, the answer to this question will vary from person to person. But the answer will usually include some or all of the following: the ability to pay your bills without any worry; little or no debt; having money in savings for emergencies, annual vacations, money set aside for your kids’ college educations and weddings, and eventually being able to fund your own retirement. If you are not one of the lucky ones that were born rich, you will need to take responsibility for your own financial success. This requires good habits with regards to your finances and it’s necessary to have the proper balance between needs, wants, and savings. We all know this is easier said than done. Financial success is not accomplished through get-rich-quick schemes. It is hard, disciplined work. It is accomplished by setting short-term and long-term goals, and then creating a plan to achieve those goals. Real wealth is built over time. It requires discipline and consistency over a period of years and it will also require resiliency to handle the bumps in the road along the way. The following are traits that I have noticed in the financially successful dentists that I have worked with and gotten to know during my 30+ years as a CPA: 1. They are educated about their finances. They talk to their advisors and ask a lot of questions. They read books and attend seminars. To them, education is not a single event, it’s a lifetime event. They figure out how they best learn and what works for them. 2. They have good records. For their business, this means accurate and timely financial statements prepared on a monthly basis. They know how to read and understand these statements, and make sound business decisions based on that information. For their personal finances, they pay themselves a salary and they live on it. They know where their money is going, and make changes to their spending habits if necessary. 3. They have an annual savings goal. Pay yourself first. Are you able to save 20% of your income? Many of the successful dentists I know can answer “yes” to this question. That can be a goal of yours too. If you’re not there, strive to get there.

4. They make savings automatic. Contribute to your savings goal every month through payroll withholdings and automatic withdrawals from your checking accounts. It’s easier to not spend it if you never see it. 5. They don’t feel entitled. Just because you are well educated and have some savings and a good income does not mean you can afford everything. Respect your plan and your budget. 6. They make smart buying decisions. They don’t make large buying decisions based purely on “want” or on gut instinct. Big decisions should be made in the context of how other goals are affected. If they are not sure, they rely on their trusted advisors to help them work through the decision. 7. They make the hard choices. The world has changed in recent years. What worked ten years ago may not work anymore. Costs keep going up. Sometimes tough decisions need to be made. This may mean in your business or your personal finances, or both. 8. They do a good job of managing debt. They utilize their banking relationships to get the lowest interest rates possible and to manage debt payments so that savings can happen. Use debt sparingly when purchasing non appreciating assets. 9. They use their advisors. They build a team of professionals that help them set and navigate the course. It is not necessary for you to know everything if you surround yourself with smart people. Trusted advisors to have on your team include: Banking, CPA, Estate and Financial Planning. 10. They protect their family with the right kinds of insurance. Financial disasters can occur when families do not have the proper insurance in place. It’s critical to have the proper amounts of life and disability. This should be reviewed annually. 11. They are resilient. They stay positive. Attitude is everything. They don’t get discouraged by temporary setbacks. When the stock market is down, or an investment goes bad, they shake it off, adjust their budget or financial plan and keep moving forward. They are persistent and don’t give up.

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SPRING ISSUE 2012

FINANCIAL NEWS

Certainly not all financially successful dentists have all these traits. But use this list to determine where you need to focus your attention. Building a secure financial future is hard work, but the payoff is worth it. Make the sacrifices necessary to make this happen for you. Utilize your trusted advisors to help you plan – that’s what we are there for.

Richard L. Chrisman, CPA, MST is the Managing Shareholder of Hungerford, Aldrin, Nichols and Carter PC, a Tax, Auditing and Business Consulting firm with offices in Grand Rapids and Greenville, MI. The firm is celebrating 70 years of helping local businesses, including many area dental practices.

West Michigan District Dental Society is now on Facebook Check us out and we’re sure you’ll “Like” us!

We’re Dental Practice Specialists When it comes to building your practice, experience matters. Hungerford’s Healthcare Practice Services team has it. Our understanding of the dental industry helps us provide services and expertise beyond the scope of most accounting firms. We can help enhance the efficiency and success of your business. Get to know us.

To learn more about our wide range of services, contact Rick Chrisman at (616) 949-3200, or rchrisman@hanc.com , or visit our website at www.hanc.com HANC Ad for the Bulletin

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WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SPRING ISSUE 2012

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1112-2993

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING

Tech Q & A Submitted by Greg Feutz, President, DDS Integration

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

n each WMDDS Bulletin, I will be fielding your questions about technology, its place in the dental practice, and beyond. Send your questions to askgreg@ddsintegration.com and I’ll answer them on my blog, facebook, and in each Bulletin. Here’s a topic that many of you have questioned. Do my computers really need to be on a maintenance schedule? Whether it’s our computers, our cars, or our teeth, we’re often reminded that we should be taking better care. As a dentist, it makes perfect sense to you why your patients should come see you every six months. Some patients may see this as a device for you to get more of their money, but I’m with you. I think it’s necessary. I personally subscribe to the idea of preventative maintenance in all aspects of life because I don’t have the time to deal with a slow computer, broken down car, or problematic tooth. So which camp are you in? Are you religious with your oil changes? Do you get tech help before it’s an SOS? As you know with your patients, a big part of effectively treating them and keeping their smiles healthy is proper education. An uninformed patient is unlikely to sign up for treatments they don’t see as necessary. This is why you make such an effort to make sure they know and understand the why’s and how’s of regular dental visits. In that spirit let’s look at the how’s and why’s of computer maintenance. Viruses Why: If you’ve ever had a virus, you know why. They are nasty, they steal information (usually without you knowing), and they are a royal pain.

How: Assuming you already have antivirus (that’s not a big assumption, right?) it is important to check antivirus logs to see if anything has been detected. If so, was it successfully cleaned, or does it require further action? Is one particular computer getting large numbers of viruses? If so, let’s take a look at internet usage. Disk Cleanup Why: You know how when your desk or house or closet gets really cluttered it becomes impossible to find anything? Just as we store paper, shoes, keys etc. – your computer stores documents, pictures, temp files, etc. Over time these become cluttered, and it takes the computer a lot longer to find the files you are looking for. The end result is a much slower computer. How: Quite simple really. Windows disk defragmenter. The more often you run this (once a month is plenty) the less likely your computer is to slow down due to a cluttered hard drive. Windows 7 schedules this automatically, but if you still have XP it needs to be manually run (or manually scheduled if you know what you’re doing). Software updates and patches Why: Because there are hackers, malicious coders, identity thefts, and other mean people out there on the internet. Here’s what happens: Microsoft comes out with Windows 7, with increased security so current malicious code cannot infiltrate it. Hackers figure out another way into your system. Microsoft releases an update that blocks this new way into your system. Hackers find another way in. Microsoft patches that way in. Suffice to say, it’s a constant cycle. And it’s more than just Microsoft, too. Hackers can find their way in via Adobe reader (pdfs that we open every day), Adobe flash player (youtube and other videos), and lots of other software that you use on your computer. How: On your personal computer, I would suggest you do updates as soon as they become available. On your office computers, however, I would suggest they be done on a scheduled basis for two reasons. First is that it’s important to keep all computers as similar as possible. If Frontdesk1 is on Windows 7 Service Pack1 and Operatory3 has Windows 7 with no Service Pack it can be very difficult to troubleshoot WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SPRING ISSUE 2012

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING

why Frontdesk1 works differently than Operatory3. The second reason is that with your Practice Management software, there are some updates and patches that can actually cause issues. For example, in Dolphin Management (for you orthos out there) there are Microsoft .Net updates that will kill your ability to open jpg files in Dolphin Document Organizer. If you do your updates on a schedule and have a tech person (who knows about these conflicts) do them, you will not have issues.

Test battery backups Why: Hopefully you have these to better protect your computers, and like any battery they have a limited life cycle. I think we’ve all had a laptop a few years old that lasts 15 seconds on battery. How: Most have a 10-second test that can either be run through the computer’s software or by the button on the battery itself. This will tell you if the battery can at least support the load that’s plugged into it.

Test your backup Why: Why not? How sure are you that your backup is really running? Sure, the email notifications (you do have this with your backup solution, right?) is telling you that the backup is completing successfully, but isn’t it a good idea to test it once in a while? How: Do an actual test restore of your data to another computer (not your server, please). Once restored, see if you can actually open up files and see your data.

Check event logs Why: This is where the computer tells us what it’s been doing, and more importantly, what problems it’s having. Most of the time you won’t find anything too serious, but certain errors, like ftdisk can indicate a hard drive is on its last leg. How: In computer management, you can look through event logs for system, applications, security, and others. If and when you see errors and warnings, google can be a good place to start to see what it means.

Get rid of unnecessary startup and background programs Why: Ever shop for a TV and end up with $200 monster cables, a 30 year warranty, and a 30 day trial of DirecTV? Well me neither, but when you buy a TV they try to get you to get all of the add-ons. Next time you go to install Adobe Flash Player pay attention, because if you don’t uncheck certain boxes you are going to also end up with McAfee Security Scan or some other product you don’t want. Guess what? That’s a program that will run all the time, and you don’t need it to. More and more software comes complete with add-ons and things you don’t need. Don’t get me started on iTunes. This add-ons phenomenon is becoming a leading reason for slow computers. How: Under the start menu there is a folder called “startup.” Anything listed in there starts when your computers starts. Secondly, using the msconfig utility, there are more programs and services that can be turned off. Just make sure you know what they are.

Take care of your to do list Why: If you have your tech people doing the maintenance, you might as well have them take care of any items that need fixing or upgrading. If they’re like us, they will love to multitask! How: Call your techs (or us) and ask about scheduling a time for maintenance. This is a good time to discuss any problems you are having or any projects you’d like done.

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SPRING ISSUE 2012

What are your thoughts? Are you a maintainer, or a “if it ain’t broke yet don’t fix it” type? Comment on our blog or facebook article. We’d love to hear your opinions on maintenance or any other topic. Facebook: facebook.com/ddsintegration Blog: ddsintegration.com/blog

and

Co-sponsoring

Patient Health, Not Just oral health Presented by Dr. Richard Nagelberg | Friday, June 22, 2012 | 3 CEUs GVSU Eberhard Center, Downtown Grand Rapids | Registration: 7:30-8:00am | Seminar 8:00-11:00am Dr. Nagelberg will discuss current concepts of periodontal disease development and progression including: biofilm, bacterial invasion of the gingiva, the immuno-inflammatory response and risk factor identification and management. The interconnections between periodontal disease, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes, will also be examined. The presentation concludes with a discussion of salivary diagnostics and the incorporation of research finds into daily practice to enhance patient care. At the conclusion of this program, attendees should understand the impact dental professionals have on patient health beyond the oral cavity, the mechanism of periodontal disease and development and the immune-inflammatory response, risk management to maximize clinical outcomes and interconnections between oral and systemic diseases and their clinical relevance. Dr. Nagelberg is a 1982 graduate of Georgetown University, School of Dentistry. He was named one of the Top Clinicians in Continuing Education by Dentistry Today in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

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

Registration Form NAME

EMAIL ADDRESS

ADDRESS

ADDITIONAL REGISTRANT(S) AT THIS ADDRESS

Pay by credit card: � VISA � Mastercard

per MDA-member dentist and staff – $85 CREDIT CARD #

EXPIRATION DATE/SECURITY CODE

per non-member dentist – $150

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TOTAL:

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WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SPRING ISSUE 2012

MARK YOUR CALENDAR West Michigan Dental Foundation Annual Golf Outing Friday June 1, 2012 Egypt Valley Country Club Watch for more information about this event! 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.

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866-451-8814 Connect with us:

Aspen Dental is an EOE.

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. Established Dental Office Space – 2003 Burton SE (between Breton and Plymouth). End unit with 720 sq. ft. and a full basement, on-site parking, adjacent 3 spaces occupied by established dentists. Great traffic counts on Burton in an established residential area. Call Bruce at 942.9492. General Dentist Seeking Associate Position in Grand Rapids area – General dentist residing in the Grand Rapids area is seeking an associate position for 1-2 days per week in the Grand Rapids and surrounding area. If you are looking for an associate for your practice, please call 616.975.2870. REF # GR Associate. Office Space for Lease – Up to 6900 S.F. available; will divide. Basement storage available. Newer class A building. Great visibility! Located at 1151 East Paris Ave SE (across from Bonefish Grill). Owner occupied. Call Dr. Sam Bander 616.949.5980 or e-mail drsambander@gmail.com. Visit www.drsambander.com to take a look. Associate Position/Practice for Sale Wanted: General dentist with 13 years experience looking for a place to practice in the Grand Rapids and surrounding east areas. Open to all options. Please email to midds331@yahoo.com. For Sale – Several items from orthodontic office. Siemens 10E Pan/Ceph x-ray, Ritter PA x-ray, Phillips 810 processor, treatment chairs and stools, reception room furniture, file cabinets, Chemclave and more. Call 616.538.3545 anytime for more information. 22

Northwest Michigan – Modern feefor-service, general dental office averaging over $600K/yr with solid net on 3.5 days/wk. Beautiful Lake Michigan resort town. Digital Radiology and laser included. Building with recent remodel also available. Call Phil Stark 888.477.7325 or visit www.peakdental.com Dental Office for Lease – Why spend $250,000 in dental build-out costs? Beautiful dental suite is now available for lease in Class A contemporary three-story brick and glass building located off of East Beltline Avenue in Grand Rapids Township. This ten-year old modern dental office includes 3 private ops, 4 chair open bay area, is plumbed for nitrous, air, water, power, CAT-5, vacuum, wet/dry lab and x-ray. The building is a contemporary 3 level with ample parking, 4 bathrooms, staff lunch area, private doctor’s office with restroom and shower, reception desk for check-in and out, and has a heated storage area if needed. Immediate occupancy. $16.25 per square foot, triple net. Please contact Scott Morgan at Colliers International at 616.292.3455 to schedule your visit. Current student at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry – graduating May 2011, looking for full-time or part-time position in a private practice as an associate in the Grand Rapids and surrounding areas. Please contact 954.562.1122 or dent@umich.edu. Associate position wanted – Newly graduated dentist from UDM looking

for full time position as an associate of progressive dental practice in Grand Rapids and surrounding areas. Please call 616.617.9725 or email ranaazzo@gmail.com. Dental Office for Lease – Time to move up? Busy northeast area dental suite at 1750 Grand Ridge Ct. NE, 3295 SF, ten-year old modern dental office available. 3 pvt ops, 4 chair bay area, plumbed for nitrous, air, water, power and vacuum, lab, x-ray, staff area, pvt. office, reception, storage available. Former pedo practice obtainable Jan. 1st 2011. Contact Dr. John Monticello 616.364.1700 or info@grandridgeorthodontics.com General Dentist – Looking to purchase a practice along the lakeshore (Grand Haven, Holland, Saugatuck area) or Grand Rapids area. Please contact wmidentist@gmail.com. For Sale – Sirona Cerec 3D Acquisition unit 3.8 updated software, MCXL Milling Machine with wireless interface. Excellent used condition. Less than 100 units milled. Transfer owner with Patterson, includes vita blocks and wall mount block board, $40,000/obo. Other used dental equipment for sale: 2 Royal and 3 Dental Eze chairs, 5 Pelton Crane pole mounted chair lights, 2 Adec and 2 Marus dental units, 1 Biotec unit, 1 Panorex J Morita Versa View, 5 ceiling mount arms and 3 wall mount arms for computer monitors, 1 Porter portable nitrous delivery system, 1 Aribex Nomad Handheld X-ray. Please call for more info, prices, or photos 616.634.0605.

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SPRING ISSUE 2012

CLASSIFIED ADS

Dental Office for Lease – with immediate availability. Near the “medical mile” on primary road with high traffic count and super visibility. Has been a dental office for over 40 years. Very good lease terms/rates. Would make awesome start-up or satellite. For more info, email ronaldpr@sbcglobal.net. General Dental Practice in Grand Rapids Area – Established practice with gross receipts in excess of $600,000 with a healthy recall program, paperless office, 6 fully equipped operatories. For additional information please call 616.975.2870 or email practicesales@rehmann.com.

ship in the West Michigan area. Please contact for resume: 616.970.5289 or ritzema@umich.edu. For Rent – An upstairs air-conditioned dental office, approximately 1440 square feet in downtown Greenville, Michigan, 40 miles northeast of Grand Rapids. The office consists of 3 operatories, a private office, 2 laboratories, and a reception area. The office building has ample free parking. $800 per month.

For Sale – Panoramic Corporation PC-1000. Works great, but is not making the move to our new office. $1000 OBO. Please email sethvdds@chartermi.net if interested. Seeking Employment – General dentist with several years of experience seeking part-time employment in the West Michigan and surrounding areas. Proficient in all areas of general dentistry. A team player. Please reply to dentaljobwmi@hotmail.com. Equipment for Sale – Two Belmont Pro II patient chairs, wing back style for sale. Model 037S. Better than good condition. Two casting units for sale and a porcelain oven for sale. Call 616.633.8132. Associate Position Wanted – University of Michigan School of Dentistry May 2012 graduate, and West Michigan native, seeking full/part-time associateWEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SPRING ISSUE 2012

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! Aspen Dental......................................21 DDS Integration..... outside back cover Davis Dental Laboratory................ inside front cover Founders Bank & Trust.......................9 Henry Schein.............inside back cover Hungerford, Aldrin, Nichols & Carter, PC...........................................17 MDA IFG............................................13 PNC Bank...........................................11 Professional Solutions.......................12 ProNational........................................14

THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS HEALTH SECTION ARTICLE

Don’t Cry Foul! Bad Breath is Treatable Reprinted from The Grand Rapids Press, March 4, 2012

lot of people are embarrassed by bad breath, but it is a problem that can usually be solved. Certain foods and beverages can cause bad breath. When strong foods like onions and garlic are the cause, bad breath is only temporary. However, some people suffer from more permanent and lasting breath problems. The Causes of Bad Breath Most bad breath, also known as halitosis, is caused by incomplete or insufficient oral hygiene, along with eating foods that contribute to bad breath. What you eat affects the air you exhale. Certain foods contribute to bad breath. Once the food is absorbed into the bloodstream, it is transferred to the lungs, where it is expelled. Brushing, flossing and mouthwash will only mask the odor temporarily. Odors continue until the body eliminates the food. Dieters may develop unpleasant breath from infrequent eating. Another common cause of bad breath is dry mouth, which happens when the flow of saliva decreases. Saliva is necessary to cleanse the mouth and remove particles that may cause odor. Dry mouth happens naturally when you sleep. You may refer to it when you wake as ‘morning breath.’ It is generally worse in those people who are ‘mouth breathers’ or sleep with their mouths open, and those who tend to snore more often. Dry Mouth Dry mouth may also be caused by certain medications, salivary gland problems, cancer chemotherapy, and head and neck radiation treatments. It is also simply more common to have dry mouth as you age. If you suffer from dry mouth, your dentist may prescribe artificial saliva, or suggest using sugarless candy and increasing your fluid intake. And smokers? Almost all people who use tobacco have bad breath. Talk to your dentist about ways to kick the habit. Gum Disease Bad breath can also be a sign that you have other mouth issues like tooth decay or gum disease. One of the warning signs of gum disease is bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth. Gum disease is caused by plaque, the sticky, colorless film of bacteria that constantly forms on teeth. The bacteria create toxins that irritate the gums. In the advanced stage of the disease,

the gums, bone and other structures that support the teeth become damaged. With regular dental checkups, your dentist can detect and treat gum disease early. Sometimes bad breath can be a sign of a more serious health issue. If your bad breath has a particular reoccurring odor; perhaps fishy, fruity, or like ammonia, you might need to see your physician. Diagnosis and Treatment When you eat, minute particles of food get trapped between your teeth and in tiny grooves and bumps on your tongue. That’s why proper brushing and flossing are the first line of defense against bad breath. Many people use mouthwash to combat bad breath, but most over-the-counter rinses are just a temporary mask and do not solve the underlying problem. Your local West Michigan District Dental Society member dentist may recommend a medicated mouthwash instead. Tips to Improve Your Breath: • Brush after every meal. You may want to carry a toothbrush with you. • Floss at least once a day. • Brush your tongue. Your tongue collects many bacteria that need to be removed. • Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water. This will help avoid dry mouth. Other beverages like soda and coffee do not count because they can cause bad breath. • If you wear dentures, braces, retainers, or any other mouth appliances, clean them daily. • See your dentist at least twice a year for a professional cleaning and examination. With good care on your part and professional care from your dentist, you can combat bad breath and enjoy life with confidence. The Dentists’ Column appears in The Grand Rapids Press “Health Section” the first Sunday of every month with a disclaimer: Brought to you by the 600 members of the West Michigan District Dental Society in Kent, Ottawa, Ionia, Mecosta and Montcalm counties. West Michigan District Dental Society dentists are also members of the Michigan Dental Association.

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SPRING ISSUE 2012

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

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