Issue 4 wsda news march 2016

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WSDA 6 201 h· arc ·m e4

The voice of the Washington State Dental Association

ACCESS IN ACTION:

From grassroots efforts to clinics providing millions in care, WSDA members provide in countless ways th e wsda ne w s · issue 4, march · 2016 · www.wsda.org · 1

news

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Dr. Bruce Wilcox and his family. Dr. Wilcox is president of the North Central District Dental Society

WSDA news Cover story by Rob Bahnsen Dental Action Day images by Craig Mitchelldyer

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editorial

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guest editorial

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dental action day

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legislative review

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leadership institute

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cover story

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component presidents

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pndc news

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uwsod news

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issue 4 · march 2016 wdia news special smiles program call for nominations endorsed companies

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in memoriam

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parrish or perish

Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WashingtonStateDentalAssociation WSDA News Editor Dr. Mar y Jennings Editorial Advisor y Board Dr. Victor Barry Dr. Richard Mielke Dr. Jeffrey Parrish Dr. Rhonda Savage Dr. Robert Shaw Dr. Mary Krempasky Smith Dr. Timothy Wandell Washington State Dental Association Dr. Bryan C. Edgar, President Dr. Bernard J. Larson, President-elect Dr. D. Michael Buehler, Secretary-Treasurer Dr. Gregory Y. Ogata, Immediate Past President Board of Directors Dr. Theodore M. Baer Dr. Marissa N. Bender Dr. Dennis L. Bradshaw Dr. Ronald D. Dahl Dr. Christopher Delecki Dr. Gary E. Heyamoto Dr. Eric J. Kvinsland

Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr.

Randall H. Ogata Cynthia R. Pauley James W. Reid Ashley L. Ulmer Amy M. Winston

WSDA Staff: Executive Director Bracken Killpack Senior Vice President/ Assistant Executive Director Amanda Tran

Vice President of Government Affairs Anne Burkland

Association Of fice: (206) 448 -1914 Fax: (206) 443 -9266 Toll Free Number: (800) 448 - 3368 E- mail/web: info@ wsda.org/wsda.org

Art Director/Managing Editor Robert Bahnsen

In the event of a natural disaster that takes down the WSDA web site and email accounts, the WSDA has established a separate email address.

Should an emergency occur, members can contact washstatedental@gmail.com.

Manager of Continuing Education and Speaker Ser vices Craig Mathews Government Affairs Coordinator Michael Walsh

Vice President/Chief Financial Officer Peter Aaron

Public Policy Coordinator Emily Lovell

General Counsel Alan Wicks

Membership Ser vices Coordinator Rachel Gunderson

Vice President of Operations Brenda Berlin

Membership and Communications Coordinator Emma Brown

Vice President of Communications Kainoa Trotter

Bookkeeper Joline Hartman

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The WSDA News is published 8 times yearly by the Washington State Dental Association. Copyright © 2016 by the Washington State Dental Association, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the editor.

Statements of fact or opinion are the responsibilit y of the authors alone and do not express the opinions of the WSDA, unless the Association has adopted such statements or opinions.

Subscription price is $65 plus sales tax per year for 8 issues of the News. Foreign rate is $97.92 per year.

Advertising is published as a service to readers; the editor reserves the right to accept, reject, discontinue or edit any advertising offered for publication. Publication of advertising materials is not an endorsement, qualification, approval or guarantee of either the advertiser or product. Communications intended for publication, business matters and advertising should be sent to the WSDA Office, 126 NW Canal Street, Seattle, Wash.

98107. ISSN 1064-0835

Member Publication American Association of Dental Editors. Winner: 2015: Platinum Pencil Award Honorable Mention, 2014: ADA Golden Apple Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Promotion of Diversity and Inclusion, 2013: Journalism Award, Platinum Pencil, 2012: Journalism Award, Best Newsletter, Division 1, 2012: Platinum Pencil Award Honorable Mention (2), 2008: Best Newsletter, Division 1, 2007 Platinum Pen Award, 2006 Honorable Mention, 2005 Platinum Pencil Award, 2005 Publication Award; International College of Dentists

table of contents issue 4, march 2016

a day in the life

editorial dr. mar y jennings

Don’t wanna harsh your vibe, but…

Dr. Mary Jennings Editor, WSDA News

“I am really worried about children.

Marijuana delivery systems are evolving.

Now we have hard candies, gummy bears, soda, chocolate, vape pens, wax daubing and the ubiquitous brownie.

There is a reported spike in emergency room visits for children who have accidentally consumed marijuana. ”

Dr. Mary Jennings, WSDA News editor, welcomes comments and letters from readers. Contact her at her email address:mjenningsdds@gmail.com.

According to the most recent 2012 Gallup poll, I am one of the 56 percent of American’s who has never tried marijuana.

Since we legalized it here in Washington State, I was beginning to feel all alone. As a non-user, I would like to ignore the whole issue but as a citizen, a dentist and an employer, I have some thinking to do.

For my patients, I know that the THC levels have gone from an average of 4 percent in the 1980s to over 30 percent today.

Police report that confiscated marijuana averages about 15 percent. It is thought that about 9 percent of users become dependent on marijuana. Still, in 2011 approximately 874,000 people received treatment for marijuana use.

Marijuana causes xerostomia. That, combined with higher consumption of cariogenic food and lack of attention to oral hygiene, creates a perfect environment for caries. There may also be an increase in periodontal disease due to irritants in the smoke and suppression of the immune system. It is odd that a drug that allegedly relaxes one also causes a 4.8 percent increase for risk of heart attacks.

My pregnant patients need to know that this Schedule 1 category C drug is still being studied for its effects on the brain and cognitive development. Research suggests that THC is found in moderate amounts in breast milk.

I am really worried about children.

Marijuana delivery systems are evolving.

Now we have hard candies, gummy bears, soda, chocolate, vape pens, wax daubing and the ubiquitous brownie. There is a reported spike in emergency room visits for children who have accidentally consumed marijuana. Furnishing children drugs is a class C felony in our state. But, prosecuting parents and guardians could cause them not to take their children in for treatment.

Marijuana affects memory, learning, coordination and problem solving. That is a huge problem in our dental world. I am concerned that some of my employees and coworkers may not understand that legalization does not mean they get to come to work impaired. With increasing news about rookie users showing up at ERs experiencing adverse effects, it is easy to believe that users may have problems with what they can reasonably enjoy, especially with the delayed onset of action of tasty edibles.

Washington State has set a “per se” DUI limit of delta-9 THC (the active metabolite) at 5ng/mL. In casual users, Marijuana can be detected in urine for 1-7 days. Regular users may test positive for weeks. But, the

urine test does not detect delta-9 THC. It detects the non-psychoactive metabolite THC-COOH. That only means the subject has used.

Blood tests do detect delta-9 THC. Casual users can test positive for 12-24 hours and regular users for 2-7 days according to California NORML. So technically, my co-worker who imbibed last night could test positive today. Still, detection does not necessarily mean impairment. That leaves room to argue.

Washington State laws do not obligate employers to permit or accommodate marijuana use in the workplace. Our Supreme Court ruled in Roe vs. Teletech that an employee who used medical marijuana on her own time and failed a drug test could be dismissed for testing positive.

Several Washington attorneys recommend that employers formally develop a zero tolerance drug use policy that includes both state and federal drugs considered illegal. It is important to clearly explain to employees that marijuana use will be considered similar to alcohol abuse in that on the job impairment will not be tolerated.

The policy should include that marijuana products are not allowed on work premises and there may be “reasonable suspicion” testing. The policy should state that you prohibit any detectable amount of illegal drug to prevent arguing about subjective perceived impairment.

It is important to understand that Washington State is still an “at will” employment state. As a doctor, employer and leader of this enterprise, I believe I have a moral and ethical obligation to provide for the safety of my patients and staff. If an employee is not performing up to my expectations and safe standards, I am not sure I particularly care what the reason is. Perhaps dismissing for poor performance cuts straight to the point and may be a better option than going through drug testing. It’s something to think about and discuss with your attorney.

I read somewhere that the golden prize in the pharmaceutical world is a non-addictive drug that works for all and allows people to relax for a limited amount of time with no adverse effects. I could go for that.

Life is tough and a drug like that could be a blessing. But that’s not where we are.

I have no desire to kill anyone’s buzz.

All I want is a fair, safe and healthy playing field for everyone. I want to carry on with the business and joy of my life and practice without being impeded by other people’s choices.

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Can you imagine our society without the care, skill, and judgement of the trained professionals in the field of dentistry today?

The Washington Oral Health Foundation propels us to excel in health care and in community service.

Historically, members of the WSDA have always taken pride in community dentistry throughout the state to help those most in need. My father practiced dentistry from the 1950’s to the 90’s. I remember him coordinating National Children’s Dental Health month by having cases of apples from Wenatchee shipped to offices throughout the state, so they could give out apples to patients along with information on oral health.

Many dental societies, like my local BentonFranklin component, have been participating in free children’s Dental Day clinics long before the national campaign.

Today, health information is disseminated via Apple iPads, quite a twist on the past!

The Foundation is the only WSDA-directed statewide entity that coordinates efforts for at-risk populations by helping individual dentists reach out in their communities. We supply professionally-designed programs for dentists across the state: lesson plans, physical models and YouTube videos (check out our video Snack Smart with Chef Lena).

We also do this through Medical Teams International mobile dental vans. At WOHF, we recognize that oral pain and suffering have no boundaries or age limits, and that there is a need for a statewide effort to support our profession as we combat oral disease, drug related decay like ‘meth mouth’ and oral cancer.

Funding for WOHF programs is raised through the largesse of dentists like you who respond with contributions during the February Phonathon. Thank you for the generous donations we’ve received so far.

We are still in need of financial support. You can donate by visiting WOHF.org website.

We cannot do our work throughout the state without your support. Our programs have been carefully selected with two criteria in mind: to intercede in people’s lives at their greatest time of need and to educate when people are most receptive to the message— in a local setting at non-emergent times.

Our programs include:

I. Educational presentations in lowincome schools and Boys & Girls Clubs, professional videos on youtube.com, accessible to all, and educational props that are available for individual offices to use at local sites. In 2015, over 10,000 people attended presentations supported by WOHF funding or services. We’re excited to be partnering with our 2016 volunteers, which so far include people in Port Angeles, Shoreline, Mercer Island, Lacey, Sequim, Puyallup, Kitsap, Skagit, Port Orchard, Mount Vernon, Olympia, Rochester, Sultan, Kennewick, Okanogan, Oak Harbor and Anacortes.

II. The Adopt-a-school Program in tandem with School Nurses of Washington provides access to care at no cost for school children that have no dental home and are experiencing emergent oral pain.

III. The Outreach Program in partnership with the Council on Ageing facilitates getting qualified seniors, the disabled, and those with Alzheimer’s, access to discounted dental care.

IV. Medical Teams International grants bring mobile dental clinics to areas and populations that have geographic and/or financial barriers to regular care.

Please join us financially or by volunteering the most valuable thing a person has: time. My training with the L.D. Pankey Institute in Florida introduced me to the basic concept that a life’s energy, when balanced with the four points of Work, Play, Love and Worship, is a life at its most fulfilling and rewarding. All faith families have a basic tenant of helping those in need. I ask that you volunteer with WOHF, the Foundation for dental professionals. Please give financially as well so that we expand our outreach to more communities.

Contact Launa Lea for more information about WOHF at Launa@WSDA.org or visit our website at WOHF.org. Sharing our care, skills and judgement allows us to make a purposeful difference in our lives and the lives of others.

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Dr. Ron Snyder President, WOHF

“Funding for WOHF programs is raised through the largesse of dentists like you who respond with contributions during the February Phonathon.

Thank you for the generous donations we’ve received so far.

We are still in need of financial support. You can donate by visiting WOHF.org website.

We cannot do our work throughout the state without your support.”

guest editorial dr. ron snyder

Pick up the phone, please!

dental action day in pictures

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dental action day in pictures

STORMING THE HILL

WSDA Members and ASDA students braved the weather to make an impact at the 2016 Dental Action Day event th thee wsda wsda ne new wss ·· issue issue 4, 4, march march ·· 2016 2016 ·· www.wsda.org www.wsda.org ·· 77

dental action day in pictures

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dental action day in pictures “It was a dark and stormy morning…” …it really was. Pouring rain and frigid temperatures couldn’t dampen the spirits of the nearly 200 WSDA members and students who showed up for the 2016 Dental Action Day event in Olympia on January 29.

Braving both the harsh weather and the delicate political climate on the hill could have been daunting, but attendees faced both fearlessly in meetings throughout the day. From large groups to one-on-one meetings between old friends, it was a day to solidify existing relationships and forge new ones.

Attendees were fortified with talking points and newbies were encouraged to tag along with seasoned veterans, listen to what the lawmakers had to say, and stay on topic. The approach is proven, and helps ease the uninitiated into the process and develop leaders for the future. Vice President of Government Affairs Anne Burkland remarked, “Overall, dentists reported that their meetings with legislators were very positive. This shows that our hard work over the summer to create policies that put patient safety first is paying off. Thank you to everyone that came to Olympia, has called their legislators and answered action alerts this legislative session. Your involvement really makes a difference!”

WSDA President Dr. Bryan Edgar agreed, saying “This year’s Dental Action Day was very successful in helping legislators understand the issues of midlevel providers, corporate practice and dental residency programs. As your President, I want to thank all those who have worked so hard to make this year shine for your efforts.” Additionally, big thanks go to Burkland and her team, Emily Lovell and Michael Walsh, who worked tirelessly to arrange face-to-face meetings between members, students and legislators throughout the day. In all, more than 100 meetings were scheduled on behalf of attendees.

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dental action day in pictures

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dental action day in pictures

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legislative news session review

LEGISLATIVE REVIEW

Protecting high-quality patient care

The sixty-day 2016 legislative session is past its halfway point.

On February 17, all bills had to be voted out of the chamber of the legislature where the bill was introduced to remain alive. Lawmakers are now looking to March 10 when the Legislature is scheduled to adjourn.

Given the condensed timeline of the short legislative session, the Committee on Government Affairs narrowed the Association’s legislative agenda to three priorities in 2016: protecting patient safety in corporate practice settings, defending against midlevel providers and expanding dental residencies.

Protecting patient safety

Some companies, known as dental support organizations (DSOs), deal in management contracts that have the potential to impact patient care and safety. WSDA believes that there is a role in the marketplace for non-dentists to provide supportive services to dentists, but we believe that contracts between dentists and support organizations should not affect patient care. Unfortunately, we have seen that contracts put forth by some DSOs are tied to compensation for services and numbers of customers served, rather than the appropriate care provided to each patient.

WSDA remains committed to ensuring patient safety and protecting the patient/dentist relationship.

In 2016, the Association proposed legislation that prioritized patient safety and quality patient care by ensuring when a dentist contracts with a DSO to support their practice, the dentist retains both responsibility and control over the delivery of care. Senate Bill 6318 (Companion Bill: HB 2531) mirrors existing federal and state law and creates a safe harbor which provides guidance for how DSOs can legally operate in our state. To meet the safe harbor, the bill requires that contracts between dentists and unlicensed outside organizations are in writing, set in advance, are consistent with fair market value, are commercially reasonable, and don’t take into account any referrals or business that may be generated between the two parties. This bill protects patients and supports choice.

In comparison, the Association of Dental Support Organizations introduced Senate Bill 6275 (Companion Bill: HB 2517) which

sought to redefine our state’s definition of dentistry and limit it to the clinical practice of dentistry, essentially solely chairside care.

The WSDA opposed this legislation because we believe that decisions like the materials used or the amount of time a dentist can spend with a patient impact patient care.

Both bills received hearings in the Senate Health Care Committee. Dr. Cindy Pauley, WSDA lobbyists Brad Tower, Trent House and Carrie Tellefson, and Emily Studebaker, the outside counsel retained by WSDA to work on this issue, testified in support of SB 6318 and against SB 6275. The bills were not voted on by the Committee and are dead for the 2016 session.

Defending against midlevel providers

Three bills related to midlevel providers received hearings this legislative session: House Bill 1441, Senate Bill 5159 and Senate Bill 5465.

House Bill 1441 and Senate Bill 5159 would have authorized Medicaid to reimburse for services provided by a dental therapist in tribal settings. Senate Bill 5465 would have created a new provider – a midlevel provider – licensed by the State and allowed to operate in any community. Both dental therapists and midlevel providers can have as little training as just two years after graduating high school (or receiving their GED) and be able to perform surgical procedures.

WSDA respects tribal sovereignty, and we are committed to partnering with the tribal governments across our state to meet the oral health needs of all who are currently underserved. But we believe there are proven, safer programs that will close the access to care gap. Programs like the Community Dental Health Aide Coordinator which recruits individuals from within the communities they serve and trains them to provide powerful case management and preventive services. UWSoD’s Regional Initiatives in Dental Education (RIDE) program also has proven to be successful at increasing the number of dentists who practice in rural areas.

Finally, WSDA is actively working to expand dental residencies throughout Washington. We believe this multi-pronged approach will make a meaningful impact on Washington’s oral health status – not a new provider with a limited scope of practice.

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Expanding dental residencies

WSDA is working with community organizations, government agencies and legislators to strengthen the dental safety net by expanding dental residencies. Each dental resident provides about $500,000 in care to vulnerable populations – at no ongoing cost to the state. Washington currently has 54 dental residency spots, and WSDA is working to double the number of residency spots in the next ten years.

This session, WSDA advocated for Senate Bill 6404 (Companion Bill: HB 2819) which would have provided professional licensure to graduates of all accredited general dental residency programs in Washington in lieu of a regional board exam. The proposal aimed to improve recruitment to residency programs and encourage advanced training for new dental school graduates. Dr. Amy Winston and Brad Tower testified in favor of the bill before the Senate Health Care Committee. Unfortunately, the bill was not voted on by the Committee prior to the deadline. WSDA will reintroduce this legislation next year.

WSDA continues to advocate for a Capital Budget request of $800,000 to help construct a new clinic at Providence St. Peter Medical Center in Olympia. State funding would be matched 2:1 by a collection of private dollars from local fundraising efforts and grants from various philanthropic organizations. This request remains active as of the publication of this article.

Conclusion:

The 2016 Legislative Session is scheduled to adjourn, sine die, on March 10. Looking forward to the 2017 session, WSDA will continue its outreach to tribes and work to implement solutions for access. Together, we can make a meaningful impact. We will also continue to examine issues impacting the oral health of Washingtonians — like Medicaid audits on pediatric dentists – and determine if legislative action is needed in the upcoming session.

The 2017 session is 105 days, allowing more time to tackle more issues. You can stay up-to-date on legislative developments at WSDA’s blog: wsdasource.org/blog

Other bills supported by WSDA:

• House Bill 2499, sponsored by Dr. and Rep. Michelle Caldier: Allows for balanced billing. DEAD • Substitute House Bill 2498, sponsored by Dr. and Rep. Michelle Caldier: Creates a work group to make recommendations on ways to improve Medicaid’s prior authorization process for dental providers and patients. ALIVE • House Bill 2502, sponsored by Dr. and Rep. Michelle Caldier: Suspends the rulemaking authority of the Health Care Authority affecting dental providers until more dentists are participating in the Medicaid program. DEAD • House Bill 2313: Increases the legal age to purchase tobacco to 21 years old. DEAD

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legislative news session review

Dr. Amy Winston, Dr. Yonatan Ahdut, Dr. Noah Letwin, Dr. Steve Geiermann from the ADA, Trent House and Brad Tower testified in opposition of these bills.

Senate Bills 5159 and 5465 were not voted on by the Senate Health Care Committee and are dead for the remainder of session.

House Bill 1441 was approved by the House Community Development, Housing & Tribal Affairs Committee. The bill was then amended and approved by the House Appropriations Committee.

The amendment clarified that dental therapists can only provide treatment on a tribal reservation or in an “urban Indian organization” to members of a tribe or those otherwise eligible for services from IHS. The amendment also required the Department of Health to conduct a study on the outcomes of the treatment by dental therapists. The study would have been due to legislative leaders on December 31, 2020.

While the bill was moved out of the Rules Committee, it was not voted on by the entire House of Representatives before the February 17 deadline and is dead for the 2016 legislative session.

cover stor y 360° totaldental team experience leadership institute action day Leadership Institute members Dr. Imahn Moin (with his back to us, this page) and Dr. Joe Vaughn, (left, opposite page) joined Past President Dr. David Minahan, his wife Susan and two others at Dental Action Day. Photo: Craig Mitchelldyer

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The Leadership Institute’s 2016 members attend Dental Action Day The Leadership Institute was first developed by the WSDA Board in 2011 as a way to foster the development of a new cadre of leaders in organized dentistry. Participants are paired with a WSDA Board member who shepherds them through six key activities tailored to developing emerging leaders. Additionally, mentors and participants are encouraged to meet privately during the year to discuss perspectives, leadership issues and questions, and to further enhance the collaborative nature of the leadership process. Members of Leadership Institute kicked off the new year with their second event, the 2016 Dental Action Day in Olympia. Dr. Imahn Moin, a recent transplant from New Hampshire, and Dr. Joe Vaughn, from Alabama and also a recent transplant, met with mentors Dr. Gary Heyamoto and Dr. Greg Ogata before heading out with a group lead by Dr. David Minahan and his wife Susan.

Heyamoto, who has been a mentor since the program’s inception, said of the program, “Over the years, Kainoa Trotter has developed a very informative and refined program, and the mentees have become more involved, motivated and inspirational. My mentee this year, Dr. Imahn Moin, is no exception. Mentees are introduced to organized dentistry from the inside, and we all benefit when “graduates” go on to become leaders at the component, state and national levels..... and that has already happened.”

Moin was impressed by the scale and organization of Dental Action Day, saying, “It was definitely a larger scale event than I had anticipated. It must take a lot of work to orchestrate all the meetings with lawmakers. At first, it was a little overwhelming – especially given how little actual face time you get with legislators, but the event was so well-run that as the day progressed I got up to speed. I was impressed at how well-versed legislators were about issues important to dentistry.” Vaughn, who served ASDA in both local and national posts while in dental school, had never been to a event like DAD. “Everything was foreign to me, so I tried to mostly observe and listen to the conversations,” he said, “It was inspiring to see established dentists taking time out of their day to go to Olympia and lobby for something bigger than themselves. It’s much easier to stay in your practice and do nothing. It was a great experience to see how things are done and how the efforts of the dentist can influence lawmakers. I hope to stay involved for future Dental Action Day events.”

Next up: Committee meetings

Next, Moin and Vaughn will attend committee meetings of their choosing. For Vaughn and his mentor Greg Ogata, the choice was limited due to restrictions of his UW GPR. He and Ogata will attend the Committee on Budget and Finance meeting in August. “Actually, it worked out well,” he said, “because one of the best ways you can learn about an organization is to see where the money comes from and how it’s spent.

Dr. Ogata and I feel the meeting will be both illuminating and intersting.” Moin, who graduated from UWSoD in 2014 and attended the PNDC throughout dental school will be attending the Committee on PNDC meeting with Heyamoto. “I have always been drawn towards continuing education. I’ve always been involved with the PNDC and I’m interested in seeing how it’s run — and hopefully, I’d like to serve on the committee, at some point, and play a role in helping choose the speakers and the topics.”

Leadership plans

For Moin, the ultimate goal would be to rise through the chairs at WSDA and become president one day, though he acknowledges that’s a long way off. “Short term, however, I’d like to be involved with the PNDC Committee, serve as SKCDS delegate, and work my way to the Board. That’s what I like about the Leadership Institute – I’m getting exposure to how things work and happen at the state level.” Vaughn, who’s already had a glimpse behind the curtain through his involvement in ASDA leadership, says, “It’s early in the game. First, I want to continue to stay actively involved and connected, and stay informed on the issues in dentistry and see where that leads, but I don’t have finite goals of what I want to accomplish.”

The WSDA is proud to have both Drs. Moin and Vaughn involved in the Leadership Institute, and we look forward to hearing more about your year in coming issues.

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leadership institute dental action day

DIVING IN:

access in action cover stor y

ACCESS IN ACTION: From grassroots efforts to clinics providing millions in care, WSDA members provide in countless ways

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cover stor y

access in action Bringing dental care to the homeless in Pierce County

WSDA member dentists faced tough criticism over the last year. Battles in the legislature threatened to damage the profession’s reputation among the public, with cries about access to care creating a chorus heard over the state. Some implied that dentists were doing nothing to create avenues to access, or worse, were actively thwarting access to care, but we know that’s inaccurate. We can easily point to programs like Medicaid (Apple Health) and Community Health Clinics as key access resources in the state, but there are countless other ways the public never sees. What if these efforts didn’t exist?

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access in action cover stor y

And while some of them are big, splashy events like The Seattle King County Clinic, many others are home grown, grassroots efforts in tight-knit communities. Additionally, the vast majority of dentists in the state provide some level of free dental care to patients of record, people in need, and those referred to specialty practices from their GP colleagues.

Some, like Dr. Judson Werner of Seattle-King County Dental Society, track their charitable care to the penny, coding all uncompensated care so that he has an accurate year-end tally. Most, however, do not. Dentists are loathe to report the care they donate, many prefer to do work for free rather than try and navigate the labyrinth of Medicaid, and most simply don’t track the uncompensated care they provide. As Dr. Elissa Maynard, president of the Lewis County Dental Society said, “I see many dentists doing lots of free work. Many don’t want to shout it from the rooftops because they want to be discrete about it. Hopefully we can get our people to share more with us. I think if we gather good stories we should share them with any news media possible. It seems like the world can always use more good news.”

So while some say nothing is being done, the reality is quite different. From the smallest component to the largest, dentists throughout Washington are creating, managing, and funding programs designed to help the uninsured and underinsured receive care. From groundbreaking programs like the Swedish Community Specialty Clinic in Seattle, the IDEA Clinic in Spokane, and the Whatcom Project Access program in the Mount Baker District, Washington dentists are working to ensure that those in need can be seen. And although the focus has shifted from children to adults now that the vast majority of the state’s youngest receive care, dentists around the state still offer Give Kids a Smile events in February. We thought we’d reach out to component presidents and executive directors to see what is happening around the state.

While not an exhaustive account, this piece serves as an introduction to some of the many programs WSDA members support.

In small corners of the state

In reaching out to component presidents, we found extraordinary efforts to deliver access to care all over the state – not just in large component societies. Clark County, for instance, with just 188 members, has seven active programs bringing free care to the area’s poor. Dr. Scott George, Clark County Dental Society’s President, is proud of the work being done in his component to deliver care to the area’s underserved. “We have a full mix of care available in Clark county, it is not 100 percent emergent care based,” he says, “We cover all sides of dental needs through the clinics in the area. You can just Google ‘Vancouver Washington free dental clinics’ and the resources come up.” One such effort is Compassion Vancouver, a faith-based charitable organization that meets twice a year, triaging from a parking lot and then shuttling patients to private practices for care. Another is the Free Clinic of Southwest Washington, which handles emergent needs of the population.

Started in 2005, the Free Clinic is completely staffed by volunteer dentists and is open five days a week.

George, an endodontist, volunteers with the New Heights clinic,

which also screens patients then refers them to providers willing to take them at no cost. “I get to help out and see patients from the comfort of my own practice. I like that because everyone is comfortable, which isn’t always the case. For instance, when I work out of a van, I don’t have a microscope, which I use for root canals.”

And yet, even in Clark County where they have so many great programs in place, dentists routinely provide uncompensated care on their own – which generally goes unreported. George says, “Honestly, everyone in the component is fairly humble about it, so we don’t talk a lot about the efforts happening, it’s just something that we do. Medicaid dental reimbursement rates are so low that most of the dentists I know would rather do free work than hassle with trying to be reimbursed. You have more control and freedom over what you do, and you feel better about giving the services away than you do about doing the work for .25 on the dollar. Usually the patients are more appreciative knowing that they’re getting taken care of out of kindness.”

In Thurston-Mason Counties, 56 members of the component society (about a third of its membership) donated their time and expertise to the Olympia Union Gospel Mission last year, providing more than $70,000 in uncompensated care to the area’s poorest residents. The clinic, which is funded by many community partners including the component society, opened in 2003. In 2007, local dentist volunteers and OUGM created a network of dentists who accept referrals through the facility and accept case-managed patients in their offices. Dr. Bo Davidson, president of the Thurston-Mason Counties Dental Society says that other efforts in the area include free screenings at the Children’s Hands-On Museum, where in 2015 volunteers screened nearly 300 children. Screenings this year took place every Saturday throughout the month of February, in conjunction with National Dental Health Month.

Davidson says that the SeaMar clinic helps provide access to the un- and underinsured in the Olympia area, and a proposed residency at St. Peters Hospital could have a huge impact on delivering care in the area.

Over in Benton-Franklin Counties Dental Society, members provide free care through volunteer opportunities with the Union Gospel Mission, MTI Vans, and the SmileMobile, but they also partnered with Benton Franklin Community Health Alliance and the Benton Franklin Health Department to present the Medical Dental Health Summit III in early March. Dr. Lee Ostler created the Summit, an interdisciplinary think tank dedicated to understanding the ramifications of oral disease and health. This year they brought world-class medical and dental authorities in to present an Introduction to Dental Oncology course aimed at preparing dentists and hygienists to provide care and dental clearance for cancer and immunocompromised patients. The seminar is sponsored in conjunction with the Tri-Cities Cancer Center. Dr. Christopher Kleist, president of the component society says, “They will provide training for local dentists so that we will be able to help patients of the Tri-Cities Cancer Center get dental clearance for chemo and radiation within two weeks at no charge. Lee has been instrumental in making the program happen in our area. We’ll learn how to run our practices so that we can always accommo-

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North Central District Dental Society is another small group packing a big punch. With just 90 members, the society helps staff the local Lighthouse Ministries clinic, and produces their annual

North Central District Dental Society is another small group packing a big punch. With just 90 members, the society helps staff the local Lighthouse Ministries clinic, and produces their annual “Pain Free Christmas” program (now in its tenth year) providing free, emergent dental care to those without insurance.

“Pain Free Christmas” program (now in its tenth year) providing free, emergent dental care to those without insurance. Like other components, they also staff the MTI vans and go out in the community, and typically hold a Give Kids a Smile event in February.

The area has fully leveraged the CHC system, incorporating volunteers, student externships, and residents to capacity. NCDDS President Dr. Bruce Wilcox is the Dental Director at a CHC, and knows the challenges of providing care to the uninsured all too well. He said, “I am hiring three new dentists now to do adult care in our area. We’re the only ones doing any adult Medicaid or low income in our area, and we’re hiring into evening and Saturday hours. We were eight chairs a year and a half ago, we’re at 12 now, and we’ll add two more. We also have a dentist who donates a half-day a month at the CHC. We would be open to additional dentists doing that as well.” As part of the Northwest Dental Residency Program they currently have a resident in Wenatchee and

Toothapalooza: a hit with kids and the community

In Snohomish County, everyone seems to know what Toothapalooza is — it’s a hit with the kids.

“This year we had 1,000 people show up — the most ever,” said Dr. Scott Westford, president of SCDS The event brings dentists, musicians, artists and vendors together at the Children’s Museum in Everett for a night of dental-themed activities.

Part screening, part public relations, part distribution of hygiene bags (3,000 in February) and all fun, Toothapalooza is just the ticket to unite the community. But Snohomish puts their money where their mouth is, too. Their Foundation has raised and distributed more than $213,000 to community programs like the MTI Vans, Operation School Bell, the Providence General Foundation, and Project Access, which refers dental patients from every single safety net clinic in Snohomish County and sends them to private offices where volunteer dentists see them at no cost.

The Mount Baker District Dental Society is currently developing a clinic to be housed in the new technical academy at Skagit Valley College. Dr. Paul Halgren, president of the Society, said, “As we all know, patients who present in dental pain at the ER are most often given antibiotics and released, but they’re not treating the problem, they’re just medicating it. We’re setting up a clinic they can be referred to in Mt. Vernon. This past year Dr. David Dormans worked one day a week for 15 weeks, and he provided over $40,000 in care.” Over in Whatcom County, dentists and denturists collaborated on the Whatcom Project Access Dental program and provided $42,207 worth of care last year alone. Since the pro-

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Pain Free Christmas

another in Chelan helping to expand the clinic’s ability to provide access. Students from Spokane’s RIDE program are in their clinics four months a year, and they also have a popular connection with a extern program through the Arizona School of Dental and Oral Health which funnels an additional 10 students to the Wenatchee clinic, and five to the Chelan clinic a year. Wilcox explains “We’re popular with students because at a lot of the other sites they’ll see 6-8 patients a day, which is much better than they would see in dental school. Here, we make them part of the dentist’s team, and the dentists job is to catch what they can’t get to, so they tend to grow in their ability to see multiple patients faster. We have them seeing 13-15 patients a day. One of our RIDE students reported back that he had performed 200 more procedures than any of his classmates. Our doctors are all in mentorship mode. We’re not here to prove we know more, we’re here to figure out what we can help with and what they can teach us. Students enjoy it here, they’re treated well, and they have a great experience.” Wilcox hopes to establish a foundation so that they can do more in their community, but says, “We’ve considered it but haven’t moved on it. There’s an appetite for the foundation, but not for the extra task of managing it.”

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date a patient in need. There is a lot of talk about access to care, and in my mind it really comes down to financial problems for a lot of people. But there are scores of people who don’t even know they need access, and those are the people who are at the greatest risk of developing infections because of dental conditions that can affect their life expectancy — people who are fighting cancer.

When it comes to access to care, people like Dr. Lee Ostler are attacking it from a different angle – those people who are at the greatest risk and need advocates in the dental community.”

Kleist is expecting 30 area dentists to be involved in the venture. There are presently 1,100 new cases of cancer diagnosis each year at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center, representing patients from a wide service area in Eastern Washington and Eastern Oregon. He added, “In our part of the state we have community health clinics doing great work in the area. They are wonderful people and they are an amazing resource for the area. We’re fortunate to have a built-in system for the neediest of the needy.”

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gram started in 2011 they have donated about $500,000 in care.

Two Veterans Smiles events provided an additional $15,000 in free care, and Whatcom Homeless Connect treated 67 patients, delivering about $15,000 in care.

Spokane creates their own clinic

In Spokane, the District Dental Society (SDDS) and Dental Society Foundation (SDDSF) literally took access matters into their own hands when they created and developed the IDEA (Inland Northwest Dental Expanded Access) Clinic in 2007. The clinic has gone through some changes to its infrastructure, says SDDS president Dr. Lisa Ellingsen, “As this clinic has grown and changed we have continued to adapt and in order to operate as a safety net for people in the community.” ​ Dr. Mark Paxton is excited about the changes coming from the clinic, saying, “We’re ramping up the IDEA Clinic – we have now achieved further funding and have hired a part-time a staff dentist.

The dental society owns and manages the clinic, which is a unique model in the country. For a professional society to get the funding, organize the project, and actually build a clinic is a model that as a professional society we are very proud of accomplishing. It’s a major step to improving access to care in our community.” This year, Dr. Rachel Williams will be the part-time staff dentist, and she will refer patients out to specialists like Paxton, an Oral & Maxillofacial surgeon. But they built the clinic for another reason as well, says Paxton, “Other than providing care to those who need it most,

cancer patients start their chemo or radiation therapy quickly.”

Big Table is a non profit organization that helps waiters and restaurant staff to get their dentition repaired or reconstructed if need be so that they can get a better job and move from the back of restaurant to the front as a server or host. Clients from Big Table have been able to make huge life changes in Spokane because of the program, and the organization plans to expand to Seattle and Portland next. In Spokane, Big Table has been an effort primarily supported by surgeons and local dental labs.

Finally, the Maxillofacial Review Board/Cleft Lip and Palate program provides largely uncompensated care to children born with cleft lip and palate and other Cranial-Facial deformities.

Surgeons, orthodontists, and pediatric dentists in Spokane work together to take care of these children. But the efforts of SDDS go far beyond these programs, says Ellingsen, who notes, “Many of our specialists and general dentists provide care to those in need through programs such as Smile Mobile and Teeth Week. But more privately, our members routinely provide care in their offices, working independently or in conjunction with other nonprofit groups and charities, caring for those in need such as local veterans, school children and the homeless.”

Big components pack a punch

Larger components like Pierce County and Seattle-King County Dental Societies have the lion’s share of members and resources in the state, with innovative and successful programs other components are trying to emulate — like the Swedish Community Specialty Clinic in In the south sound, Pierce County Dentists Care is PCDS’s Seattle, and the Pierce County Dentists program, which has donated more umbrella program for the component, which has provided Care than $1 million dollars worth of docucare in the past year. The SCSC, more than $1 million dollars worth of free dental care in just mented perhaps one of the most ambitious clina few years. Through the program, virtually anyone meet- ics of its kind, is a partnership between SKCDS and Swedish Hospital that last ing income criteria needing dental access can be routed year saw close to 2,000 patients, performed 6,721 extractions for $2.3 million through the system and get care. in care. Since opening, the clinic has extracted 20,000 teeth, or about $6.3 million in donated care. That’s not a typo: 20,000 one of the reasons behind the IDEA clinic was because we wanted extractions. The clinic accepts Medicaid and is funded by Swedish to have a mechanism to show that as a professional society we are Medical Center and indirectly by the Pacific Hospital Preservation not just sitting back and doing nothing – we’re actively involved in Development Authority – they provide granting to Project Access improving access to care in the Spokane region. It was important Northwest, who act as navigators. for us to be able to show the community what we were willing to Patients present for care at the SCSC after being screened in a do to address access issues.” local CHC. Dental Director Dr. Noah Letwin says, “Since nearly ​ Like so many others across the state, Paxton donates care to all of our patients come through the CHC system, they already several programs in the area, including the Medically Complex Pa- have a place they can consider their ‘dental home,’ but they may tient referral program, Big Table, and the Maxillofacial/Cleft Palate not utilize it. There are some exceptions, of course – we get referReview Board. Paxton explains what they do, saying “In the Medi- rals through the Emergency Departments of the hospital. What cally Complex Patient referral program, oncologists, transplant, people have to understand is that we perform the type of proceand ENT surgeons can refer patients who need dental clearance dures that most general dentists refer out of their office — they are to SDDS Executive Director Wendy Johnson, who gets the word very complex cases. In fact, we initially hoped to staff the clinic out to all of the Oral & Maxillofacial surgeons in Spokane. It helps mostly with volunteers, but quickly discovered that was unrealis-

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In the south sound, Pierce County Dentists Care is PCDS’s umbrella program for the component, which has provided more than $1 million dollars worth of free dental care in the past year alone, and that has been the trend for the past several years. Through the program, virtually anyone meeting income criteria needing dental access can be routed through the system and get care. By harnessing a unique combination of community agencies, free events, hospitals, and dentists in private practice, they’re able to serve as navigators to care. Additionally, they organize or participate in

Much more access around the state

Unfortunately, it’s not possible to talk about every program around the state, and more importantly, we’re just not aware of the thousands of members who are contributing daily to helping solve the access problem in ways both small and large. But we can’t forget the collective power of these efforts, like Dr. Mike Buehler who built and runs a clinic in Yakima that last year saw 807 patients – some of whom took advantage of an innovative program that allows them to volunteer and earn money toward their treatment plan. This year the WSDA is going to reach out to ask you how much you personally provide in uncompensated care. We hope you realize that you’re making an impact, and we want to spread the word to the public.

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Pierce County

eight free dental days a year. Executive Director Cheryl Jenkins says, “We are the dental lead in four “Homeless Connect” days that are managed by Sound Outreach, and we collaborate with Bates Dental Clinic to provide four free dental days. We also partner with Communities in Schools of Tacoma to provide oral hygiene bags and a book about the importance of oral health to every child in the Communities in Schools of Tacoma program. Our goal has been to provide 3,000 oral hygiene bags during the month of February. We also coordinate with any community agency in Pierce County who has identified a person in need of emergent oral healthcare and that does not possess resources to obtain the care. The dental care is provided for free by members of the Pierce County Dental Society.”

Dr. Michelle Green, president of PCDS, explains how the Homeless Connect program grew from one day a year to four, explaining that transportation was often a barrier to care, and one event threatened to overwhelm their community partners. “When we used to just hold the event at the Tacoma Dome there was no way we could treat all of the people in one day, and our philosophy is that we wanted to make it possible for more people to attend while lightening the load on the community health partners, too. By bringing the Homeless Connect events into the schools, we started seeing more families with children.” Now, they have a pool of dentists working at the Bates Technical College in Tacoma taking all of the restorative patients, the Bates denture clinic is open, and kids are helped through community health clinics or the Give Kids A Smile program to be assigned a private dentist long term. Green continues, saying, “It’s not just a one-day treatment for us, like so many of the homeless events are. We really look at it as an opportunity to get people into a dental home, taking into account factors like their location in the county, their transportation and their level of need and following through. Additionally, as we’ve held more of the events the word has spread that they’re really about getting care to those in need, and so a lot of the people who present aren’t necessarily homeless, but just as likely to be the working poor. Anyone is eligible come to be screened, but whether or not you’re going to qualify to be referred to a clinic is strictly income-based.”

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tic.” They found that volunteers not only lacked the capability to navigate Swedish’s electronic medical records system, but more often weren’t comfortable doing the procedures that they had to routinely perform at the clinic. To give you an idea of the intensity of the work they do, Letwin says, “We send out residents to Guatemala with Swedish at the end of their residency for a week.

While there, they usually extract between 1,200 and 1,500 teeth, which they’re only able to do because of their experience at SCSC. Most teams traveling to that area do half that number. We provide a service that CHC’s don’t have, and we provide training so that our dentists can leave the program and still be able to offer these highly-specialized services. Some of our residents have gone on to CHCs and have been able to bring these services there. One of our residents has gone on to private practice but still volunteers one day a week at SCSC to be the attending dentist.” That’s how the residency program can create an enduring legacy.

But Seattle-King isn’t a one-trick pony, its members are organized and involved in many efforts — from the RAM/Seattle King County Clinic events, Give Kids a Smile events, NW Kidney Center (where volunteers have helped 51 people get dental clearance for transplants) and Tet in Seattle (an event preserving and promoting Vietnamese culture in Seattle), among many others. One of the component’s most far-reaching efforts is the Donated Dental Services program, where dentists can donate services in their own clinic when they have room in their schedule. Werner says, “The program’s focus is on the disabled, elderly and medically compromised patients in the community. They’re funneled through the system, talk with a caseworker who then assigns them to local dentists. It’s a great program because they partner with the labs so that if someone needs lab work or specialty work donated they can arrange that, as well. Since 2000, 1,133 county residents have received $5,200,000 worth of care, with 237 dentists and 105 dental labs participating in the well-organized program. We get to do what we do best: practice dentistry, with the organization handling the case management aspects of it.”

As Werner explains, the Seattle-King County Dental Society Foundation has raised more than $1 million dollars — money that has been used to fund MTI vans, the Provail Clinic, the Union Gospel Mission clinic, and many more events and services aimed at getting services to the people who need it the most. “It’s not necessarily doing dentistry,” he says, “but we do raise money to help programs that provide dentistry to continue to work in the community.”

member news meet your component presidents

MEET YOUR PRESIDENTS We reached out to component presidents across the state for their take on leadership, their community and organized dentistry.

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member news meet your component presidents Dr.Lisa Ellingsen and family

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member news meet your component presidents

Dr. Judson Werner and family

Dr. Elissa Maynard

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Dr. Alan Peet

Editor’s note: All but four component societies are represented here, we hope to hear from the remaining presidents in time for Issue 5.

Dr. Christopher Kleist Benton-Franklin Counties Dental Society

I grew up in the Tri-Cities and moved back home to practice after graduating from the UW. I got involved with the local dental society because I wanted to give back to my community, which has done so much for me. Working with the WSDA gives me the opportunity to help those in my area who are in real need. It also allows me to do what I can to help maintain the integrity of our profession. In my free time, I love to fly-fish, golf, and travel with my beautiful wife, Danielle.

Dr. Scott George Clark County Dental Society

Clark County has a proud history of providing options for patients in need of lower cost dental care. Over seven clinics routinely treat patients in the greater Clark County area. Dentists and specialists volunteer their time in the clinics or open their own offices to care for these patients every week.

The Clark County Dental Society has posted these valuable community resources on our website.

A simple web search will easily point a patient to the resources available at these nonprofit organizations. Clark County is committed to providing care to people in need.

Dr. Ron McHargue Grant County Dental Society

Dr. Michelle Green and family

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I spend most of my time working in my newly-purchased practice of three years here in Moses Lake. When I am not doing that, I am spending my time with my wonderful family. I wanted to participate in our

member news meet your component presidents

Dr. David Blackett hits the slopes

member news meet your component presidents

Dr. Donald Echols and four of his six grandchildren

Dr. Bruce Wilcox and his family enjoy a day in the snow

local society leadership because of the examples of the leaders that have preceded me.

I find that dentistry is more fun when you have the fellowship of other professionals to share ideas with and learn from.

As far as access to care issues in our area there is plenty going on. We have compassionate dentists that take care of patients in need all the time at no charge, Dr. Harder does a free dental day each year, and the Community Health Center takes a sliding scale fee. If someone doesn’t get the dental care they need in our area, it isn’t because dentistry isn’t available.

Dr. David Blackett Grays Harbor District Dental Society

Grays Harbor and Pacific counties are slowly starting to show signs of recovery after many years of recession. While many of our members are getting a little older and have retired, we have also seen new providers come to our area. Members in our society have generously donated their time to Adopt-a-School and have given back to our community by providing care to children through the Access to Baby and Child Dentistry program.

We are happy to call the Harbors our

home with all of the natural beauty that surrounds us and feel fortunate to be part of a profession that contributes to making our community better!

Dr. Elissa Maynard Lewis County Dental Society

Lewis County Dental Society continues its longstanding tradition of monthly dinner meetings with continuing education for our members. We enjoy the smaller size of our component; we get to know each other well and are able to support each other’s efforts in our community.

In February, the Lewis County Dental Society, in partnership with Valley View Health Center, The Washington Dental Service Foundation, The Lewis County Oral Health Coalition, and The ABCD Program, will be holding five events for “Give Kids A Smile” to celebrate Oral Health Month.

We are jointly hosting dental -hemed story times at our local libraries. We will have dental stations set up for children to play.

We will also be offering free dental screenings and providing information for families on how to find a dental home.

Dr. Ron McHargue and his wife

Dr. Donald Echols Lower Columbia District Dental Society

I have been in Longview for three years now. My passion is to help dentists and patients by providing compassionate and effective periodontal therapy to improve oral and general health.

My spare time is filled with playing tennis and chasing five grandchildren. It seems more and more time is spent with them and keeping track of my six children.

I am grateful to be part of a profession that cares for people and seeks to help everyone gain access to care. It is rewarding to see fellow dentists contributing to this work. I am glad to be practicing at this time when so much more knowledge and treatment options are available.

Dr. Bruce Wilcox North Central District Dental Society

I was asked for this article to describe why I chose to serve in leadership at the component society level. I’m not sure there is an easy answer. The short answer would be: I believe in having guiding principles that govern what we do.

The longer answer is that for me, dentistry is “what” we do, but the “what” is continued on page 30

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member news meet your component presidents

Dr Paul Halgren Mount Baker District Dental Society

I was recently informed that I was the new head coach for our daughter’s under-8 soccer team. My first thought was “How could I possibly find the time to do that?” A rapid progression of germane thoughts shortly followed, such as the fact that I had never played competitive soccer, nor coached it at any level. On the upside, this experience has lent me material to write this brief article!

As a young orthodontist, I joined the Mount Baker District Dental Society as a way to meet my colleagues, hear continuing education lectures and have a resource to access possible mentors. Over the years and with a little encouragement, I began attending more meetings and started the pathway to leadership. Most of us aren’t politicians and don’t seek the limelight of leadership. Becoming an active member and leader in your local dental society is an opportunity for personal growth similar to coaching your kids’ sports teams. Learn a pearl of information, meet a fellow dentist, get out there and challenge yourself. Make the effort to attend a meeting this year and maybe, just maybe volunteer to be next year’s secretary/treasurer. Life is an adventure, play hard.

The season started with seven girls who could hardly dribble the soccer ball… who knows? Maybe someday those girls could be world champions!

To be continued…

Dr. Paul Halgren and family feign a scare

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member news meet your component presidents

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member news meet your component presidents

Dr. Kyle Sullivan Walla Walla Valley Dental Society

Walla Walla and southeast Washington is a drier but beautiful part of the state. The dentists here are giving, kind practitioners. Many have served in the dental society in years past and like to let newer members have the chance to serve as well. It is good for me to have an excuse to shake hands with our society members and get to know them a little better. I appreciate the members of the ADA, AGD, etc who present classes especially those who journey to Walla Walla. Organized dentistry facilitates our lifelong learning. Those who participate in the process help lift us to new perspectives which are exciting and invigorating. Thank you Dr. Kyle Sullivan and his daughter

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continued from page 26

far less important than the “why” or the “how”. Why do I do the things I do? I try to follow a life calling of building people.

That applies to my patients, my kids, my marriage, my neighbors, my community, my employees, and me. The constant introspective question is ‘In every contact, what am I doing to mentor leadership’.

How we go about mentoring is as important. Do I value the other person, do I keep my word, do I have compassion, do I seek excellence in all I do for others?

Having set this stage, I hope that these inform all the things I do; all the “what’s”. Taking the opportunity to serve in our society leadership was driven by these ideas and values.

Members of a profession are entrusted by society with the privilege to act within their professional scope. The trust given is based on the assumption that the professional takes on the obligation to hold the interests of the patient above his or her own. I hope that my leadership has encouraged others not only to do the right thing, but to have purpose behind the choice.

Dr Alan Peet Olympic Peninsula Dental Society

Organized dentistry keeps you informed of the challenges facing dentistry and makes you less isolated in your individual practice. In addition, it provides a means to have a voice in the regulatory process that impacts all of us.

Finally, it enables you to meet and work with very good people, and develop friendships on a personal and professional basis.

Dr. Michelle Green Pierce County Dental Society

I love Pierce County. The landscape is beautiful, the communities are diverse, and there is a constant and growing energy within the urban areas. It is a perfect place to live and raise my family, as well as practice dentistry. One of the reasons I became involved with organized dentistry, nearly ten years ago, was so that I could be a part of Pierce County’s Access (to Care) Committee. It has always been very important to me to work within my community to build and promote strength, health, and prosperity. From the Access committee, I quickly became involved with the PCDS board and served a three year term before working my way up to the presidency. Over the past seven years of board membership, I have tackled many issues, some very big and some small, but all impacting the way we get to practice dentistry every day.

The friendships I have formed and the knowledge I have gained through my involvement with PCDS have been invaluable.

I am so thankful to have been given the opportunity to be the PCDS president this year.

Dr. Judson Werner Seattle-King County Dental Society

At SKCDS, in addition to our social and educational programs, we have put together some really great programs to get dental care to those who cannot afford it.

Our extraction clinic at Swedish Hospital treats several thousand people every year who would otherwise be going to the emergency room. We also have a really great program where we match Northwest Kidney Center patients who can’t afford dental care but need to be infection free in order to be cleared for a kidney transplant. These programs have been a great addition to the dental safety net in King County.

I own a private practice in Bellevue, and I really enjoy this profession. In addition to practicing dentistry, most of my time is spent with my family. My wife, Amelie, and I have two kids who are always funny and entertaining. Our son Tristan is 6 and daughter Gisele is 4. As a family, we enjoy boating in the summer, and this is the first winter the kids have been snow skiing. We also have Husky Football season tickets and love cheering for the Dawgs!

Dr. Scott Westford Snohomish County Dental Society

Hello from Snohomish County! My name is Scott Westford. I am proud to be serving as this 2015-2016 president of the Snohomish County Dental Society. After the military, college, and Dental School at Creighton University, I moved back to the great Northwest. I have been practicing in the area since 2003. I became actively involved with our society in 2009 serving on the executive committee. I have enjoyed being part of our society and attending several House of Delegates meeting as a delegate and an alternate delegate. I also enjoy organized dentistry and the opportunity to meet other dentists at meetings and discuss issues we as dental providers face and find ways to overcome these challenges and become better providers.

I feel very fortunate to be part of a profession that allows me to help people, provide for my family, and spend time with them. I currently live in Woodinville with my wife and two young children. I thoroughly love spending time with my family.

We enjoy hiking in the area and spending time outdoors. Recently we have introduced our kids to snow skiing which has been quite an adventure!

Dr. Lisa Ellingsen Spokane District Dental Society

I am honored to have been selected president of the Spokane District Dental Society. SDDS has a long history of activ-

ism and achievement that inspires members like myself to get involved. The year got off to a great start hosting the House of Delegates in September. We followed up with a successful Teeth Week. Members were able to treat both children and adults in the SmileMobile. Presentations and hygiene kits were also provided to over 1200 local children throughout the week. The Spokane District Dental Society Foundation continues to work tirelessly to serve the vulnerable in our community at the IDEA clinic. Recently the Foundation has partnered with Cancer Care Northwest and Providence to provide dental care and clearance for cancer patients prior to their cancer treatments. Local dentists are also working to secure follow-up care and dental treatment to these high risk patients following their treatment. I am proud of our continued commitment to our patients, our community and our profession.

Dr. Bo Davidson Thurston-Mason Counties Dental Society

I originally joined our dental society to meet other local dentists, as I was new to the area, and for continuing education.

Over time I became more involved with volunteer and fundraising efforts and became more interested in running for our executive board positions.

I’ve grown to really enjoy serving on the executive board for my local society as you get to make decisions and take direct actions on how your society can benefit your local area and help the underserved with their dental needs. The Olympia area holds a special place in my heart as I grew up here. It really is my home and can’t imagine living in another place, and am so thankful I can work to give back to the area that helped shape me to become the person and professional that I am.

Dr. Steve Connell Yakima Valley Dental Society

The Yakima area has been fortunate to have many great dentists contribute to the valley’s overall dental health. Because of this, it became easy for me to want to serve in the Yakima Valley Dental Society.

We have a great tradition of serving in our community and in organized dentistry.

Those efforts continue to increase. Members give financial support and time to many great causes such as the Union Gospel Mission Dental Clinic, Yakima Dental Hygiene School, sealant day, disabled veterans, overseas mission trips and charity work within private practice. We have many members that also participate at the state level of organized dentistry.

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Dr. Steve Connell and family

Dr. Scott George and family

Dr. Bo Davidson (second from right) and friends

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Dr. Christopher Kleist and his wife

member news meet your component presidents

Dr. Scott Westford and family

pndc news team experiences for dentists, hygienists

Team Experience highlights!

We’ve highlighted some of the courses and lectures that we think make the PNDC exceptional this year. For full descriptions, visit wsda.org/2016-pndc-schedule.

FOR DENTISTS: Thursday, June 16 Anterior Esthetic Techniques & Materials Lee Ann Brady, DMD

Accomplishing exquisite anterior restorative results is a combination of preparation, technique, and materials selections.

This lecture will present an approach to plan margin placement and tooth reduction to accomplish the proposed tooth position, contour and color of the new restoration as well as assuring functional success. We will discuss the esthetic and functional parameters of each material to facilitate appropriate material selection. An efficient and effective process for streamlining tooth preparation will be also presented.

360° Total Team Experience Douglas Lambert, DDS Anterior Esthetic Techniques & Materials Lee Ann Brady, DMD

Anterior Preparation Design Lee Ann Brady, DMD

360° Total Team Experience Monica Monsantofils, RDH

Friday, June 17

Exploring the Oral Microbiome Anne Guignon, RDH

Restoration of the Worn Dentition Terry Donovan, DDS Hydrolic Sinus Condensing Leon Chen, DMD For many clinicians, inadequate alveolar bone height and anatomical features of the maxillary sinus complicate sinus lift procedures and placement of endosseous implants.

This lecture will present a new internal crestal approach that addresses these issues.

Sinus Perforation: Classifications and Treatments Leon Chen, DMD Predictable Endodontics - Accessing the 3rd Dimension Lecture and workshop Martin Trope, DMD

Saturday, June 18 One Day Pankey Expereince Understanding Aesthetic Materials, Methods, and Madness - Parts 1 & 2 Michael Fling, DDS Digital Implant Dentistry: A Live Patient Surgical Demonstration Gregory Berg, DMD

FOR HYGIENISTS Thursday, June 16 The Erosion Explosion - Effects of a Modern Day Witch’s Brew Anne Guignon, RDH Today’s sports drinks, energy drinks, flavored waters, bottled teas, powdered drinks and beverage additives are creating a perfect storm. Modern day drinks, made from a sophisticated concoction of ingredients, accelerate tooth erosion, setting the stage for dentinal hypersensitivity.

Science Based Sound Bites to “Sell” Your Message Trisha O’Hehir Formulating the Ultrasonic Debridement Treatment Plan Cynthia Fong, RDH A Simplified Approach to Ultrasonic Instrumentation Cynthia Fong, RDH

Friday, June 17 What’s pH Got to Do with It? Trisha O’Hehir A Simplified Approach to Ultrasonic Instrumentation Cynthia Fong, RDH

Saturday, June 18 Up in Smoke: Current Trends in Smoking Habits Affecting Oral and Systemic Health Betsy Reynolds, RDH The popularity of hookah bars and ‘little cigars’ (especially among young people) has renewed concern among oral healthcare providers that use of ANY tobacco-containing product negatively impacts both oral as well as systemic health.

Drug Store Addiction: The Abuse of Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medications Betsy Reynolds, RDH Back to Basics: Inflammation & Repair Karen Siebert, RDH Instrumentation Trends: A HandsOn Experience with XP Technology Karen Siebert, RDH

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CE requirements for dental professionals continue to evolve and change. Please refer to the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) for each rule on the WSDA Web site for more details.

All dentists must comply with WISHA/ DOSH standards: Infection Control in Dentistry – Doing It By the Rules

keeping and Reporting, WAC 296-900: Administrative Rules

Heartsaver First Aid

Thursday, June 16 from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Instructor: Art Cole

Relevant Rules: WAC 296-800-150: First-Aid Initial Minimal Sedation Requirements: Conquering Fear! Minimal Sedation Update Parts 1 & 2

Thursday, June 16 from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Instructor: Mark Donaldson, PharmD

Thursday, June 16 from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Instructor: Terre Harris

Relevant Rules: WAC 296-24: General Safety and Health Standards, WAC 296-62: General Occupational Health Standards

Old Game, New Rules – WISHA & HIPAA, 2016

Relevant Rules: WAC 296-27: Record-

Friday, June 17 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Instructor: Terre Harris

Relevant Rules: WAC 246-817-740: Mini-

Relevant Rules: WAC 246-817-740: Minimal Sedation by Inhalation (to include but not limited to Nitrous Oxide), WAC 246817-745: Minimal Sedation

Treating Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office: A Hands-On Workshop Friday, June 17 from 8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Instructor: Robert R. Edwab, DDS

Relevant Rules: WAC 246-817-740: Minimal Sedation by Inhalation (to include but not limited to Nitrous Oxide), WAC 246817-745: Minimal Sedation

Basic Life Support for the Professional Requirements:

mal Sedation by Inhalation (to include but not limited to Nitrous Oxide), WAC 246817-745: Minimal Sedation

BLS for Health care Providers

Better Medicine, Better Dentistry: Pharmacology You Can Use Parts 1 & 2

Relevant Rules:: WAC 246-817-720: Basic

Friday, June 17 from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 a.m.

Instructor: Mark Donaldson, PharmD

Delivering Solutions For Your Long-Term Financial Success By acting as your Chief Financial Officer for your practice and as a Personal Wealth Manager for your family.

Thursday, June 16 from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.; and repeat at 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Instructor: Art Cole Life Support Requirements

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pndc news ce requirements for washington dentists

PNDC: CE requirements for Washington dentists

uwsod news asda 10th district conference

Back row from left: Yeri Guak, Niveditha Rajagopalan, Erin Fraundorf, Laine Janzen, Dr. Daryn Lu, LaJoi Wiggins Front row from left: Pinkesh Shah, Jennifer Quist, Aaron Henderson, Dr. Maxine Feinberg, Dr. Mark Donald, Dr. Emily Hobart, Dr. Onika Patel, Jordan Tellin

For the first time in its history, Seattle recently hosted ASDA’s District 10 Meeting for student members from the seven dental schools in Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. It’s the largest district meeting within the American Student Dental Association, bringing more than 300 student leaders from the district together for a three-day conference with speakers, educational opportunities, and peer networking. According to Sohaib Soliman, District 10 Trustee, “The goal of the gathering is to get leaders from throughout the district together to teach them skills that aren’t currently being offered in dental school: leadership development, understanding loan repayments, and advocacy issues of the district. It’s really similar to the conference that the WSDA holds, but on a smaller scale.”

Soliman worked together with a team of ASDA members to plan, organize and hold the event. Keynote speakers included Dino Watt, relationship capital expert, Dr. Dave Striegel, ADA Past President Dr. Maxine Feinberg, and Dr. Mark Donald, AGD President.

“The event was an incredible success,” said Soliman, “It was actually the largest district meeting ever held by a trustee, and it went really smoothly.” Among the many offerings over the three days were a half-day Pre-Dental Simulation Lab, a financing segment, and update on national issues facing organized dentistry by Dr. Bryan Edgar, WSDA President, and a social event at the Space Needle.

Photos courtesy of Sohaib Soliman. Above, Left to right: Opposite: Sohaib Soliman, District 10 ASDA Trustee, addresses the crowd.

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uwsod news asda 10th district conference

THE NEW GUARD

Seattle recently played host to the 10th District ASDA Conference thee wsda wsda ne new wss ·· issue issue 4, 4, march march ·· 2016 2016 ·· www.wsda.org www.wsda.org ·· 35 35 th

wdia news the need for life insurance

THE NEED FOR LIFE INSURANCE Are you one of the 40 percent who isn’t prepared?

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Are you one of the 40 percent?

Forty percent of American households would immediately have trouble meeting their basic living expenses if a primary wage earner passed away. Life Insurance coverage is an essential tool for protecting your family and your practice by making sure that your loved ones will be taken care of in the event of your death. Life Insurance ensures that their financial future is not left to chance. Having coverage can mean the difference between your family keeping their family home, your children having money for college and your spouse having a means to retire.

Here are a few good reasons to purchase Life Insurance: You are the main income earner for your family and they are dependent on your income. If you were to die tomorrow, your family would have trouble meeting their basic needs.

You have significant debt due to the home mortgage, student loans, practice loan, etc. that you do not want to burden your family with if you passed away tomorrow.

You do not want your family to be burdened with estate or other taxes that would reduce the estate your family receives when you die.

You have a special needs child who depends on your income for his or her care, probably for the rest of his or her life.

You are saving for your children’s private school or college education. If you passed away, the kind of education that you would like to provide for them would be financially out of reach.

Although people are told by their financial planner, spouse and others that they need Life Insurance, they still find reasons for putting off purchasing a policy. But WDIA’s advice is to buy it now. First, the premiums for the same coverage will increase the older you become so it will be less expensive for you to buy it now verses next year. Second, the longer you wait, the more you risk developing health issues that could increase your premium or make you ineligible for coverage at all.

If you are ready to look at your life insurance options, please contact Washington Dentists’ Insurance Agency at 206-441-6824 or 1-800-282-9342.

Sole broker for:

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wdia news the need for life insurance

Even if you are experiencing some financial challenges, Life Insurance should never be thought of as a non-essential expense. If a family loses a main breadwinner, the financial consequences could range from simply challenging to totally devastating. Life Insurance is one of the most important things you can have to ensure that your family will be taken care of, if something happens to you.

EARN REWARDS WITH NAKANISHI – THEN RELAX! WHAT OUR CLIENTS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT “I really love your rewards program!”

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“Rewards is an add-on bonus to the great jobs your team has done for me for almost 20 years.”

Our clients earn nakanishiREWARDS Points when their account is paid in full by the 10th day of the month. These points are enjoyed by redeeming them for vacation packages, cruises, hotels, airline tickets, and restaurants.

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wdia news is it time for an insurance review?

IS IT TIME FOR AN INSURANCE REVIEW? USE THIS CHECKLIST As your practice grows, your earnings increase or your family gains new members, your insurance needs increase as well. Many dentists forget to keep their insurance coverage in step with their life and business changes, which can leave them in a difficult financial situation if an accident occurs.

Washington Dentists’ Insurance Agency recommends that all dentists review their insurance coverage at least once each year to determine if what they currently have meets their present and future needs.

Things we’ll cover in your annual review include: • Have you added to your family?

• Are you purchasing or selling a practice?

• Was there any change in your marital status or dependents during the year? (children, parents or other relatives) • Should you update your will?

• Have you inherited considerable funds or gifts?

• Do you feel you have adequate Life Insurance for your practice and family?

• Do you feel you have adequate Personal Disability Insurance to replace your earnings due to sickness or accident?

• Do you feel you have adequate Long Term Care Insurance for yourself, your parents or other family members?

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If you would like to review your current insurance needs, please contact the Washington Dentists’ Insurance Agency at 800-282-9342 or wdia@wsda.org.

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special olympics news how you can help

SPECIAL SMILES

WSDA partners with the Special Olympics Special Smiles Program

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Special Olympics Special Smiles Program

Lack of access to dental care is one of the biggest health-care related issues among individuals with intellectual disabilities. For more than 20 years, Special Olympics has worked to lessen this disparity for athletes with intellectual disabilities through the Special Smiles program. Special Smiles is an oral-health education, screening, referral, and data collection program offered in partnership with Special Olympics competitions across Washington. Following screenings, results are recorded, and those athletes with unmet needs are referred to local dentists for further diagnosis and treatment.

Screenings are supplemented with education about brushing, flossing and oral health. Not only is Special Smiles beneficial for the athletes who are screened, it’s a great learning tool for dental professionals, who take the hands-on experience in working with patients with intellectual disabilities back to their practice.

Screenings can make a difference

Special Smiles screenings can have dramatic results. California Special Olympics athlete Dustin Plunkett’s screening revealed gum cancer, still in the treatable stage.

Dustin was referred for follow-up care and went on to become a Special Olympics Southern California Board Member as well as an on-air analyst on the ESPN coverage of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games.

Approximately 200 athletes per year have been screened over the past five years at state Summer Games, held annually at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Special Olympics Washington is looking to expand the reach of the local Special Smiles program by bringing dental screenings to the regional tournaments that take place year-round throughout the state so more athletes can be treated. Dentists from all over the state are needed to provide screenings to Special Olympics athletes at their local regional tournaments – training is provided and opportunities are available near you.

Sign up to help today!

Please visit http://specialolympicswashington.org/sowa/calendar/ sporting_events to find events in your area where you can volunteer. Contact Victoria Mehren – Special Olympics Washington Director of Health and Training – at vmehren@sowa.org or 206.681.9381 to schedule.

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Dr. Cynthia Pauley WSDA Board of Directors

“The leadership team at Special Olympics is a joy to work with. They are organized and knowledgeable and make volunteering easy!”

special olympics news how you can help

The WSDA is proud to announce that it is partnering with the Special Olympics Special Smiles program to help provide free oral health screenings to the 14,500 Washington athletes who are part of Special Olympics Washington. In order to be successful, we need member dentists and their teams to help provide screenings at regional events across the state. There are four regions in Washington: Northwest (Mountlake Terrace North to the Canadian border), King County, Southwest and East, and all have events throughout the year where oral health screenings can occur.

Volunteer dentists are not required to bring any equipment or supplies but donations of branded tooth brushes and floss are welcomed. Forms will be provided to athletes who need follow-up care, and volunteer screeners are encouraged to serve as a dental home for the athletes in their area. Hygienists and staff are encouraged to attend and provide basic oral health education.

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4 2 · th e wsda ne w s · issue 4,march · 2016 · www.wsda.org

.O

Nomination for elective offices of the WSDA Dr. Gregory Ogata, Immediate Past President of the WSDA and Chair, Task Force on Nominations, has put out a call for recommendations for elected positions within the Association.

Submission deadline is June 30, 2016.

The House of Delegates of the Washington State Dental Association is scheduled September 22-24, 2016, in Blaine, WA. Elective position descriptions are available upon request.

During the meeting, the House will fill the following elective offices (terms are for one year unless otherwise specified). · President-elect: One year and three-year term as ADA Delegate · Secretary-Treasurer: Three years and three-year term as ADA Delegate · Board of Directors: Four positions, three-year terms · Committee on Budget and Finance: One position, four-year term · Committee on Government Affairs: One position, three-year term · Delegates to the ADA House: Three positions, three-year terms beginning January 2017

Timelines

In accordance with a resolution passed by the 1994 House of Delegates, nominations for these vacancies should be submitted to the Association Office no later than 12 weeks before the first day of the House of Delegates, June 30, 2016 (this deadline ensures that your information will appear in the WSDA News). The Task Force on Nominations will meet soon to formulate recommendations for elective offices, so it is imperative that nominations be submitted in a timely fashion.

Forms and Photos: http://tinyurl.com/2016Noms Members interested in running for elective offices should complete and return the Biographical Questionnaire, Conflict of Interest Statement and Disclosure of Dental Affiliations Form to the Association Office. Feel free to make copies of the materials as needed.

The following forms should be submitted and emailed to brenda@wsda.org — get all forms here: http://tinyurl.com/2016Noms

• Completed biographical questionnaire for each prospective candidate.

• A statement from the candidate of 250 words or less on his or her reasons for running for office, sent by email (included on the bio form). This will be used in the WSDA News and with materials distributed to delegates. Please note, submissions longer than 250 may be edited at our discretion.

• A color, high resolution (300 dpi or greater) head-and-shoulders photograph of each candidate, suitable for publication in the WSDA News.

• A conflict of interest statement signed by the candidate.

• A disclosure of dental affiliations form.

To be considered, each submission must contain all of these elements.

Background Information

Bylaws provisions for the available positions are also enclosed in the nomination packet, available here: http://tinyurl.com/2106Noms. The WSDA bylaws provide that “no person shall be elected to the office of President-elect or Secretary-Treasurer who has not been a member for the preceding five consecutive years.” The Task Force on Nominations cannot list any member for office unless the member has signified willingness to serve. Recommendations from component societies are of great assistance to the Task Force on Nominations in its deliberations and are greatly appreciated.

Terms of Office

All terms begin when the WSDA House adjourns on September 24, 2016, with the exception of the ADA Delegates whose terms begin on January 1, 2017.

Questions?

Please contact Amanda Tran at (800) 448-3368 or e-mail amanda@wsda.org.

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Speaker of the House Submission deadline April 1, 2016 Selection of Speaker of the House: 1. The Speaker shall be an Active, Life or Retired member in good standing.

2. The Speaker will be selected by the Board of Directors annually at least one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the beginning of the House of Delegates.

3. The Speaker shall not serve more than three (3) consecutive years.

4. The following individuals will not be eligible to serve as Speaker of the House: a. Voting delegate of the WSDA House of Delegates. b. Member of WSDA Board of Directors. c. Any member running for an officer’s position or a position on the Board of Directors of WSDA 5. In case the Speaker is unable to fulfill the duties, the Board of Directors shall appoint a replacement Speaker of the House.

Duties of Speaker of the House:

1. To conduct the second business session of the House of Delegates. The WSDA president shall preside over the first business session.

2. The Speaker of the House shall be a member of the Reference Committee on Rules and Order.

3. To perform such other duties as custom and parliamentary procedure require or as prescribed by the House of Delegates from time to time.

Submission

Please submit a letter of interest and CV to Amanda Tran at amanda@wsda.org.

hod news call for nominations

Call for Nominations · Participate in organized dentistry

preferred lender program barbara cooch · columbia bank

Meet your banker: Barbara Cooch · Columbia Bank

Editor’s note: WSDA recently started the Preferred Lending Program through The Source, a program designed to connect lenders specializing in dentistry with WSDA members. Columbia Bank is our newest preferred lender Barbara Cooch Executive Vice President Columbia Bank

“We are going to see interest rates go up again when the world economy settles down, although it might not be as quickly as some predicted, and when they do practice values may go down again.”

Columbia Bank Senior Vice President Barbara Cooch has a long history in banking, and despite the fact that we live in a youth-obsessed society, that’s a good thing. You see, Cooch knows there are more important things than numbers on an application. She still believes in face-to-face meetings, educating dentists who want a loan, in creating trust.

That’s important in dentistry, where associates interested in purchasing a practice often have significant student debt, no collateral, and don’t look particularly good on paper.

“Banks,” she explained, “typically want to see collateral along with the requisite paperwork and credit check, and dentists don’t have big trucks to sell if the business goes under. You have to have a senior credit officer who has a strong understanding and faith when you go into business with high achievers like new dentists because they tend to have negative net worth and no secondary support.” Columbia Bank is willing to leverage high achievement in place of collateral. “We look for character, which can be hard to quantify – it’s not a science, it’s an art, she says.” Cooch has some flexibility with credit scores and debt loads, and says that authenticity, integrity, and honesty go far with her. Still there are cases even she can’t solve, and when that happens she refers them to other options, or recommends they wait a bit. An additional guarantor is always an option.

Specializing in Dentistry

Cooch started in banking back when Bank of America was Seafirst. She managed a Seafirst branch in Redmond and inherited a small portfolio of dentists from a previous banker. Her niche was born. “I wanted to specialize and focus on doing one thing really well,” she says, “I gave it a year to see if I could do it with the bank. One year led to six, another six years at Cascade and now eight years with Columbia. They offered to bring us as a team, offered our clients Private Banking, and more importantly, offered a very strong credit culture that understood cash flow lending.

Regional vs. National Banks

A regional bank with 22 years experience and over 145 branches in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, Columbia Bank has advantages the large banks don’t. “We have control, and we can create opportunities to provide an experience that is much more personal,” says Cooch, “We don’t need to call North Carolina to get account information. It’s the community-based way of banking. Almost everyone I talk to on the phone within the bank is someone I’ve met in person, so if there is an issue with a product or a service I have someone I can call, as do all the bankers and the support staff here. We know people, which enables us to problem solve, which is very difficult when you’re at a larger bank.”

Additionally, not all banks will do 100 percent financing – Columbia Bank has had a good history and the risk has been limited.

The current market

Cooch’s take on today’s market? “We are going to see interest rates go up again when the world economy settles down, although it might not be as quickly as some predicted, and when they do practice values may go down again. Dentists who are thinking about selling in the next five years might want to consider selling sooner rather than later. There is a shortage of opportunities in the market at the moment, you may be able to sell at a premium price, and the interest rates are low. We expect the interest rates to rise, and while we would have thought sooner, issues like China and historically low oil prices have stalled that for now.” And for younger dentists, she advises, “Get started early. We offer “lunch and learns” to help educate people, and we’re available to WSDA members so that we can meet and become familiar with each other.” Additionally, Columbia Bank offers many other professional and personal services including investments, financial planning, and more, and Cooch is more than happy to talk with you about those. Already have someone handling that aspect of your portfolio? That’s fine, says Cooch, who says she honors the relationships you have with other providers, “But give us a chance,” she says, “we think you’ll like the personalized service we offer!”

4 4 · th e wsda ne w s · issue 4,march · 2016 · www.wsda.org

By Amy Sanford, SEO Manager, Sesame Communications Google recently rolled out a highly-anticipated mobile responsive Google+ update and redesign, and it is having a huge impact on local listings for dental practices.

With the redesign, Google has opted to focus on content and community by removing visitors’ ability to view or generate reviews. At first glance, we understand that this new look could be a cause for concern regarding your practice. We’d like to take some time to explain the changes, so that you can feel worry-free about your practice’s listing in Google.

Previously, your Google+ page acted as a highlighted version of your website, where patients posted and read reviews and could catch up on your posts to the page. This earlier design of Google+ acted far more as a directory listing rather than a social media network.

The new Google+ page alleviates the clutter of the previous directory listing version and allows patients to get vital contact information quickly.

Google’s update also focuses on improving local community awareness and collection sharing. This will make it easier for users to find others who share the same passion for a particular hobby, interest, or organization. In doing this, we can see that Google is really pushing to enhance the social media aspect of Google+ in order to compete with other more popular social platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter. For now, Google requires users to have their own Google+ page before leaving a review, but it’s rumored that anyone will be able to leave a Google+ review in the future, as Google may continue to make the platform more open and accessible.

How does this affect my practice’s SEO?

Unfortunately, the “Write a Review” option is no longer available on the Google+ page.

This makes it difficult to point patients in the right direction to write a review, but the option to review a business is still available on the knowledge graph in your Google search.

As a proactive measure, the Sesame SEO Team has begun to redirect our members’ traffic from the Google+ icon on their websites to the new review destinations in the Google search knowledge graph. It’s still very early on in measuring the effects of the update, so it’s difficult to say if reviews will carry the same weight in local search rankings moving forward. We will continue to monitor Google’s changes and work to put our members in the best possible position in local search listings!

If you would like to how your practice website ranks in the search engines, visit http:// info.sesamecommunications.com/Website-SEOReport.html to request a complimentary SEO report ($149 value) from Sesame! Don’t forget, WSDA members get at 5 percent discount on all services provided by Sesame Communications.

th e wsda ne w s · issue 4, march · 2016 · www.wsda.org · 45

“The new Google+ page alleviates the clutter of the previous directory listing version and allows patients to get vital contact information quickly.”

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In regards to the Parrish or Perish section of the December 2015 issue of the WSDA news: The graph/chart highlighting the “Hiring of the Opposite Sex” was wholly inappropriate and unnecessary. We are sure Dr. Parrish intended to be humorous and there likely was a smaller population of folks who saw the chart and got a kick out of it, but the overall message was offensive. As professionals, when addressing the hiring process, we choose to go with the person who is the best fit for the position. Again, I’m sure Dr. Parrish thinks he is putting forth a “hotness scale” that is all in good fun, but we might ask Dr. Parrish, why in fact, do we need to check with our significant other? What lurid message does that send? One might perceive that there are some interesting thoughts dancing around in Dr. Parrish’s mind when he is hiring a potential employee who scores high on the

“hotness scale”. Unsettling to say the least.

It appears to us, issue after issue, that Dr. Parrish likes to push the envelope with the goal in mind “to get us all thinking”. Sometimes that goal is achieved. But oftentimes, our thoughts are that Dr. Parrish is out of touch and still appears to be addressing “the crowd of his peers”. Quite frankly, we’ve seen enough. ­— Jack Batjer, DDS — Alyce O’Brien, DDS

Dr. Jennings­—

Even though retired from private practice, I still enjoy reading my WSDA News especially your and Dr. Parrish’s editorials, and in spite of my concern regarding “mid level providers,” Mr. Brian Cladoosby’s article was thought provoking and chal-

lenging. If SB5159 becomes law and the Swinomish tribe operates their own clinic it might be useful to have their data of the “cost effectiveness” to run the program with a DHAT vs a DDS on staff. The salaries of each should be readily known.

Dental School funding also brought to mind the 1960’s while I was at Georgetown University School of Dentistry (since closed due to operating red ink) that during the Kennedy and Nixon years it was perceived the nation had a severe dentist shortage, so federal funds were given to many private dental schools to help increase their class size. Your idea to partner the UWSOD into FQHC and tribal programs and other aspects of the Medicaid community may help the school with funding and also “calm the clamor over access.”

— Robert Pilger, Port Orchard

Seattle-King County Dental Society

Wed., April 20 SCDS General Meeting Navigating Today’s Clinical Challenges Mary Lontchar RDH

April 19 Annual Officer Installation & Member Recognition Evening

Topic TBD, Mill Creek Country Club Joint meeting with Snohomish Co. Dental Hygiene Society (CE Credits: 1)

Dr. Bryan Edgar

Friday, April 29 BLS for Healthcare Providers & First Aid Courses

Stone Manor, 15208 52nd Ave S, Tukwila 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Snohomish County Dental Society

BLS is 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

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Wed., March 16 Sleep Apnea from a Dental Perspective

Wed., May 18th – SCDS General Meeting WSDA Update & Current Issues

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Contact the SCDS office to register

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th e wsda ne w s · issue 4, march · 2016 · www.wsda.org · 47

Mount Baker District Dental Society March 8 Potpourri of Allergy for Dentistry Dr. David Elkayam

member news continuing education

Continuing Education

letters to the editor march, 2016

Dear Editor:

4 8 路 th e wsda ne w s 路 issue 4,march 路 2016 路 www.wsda.org

In my practice lifetime, it seems like every five to ten years a new income generating departure from conventional dentistry comes along: the myomonitor for TMJ treatment, fresh breath centers for halitosis, the snap-on smile, and teeth in a day, to name a few.

Each one comes with a set of instructions or training to make your dental practice more productive than ever. The latest one is making oral sleep appliances for sleep breathing issues, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). I’m getting faxes and emails at least weekly showing me how I can bring in the big bucks by making sleep appliances. I see ads from dentists offering these appliances as an easier alternative to the patientunfriendly continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines. So, is there an ethical problem here?

First and foremost, the diagnosis of OSA must be done by a physician who is also responsible for managing treatment based on their diagnosis. As dentists, we should be aware of systemic issues that affect our patients’ health and, when our patients ask about a snoring issue, or their medical history is suspicious of OSA, we have an obligation to recommend an evaluation. A referral to their MD or sleep doctor for evaluation is in order.

Why not invest in a few polysomnographs and send one home with the patient and find out for yourself? Remember that the diagnosis of OSA is not in our scope of practice as dentists. OSA is only one of a myriad of sleep breathing disorders. The physician will make the decision as to whether a home sleep study, an in-lab study, or another diagnostic test is most appropriate. The correct diagnosis is critical to treatment efficacy. If OSA is diagnosed, a treatment modality will be recommended appropriate for the severity of the disorder. A CPAP machine is commonly prescribed for the most severe cases, but oral appliances may be helpful for mild to moderate cases and the patient may be referred to the dentist for this treatment.

Now, how about those ads offering patients an oral appliance so they can be disconnected from their CPAP machine? Is this kind of communication ethical? Section 5 of the ADA Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct (“the Code”), in describing our ethical principle of Veracity (truthfulness), states, “Dentists shall not represent the care being rendered to their patients in a false or misleading manner.” The efficacy of an oral appliance varies significantly, depending on the severity of OSA. To advertise this ethically, one should be clear that an oral appliance may not be suitable for everyone. In addition, when a patient asks about switching out their CPAP machine for an oral appliance, the dentist must first consult with the physician managing the patient’s condition to make sure that an appliance would be appropriate for the patient, and that the physician can manage any follow-up needed. Essentially, the dentist should be making oral appliances by oral or written prescription from an MD who is managing the patient’s sleep breathing problems. The dentist is responsible for managing the appliance and any oral side effects.

So, how can dentists ethically recruit patients for oral sleep appliances? Probably the best way is to develop a relationship with a sleep doctor. Set up a system of communication and patient routing, making yourself available to see their patients who would benefit from an oral appliance.

That brings us to another issue: What are your ethical responsibilities when that sleep doctor sends you patients currently under another dentist’s care? Will you require radiographs? Is there outstanding dental treatment needed? Under section 2.B “Consultation and Referral,” the Code states, “Dentists shall be obliged to seek consultation, if possible, whenever the welfare of patients will be safeguarded or advanced…” In short, if the patient is under the care of another dentist, then that dentist needs to know about the appliance, have the opportunity to complete treatment before the appliance is made, and be able to look for any possible side effects.

Once you decide to make oral sleep appliances in your practice how can you involve your staff in treatment. The “Code” in section 2.C states “Dentists shall be obliged to protect the health of their patients by only assigning to qualified auxiliaries those duties which can be legally delegated.” Let’s look at Washington law to see what would apply.

Although sleep appliances are not mentioned by name one has to look at procedures that are comparable. Note these are all under close supervision (dentist in the office) WAC 246-817-520 Supportive services that may be performed by registered dental ascontinued on page 51

th e wsda ne w s · issue 4, march · 2016 · www.wsda.org · 49

Dr. Rod Wentworth Past President, WSDA

“I’m getting faxes and emails at least weekly showing me how I can bring in the big bucks by making sleep appliances. I see ads from dentists offering these appliances as an easier alternative to the patient-unfriendly continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines. So, is there an ethical problem here?

ethics oral sleep appliances

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sistants. (38) Take impressions for temporary oral devices, such as but not limited to space maintainers, orthodontic retainers, and occlusal guards.

WAC 246-817-540 Acts that may not be performed by registered dental assistants or noncredentialed persons. (23) Fit and adjust occlusal guards.

I think one might be comfortable in classifying sleep appliances as temporary oral devices used similar to occlusal guards but in both arches. With that reasoning one might feel comfortable delegating the taking of impressions to their assistants under close supervision. However using the same reasoning the dentist should not delegate delivery and any adjustments to his dental assistants.

The last potential ethical pitfall involves how dentists announce their personal credentials in accepting referrals and in advertising to the public. Whether you call it

“Dental Sleep Medicine” or “Sleep Dentistry,” it is not a recognized specialty, either ethically or legally, in the State of Washington. A general dentist who makes sleep appliances must be clear to the patient that they are a not a specialist. In any announcements to the public, including business signs, cards, web sites, and advertising, the dentist must disclose that they are a general dentist. In addition, per section 5.I of the Code, a general dentist may not advertise that they are certified or a diplomate or otherwise similarly credentialed in an area of dentistry that is not recognized as a specialty area by the American Dental Association unless: 1. The organization granting the credential grants certification or diplomate status based on the following: a) the dentist’s successful completion of a formal, full-time advanced education program (graduate or postgraduate level) of at

least 12 months duration; and b) the dentist’s training and experience; and c) the successful completion of an oral and written examination based on psychometric principles; 2. The dentist discloses that he or she is a general dentist; and 3. The announcement includes the following language: [Name of announced area of dental practice] is not recognized as a specialty area by the American Dental Association.

Please join us at the PNDC for a legal/ ethics panel discussion. If you would like to have any questions answered or issues discussed you can email us at dentalethics@gmail.com

Tony Megale, CDT Technical Advisor

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th e wsda ne w s · issue 4, march · 2016 · www.wsda.org · 51

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ethics oral sleep appliances

ethics, continued from page 49

in memoriam drs. tindal, tucker, zech

Dr. Robert Tindal

Our beloved Robert “Bob” Vern Tindal passed peacefully in his Seattle home on Dec 7, 2015. He was I May 3, 1923 in Osborne, Kansas. He became a Navy dentist stationed in Bremerton, before he moved practice to the Seattle Wallingford district and settled in to raise his family. Bob had many hobbies that loved. They included playing trumpet in the Magnolia Big Band, gardening, fishing, cribbage, and tinkering in his garage. Bob had a strong faith in God and served people everywhere he went, volunteering with The Union Go Mission, The Salvation Army, Kiwanis, and many other charities.

He is survived by his wife Dolores Tindal and her extended family, as well as his 2 daughters, Terri Tourville and Rob­Donley, his 5 grandchildren, and his 2 great-granddaughters.

He was preceded in death by his son, Greg Tindal.

Dr. Richard Vaughn Tucker

Dr. Richard Vaughn Tucker passed away in Bellingham, Washington on Tuesday, January 12, 2016, after a short illness. He was born to Denton and Mittie Marie Tucker in Orofino, Idaho on November 25, 1922 and lived in the Ferndale-Bellingham area for 67 years. Dr. Tucker grew up the fourth of five boys on a small ranch near Ford’s Creek in the Orofino, Idaho area. It was there he formed the values that served him his entire life. As it was the depression era, he learned the value of hard work, and the gift of being able to work. This would keep him practicing dentistry until age ninety. He gained an appreciation for and love of music during these early years, as well. It began with his mother playing the piano for the family in the evenings and lasted a lifetime. He especially enjoyed concerts of music he could hum later.

Many friends will remember his humming while he worked.

His grandmother, an artist, lived with the family for a time.

Through her influence he learned to appreciate fine painting and other forms of art. The Denton Tucker family became active in their small rural community.

Similarly, Dr. Tucker would later choose to live in Ferndale, Washington where he became an integral part of the community.

He was a member of the Lion’s Club, the United Church of Ferndale, and the school board; and he was the dad who would coach Little League Baseball when there were no other volunteers. Dr. Tucker’s parents also instilled the importance of family ties and family history. They maintained a connection with his extended family and he learned about his northwest roots and the adven-

tures of his great-grandfather, Robert Newell, an early day northwest trapper and pioneer.

During his years on the ranch, Dr. Tucker also became a good shot and a very patient fisherman. He would later win an occasional shooting trophy and fish the Nooksack River for twenty years before catching his first steelhead. Following his early education in a small one-room schoolhouse, Dr. Tucker attended Orofino High School. There he learned the value of education. He decided to become a dentist and enrolled in the University of Washington for his undergraduate work. He joined the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, enjoyed the many academic and social aspects of college life, and became a life-long Husky supporter. At the university, he met his future wife, Elaine Vert, in a psychology class. They married June 24th, 1944 and were inseparable during their 71 years of marriage. She followed him to St. Louis, where he was enrolled in the Washington University School of Dentistry, and later to Oakland, California, where he began his two year tour of duty with the U.S. Navy.

After completing his military obligation, Dr. Tucker moved his family to Ferndale and opened a dental practice above the Ferndale Record Newspaper office. From 1948 to 2013, he lived his dream. He was surrounded by a wonderful wife, a family of four children, good friends, and he was practicing a profession he loved. Dentistry was his passion. He challenged himself to achieve perfection for his patients.

When long-time Bellingham dentist, Dr. George Ellsperman, encouraged him to join a gold foil study club, he discovered the benefits of gold restorations for his patients. It wasn’t long before Dr. Tucker developed his own cast gold technique, later to be known as “The Tucker Technique.” News of his innovations spread and in 1976 he started the first Richard Tucker Cast Gold Study Club for dentists in Vancouver, B.C. in response to their request for mentoring in his technique.

From the inception of study club #1 with 12 members, the Academy of R.V. Tucker Study Clubs grew to where it is today, a collegial group of more than 700 current and former dedicated members in 73 study clubs around the world. Dr. Tucker had become not only a dentist, but also a teacher. He taught his technique and also the discipline and excellence required to do fine dentistry through the study club model. He made more than 250 lectures on cast gold restorations to dental schools and dental organizations around the world, wrote numerous articles for professional journals, made teaching videos, taught dental students at the University of Washington, and for twenty-five years taught an annual cast gold summer session at the University of British Columbia.

During his lifetime, Dr. Tucker’s many professional achievements and awards included: president of the Washington State Dental Society; president of the Academy of Operative Dentistry; honorary membership in the College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia - the first American to receive the honor; Honorary Doctor of Laws degree, UBC - the first nomination by the Faculty of Dentistry and the first honorary degree awarded to a dentist in the history of the university; the Biaggi Gold Medal from the XXIII Italian Congress in Rimini, Italy; the Gold Medal for Excellence from the Academy of Operative Dentistry; the Albert Borish Award given by the Academy of General Dentistry; and most recently, the American Dental Association Distinguished Service Award.

In spite of all these honors and awards, Dr. Tucker referred to himself simply as a Ferndale dentist. Over the years he could be found in his dental office; at home with his family; sailing his boat, the Line Angle; salmon fishing; or playing bridge with his neighborhood friends.

Survivors include his children: Ann Marie Ratliff (Fleet), Richard Denton Tucker (Christina), Victoria Lynn Otterholt (Dana),

5 2 · th e wsda ne w s · issue 4,march · 2016 · www.wsda.org

Dr. Jerome Monroe “Jomy” Zech

Zech died peacefully on October 15, 2015 after two weeks in Swedish Hospital surrounded by famiy. friends. Jerome was born in Seattle on July 6, 1926 to Lando and Mae (Monroe) Zech. He was a gentleman, filled with kindness, faith, and service to others.

Zech graduated from Roosevelt High School, where he played football and baseball. After his freshman year at the University of Washington, where he lettered in baseball, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He returned to the University and graduated in 1949. He was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He graduated from the UW School of Dentistry and later completed his studies in Dental Radiology at the University of Pennsylvani and Orthodontia at the UW. Zech met the love of his life, Elizabeth (Betty June) Elliott while attending the University of Washington. The pair were happily married for 59 years, lived in Seattle on Capitol Hill, and were actively involved ir St. Joseph’s Parish Community where their lives were centered around their family of nine children. The family NEWS spent memorable summers on Whidbey Island, aWSDA legacy that con-

tinues with several of the children today.

Zech had a successful orthodontics practice, initially in Bellevue, and subsequently on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle. Following his retirement,the Zechs moved to Edmonds, WA. After Betty’s death, he moved to the Mirabella retirement community in Seattle, where he lived until his death.

Zech was an avid golfer and a long-standing active member of the Seattle Golf Club, where he seemed to know every blade of grass and often was able to “shoot his age.” They were also loyal Husky fans attending the foott games and proudly wearing their purple and gold.

In addition to his wife, Betty, he was predeceased by his three brothers, Lando, Bob, and Jack Zech. He is survi\ by his nine children, Caron McCune (Rich), Jerome Zech (Denise), Julie Lackie (Pete), Mary Kay Perrigo (Rick), Joe Zech (Marianne), Theresa Meyers (Larry), Jack Zech, Margie Zech Hallgrimson (Jon) and Richard Zech (Ava Altschl 26 grandchildren, four great-grandsons, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

During his years at the Mirabella, he was reacquainted with many long-time friends from high school, college an more. All of his friendships brought him much happiness and he remained active with his daily walks in the neighborhood and other activities with his friends. The family wishes to thank the staff at Mirabella over all the years he lived there a Swedish Hospital for the excellent care he received there during his illness.

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www.PracticeSales.com Aaron@PracticeSales.com RandyH@PracticeSales.com th e wsda ne w s · issue 4, march · 2016 · www.wsda.org · 53

in memoriam drs. tindal, tucker, zech

and Martha Elaine Hoss (Richard); ten grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren; a younger sister: Rita Marie Sparks (Roger) of Ellensburg, Washington, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elaine, and his four brothers. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial to the United Church of Ferndale, the Boys and Girls Club of Ferndale, the University of Washington School of Dentistry, or the University of British Columbia School of Dentistry.

5 4 路 th e wsda ne w s 路 issue 4,march 路 2016 路 www.wsda.org

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th e wsda ne w s · issue 4, march · 2016 · www.wsda.org · 55

A REFRESHING PERSPECTIVE — When you work at Willamette Dental Group, the organization’s progressive approach frees you to do what matters to you — and your patients. What makes this multispecialty group practice unique, and better, is a commitment to proactively facilitating the best possible health outcomes. Combined with a dedication to leveraging scientific data, skill, and the experience to make them happen, when you embrace the organization’s guiding philosophy, you free yourself to facilitate health outcomes—and open yourself up to a world of professional growth and success. Please visit www.willamettedental.com/careers or send your resume to agrundy@willamettedental.com.

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parrish or perish continued

parrish, continued from page 62

a month. That’s almost $57,600 a year before anything else!! Is there any wonder why our new grads are seeking the most immediate paycheck they can find even if they are only in normal dental school debt of a quarter million dollars? It is unlikely that a bank would lend money to buy a practice, a house, or maybe even a car with that level of debt. So it’s month by month for years until it is managed or paid off.

The Wall Street Journal published an article August 21, 2015, outlining the recent changes in the student loan world. In 10 years (2005-15) student debt tripled to $1.19 trillion…with a “T”. Almost 7 million of the borrowers were a year without making a payment, up 6 percent from the year prior. There is a significant number of students who have made no payments at all.

The government is going after co-signers (as well they should) who are often older parents who never dreamed this would fall back on them. The millennial generation cannot imagine paying on these loans for 10-15 years or more so are stopping paying altogether. Credit ratings are damaged; salaries can be garnished. Decreased ental practice consumer spending decreases economic ntal practice growth. Increased defaults and delays increases government debt. While there are practice

programs to help decrease the burden, many students simply ignore efforts to get them on more manageable terms. But the income-based repayment plans often just increase the overall debt as interest accumulates, trapping the borrowers for years to come.

While much of the problem seems to be centered on those who went to “for profit” schools or took degrees that pay too little to offer a serious payback possibility, those so-called “big-ticket borrowers” do have a greater likelihood of paying as they are ultimately in professional settings that pay sufficiently over time. That’s us, folks. But it is still a significant burden; just ask the Arizona orthodontist.

Dental schools and dental students are absolutely hooked on student loans. Could dental schools run without them? Not in their present models, I suspect. Do tuition and fees rise quicker than necessary because there is an unlimited pool of money for students to borrow? There those who think that is the case with all higher education. Is there another way of financing dental school short of having one’s parents pay for it. There’s really no time to work outside school. It would take a long time to save up for an entire 4 years of school.

Grants and scholarships are limited. State funding (another taxpayer scheme to pay) is declining at precipitous rates. Do I have any answers? Nope, none, zero, nada.

But, make no mistake, this is a system that is as fragile as a house of cards. Just as the dental “system” could not be sustained on the ability for any patient to borrow for all their dental care WE determine they need, neither can an educational systems be sustained on a similar model. As David, Asch, MD, MBA, et. al., reported in the New England Journal of Medicine in November, 2013, “…if we want to keep health care costs down and still have access to well-qualified physicians, we also need to keep the cost of creating those physicians down by changing the way that physicians are trained. From college through licensure and credentialing, our annual physicianproduction costs are high, and they are made higher by the long time we devote to training.” Dentistry is already ahead of medicine on the debt/income curve, and that’s not good. Educators best start looking for alternatives; students will one day recognize they won’t be “indentured” (pun intended) for decades for this education.

There’s more money to be made elsewhere for less effort… and debt.

LOOK FORWARD TO RETIREMENT

PRACTICE GROUP

Transitions | Appraisals | Consulting | Real Estate | Valuations

CURRENT LISTINGS • Mount Vernon general dental practice • Snohomish County general dental practice • Whatcom County general dental practice

New Year’s special: FREE valuation. $4,000 value. Offer expires 2/1/16.

• North Seattle turn-key dental practice • South Sound perio practice

More at www.omni-pg.com

Rodney D. Johnston, MBA, CMA rod@omni-pg.com Transition Specialist and Licensed Real Estate Broker (877) 866-6053 Ext. 1

Steve Kikikis Steve@omnipg-vet.com Omni Dental Real Estate Specialist 1-877-866-6053 Ext. 3

5 6 · th e wsda ne w s · issue 4,march · 2016 · www.wsda.org

TRAVELING ENDO AND ORTHO — I am a general dentist with over 20 years of experience in performing endo including most molar plus most of the ortho treatments. I can come to your office with advance notice to perform the procedures.

This will help increase your production and keep patients in house. Serving Seattle and the East side area. Please contact lintadds@gmail.com.

GENERAL DENTIST – Seeking general dentist position in Greater Seattle area with ten years of dental experience and three years Prosthodontics Residency training. View my CV: https://goo.gl/J0iocd Email: sunjjj111@gmail.com Mobile: (502) 314-5196.

ASSOCIATE DENTIST NEEDED — in Everett to cover maternity leave and PT position thereafter.

Flexible start date/days worked. Ideal candidate has a passion for quality and patient care. Contact heathercunnington@gmail.com.

FLEXIBLE DAYS ASSOCIATE — Low income DSHS dental office in Renton, Kent, Tacoma looking for associate for 1-2 days a week. Any day from Mon-Sun. Pay is 40% of revenue. hughbc@gmail.com.

DENTAL DIRECTOR – NEW CLINIC P uget Sound Christian Clinic is hiring a dental director for a new clinic in Lynnwood Washington. For further information, visit http//pschristianclinic.org/ jobs/dental-director.

BELLINGHAM, WA — Associate wanted 1-2 weeks per month. General Dentistry. High tech modern office. Located in Fairhaven. Please contact Don Walters at 360-223-1160.

ASSOCIATE NEEDED — Established, modern Bothell general practice seeks cheerful, cooperative part-time associate. Contract with opportunity for future purchase. Please email resume to dr.mep012@ hotmail.com and we look forward to meeting you!

ASSOCIATE NEEDED — For Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. for our busy Maple Valley family practice. Eight total ops consisting of four hygienist, four restorative. Generally two doctors staffed per Saturday. Opportunity for additional hours during the week. Please email info@maplevalleysmiles.com.

DENTIST NEEDED — Creekside Dental Yakima, looking for a fill in dentist for the following Monday through Thursday dates: Feb 22nd through Feb 25th 2016 July 18th through July 21st 2016 We are open Monday thru Wednesday, 8-5 and Thursday 8-4. If interested, please contact Leslee T., Office Manager, (509) 577-8279.

ASSOCIATE NEEDED — General dentist associate opportunity in Puyallup. Exceptional hand skills, experience and confidence in implant restoration design, simple oral surgery, root canal therapy, and cosmetic construction. The Rhodes practice is a reputable private practice in Puyallup for 40 years; providing quality dentistry, and patient care in a clean modern office. Please submit resume’ and cover letter explaining your experience in all aspects of general dentistry, abroad experiences, and future continuing education goals.

Opportunity for 3 days per week and grow to more. Email: dentaljobfit@gmail.com.

OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

OFFICES FOR LEASE OR SALE

FULL-TIME ASSOCIATE IN BELLEVUE — We are looking for full time associate in Bellevue to work 4+ days a week . We are a top office in our area. Beautiful modern office with state of the art technology. Fantastic patients and team. Fully digital. Must be highly skilled and experienced.

Ready to learn and be a part of the team. Outstanding earning potential. Please email resume to bellevuedentists@gmail.com.

DENTAL SPACE FOR LEASE — Well-established Dental Building located in beautiful Colville, Washington. 1700 to 2400 sq’ available for lease or purchase. 4-6 operators available plus lab. Asking $13.00sq’/NNN plus utilities & services. Excellent opportunity for startup or satellite dental practice.

Contact owner: Stephen Call DDS (509)590-5322 mydentist@calldds.com.

GENERAL DENTIST — Opportunity for an experienced general dentist to join a sparkling new office located downtown Seattle amidst the high rise buildings in a great location, with many perspective patients. Principal will be relocating existing busy practice to this new facility which is due to open mid 2016. Great opportunities for the right person! All interested parties, either looking for part time or full time, please email resume and any questions to Sybel1939@gmail.com.

GENERAL DENTIST, SUNNYSIDE — Full time position. Work beside specialists. Offering a great schedule, great compensation and guarantee.

Great opportunity to expand skill set as you work or a perfect opportunity for an experienced dentist to utilize a wide range of skills. For more information, please contact Jolene Babka at jbabka@ applesmiles.com.

GENERAL DENTIST — Great associate opportunity for a new graduate or a long term home for a seasoned dentist looking to be compensated well with less of the headaches and stress. Group practice composed of general dentists, orthodontists, and oral surgeons. For new grads it’s the perfect opportunity to learn your craft by working side by side with generalists and specialists while being paid very well. Base salary of $150,000 for new grads plus bonuses. Base salary of $175,000 plus bonuses for experienced dentists. Full benefits package and moving allowance. State of the art clinics and equipment. Mix of children and adult dentistry. Mix of State and private insurance. Position available in coveted Pasco, Washington facility this Spring. Please send inquiries to jbabka@ applesmiles.com GENERAL DENTIST, SPOKANE — Full time position. Work beside specialists. Offering a great schedule, great compensation and guarantee.

Learn as you work or a great opportunity for an experienced dentist. For more information, please contact Jolene Babka at jbabka@applesmiles.com.

DENTIST OPPORTUNITY IN WESTERN WASH. — Seeking experienced dentist for busy, well established, successful, fee for service, group dental practice. Full-time position available. Excellent immediate income opportunity ($180,000 to $375,000 + per year) depending on productive ability and hours worked. Secure, long-term position. You can concentrate on optimum patient treatment without practice management duties.

Modern well-equipped office with excellent staff, and lab services provided. If you are bright, energetic with a desire to be productive, very personable, and people oriented, and have great general and specialty clinical skills, Fax resume to Dr. Hanssen at (425) 484-2110.

th e wsda ne w s · issue 4, march · 2016 · www.wsda.org · 57

GENERAL PRACTICE FOR SALE — Marysville/ Smokey Point. Attractive, 7 year-old start-up practice, collecting $870k. Easy freeway access from I-5 in a rapidly growing area. 5 operatories and approximately 1,800 sq. ft. For more details/information please contact: Jennifer Paine at (425) 2161612 or Jennifer@cpa4dds.com.

FOR LEASE — Puyallup/Bonney Lake. Two dental and one oral surgery spaces for lease. 1,907 to 2,504 SF. Less than $5K/MO. Including NNN. Some fully improved, cabinets, stations, equipment.

Contact Steve Dorenbush at CBC Offenbecher.

253-840-5574 or sdorenbush@offenbecher.com.

FOR SALE — Puyallup 4,736 SF Building for sale $1,195,000. 2,588 SF on main floor available for oral surgery practice. Quality TI’s complete, move in and start your practice. Lower floor has long term lease to dentist. Contact Steve Dorenbush at CBC Offenbecher. 253-840-5574 or sdorenbush@ offenbecher.com.

PERIODONTAL PRACTICE FOR SALE — SeattleNorth. Outstanding periodontal/implant practice for sale, North of Seattle collecting $710k. Located in the center of a busy medical/dental area near major medical facilities with high visibility.

298 patients in perio recall. 30% of production is implant procedures. 5 fully-equipped operatories.

Digital radiography. Features private meeting room (study clubs). Owner occupied. Real Estate also available. For more details/information please contact: Jennifer Paine at (425) 216-1612 or Jennifer@cpa4dds.com.

GENERAL PRACTICE FOR SALE — West Seattle-Alki. Practice is housed in the sole commercial space of a premier residential condo building, across the water with unobstructed views of downtown Seattle. Unique location cannot be duplicated; offers tremendous growth and investment opportunities, ideal for two dentists who can capitalize on all the specialty work that otherwise is referred out. Commercial condos are no longer being made available in this city. Day/hours can be further expanded to leverage the value of the real estate investment in a doctor-owned/operated space. Growing hygiene department: 5 days/week and 4 days of single-column restorative; 2015 just shy of $1.3 million. 2015-doctor worked just 159 days, taking 8/wks vacation. Approximately 1,800 sq-foot office was built 15 years ago and is also for sale by owner. Office is pristine and plumbed for a potential 5th op. Adec chairs; digital radiography; Dentrix; computerized throughout. All heavy equipment including water-tank rest in a separate external storage unit, gases located in an additional closet outside. Please contact Jennifer Paine at (425) 216-1612 or jennifer@cpa4dds.com or http://www.alkidental.com.

classifieds issue 4, march 2016

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5 8 · th e wsda ne w s · issue 4,march · 2016 · www.wsda.org

OFFICES FOR SALE OR LEASE

OFFICES FOR SALE OR LEASE

FOR LEASE, RENTON — Dental clinic with seven operating stations. Fully built out. 2200 SF. Lots of parking. Great location close to city hall with 7,000 cars a day visibility. New apartment complex in fast growing area. Amenities include dog park, fitness room and common areas. $1.40 SF. Call Chris at (206) 595-5791

FOR LEASE — Kent dental/medical suite along Pacific Highway for lease. 1,300 sq.ft with three exam rooms, darkroom, lab and asking $2,275.00 per month-modified gross. Contact Steve Kikikis at steve@omni-pg.com.

ASSOCIATE — A very busy general dentist office in Tacoma looking for a full time/part time associate. New graduates welcome. Please submit your resume with references to everlastdental47@yahoo.com. Thank you.

FOR LEASE — Highly visible Kent dental/medical office off 104th Ave SE available signage for lease. TI allowance available, 1,288 sq.ft on modified gross lease. Contact Steve Kikikis at steve@omni-pg.com.

FOR LEASE/OWNERSHIP — Multi-tenant commercial building. Location! Location! Location!

This professional building is located in a large shopping complex that is anchored by Haggen Grocery, Starbucks, and McDonalds. This complex is located in a growing and developing area just east of Mill Creek and near the new Glacier Peak High School.

It is ideal for medical/dental tenants needing between 2,000 to 6,500 SF to complement existing general dentist and Providence Medical Clinic. Partial ownership opportunity is available for a qualified tenant. Christian@KoviSolutions.com.

GENERAL PRACTICE FOR SALE — Olympia. Remarkable general practice in the heart of Olympia.

Approx. 2,500 sq/feet. Collecting $975k on two days/per week. 5 fully-equipped operatories with Adec chairs and digital radiography. For more details/information please contact: Jennifer Paine at (425) 216-1612 or Jennifer@cpa4dds.com.

DENTAL OFFICE SPACE — For lease in Tacoma. Allenmore Medical Area Excellent Location on South Union Avenue. 2,148 sq ft, five operatories. Principals only. Please call Yash (253) 579-5478.

FOR SALE — Endodontic practice for sale in Oregon: Established endodontic practice in a small university town of about 12,000, drawing from surrounding population of about 58,000. Perfect town to raise a family. Over 2200 square feet building with 4 operatories; two operatories with G6 microscopes. A third operatory is for the occasional emergency to squeeze in; and the fourth is the CBCT room, equipped with a K9000. Plus basement storage and equipment space. Recreational opportunities abound for outdoor enthusiast. Building and equipment are priced to make an ideal starting package for the new grad or established practicing endodontist who wants to move.

Contact email: oregonpractice@gmail.com.

FOR SALE — Fully equipped dental office for sale in Des Moines. Three operatories, dental chairs, panoramic x-ray machine, and sterilization, equipment included in purchase. No Patients Included. Approx. 810 sq.ft plus storage room. Asking $160,000.

Email Steve Kikikis steve@omni-pg.com.

FOR LEASE — Auburn office space available in East Main Professional Center. Great office or medical/dental lab or professional office. Features courtyard, reception, waiting, bullpen, bathroom, lab/ work area. email Steve Kikikis steve@omni-pg.com.

FOR LEASE — Class A Medical/Dental space in Tukwila. Blocks from I-5, top floor with 5,000 sq.ft, second floor with 2,500 sq.ft. TI available, $24 per sq.ft, $6 NNN. email Steve Kikikis steve@ omni-pg.com.

FOR LEASE — Auburn dental office with 1 year free rent, TI package available. Five operatories, sterile, on/off site parking. Dental equipment not included. Asking $2,843.75 per month. email Steve Kikikis steve@omni-pg.com.

FOR LEASE _ Highly visible Lynnwood Dental office for lease. Plumbed for four operatories, including nitrous and O2. 1,400 sq.ft. $24 per sq.ft and $3.62 NNN. email Steve Kikikis steve@omni-pg.com.

FOR SALE — Full leased investment opportunity in Maple Valley for sale. Mix of office and retail uses Asking price is $1,400,000.00 for this visible building on .95 acres is 6,400 sq.ft Contact Steve Kikikis at steve@omni-pg.com.

FOR SALE — Visible Whatcom County general dentistry practice, Average annual collections of $540,000. Four operatories. Refers out most root canals and oral surgery. e-mail Rod Johnston rod@omni-pg.com.

FOR SALE — South Sound Perio practice and real estate available for sale. Collections over $1.5 million. Great referrals and low overhead. Building is also for sale. Call Rod at Omni 206-979-2660 or rod@omni-pg.com.

FOR SALE — SE Washington general dental practice for sale. Annual collections of approximately $360,000. Four operatories. Be the only dentist in town. Small rural setting with outdoor activities.

Jim Vander Mey at (877) 866-6053 Ext 2 or e-mail jim@omni-pg.com.

CALL TODAY — For a list of Washington Plumbed and equipped spaces available - e-mail Steve Kikikis at Omni Healthcare Real Estate - steve@omni-pg.com FOR SALE - New Listing! Grays Harbor - Fee For Service General Dental practice for sale. Annual collections over $200,000, four operatories, lots of parking on busy street. Contact Rod Johnston of Omni Practice Group at 206-979-2660 or e-mail rod@omni-pg.com FOR SALE - New Listing! West Olympic Peninsula General dental practice for sale. Annual collections over $800,000. Be the only dentist in town with no nearby competition. Good overhead, building also for sale, great staff. Contact Rod Johnston of Omni Practice Group at 206-979-2660 or e-mail rod@omni-pg.com INTERESTED IN SELLING? — We have buyers looking for practices in Seattle, Tacoma, Puyallup, Mt. Vernon, Spokane, Tri-Cities, Bellingham and other locations. If you are thinking about a transition, give Rod Johnston of Omni Practice Group a call at 206-979-2660.

FOR SALE - CENTRAL WASHINGTON - General dental practice for sale. Work 3 days per week with little competition, Fisherman/Outdoor Persons Paradise. Overhead Rate of 47%, Collections in excess of $400k.Contact Jim Vander Mey at (877) 866-6053 ext 2 or email jim@omnipg-vet.com for more information.

FOR SALE — Beautiful general dental office in downtown Bellevue area for sale. Plenty of free parking. Annual collection approx, $900,000.

Five fully equipped ops with two additional ops plumbed. Paperless Dentrix office. Email bellevuedentist0702@gmail.com.

FOR LEASE — Professional office space available for lease in class A building in North Seattle Area.

Approximately 2,500 sq ft available immediately.

If interested send email to ballingercommons@ comcast.net for details.

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FOR LEASE — Four ops downtown Bellevue — Brand new office, digital x-rays, NNN $7.78/ sq, ft. Dental equipment available, ready to go for a start up, specialist or office relocation. All equipment and instruments in office, fully furnished. Contact: Brandon Burrowes at bburrowes@wallaceproperties.com or (425) 455-9976.

GENERAL PRACTICE FOR SALE North Seattle, Wash. An outstanding opportunity in a prime location. Three fully equipped, digital ops, room for four. Real estate also for sale. Please contact SeattleDentalOfficeSale@gmail.com.

G/P PRACTICE FOR SALE IN BONNEY LAKE/ ENUMCLAW AREA — Annual collections over $550,000. 1,500 SF office with four fully equipped operatories plus digital X-rays. Well trained staff will continue and assist with the transition. Well established practice that has been in the same location for over 43 years. Excellent cash flow, outstanding collection policy, only dental office in town. Seller would consider selling building at same time as practice sale or give a right to purchase for a later date. Contact: Buck Reasor, DMD, Reasor Professional Dental Services, info@reasorprofessionaldental.com, (503) 680-4366.

PROSTHODONTIC PRACTICE FOR SALE — Greater Seattle area. Outstanding practice with high gross & high net. Building is in a great location with plenty of parking and visibility. Building could eventually be for sale to prospective buyer. Experienced staff will stay on with the practice. Owner would stay on 1-2 days per week for up to a year to ensure a smooth and complete transition. Contact: Buck Reasor, DMD, Reasor Professional Dental Services, (503) 680-4366, info@reasorprofessionaldental.com.

FOR LEASE, OLYMPIA — Ideal location on Martin Way near St. Peter Hospital, 2,000+ sq. ft. Five ops including chairs, panex and more. Perfect for startup/satellite office, future purchase possible.

Contact Don at uncledgh@aol.com.

G/P PRACTICE FOR SALE IN LINCOLN COUNTY — Owner is selling two separate practices both within 35 miles of Spokane, WA. Annual collections over $430,000. Four operatories. Well trained staff will assist with the transition and will stay with the practice after the transition. Excellent collection policy in place. Excellent cash flow for a practice of this size. Please contact Buck Reasor, DMD. Cell: 503-680-4366, email:info@reasorprofessionaldental.com, www.reasorprofessionaldental.com.

classifieds issue 4, march 2016

OFFICES FOR SALE OR LEASE

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6 0 · th e wsda ne w s · issue 4,march · 2016 · www.wsda.org

OFFICES FOR SALE OR LEASE

SERVICES

FOR LEASE — Dental clinic in Des Moines with four ops available for lease to any dentist who would like to start up your own clinic with less start up costs. Contact (206) 458- 3892.

GENERAL DENTIST SEATTLE AREA — Experienced dentist needed for a growing, well established, fee for service practice, generating 800k per year and 20 new patients a month. Two days a week (Thursday/Friday). Long term, highly capable staff. Great income opportunity. Please send CV to juliankys@hotmail.com.

GENDEX/DEXIS REPAIR — Gendex and Dexis Intraoral X-Ray sensor repair. Specialize in repairing Gendex & Dexis dental X-Ray sensors. Repair & save $1,000’s over replacement cost. We purchase old/broken Sensors www.RepairSensor.com / (919) 924-8559.

GENERAL DENTIST — Seeking general dentist for our office in Port Orchard, WA . We have an outstanding part time opportunity, leading to full time position in future. Long term position with excellent compensation, 30 percent of the adjusted production or $700 per day. Must have experience with all phases of dentistry including Molar RCT and third molar extractions. Please email resume to Dentalofc47@gmail.com G/P PRACTICE FOR SALE IN THE LONGVIEWKELSO AREA — General practice for sale with four fully equipped operatories. Annual collections over $550,000. Great location with excellent visibility.

Well established practice that has been in same location for over 38 years. Well trained staff will assist with the transition. Seller owns building and would sell now or would sell in the future. Outstanding collection policy. Contact: Buck Reasor, DMD, Reasor Professional Dental Services, info@reasorprofessionaldental.com, (503) 680-4366.

FOR SALE — West Seattle. Newly upgraded dental practice in West Seattle for sale. $725,500.00.

Five+ ops with the latest in imaging upgrades, new computers, software and hand pieces. One of the last fee-for-service practices left. Seller will pay for new floor covering throughout, leave the security deposit for the new buyer on the lease assessment and help with the transition. Call today for a tour.

Annie Miller, (206)-715-1444.

SPACE SHARING OPPORTUNITY DOWNTOWN SEATTLE – Looking for a dentist with an existing practice to share our office space. This is not an Associate position. Restorative practice with In-House C&B, and denture processing lab, and technician. Modern downtown Seattle five chair office. Lease ending soon? Decrease your overhead now! Opportunity to buy into the facility for the right person. drnicolini@hotmail.com.

DENTAL SPACE $1,900 per month— 1,000 sq/ft unit available. Previous dental office and dentist retired. Excellent visibility and marketability in 30mph commuter zone on 251 South Burlington Blvd. Close to high school and downtown Burlington. New exterior paint, roof updated, replacing HVAC and hot water tanks, new landscaping. Willing to allocate funds towards tenant improvements depending on length of lease. Contact Jason: 360-391-1201 or JasonHilde@gmail.com.

FOR LEASE — 300 Pelly Ave N. Dental suite available in Renton, walking distance to the prestigious Landing, as well as Boeing. 1,361 sq. ft. on 2nd floor, with only two other dentists in building.

Three operatories, open configuration, plumbed with electrical, air, vacuum, and plumbing. Corner lot with heavy traffic flow. Rate is $23.26/SF/Y NNN, Triple Net is $5.60 (incl. utilities). Contact Dennis Schmuland (425) 417-1206.

FOR LEASE — Quality professional office Space for lease in the heart of the Renton Highlands in the Highlands Professional Plaza medical dental building. Excellent place for an oral surgeon and/ or endodontist to open a satellite office or start up practice. Currently there are two GP dentists, a pedodontist, an orthodontist and a large physical therapy clinic. This building has a proven track record of successful businesses because of its location and quality. The building sits across the street from Bartells, QFC, and Starbucks. There are six elementary schools and four high schools within two miles. Get close to where the people live and enjoy fast practice growth. Call (206) 595-9100.

AVAILABLE, SOUTHCENTER — Just available.

1200 square foot fully equipped 4 operatory dental space. Cerec , Panoral, 4 chairs, lights, nitrous, air and vacuum all available and in place. Please call Diana at Medical Centers Management (253) 508-1293.

FOR IMMEDIATE OCCUPANCY — A fully plumbed dental office. 1,350 sq ft , three operatories, air, water, vacuum, nitrous oxide and oxygen, private office, lab, staff lounge, separate staff entrance. This office has exceptional exposure to the Southcenter Mall traffic. Call Diana at Medical Centers Management (253) 508-1293.

FOR SALE — Bellingham Wash. Prosthodontic/ Adult restorative practice. Excellent location in building with other specialists and general dentists.

Seller owns space; sell now or later. Well established practice for 37 years. Contact: ethorp@meridiandentalcenter.com. (360) 733-2303 or (360) 594-1916.

FOR LEASE — New construction. Professional building in Lynnwood by Alderwood Mall. 2,0006,000 sq ft available. Ample parking. Private entry.

High visibility and high traffic count. Each unit has up to 40 sq ft of signage on main-street. Ideal for specialist and/or group practice. Call Dr. Nguyen at (206) 250-3282 or email datman1@mac.com.

KODAK/CARESTREAM/SCHICK REPAIR ­— Kodak, Carestream and Schick Intraoral X-Ray sensor repair. Specialize in repairing Schick CDR & Kodak / Carestream RVG 5100 & 6100 dental XRay sensors. Repair & save $1,000’s over replacement cost. We purchase old/broken sensors. www.

RepairSensor.com / (919) 924-8559.

CONSULTING SERVICES — Dental consulting and business solutions: negotiations, marketing, websites, business management, HR solutions, bookkeeping, start-ups. Call Julie at 206.595.6425 or email dentalconsultantwa@gmail.com.

HAVE SEDATION, WILL TRAVEL! — Make fearful patients comfortable with IV Conscious Sedation.

I am set up to come to your office and sedate your patients so that you can perform needed treatments the patients avoid due to fear. I have over 19 years experience providing safe IV Conscious Sedation.

Serving Washington & Oregon. Richard Garay, DDS. (360) 281-0204, garaydds@gmail.com.

OFFICE CONSTRUCTION CONSTANTINE BUILDERS INC. (CBI) — WSDA endorses CBI as their preferred builder of Dental facilities with over 25 years of experience from ground up buildings, renovations, remodels, and interior tenant improvement projects. All projects are completed on time and within budget. CBI provides the highest level of quality service with integrity that exceeds our client’s expectation. Please see our display ad on page two and website at www. constantinebuilders.com for additional information and how you can become another satisfied client.

Telephone (206) 957-4400, O. George Constantine.

ALLIED CLINIC BUILDERS — Premier healthcare contractors in the PNW for over 35 years.

On time, on budget and providing quality that you can afford. Call today for consultation George McBee - Allied clinicbuilders@comcast.net (425) 941-3088.

EQUIPMENT WANTED WANTED _Pacific Community Services needs donations of dental handpieces, star Titan scalers, Cavitron inserts, restorative and extraction instruments, and equipment. You will get a donation receipt. email: pcsdental@gmail.com. (206) 274-8419.

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE USED/REFURBISHED EQUIPMENT — Adec, Gendex, Pelton Crane, DentalEZ, Porter, Air Tech, Midwest, Midmark and etc. Lab equipment. Parts are also available for almost all equipment. Call Dental Warehouse at 800-488-2446 or http://cascade-dental.net.

CLASSIFIED ADS IN THE WSDA NEWS Visit wsda.org/news/classifieds/ to place your ad and select the issues you would like your ad to run in. Follow up your submission with a phone call to Rob at (206) 9735220 to submit your credit card information (sorry, no check payments), and your ad will be placed.

Sell your practice or fill a position quickly?

Don’t worry, you’re only charged for the ads that run. We’re flexible, and the process is painless and cost effective.

Pricing is as follows: Members: $50 for the first 30 words, $1 per word for each word over 30.

Non-members: $100 for the first 30 words, $1 per word for each word over 30.

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classifieds issue 4, march 2016

OFFICES FOR SALE OR LEASE

parrish or perish

There are no free lunches

Dr. Jeffrey Parrish “If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking.”

— George Patton

“I recently heard of an Arizona orthodontist who was $650,000 in debt with student loans.

He went to Duke for undergrad, dental school and ortho school. He was asked if there were ever any questions along the way as to a maximum amount of debt he could incur, the likelihood of repayment or what his business plan was to pay it back. Answer: nope, none, zero, nada…sign here.“ The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or official policy of the WSDA.

Let’s pretend for a moment that our patients could get unlimited dental funds by borrowing essentially from the government with no payments until at least 2020, and then they could pay it off over many years thereafter. They don’t even have to start paying as long as they are under treatment; repayment is delayed to 6-12 months after care is completed or stopped. They could get as much as needed as long as we dentists certified they needed the care. No origination fees, no credit checks and no demonstration of ability to pay later on is required to get the funds. And when they start to repay, they have the option to pay based on their income and not any traditional, rational loan repayment system as we normally think designed to make full restitution. And, the big topper, if they have little enough income, they can ultimately be forgiven the remainder they haven’t paid after 10 or 25 years depending on whether they work in the non-profit or for-profit sector.

What do you think would happen to the funding system within the profession? Oh, we might like it initially, but what would be the long term ramifications? What happens when ultimately our patients are unable to pay it all back? The government then has to cover the loans. So then we are getting paid on the backs of all taxpayers. Employers would probably stop offering dental prepayment plans, and the insurance pool would likely decrease if not dry up because of their inability to compete with the government loan system. How long before the government runs out of money to fund such loans, and then what?

How long before the argument is raised that dental care is essential and “a right” and that those who would/could not repay should be forgiven. People are starving because they cannot afford their dental loan repayments? Can you see the demonstrations in front of the dental school (from other students, no less) and marches through the streets of Seattle? I exaggerate but only slightly.

And would not we ratchet up our fees higher and higher because of the ease for patients to get funds? What’s to stop us if there are no restrictions or market forces? Skyrocketing fees would ultimately affect those who won’t take out the loans because they don’t want the debt for whatever reason. If a dentist refused to go along with the certification process so as not to encourage their patients to pay with loans, what would happen to that practice? I submit the practice would decline.

And does any of this sound familiar in a related realm? Think a little bit.

I recently heard of an Arizona orthodontist who was $650,000 in debt with student loans. He went to Duke for undergrad, dental school and ortho school. He was asked if there were ever any questions along the way as to a maximum amount of debt he could incur, the likelihood of repayment or what his business plan was to pay it back. Answer: nope, none, zero, nada…sign here. Is anyone going to seriously consider whether this amount of borrowing or even this career choice makes any sense when there is no financial restriction to getting and staying in dental school and beyond?

Let’s just say one were paying 8 percent over 10 years on $650,000; that is almost $4,800 continued on page 56

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th e wsda ne w s · issue 4, march · 2016 · www.wsda.org · 63

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6 4 · th e wsda ne w s · issue 4,march · 2016 · www.wsda.org