Come hear the stories behind the legislative and legal battles won on your behalf by NJDA this year from the dedicated officers. This annual event is an opportunity to meet the NJDA Directors and General Counsel and to witness first hand their dedication to our members. You will never ask the question, “What is organized dentistry doing for me?” after this evening. It will provide you with the opportunity to learn how to use NJDA’s vast resources to get the most of your membership. In addition, a special presentation to our deserving New Life Members will be featured. Life Members have been members for 30 consecutive years, or 40 years total. Tonight we honor our members who have reached this milestone in their careers, and acknowledge their contributions.

“Life member”- a title reserved for a dentist in good standing who is 65 or older and has been a member of organized dentistry for 30 consecutive years or a total of 40 years. This milestone achievement is only possible by individuals who are passionate about our profession and believe there is value in membership. On January 17, 2017, MCDS and NJDA are pleased to honor Dr.’s Michael Dodd, Ira Feldman, Stephan Fanous and Joseph Perlmutter as life members at our annual “Officer’s Night.” Please join me in congratulating them and celebrating their accomplishment.
Over the years, I have learned “value” can mean different things to different people. To some it can be monetary (dollars and cents) while to others it can be an emotional connection. A simple smile or a gesture of good will. A friendship or a relationship. No matter what it is, it has to be important and meaningful to you. For our 4 life members and so many of us, value in membership to organized dentistry is no different. It can be comroidary with colleagues, legal council, dental benefits concerns, sharing knowledge and experiences to grow the profession or simply enhancing ones education and learning. No matter what the intent, MCDS and NJDA are here to guide you and serve as a valuable resource every step of the way.
During the course of my Presidency and in 2017, I request all of you to serve as ambassadors to our great profession and organization. There are many not just within our component but around the state and in other components who don’t believe in belonging to a dental organization yet reek the rewards of our hard work, efforts and dedication. I urge you to educate them, guide them and invite them to our board meeting or lectures as guests. Ask them as I always ask you, “what can I do for you as to make your experience at MCDS valuable?”
Finally, I want to wish you and your family a very happy holiday season and a wonderful new year. Hope 2017 is filled with lots of love, happiness, good health, success and most of all peace. Thank you to all the awesome MCDS board members and to all of you great dentist of Middlesex County.

Attendance: Drs. Devang Modi, Robert Silverstein, Daniel Krantz, Sanjeev Satwah,, Alyssa Bernstein, Nima Mir-Madjlessi, Richard Kahn, Sandy Goldstein, Mitchell Weiner, Ira Rosen, Deborah Brown, Nainesh Desai, Mario Fiorentini, Antoinette Tauk and Stephanie Dowling.
Acceptance of 10/11/16 Minutes-vote unanimous
President’s Report – Dr. Devang Modi
The President will take on the protocol of welcoming new members to our society.
Treasurer’s Report – Dr. Sanjeev Satwah
See full report on page 3
Educational Coordinator’s Report – Dr. Amit Vora
Dr. Jeffrey Mannheimer is our speaker at the general meeting on 11/15/16. He is a physical therapist with a Ph.D in Health Science. He will be presenting “Overlooked Causative and Perpetuating Factors Relative to Headache, Orofacial and Temporomandibular Pain/Dysfunction Syndromes with Therapeutic Implications.”
NJDA Trustee’s Report – Dr. Peter DeSciscio
There will be a House of Delegates and Board of Trustees meeting on 11/16/16 at the Pines Manor in Edison, NJ.
ADA Delegate’s Report – Dr. Daniel Krantz
Dr. Gary Roberts (Louisiana) is our new ADA President. Dr. Joseph Crowley (Ohio) is our new ADA President Elect.
Dr. George Shepley (Maryland) is our 4th District Trustee Designate, to be installed once Dr. Jeff Cole (Delaware) completes his term next November. Dr. Jeff Cole announced his candidacy for ADA President Elect. The election is scheduled for the ADA House of Delegates in Atlanta next year. Significant resolutions are as follows: There will be an ADA dues increase of $10. The Code of Ethics was modified to allow specialists to practice General Dentistry and to allow any licensed doctor, who has advanced training, to announce he/she is a specialist, providing their jurisdiction (state) allows it. This resolution was passed because the FTC is looking to challenge restrictions on specialty announcements. There is a 3 year initiative to increase and stimulate utilization of dental services. The cost is 6 million dollars (taken from available reserves).The future cost might require a dues increase or assessment. I am personally against this resolution since we,in a large metropolitan area, with the costs of media (TV, radio, billboards, etc.) being so high, will not derive the same benefit that a small town community will achieve. Plus the fact that our state is serviced by two very expensive media markets (NY and Philadelphia).There were other resolutions of not much consequence to us pertaining to ADA governance, underserved populations, and recommended exams for high school athletes.
Executive Secretary Report – Stephanie Dowling
The state board has approved the MCDS Hygiene Study Club courses for continuing education units. Badges and certificates will be available for our new members at the upcoming meeting on 11/15/16.
NJDA Council Reports:
Dental Benefits – Dr. Devang Modi, Dr. Antoinette Tauk
There will be a Council of Dental Benefits meeting on 11/9/16.
New Dentists – Dr. Sanjeev Satwah
There will be a happy hour networking event this Thursday at the Saddle Brook Marriott from 6-9pm. This event is free for NJDA new dentists.
Peer Review – Dr. Sandy Goldstein
No new cases assigned nor mediated last month.
NJPAC – Dr. Mark Vitale
There is a documented epidemic of opioid and heroin abuse in New Jersey. The NJDA has joined with the Partnership for a Drug Free NJ to advocate for the responsible use and disposal of prescription opiates. The NJDA is committed to informing our members of the latest research. We want to keep you abreast of the latest findings on the efficacy of analgesics and responsible dosing. We share a special rapport with our patients. We are in an excellent position to educate them about the addictive potential of prescribed opiates. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), “More people died from drug overdoses in 2014 than in any year on record. The majority of drug overdose deaths (more than six out of ten) involve an opioid. And since 1999, the number of overdose deaths involving opioids (including prescription opioid pain relievers and heroin) nearly quadrupled. From 2000 to 2014 nearly half a million people died from drug overdoses. Seventy eight Americans die every day from an opioid overdose.” In New Jersey, the numbers are as sobering. While many dentists may believe their patients are not likely to be abusers, the fact is that drug abuse and overdose are on the rise across all demographic groups, regardless of income, ethnicity and age. Abuse among 18 to 25 year olds in the US has jumped dramatically – by 109% -- in the past ten years. Among new heroin users, approximately three out of four report abusing prescription opioids prior to using heroin. Over the past 6 months, members of the Opioid Committee of the Council on Governmental and Public Affairs developed protocols and guidelines for dentists addressing the efficacy of opioids and non-opiate alternatives in the treatment of acute pain. We respect our members’ judgment when prescribing and making health decisions with their patients and offer this information only as guidance. It is with this in mind that NJDA urges its membership to review the data. In addition, as part of the guidelines NJDA has also developed an informed consent document that provides an opportunity for dialogue between the dentist and patient or the patient’s parent or caregiver about the potential for dependency, misuse and side effects, and the need to properly secure these medicines and dispose of them properly. This effort is the first comprehensive statewide initiative of its kind, and perhaps in the nation, to address acute dental pain. Go to NJDA.org and click on NJ Prescribing Guidelines.
Committee Reports:
Budget and Finance – Dr. Ira Rosen
The budget committee completed the proposed MCDS budget for calendar year 2017. It was distributed to the MCDS Executive Board in October via our Google Group and unanimously approved. Then it was presented to the membership for review and discussion at the October General Membership meeting. It will be presented live to the MCDS Executive Board at the November meeting for discussion and final approval. A copy of the budget was published in the November newsletter and it will be voted on at our November General Membership meeting.
Corporate Sponsorship – Dr. Ira Rosen
All four of our gold sponsors will be in attendance at the November General Membership meeting–Zimmer Biomet, Dentsply International, Provident Bank and Techspedient. In addition, one of our bronze sponsors will be joining us for the first time this year– Kuwata Pan Dent. One new sponsor may also be present. Please join me in welcoming our sponsors and be certain to visit them and view their products
Dental Shadowing – Stephanie Dowling
An updated list of dentists participating will be made and it is to include their hours of operation. This should assist in placement.
Hygiene Study Club – Dr. Alyssa Bernstein
The Central New Jersey Dental Hygiene [CNJDH] Study Club met on 9/14/16 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Edison. The speaker was Jodie Heimbach, R.D.H, B.S. Two CEU credits were awarded to the 24 hygienists that attended this meeting. The following CNJDH meeting will be on Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Edison. The speaker will be Dr. Nilesh Patel, and he will be lecturing on “Sleep Apnea.” Two CEU credits will be awarded for this seminar. The CNJDH study club is available to our hygienists as member benefit of MCDS. Please contact Stephanie Dowling, our Executive Secretary for MCDS, at 732-764-MCDS(6237) for additional information and registration in advance for the program.
MCDS Study Club – Dr. Nima Mir-Madjlessi, Dr. Genevieve Fernandes
On October 26, 2016 we had the second meeting of the MCDS Study Club. Our own Dr. Nainesh Desai gave a presentation entitled “Demystifying Immediate Full-Arch Implant Therapy Content and Social Media Marketing for Dentists.” This was an excellent presentation which was well received and appreciated by all of those who attended.We had about 17 members who attended the meeting. A reminder to all of our members-please take advantage of this opportunity and invite a friend or colleague who is not a member of NJDA/MCDS to see one of the many benefits of membership. Our next meeting will be held on November 30, 2017. This is going to be a roundtable discussion with member dentists of differing experiences. It will be a judgement free, open and casual environment where members can discuss any concerns that they may facing. It could be clinical, practice management, or stress management. I hope that I see a lot of attendees at this meeting. If this concept is well received we can have another one in 2017.
New Business
A motion was made by Dr. Mitchell Weiner to approve the 2017 Budget and seconded by Dr. Richard Kahn. The Board unanimously approved the budget.
Respectfully Submitted,
Dr. Antoinette Tauk
Secretary

Jerome Engel

Dr. Engel practiced oral surgery in New Brunswick for 42 years, and was a past-President of the Middlesex County Dental Society.

Robert Mallin

Dr. Mallin practiced dentistry in Metuchen for over 40 years. He was a past-President of the NJ Academy of General Dentistry, and a past-President of the Middlesex County Dental Society.

Allen Savage

Dr. Savage practiced dentistry in North Brunswick for over 50 years.

The Board voted to participate in the new NJDA EBA (Endorsed Business Associates) component sponsorship program at our January 2017 General Meeting as requested by NJDA.

The 2017 Proposed Budget was unanimously approved by the General Membership.

There is a documented epidemic of opioid and heroin abuse in New Jersey. The NJDA has joined with the Partnership for a Drug Free NJ to advocate for the responsible use and disposal of prescription opiates. The NJDA is committed to informing our members of the latest research. We want to keep you abreast of the latest findings on the efficacy of analgesics and responsible dosing. We share a special rapport with our patients. We are in an excellent position to educate them about the addictive potential of prescribed opiates.
According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), “More people died from drug overdoses in 2014 than in any year on record. The majority of drug overdose deaths (more than six out of ten) involve an opioid. And since 1999, the number of overdose deaths involving opioids (including prescription opioid pain relievers and heroin) nearly quadrupled. From 2000 to 2014 nearly half a million people died from drug overdoses. 78 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose.”
In New Jersey, the numbers are as sobering. While many dentists may believe their patients are not likely to be abusers, the fact is that drug abuse and overdose are on the rise across all demographic groups, regardless of income, ethnicity and age. Abuse among 18 to 25 year olds in the US has jumped dramatically – by 109% -- in the past ten years. Among new heroin users, approximately three out of four report abusing prescription opioids prior to using heroin.1
Over the past 6 months members of the Opioid Committee of the Council on Governmental and Public Affairs developed protocols and guidelines for dentists addressing the efficacy of opioids and non-opiate alternatives in the treatment of acute pain. We respect our members’ judgment when prescribing and making health decisions with their patients and offer this information only as guidance. It is with this in mind that NJDA urges its membership to review the data. In addition, as part of the guidelines NJDA has also developed an informed consent document that provides an opportunity for dialogue between the dentist and patient or the patient’s parent or caregiver about the potential for dependency, misuse and side effects, and the need to properly secure these medicines and dispose of them properly.
This effort is the first comprehensive statewide initiative of its kind, and perhaps in the nation, to address acute dental pain. Go to NJDA.org and click on NJ Prescribing Guidelines.