March 2002 Newsletter

After a mild winter and with spring just around the corner, we at the Middlesex County Dental Society should be looking to the future. That is to say the future of our profession as well as our society. The great opportunities and challenges that face the profession vary from outstanding private practice environments to a shortage of faculty members to teach the next generation. I don't have to tell you that getting into dental school starts with good grades at an undergraduate university and high DAT scores. Schools are also looking for well rounded students who have been active in community, participated in extracurricular activities and have won honors. The number of students applying seems to change from year to year. There are many factors that play into the decision to attend or not attend a professional school. An additional four years of training, large debt load, good opportunities in other fields, the econom! y, and the lack of knowledge about the dental profession all effect this decision. And thus the number of students applying. I am proud to say that Middlesex County Dental Society will be addressing this last concern. We will be entering into a pilot program with UMDNJ- New Jersey Dental School, through the Offices of Admissions and Recruitment to have college students from Rutgers University (for starters) "shadow " us in our offices. That is, those of us who avail ourselves for this purpose. This is on a voluntary basis and has been looked upon with enthusium by all parties involved. We can feel good about the fact that we are helping to pave the way for a new generation as well as perpetuate the profession of Dentistry.
Faithfully,
Dr. Peter L DeSciscio

Attendance: DeSciscio, Fahsbender, Glickman, Huberman, Kahn, Kline, Krantz, McLaughlin, Schambra, Silverstein, Weiner, Ziemba
Acceptance of Minutes-1/8/02-vote unanimous.
President’s Report-P. DeSciscio
• Dr. DeSciscio stressed the importance of starting the General Membership meeting at the designated 6:30 time. Members should have their reports ready and if not attending to give their report to someone else to read.
• Discussed possible nominations for the Sy Symanski Lifetime Achievement Award
• Discussed nominations for officers, delegates and trustees for components
Treasurer’s Report-R. Kline
• The budget has been published twice and will be voted on at the next meeting
• A motion was made by Dr. Kline to keep $12,000 in the operating account and the rest in an interest bearing account. The motion was 2nd by Dr, kahn. Vote unanimous.
• See detailed treasurer’s report in newsletter
Program-S. Lawson
Staff Appreciation Night will be on May 21, 2002. Advertising appears in this newsletter
NJDA Trustee Report-D. Krantz
• Walter Chinoy was re-elected
• The next treasurer will be August Pelligrini from Hudson
• Terry Houge is on board for marketing at NJDA
• A considerable amount of money was left over from the candidacy for H. Finger and his campaign director will decide as to how to distribute the money
• There is a desire to decrease the number of members for the House of Delegates, but the bylaws will need to be rewritten for this to take place
ADPAC Report-P. DeSciscio
NJDA PAC Night at the Races Fund Raiser will take place at the Pegasus at the Meadowlands Raceway on Wed., April 24, 2002
NJDA Council Reports:
Annual Session-A. Ziemba
Plan ahead and save the date:
• Annual Session will be held June 12th –14th in Atlantic City at the Taj Mahal.
• The fabulous Greaseband will perform at the President’s Dinner Dance on Thurs. June 13, 2002.
• Lecture schedule headliners:
1. Dr. Stanley Malamed – Wed. June 12th
2. Dr. Karl Leinfelder & Dr. Paul Des Jardins – Thurs. June 13th
3. Dr. Fotinos Panagakos – Fri. June 14th
Dental Health-B. Huberman
The council met at the NJDA headquarters on Feb. 7, 2002:
• Tricia De Cotiis will be replacing Marc Millstein as the liaison of NJDA
• The Smile-Online will be launched on the NJDA website on March 1st. The general public will be able to ask the council questions regarding dental treatment and dental health
• The council will be updating the participating dentist list as well as maintaining a phone log to see where the bulk of the patients are coming from
• A CD-Rom regarding the systemic effect of smokeless tobacco was submitted to the State Board for Continuing Education (CE) credits
• The council will be working with the Oral Cancer consortium to get NJDA involved with the annual “Oral Cancer” screening event that takes place yearly throughout the metropolitan area
Peer Review-J. Fahsbender
There were three cases under review this month. One was resolved through medication in favor of the patient; one case is under present review; and one case, which failed mediation, will have a plenary hearing Feb. 26th
MCDS Committee Reports:
Corporate Sponsorship-R. Kline
• John Bates who has advertised in the newsletter in the past will no longer advertise
• We are in need of sponsors, but the sponsors are not getting any feedback or business from our members
• We need to lay the foundation and framework to build this program for the future with new committee members
• It was suggested that we offer some free advertising in hopes that companies will find it useful and will want to continue to place an ad in the newsletter for a fee
Mentor-E. Glickman
The Mentor Programs for Spring 2002 that are being presented are:
• Two Annual OSHA Seminars – Thursday, April 18, 2002 and June 20, 2002
• What Makes An Effective Leader – Thursday, April 11, 2002
• Using Feng Shui to enhance our Dental Practices – Thursday, May 9, 2002
More information about the seminars are in this MCDS Newsletter
We will be sending an invitation to all the non-member dentists of Middlesex County to register for these Mentor Programs. We feel that by attending these exciting programs they will experience first hand some of the activities that we provide on a regular basis to our members of MCDS.
As a promotion to join MCDS; if they pay the non-member registration fee for any of these four spring 2002 courses, we will deduct the total amount that they have paid for their office to attend and apply these monies towards the membership dues they would pay to become a member of Middlesex County Dental Society for their first year.
In an effort to network with the other Dental Societies in New Jersey, we have extended an invitation to their members of their component dental society to attend these seminars. This offering to NJDA member dentists will open the door for MCDS members to attend their courses at their member registration fee. This will make available to us many additional courses that will upgrade our academic knowledge and clinical skills as well as the opportunity to obtain additional continuing education credits [CEU] for state licensure.
The MCDS Colleague Program is being instituted. Members who would like to obtain advice about any issues relating to the Practice of Dentistry can contact me. I will arrange for one of our volunteer senior members to counsel and mentor those seeking answers from start-up practices to managing their existing practice more effectively. This program follows the NJDA Colleague Program, which is about to begin statewide.
The goals of the Colleague Program are:
1. Promote camaraderie and a feeling of belonging to the dental community.
2. Introduce the benefits of organized dentistry, including the many resources that are available to our younger new dentists.
3. Serve as a resource for practice-related questions and concerns.
By sharing the wisdom gained through our individual experiences of managing a dental practice, we can help our member colleagues’ meet the many challenges they may encounter. This will become a very valuable benefit for our members of MCDS.
Continuing Education-M. Schambra
Dr. Tarnow is scheduled on Friday, Feb. 21, 2003 to lecture (contract pending). The topic will be “Implant Dentistry in Your Office”. We are looking into a location for this lecture and also where to advertise
New Business
• Ricky Dibosky requested to advertise the letter from Louise LoMonaco of events for spousal-guest program
• Being that there is a nationally recognized shortage of hygienists and CDA/RDA, Ethan Glickman proposed having MCDS support a course to train employees in order to upgrade their skills. We will ask for support of this type of program in this newsletter. A report will be given at the General Meeting.

Respectfully submitted
Mitch Weiner, DMD, Secretary

MCDS COLLEAGUE PROGRAM
Please become part of the Middlesex County Dental Society Colleague Program.
By sharing the wisdom gained through our individual experiences of managing a Dental Practice, we can help our member colleagues’ meet the many challenges that they may encounter. This will become a very valuable benefit for our members of MCDS. Complete this form and fax it to the MCDS fax line @ 732-390-2332 or call Dr. Ethan Glickman 732-572-4244
Name ____________________________________Office Phone _______________
Office Address ________________________________________________________
Type of Practice / Years in Practice _______________________________________
Name of Dental School / Year Graduated ___________________________________
I am seeking the advice of a Mentor______ I would like to be a Mentor _____
The goals of the MCDS Colleague Program are:
1. Promote camaraderie and a feeling of belonging to the dental community.
2. Introduce the benefits of organized dentistry, including the many resources that are available to our younger new dentists.
3. Serve as a resource for practice-related questions and concerns.

IMPORTANT NOTICE
The N.J. Division of Consumer Affairs has re-extended the 2001 licence renewal period for all N.J. registered dental hygienists until April 30, 2002 and the 2001 CDS registration renewal period for all active status licenced dentists from March 1, 2002 to April 30, 2002.

Dentist Wanted
Work in a high tech, modern, fee for service practice - 3 days.
Future F/T & Partnership
South Shore, Staten Island
Call 718-356-1733 or Fax 718-317-7631

MIDDLESEX COUNTY DENTAL SOCIETY
Children’s Dental Health Month
“Smile for America”
NJDA at the Circus Continental Airlines Arena
Sunday, March 10, 2002
10:00 am Floor Show 11:00 am Circus
Contact Dora Cheek at 732-821-9400
Nurses Education Night NJDA Headquarters, Route 1
Tuesday, March 19, 2002, 7:00 pm
County-wide School Poster Contest East Brunswick High School
Tuesday, May 14, 2002, 7:00 pm
If you wish to participate in the
Children’s Dental Health Program,
CONTACT: CAVAN BRUNSDEN, DMD at 732-679-2323

CPR Review Course

MCDS members who are interested in receiving CPR and or First Aid instruction in their own office should contact Marlene Glickman, our Executive Secretary for information. We will fax to you the names of Certified instructors that have given this program to our own members of MCDS. CPR certification is required for Expanded Function Dental Assistants as well as Hygienists. Dentists on staff at many of the local hospitals are also required to maintain their CPR certification too.
CEU, NJ State Board of Dentistry credits are available for these programs.
This is an excellent opportunity to present this valuable information to our staff, in the convenience of our own office at a time that is best suited for us.
Contact: Marlene G. Phone: 732-238-1255 Fax: 732-390-2332

MCDS Review Course for
CDA / RDA Assistants
We are all aware that there is a shortage of Expanded Function Dental Assistants in Middlesex County. We put costly ads in the newspapers only to find out that no one is out there to respond to our need to properly staff our offices. We contact the Dental Employment agencies and again discover that they do not have the personnel that we are seeking!
If we are to be pro-active on this issue we need to take some affirmative action to correct this major problem!
We can sponsor a review course for our current assistants that will prep them for the CDA / RDA exams. MCDS will set-up the program and the individual dental offices will pay the tuition for each of their assistants. This program will be coordinated with Dr Carolyn Breen of UMDNJ- School of Health Related Professions.
When they are Certified and Registered then they can apply to the NJ State Board of Dentistry and become an Expanded Function Dental Assistant. This will enable them to help us become more productive in our office and open the door for entry level assistants to join our staff, thereby helping to fill the void that we are presently experiencing.
Please let me know if you support this type of program. If enough members contact me then I will pursue setting up this review program for our MCDS members and arrange for the classes to be given locally in Middlesex County.
Contact: Dr. Ethan Glickman Fax: [732]-572-4274 Phone: [732]-572-4244
I SUPPORT THE MCDS CDA / RDA REVIEW PROGRAM

Name______________________________________________

Telephone_________________Fax______________________

	(1/7/02)	(1/31/02)	(2/10/02)
Checking	10,679.77	19,418.69	22,037.46
Money Market	51,480.16	51,575.48	51,575.48
TOTAL	62,159.93	70,994.17	73,612.94

March 2002 Newsletter

President's Message

The Ides of March

MCDS Board of Trustees Report

Treasurer's Report

Balances

NJDA Board of Trustees Report

Announcements