January 2006 Newsletter

NJDA Officers Meeting and New Life Membership Presentations

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.

The following MCDS members have achieved life membership this year. They have shown a steadfast dedication to their profession and organized dentistry over their careers. They will be formally inducted as life members at this month’s dinner meeting.

Robert J. Benzell
Dr. Robert J. Benzell was born in Scranton, PA, and he attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute where he received an Honorary B.S. in 1961. After earning his D.M.D. from New Jersey College of Medicine and Dentistry in 1965, Dr. Benzell served in the Army from 1965-1968. While in the Army, he served as Commanding Officer and Chief of Dental Clinic in Wildflecken, Germany. After his military discharge in 1969, he entered private practice.
In addition to his tri-partite memberships, Dr. Benzell is also a member of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, AGD, American Academy of Hypnosis, Royal Society of Health, Military Surgeons of the United States, Federation of Prosthetic Dentistry, American Endodontic Society, American Analgesia Society, Psi Omega Fraternity (Grand Master) and the American Academy of Dental Practice Administration. He has served as the Director of Education for the American Cancer Society.
Dr. Benzell has pursued numerous areas of advanced studies, including occlusion and gnathology, and has completed all 5 levels of training at the Pankey Institute. He is an international lecturer and has authored articles in many professional journals.
Dr. Robert J. Benzell is currently practicing part-time in Jersey City and Somerville and when not practicing, he enjoys traveling and playing golf in Florida and Arizona. He resides in Aberdeen, NJ, Ft. Lauderdale, FL and Tuscon, AZ with wife Regina. They have 2 children: Kimberly, who is a Supervisor for the Woodbridge School District, and Todd, who works for ILX in Tuscon, Arizona.

Mervin Kroop
Dr. Mervin Kroop was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1940. He received his undergraduate training at the University of Pennsylvania, and graduated from their dental school in 1964 with a D.D.S.. He subsequently pursued his post-graduate training at the Graduate School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and in 1968, received his certificate in Endodontics. In between his dental school training and post-graduate education, Dr. Kroop served in the Army where he was stationed at Fort Rucker, Alabama and Fort Gordon, Georgia. He served as chief of a dental clinic at Fort Gordon for several months.
Dr. Kroop has been in private practice with the Mid Jersey Endodontic Group since 1968, and taught at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine from 1975-80. He received his Diplomate status from the American Board of Endodontics in 1973, and is a Life Member of the American Association of Endodontists. In addition, Dr. Kroop served as the representative of the NJ Society of Endodontists to the State Peer Review Committee in the early 1980s.
Currently, Dr. Kroop resides in North Brunswick, NJ with his wife Gail. They have three children, Tracy, Philip and Jeffrey, and two grandchildren.

John P. Petrocelli
Dr. John P. Petrocelli was born in 1940 in Brooklyn, New York. After graduating from St. John’s University, Brooklyn, NY with a B.S. in Chemistry in 1961, Dr. Petrocelli attended New Jersey Dental School (Predecessor of UMDNJ). He earned his DMD in 1965.
After graduating from dental school, Dr. Petrocelli joined the Air Force, where he served as a Captain, Dental Service at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas for the entire term of service.
Dr. Petrocelli has been a member of the Academy of General Dentistry for 30 years and the Brunswick Dental Study Club for 20 years. He is also a 20 year member and Past President of the New Brunswick Exchange Club. In addition, Dr. Petrocelli was a Past President of the Brunswick Dental Study Club.
Dr. John P. Petrocelli, DMD currently resides in Bridgewater, NJ with his wife Jean. They have 5 children: Mark, Matthew, Joanna, Peter, Daniel, and 3 grandchildren: Yasmine, Giulio, Eva.

Gene Harnick
Dr. Gene A. Harnick is engaged in the active practice of general dentistry in the Parlin section of Woodbridge. He graduated from NYU Dental School in 1966. (Editors’ Note: The source for Dr. Harnicks’ biographical information was the ADA Member directory).

Our January General Meeting will honor our new American Dental Association Life Members. Life Members are those members who have been a member for thirty consecutive years or forty total years and are age sixty-five years or older. Younger dentists should attribute at least part of their success to the achievements of our Life Members. Life Members deserve to be recognized for their many years of dedication and devoted service to the dental profession and to the association. During our dental careers, there are only a limited number of opportunities to be acknowledged by our colleagues. I urge all MCDS members to attend this important meeting.
The New Jersey Dental Association Officers and Directors will also be present at the January General Meeting. They will report to you about the legislative and regulatory issues that have involved our profession during the previous year. One example of a key regulatory battle that NJDA is aggressively fighting on our behalf involves amalgam separators. It is the intent of the Department of Environmental Protection to mandate the use of best management practices for the recovery and recycling of amalgam waste. This will include the installation of amalgam separators. The average cost to dental offices is between $1000-$2000 for purchase and installation, and an additional $750-$1250 a year for operation and maintenance. NJDA has been meeting with the Department of Environmental Protection, the Governor’s office and key staff to remove the requirement for amalgam separators from the best management practices. Dentistry continues to thrive due to the steadfast efforts of NJDA.
The NJDA officers and directors and the MCDS Board of Trustees are also interested in your opinions, comments and suggestions on the association’s benefits and services. This is an ideal opportunity for all members to learn how to become active members at both the county and state levels. The MCDS Board of Trustees is actively seeking members to join our Board. Dentistry is constantly changing and recent graduates are faced with unique obstacles. Please accept my message as an invitation to join us at our monthly Board meetings (the Tuesday before each General Meeting, 6:30pm, at the NJDA Headquarters building on Route 1 in North Brunswick). Our officers, council representatives and committee chairpeople want to meet you!
Lastly, Give Kids a Smile National Dental Access Day will be held on Friday, February 3, 2006. This one day event is part of the month long Children’s Dental Health Month. Last year, more than 10,000 dentists across the country treated 485,700 children. Dr. Cavan Brunsden is an MCDS member and the CDHM Statewide Chairman. Dentists, auxiliaries and staff can volunteer at Middlesex County College, JFK Dental Clinic, Robert Wood Johnson Dental Clinic or your own office. Treatment and services offered include dental exams, fluoride treatments, x-rays, emergency care, referrals, oral healthcare instruction, and free oral hygiene kits. Dentists can receive up to 3 CE credit hours for volunteering. Please contact Dr. Cavan Brunsden for information on volunteering for this event.

- November 8, 2005 -
Attendance: Ashmen, Brunsden, Courey, Galkin, Glickman, Kahn, Krantz, Lawson, Leizer, Schambra, Silverstein, Simos, Villa, Vitale, Weiner
Acceptance of Minutes-vote unanimous.
Acting President’s Report-Stephen Lawson
A letter was faxed to Mr. Arthur Meisel stating that the Middlesex County Dental Society Board of Trustees nominates Dr. Daniel Krantz for Vice President of the New Jersey Dental Association. Middlesex County Dental Society may have 2 of its members, Dr. Daniel Krantz and Dr. Richard Kahn, with State Officer positions.
The Middlesex County Dental Society 2006 proposed budget will be voted on at the January General Meeting.
Mr. John Sessa, the accountant for MCDS, was asked for his suggestions regarding investment of our available reserves. Mr. Sessa recommended a high yield savings account and short term CDs. A search was conducted for different bank offerings and was presented to MCDS Secretary, Dr. Jim Courey.
A committee consisting of Drs. Lawson, Brunsden, Courey, Prabhu, Silverstein, Villa, Weiner and Ziemba met on November 15 to discuss how to use our available reserves for the benefit of our membership. Suggestions included free CE, free hands-on CE, staff CE, PAC contributions, hygiene scholarships, radio advertising and Annual Session MCDS cocktail party.
I attended the NJDA House of Delegates Meeting on November 9. MCDS was well represented as 11 of our 13 delegates were present.
I will be the Middlesex representative to serve on the Council on Nominations. The meeting is scheduled on January 25.
Secretary’s Report-Mark Vitale
The component was requested by NJDA to select a member to serve with our state trustee as a voting member of the council on nominations. Dr. Lawson will serve as such member, and Dr. Krantz will take Dr. Kahn’s position on the committee since Dr. Kahn Is being nominated for Treasurer of NJDA.
Treasurer’s Report-James Courey
See full report on page 3.
NJDA Trustee’s Report-Richard Kahn
See full report under NJDA Noteworthy News on page 4
Committee Reports:
Corporate Sponsorship-Constantine Simos
Corporate Sponsorship: Smith Barney Financial Has offered to sponsor a cocktail hour at one of our upcoming meetings. Tentatively, they will sponsor the April lecture with Dr. Michael Glick.
I have been in touch with a regional manager with Metrex in order to arrange sponsorship for Dr. Molinari’s lecture. They are very interested but will finalize their commitment by next month.
Old Business
Dr. Courey reported on behalf of the committee that was to review the use of available funds in the money market account. The funds which are kept with Magyar Bank will be moved into a new savings program which will pay an interest rate of 3.6% rather than the 1.25% that is currently paid. The feasibility of placing some funds into a CD will be explored.
The committee also made six suggestions for the use of the money in the money market account: sponsor a free CE program for members, sponsor free CE for staff, make a donation to PAC, sponsor a hygiene scholarship, have MCDS pay for the President to attend the NJDA annual session, and run radio spots to promote dentistry. The board decided that it would be prudent at this time to investigate sponsoring a free CE program for members and consider donating funds to PAC.
New Business
Following a discussion on ways to attract new members to organized dentistry, and specifically to serve on the Board, a committee consisting of Drs. Leizer, Glickman, Brunsden, Villa, Rosen, Lawson and Ibrahim will investigate ways to recruit new members.
Dr. Lawson announced that he will not serve two years as Acting President and President, but will step down after completing this year. The Nominating Committee will take this into consideration when it makes its recommendations to the Board at the January Board meeting.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mark Vitale

Dental Specialist seeks office space in previously existing office (with or without equipment) or in exisiting office in either East Brunswick or New Brunswick.
Please contact Dr. Blume at
732-995-2496 or
[email protected]

STATE BOARD OF DENTISTRY REPORT
A new Public Member on the State Board of Dentistry, Karen Golding, was appointed. The Medical Board is reviewing the information NJDA provided from AAOMS concerning dual medicine/dentist licensees who administer general anesthesia and it appears that the Medical Board is likely to defer to the Dental Board. The Nurse Cullen issue has started to move forward. Dentists are expected to be fingerprinted digitally and have criminal background checks in 2007. A request has been made to the State Board for some CE credits or a waiver for dentists who participate in Donated Dental Services (DDS) in treating a patient. The Board adopted one hour of a waiver of a requirement for each patient in a biennial year up to three hours.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT – Dr. August D. Pellegrini
Repairs were being made to the Association headquarters building. Dr. Bernie McDermott lost his bid for ADA President-Elect. The first vote ended in a tie. He lost on the second ballot. NJDA sponsored a luncheon for Senior students at UMDNJ – Dental School and we were there when they took their NERBs. Dr. Thomas Rossi, Chairman of the Council on Dental Education. requested that the Task Force to Deal with the Dental Hygienist and Dental Assistant Shortage be terminate because the council has undertaken the duties and responsibilities of that Task Force. A few weeks ago NJDA received a phone call from NBC to participate on a live debate on the Today Show on fluoridation. Dr. Pellegrini felt that Dr. Frank Graham should be our spokesperson. Dr. Paul Gilbert was to be the opposition, however, Dr. Gilbert withdrew and the debate was called off. They had a doctor from New York and an attorney speak on the show.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & LEGAL COUNSEL’S REPORT – Mr. Meisel
There will not be an ADA dues increase this year. The reserves were over 40% and next year the $30.00 assessment will terminate. The AGD contract for administrative services has just been signed by Dr. Pellegrini. The AGD is pleased with the service they are receiving and they are interested in continuing. We proposed an increase in the administrative fee from $48,000 to $50,000. Other than the fee increase, the agreement is exactly the same as last year. A motion was passed unanimously. There is again a net increase in membership and there are still applications that are being processed. The Resource Manual is in the process of being revised and is in draft form. We have incorporated into it the questions we have received over the last eight (8) years and hope that is far more valuable to our members and when completed will be distributed to all members via hard copy or online.
NEW BUSINESS
Dr. Harris Colton, former NJDA Past President, asked to the Board of Trustees to endorse his candidacy for Second Vice President of the ADA. The vote was unanimous.
Dr. Barbara Rich reported on ADEX. She announced that the National Licensure Board of Trustees is implementing ADEX as we speak. At the State Board meeting an applicant was denied based on his PGY-1 license. Dr. Frank Graham added that originally PGY-1 was an alternate pathway and pointed out that both the New York and California State Boards and State societies are fighting over PGY-1.

Dr. Robert Ashmen named MCDS Program Chairperson for 2006-07 season
Dr. Robert Ashmen, a periodontist in North Brunswick and MCDS’s representative to NJDA’s Council on Dental Education, has been named MCDS Program Chair for the fall 2006 to spring 2007 season.
Dr. Ashmen received his DMD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, completed a GPR at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and received his specialty training and certificate in Periodontics from UMDNJ.

January 2006 Newsletter

Acting President's Message

MCDS Board of Trustees Report

Treasurer's Report

Announcements/Articles