February 2008 Newsletter

“I Got People Too!!”
The other day, I was watching TV and I noticed the slogan of a popular tax return filing company, “I got people!” It made me think that as a member of the Middlesex County Dental Society (MCDS), I got people too. Our volunteer Board of Trustees (BOT) dedicates hundreds of hours a month to making sure that your dental society is one of the finest in the state. Among the priorities of the BOT, the quality of the continuing education we offer our members is paramount.
Recently, the BOT worked to amend and approve the restructuring of the by-laws, thereby creating an Education Committee. Now, in order to provide continued excellence in CE, the more senior Board members can be directly involved in planning and scheduling of quality dental programs that we wish to bring our members. Our full-day courses and mentoring programs are second to none. MCDS has even been approached by UMDNJ to run joint CE courses. Our local dentists provide leadership in the statewide Give Kids A Smile Program and NJDA at large. The residency directors of RWJ and JFK hospitals serve on our board and give representation for the dental residents. We also provide financial donations to both the residency programs, along with St. Peters Dental Library and MC Dental Hygiene School on behalf organized dentistry on a yearly basis. Our national, state and local delegates and trustees keep us up to date on the dental happenings and our website and newsletter editors allow the continued flow of that information in a timely manner. There are countless other council and committee persons that report to the board and serve our members. And the anchor of our team is our executive secretary who wears many hats in order to assist all our members.
There is always room for more volunteers and fresh ideas. Make it a point to become more involved with your profession.
On behalf of MCDS and organized dentistry, I proudly exclaim, “You got people too!”

-1/8/2008-

Attendance: Ashmen, Brunsden, Courey, Clemente, Fahsbender, Galkin, Glickman, Kahn, Krantz, Modi, Nandra, Prabhu, Savage, Schambra, Simos, Stein, Villa, Vitale, Weiner, Marlene Glickman.
Acceptance of Minutes-vote unanimous.
President’s Report-James Courey
Attended educational committee special session at Dr Vitale’s offiice.
Treasurer’s Report-Robert Ashmen
See full report on page 3.
Editor’s Report (submitted online)-Bob Silverstein
As a reminder, I obtain the mailing address labels for the newsletter each month from the NJDA. They obtain their member list from the ADA. If there are any mistakes or omissions in addresses, members should contact NJDA, who will update the information with the ADA. I am tracking additions and deletions each month to our membership roster, and forwarding the deletions to NJDA for confirmation. We recently had a situation where the ADA had mistakenly deleted one of our members. I caught this and brought it to the attention of NJDA, who rectified the problem. There are currently 492 MCDS members and associate members, and 24 are receiving the newsletter electronically.
Website Editor’s Report (submitted online)-Bob Silverstein
Online registration for the Cranham course is available. So far 1 person has registered this way.
Program Chairperson’s Report-Constantine Simos
The remainder of the 2007-08 educational program for MCDS is set. Currently we are promoting the full day CE course by Dr. John Cranham via our website, The Capsule, our sponsor, Kuwata Pan Dent and a mailing to nearby component dental societies. Plans are underway for staff night in May and details will be forthcoming.
ADA Delegate’s Report-Peter Clemente
Norway has acted in the New Year to discontinue the use of amalgam.The action was part of a sweeping effort to restrict the use of mercury and was done so largely for environmental reasons. It’s possible that Sweden may have taken a similar action. No new scientific studies or other new data have been cited as calling for this sweeping action..
The ban is not expected to have any economic impact in these countries because of their national health care systems. For example, Sweden’s health care system stopped paying for amalgam fillings years ago.
Norway’s announcement has not been made news in the U.S yet.
Executive Secretary - Marlene Glickman
The MCDS Dental Shadowing Program enables Rutgers students to see firsthand how a dental office functions. Students receive information from the career center at Rutgers and are directed to call the MCDS office. They are then assigned to a participating MCDS dentist and are told to contact that office to set-up a workable schedule. The students who have completed the program and filled out our evaluation sheet have indicated how much they enjoyed their experience. One student said, “All pre-health profession students should experience the field before applying for the schools.” Dentists who have enabled students to shadow at their office have expressed how worthwhile they feel the program is. Many of the students have gone on to dental school and have expressed their gratitude to the dentist who they worked with through this program.
We are always looking for doctors who would like to have a Rutgers student shadow them for some period of time. We particularly need dentists within easy access from the Rutgers campuses, since many of the students do not have cars. If you would like to participle in the Dental Shadowing Program, please contact Marlene Glickman @ 732-238-1255.
NJDA Council Reports:
Governmental and Public Affairs-Mitch Weiner
See full report on page 7.
Membership-Tara Savage, Scott Galkin, Devang Modi
Ms. Tricia DeCotiis and the NJDA staff will hold their next UMDNJ Dental School programs on January 16, 2008 and March 19, 2008. These programs provide students with information regarding the value of membership. The MCDS study club met on December 6, 2007 and will meet again next on January 17, 2008 at 6:30pm at the Clarion Hotel in Edison. All MCDS members are welcome to attend. Please contact Marlene Glickman at 732-238-1255 if interested in attending.
On Thursday, January 24th, MCDS will be sponsoring a continuing education course entitled “Today’s Dental Practice: Acquisition, Management, Lifestyle” which will be targeted at new and younger members. The presenters will be MCDS members Cavan Brunsden. Hugh Habas, and Mitch Weiner, as well as Kim Iannotte of AFTCO Practice Transition Consultants. This program will be sponsored by Mid-Atlantic Insurance Resources, a broker for the NJDA endorsed malpractice carrier, TDIC. This seminar will start with registration at 6pm, will be held at the NJDA building on Route 1 in North Brunswick, and will include a buffet dinner at no charge, thanks to the generosity of our sponsor, Mid-Atlantic Insurance Resources. This program has been given numerous times and has been a great source of information for our new and younger members, who are looking to get themselves started in their own practice.
New Dentists-Arpan Nandra
Peer Review-John Fahsbender, Mark Vitale
There was one county and one state case mediated through this council this month.
Committee Reports:
Mentor-Ethan Glickman
Our OSHA program that satisfies the OSHA standard on Occupational Exposure to Blood Borne Pathogens, which is required annually for dentists and staff was given on November 15, 2007. Each office person trained received certification that they have been properly instructed for this OSHA regulation on Infection Control. Two CEU credits will be awarded to the 53 dentists and 129 staff members attending this 2-hour seminar. This seminar is available to our members for $15/pp as a member benefit of MCDS. A big “Thank You” to Dr. Joe Fertig for arranging all our room accommodations for the MCDS-OSHA programs at St. Peter’s Medical Center in New Brunswick.
The Central New Jersey Dental Hygiene Study Club met on December 12, 2007.Sponsored by Middlesex County Dental Society, twenty-eight hygienists met at the Clarion Hotel, Rte 27 South, Edison NJ. Two CEU credits were awarded for the meeting.
Dr Mark Rutenberg spoke about the Oral CDx test. This BrushTest uses a specially-designed brush to quickly and painlessly collect a sample of possible cancerous oral spots for computer-assisted laboratory analysis.. Dr. Rutenberg also gave guides in how to communicate the reassuring message to our patients that you are protecting them by detecting dysplasia - long before it can cause any harm .
Christine Barton BS, RDH presented information about Mouthguard Awareness-Protecting more than your teeth and the Hygienists role.. She spoke about the four types of Mouthguards: their advantages and disadvantages and the correlation between head injuries and mouthguards.
Kristen Larsen also presented information about the ViziLite Plus that uses technology that has proven successful in identifying soft tissue abnormalities in other areas of the body. An annual ViziLite Plus exam, in combination with a regular visual examination, provides a comprehensive oral screening procedure for patients at increased risk for oral cancer.
Dr. Arnold Rosenheck will present a seminar, “Oral Manifestations of Diseases of Local and Systemic Etiology,”
at the next meeting on February 13, 2008 at the Clarion Hotel, Rte 27, Edison, NJ.
This CNJDH study club is available to our hygienists as a Dentist-member benefit of MCDS.
See the insert in this Newsletter for information on registration.
Old Business
The Hygiene department at Middlesex County College extended its thanks to MCDS for the donation of $1000 which was used to replace curing lights. A motion was proposed by Dr Glickman to enable the society to present a framed certificate to future recipients of this award. It was seconded by Dr Weiner. Motion passed.
New Business
UMDNJ has expressed an interest to co-sponsor CE courses with our dental society at their new CE facility. The matter is being looked into.
A motion was proposed by Dr Galkin and seconded by Dr Weiner to donate $500 to the JFK dental residency program. The residency program is being honored by the Auxiliaries at JFK Hospital. The gift by our society is a show of solidarity to the profession. Motion passed.
Respectfully Submitted, Maya Prabhu, Secretary

Legislation
• Dental Consultant – Mr. Schulz announced that the dental consultant bill had passed unanimously out of the Senate Commerce Committee on December 3 and was expected to pass without opposition in the full Senate on December 17th. He thanked Drs. Graham and Shekitka for helping with the lobbying effort. He also reported that, at the last minute, the NJDHA’s lobbyist testified against the bill as the hygienists are opposed to the expansion of the Board by adding a dentist without expanding it to include another hygienist and a registered dental assistant. Please note that they have legislation which would accomplish this action (it has not advanced).
• Limited Teaching Certificate – This bill passed out of the Senate committee on December 3 and was also tracked for a December 17th action by the full Senate. He expected it to also pass without opposition. He also announced that the Attorney General is not taking a position on the bill, which is contrary to the State Board’s position.
• CE Credit Waiver - Mr. Schulz reported that the bill seeking to allow a waiver of up to 20 hours of continuing education credits for dentists who give pro-bono treatment to NJ Family Care eligible children or pregnant patients passed out of committee on November 19. This is an NJDA led initiative that Assemblyman Freddie Caraballo sponsored for us.
• PIP – Mr. Schulz reported that differences have arisen between medicine and dentistry on this particular legislation. Under medicine, the PIP fee schedule, according to the bill, would be based on accepted fees. While dental PIP fees would be based on billed fees – a striking difference. However, Mr. Schulz believes that the bill is not likely to be enacted as it is written since the Department is opposed to the legislation. It is likely to pass one or both houses of the Legislature to serve as a negotiating tool to reformulate the Department’s new PIP fee regulations, which were not positive.
• Wrongful Death – Legislation was introduced and is advancing quickly that would expand the opportunity for lawsuits under the wrongful death statute to new standards for which the jury could grant recovery of mental anguish, pain and suffering, loss of society and loss of companionship. The medical community and the pharmaceutical companies are vehemently opposed to the legislation and have asked the NJDA to support their position. The NJDA wrote a letter expressing concern as it could create an even more negative environment for medical malpractice insurance in NJ.
• Paid Family Leave – Mr. Schulz reported that this is the single biggest issue in this lame duck session. It has generated a tremendous lobbying effort on both sides of the argument. Fortunately, it looks as if the business community has made short-term gains by slowing it in the Assembly. However, it is likely to be revived early on in the new legislative session as Senator Steve Sweeney, the bill’s champion, will become the Senate Majority Leader. The NJDA continues to be opposed to the legislation and, as such, has sent two letters to each legislator expressing opposition to the bill. The Governor weighed-in expressing strong support for the legislation.
• Universal Healthcare - Dr. Graham is part of an ADA task force on universal healthcare. He noted that its goal is to have a white paper for the ADA Board to review in June and pass on to the HOD in September. It will list the core statements around what dentistry’s role in universal healthcare should be. NJ is likely to begin hearings on a universal health plan this spring. Senator Vitale is the champion. At this point, dentistry is not included in the Senator’s proposal. However, there has been no formal position taken by the Council or the Board on dental’s role in UC.
• CRNA Protection – This bill, which affects those that are licensed to administer anesthesia, will require physician supervision of nurse anesthetists, but this could mean dentists, also, need to be supervised. The bill is different from the regulation which says dentists can administer anesthesia, but the bill says they cannot. NJDA is looking into this carefully. It is likely to offer amendments to the legislation to clarify that dentists can administer general anesthesia in a hospital or ambulatory surgical facility, which is what the legislation speaks to.
Communications
Mr. Elmore gave an update on the planned 2008 public affairs campaign. He listed the six issues that will be covered (Children’s’ Dental Health, Oral Cancer, NJDA in the Community, Seniors’ Dental Health, Minority & Multicultural Health, and Oral/Systemic Links) as well as the various integrated media approaches that will be used to promote these issues and what NJDA member dentists are doing with regard to each.
State Board Appointments
Mr. Schulz reported that the NJDA needs to identify candidates for upcoming state board slots. The Governor has indicated that he wants minorities and women particularly from South Jersey in an effort to diversify the Board. Several candidates have submitted their names for consideration and Mr. Schulz and Mr. Meisel are collecting resumes. The Council authorized Mr. Schulz and Meisel to reach out to the various candidates to determine interest and collect resumes.
Old Business
• Aetna Court Case – Mr. Meisel reported that oral argument took place this week and the judge has not made a decision yet.
New Business
• Medicaid Dental Carve Out – Doral Dental is seeking to institute a carve out of Medicaid dental so there is a single payer in New Jersey. They believe it will raise reimbursement rates and streamline bureaucracies. They are seeking a meeting with the NJDA to solicit support for the idea.
• Dr. Levitt’s Fluoridation Legislation Idea – Dr. Levitt would like to see the Association develop and advance a legislative measure that would require a water line to be fluoridated if a majority of towns on the line wish to make it so. The Council decided to take a wait-and-see approach on this matter.
• Oral Cancer Screenings in Trenton – The Association is working with the Oral Cancer Consortium and the State Department of Health to provide free oral cancer screenings in the State House on June 12. Members are needed to assist on this day.

1/15/08 General Meeting Business
Dr. Courey re-read the motion to amend the By-Laws by establishing an Educational Committee and setting up the duties of the officers to support this committee. The motion was properly moved, seconded and approved.

February 2008 Newsletter

Program:

President's Message - Dr. James Courey

MCDS Board of Trustees Report

Treasurer's Report

Announcements/Articles