Eric C. Weiss, D.M.D. is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology, a Fellow of the American College of Dentists, a Fellow of the International Team for Implantology and has been practicing periodontics and implant dentistry since 1992. He received both his B.A. & D.M.D. from the UPenn, and completed a residency in periodontics at Temple University. Dr. Weiss is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Rutgers Dental School and at the UPenn School of Dental Medicine. He is also an attending periodontist at Newark Beth Israel and St. Barnabas Medical Centers. He practices in Livingston, NJ.
This lecture will provide a comprehensive review of the soft tissue augmentation procedures that are currently available. This will include a discussion of autogenous grafting, allografts and biologic agents. Indications for soft tissue grafting will be reviewed, with emphasis on the importance of adequate attached gingiva for restored teeth and implants. Orthodontic indications for augmentation both pre and post-ortho will be covered. The goals of this lecture are to increase one’s understanding of the various surgical techniques (and their limitations) available to manage soft tissue, to aid in determining where and when a particular procedure is appropriate, and to facilitate the coordination of restorative dentistry with other disciplines in dentistry.

This has been one of the colder winters we have had in a while. Middlesex County Dental Society has not cancelled a general membership meeting in many years’, however the officer’s night and life member’s meeting was cancelled due to the inclement weather. The make up meeting date will be announced in the near future. I apologize on behalf of the board at Middlesex County Dental Society but the safety of our members always comes first.
In January, I attended a Leadership conference at the NJDA headquarters. The meeting was attended by the NJDA officers’ as well as board members’, from several component societies. I will briefly address some of the main focus points of the meeting. The NJDA is working very hard to retain members and attract new members to help increase the overall membership of the society. Component officers also would like to increase communication among the component societies. Several component societies are functioning at a higher capacity than others and the consensus is to try to help each other. The NJDA is also working very hard on the preparation for the annual session at the Revel Casino Resort in Atlantic City and I would encourage everyone to help out in any way and to attend the meeting. At the end of the leadership conference the NJDA did note that there was an increase in overall membership this year.
Scrolling through the American Dental Association website, I came across an article that stated that America is in a dental health crisis. The article mentioned that 181 million patients did not see a dentist in the year 2010. It also stated that ½ of all patients over the age of 30 has some level of periodontal disease. Lastly, it mentioned that 1 out of 4 kids prior to age 5 has cavities. Based on these figures the American Dental Association is focusing on efforts to increase patient education campaigns as well as increase water fluoridation programs and to improve and develop new patient care delivery modalities. These findings show that dental professionals will have significant levels of disease to manage and in some cases try to prevent.
I look forward to seeing everyone at our next general membership meeting. I also look forward to the spring thaw.

Attendance: Dr.’s Stein, Fertig, Tauk, Vora, Ashmen, Fernandes, Brunsden, Villa, Satwah, Silverstein, Mir-Madjlessi, Schambra, Rosen, Goldstein, Weiner, Simos, Bernstein, Krantz, Modi, Brown and Marlene Glickman.
Acceptance of 11/13/13 Minutes- vote unanimous, after correction in ADA’s Delegate Report of name change to Dr. Jonathan Shenkin from Dr. Joshua Shenkin.
President’s Report-David Stein
Welcome back everyone. Looking forward to an even better year in 2014. The dental education meeting in December was cancelled due to bad weather and will be rescheduled.
Treasurer’s Report-Amit Vora
See detailed report on page 3.
Secretary’s Report-Devang Modi
The Nominations for Component Positions were finalized and will be submitted to NJDA prior to March 21, 2014.
Educational Coordinator’s Report-Genevieve Fernandes
On Tuesday, January 21st, starting at 6:30 PM come hear the stories behind the legislative and legal battles won on your behalf by NJDA. At this annual event you will have an opportunity to meet our esteemed NJDA President Dr. Giantomas, Mr. Art Meisel, Ms. Patricia DeCotiis, Mr. Jim Schulz and other prominent NJDA staff. You will get to witness first hand their dedication to our members and will be able to answer the question, “What is organized Dentistry doing for me?” 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 life members will be featured. Life Members have been members for 30 consecutive years, or 40 years total. At this evening we will honor our members who have reached this milestone in their careers, and acknowledge their contributions. The following MCDS members have achieved life membership this year: Drs. Larry Chen, Ethan Glickman, Kent M. Hochberg, Robert Horowitz, Jay S. Kartagener, Ira Klemons, Ted Kwiatkowski, Paul Lafkowitz, Stewart D. Manela, Joseph Muscatiello, and Martin Nagel. They have shown a steadfast dedication to their profession and organized dentistry over the course of their careers.
NJDA Trustee’s Report-Mitch Weiner
NJDA BOT Meeting Nov. 20, 2013
-A motion was made, seconded and ADOPTED by the Board (Vote #1 BT-13-11-24) to agree to support the NJAO in its request to the State Board of Dentistry to Amend the Scope of Practice of Dental Auxiliaries in an Orthodontic office under the direct supervision of the orthodontist.
-Dr. Walter Chinoy reported that after the ADA Annual Session in New Orleans, we gained two new delegates. With the two additional delegates, the President will become the 13th delegate and the President-Elect will become the 14th delegate.
-It was suggested that the Finance & Investments Committee meet later than usual in order to give Stan Orenstein more time to put the preliminary budget together and that the Budget Hearing Meeting meet in September. According to our Bylaws the Budget must be mailed 60 days prior to the Semi-Annual Session which means in September. This would require a Bylaws change. A motion was made, seconded and unanimously ADOPTED by the Board (Vote #2 BT-13-11-25) to recommend the adoption of an amendment to the Bylaws to read that the annual budget be mailed or emailed to the House of Delegates at least thirty (30) days prior to the Semi-Annual Session rather than sixty (60) days and recommend its passage at the June House of Delegates meeting.
-The ADA has developed a new promotional incentive for 2014 which offers a 50% reduction for those doctors that let their membership lapse in 2009, 2010 or 2011. The council on membership proposed to the Board that the NJDA match the promotional incentive for 2014. A motion was made, seconded and ADOPTED by the Board (Vote #3) for the New Jersey Dental Association to match the ADA promotional incentive for 2014 offering a 50% membership fee reduction for those doctors that let their membership lapse in 2009, 2010 or 2011.
-The NJ ASDA chapter is seeking support and involvement from the NJDA. Mr. Meisel and Mrs. DeCotiis will meet with RSDM to convey this interest and the NDJA’s interest in assisting the ASDA chapter. NJDA staff and dental leaders will then meet with the ASDA officers to develop a programming agenda.
-Revel is currently booking guest rooms for the Garden State Expo (NJDA Annual Session). We are more than half sold out of table tops and the Annual Session Council is working on exploring new exhibitors and the Council reps will be asking the components for its sponsors to see if they would be interested in exhibiting on a state level. We still have no sponsor for David Garber. The Sunshine Act is making it more difficult to find companies willing to support speaker honorarium.
-GKAS will be held Friday, February 7, 2014. We are on track to have the same amount of sites in NJ as last year, 137. Anyone interested in volunteering can register their location through the ADA or if interested in volunteering at another location you can email Lorraine Sedor or Maureen Barlow at NJDA.
-NJDA is moving away from individual CE courses throughout the year and satisfying CE requirements within our various conferences; annual session, New Dentist conference and Members’ Day.
-Dr. Scott Navarro from Delta Dental briefed the council on dental benefits on the stand-alone plan Delta developed to comply with provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which includes pediatric oral health care services as one of the ten “essential benefits”. Qualified Health Plans are not required to “embed” the dental benefit if a stand-alone plan is available on the exchange. However, Delta opted not to be on the exchange, but it’s plan will be marketed to small groups off the exchange. Delta’s plan includes coverage for children up to age 19; the benefits are required to be the same as the state’s CHIP program, which includes medically necessary orthodontics. Dr. Navarro cautioned that the plan will have many preauthorization requirements since it cannot have an annual maximum benefit or other types of cost controls normally employed.
-ACA has several inconsistencies with regard to pediatric dental benefits. For example, health plans on the exchange do not have to include the dental benefit if a stand-alone dental plan is available on the exchange; however, even though it is an “essential benefit” there is no penalty if individuals or small groups who go through the exchange do not purchase the dental plan. Off the exchange, the pediatric dental coverage must be purchased after January 1, 2014. New Jersey has opted not to operate its own exchange so New Jersey individuals and small groups (fewer than 50 employees) must use the federal website (healthcare.gov). If you go to the website, you can browse available plans without setting up an account. For individuals, two stand-alone plans are available - Dentegra and United Concordia. The small business side includes offerings from Dentegra, United Concordia, MetLife and Guardian. NJDA will continue to use the weekly e-mail blasts to provide information to the membership.
The revamped NJDA Website is up and running. The employment exchange section will be delayed, with a possible start date sometime in January. The Annual Session module will begin development after the Employment Exchange is completed.
-Each component should be developing its plans for a marketing program. The NJDA will match up to $2000 to those components that develop a marketing program for recruitment/retention of members.
-At the request of several member dentists, NJDA Executive Director Art Meisel reviewed the Dental Wellness Partner’s contract and concluded that Maverest did not have the right to acquire the participating dentists in the Dental Wellness Partners’s network.. The Board authorized Mr. Meisel to represent member dentists, at no charge, who sought to recover underpayments from Maverest.
NJDA Council Reports:
Annual Session-Nainesh Desai
The next Council on annual session meeting is on January 16th.
Give Kids A Smile-Cavan Brunsden
GKAS Day is on 2/7/14. 137 sites have registered so far. Volunteer dentist are needed and are urged to contact Maureen Barlow at NJDA. Supply distribution will take place on 1/29/14.
Dental Benefits-Devang Modi, Jeff Chutskie
I. The Council on Dental Benefit Programs met on November 13, 2013. Also in attendance for a portion of the meeting was Dr. Scott Navarro, Delta Dental.
II Special Order of Business: Dr. Scott Navarro of Delta Dental of NJ gave a presentation on the Affordable Care Act and the evolution of the pediatric dental benefit that is part of the “essential benefits” package. In New Jersey, the CHIP dental program was chosen as the “benchmark” plan, which is comprehensive in nature and includes medically necessary orthodontics. Dr. Navarro also explained some of the discrepancies in the law, which is rendering the dental coverage essentially optional since the health plans on the exchange have not embedded the dental benefit. Separate stand-alone dental plans are available on the exchange; however, there is no penalty for individuals that choose to not purchase the dental plan, and there is no subsidy for doing so, but plans purchased off the exchange must include pediatric dental coverage or verify that this coverage has been purchased separately. Delta Dental has developed a plan that conforms to the law, but it is not being marketed on the exchange. It is likely that new regulations will be proposed to effectuate the intent of ACA. The biggest impact of the law in New Jersey initially will probably be the number of individuals newly eligible for Medicaid due to the expansion.
III. DENTAL BENEFIT PLAN ISSUES:
A. CRP Statistics: Staff provided the council with cumulative statistics from January 1, 2013 through October 31, 2013 indicating a total of 93 complaints submitted to NJDA for the year to date. Of that number, NJDA successfully resolved 44. Staff also provided the council with statistics on the number of CRPs opened per component to date.
B. Horizon BCBS: License Number on Claims: As previously reported, Horizon requires dentists to include their full license number (including letters) on claims, and that has created a problem for some dental offices. According to Dr. Bastecki, a solution has been put in place by Horizon. Its computers will now point to NPI numbers first, then default to license number. Paper claims will point to license numbers first.
C. Maverest Offer to Settle: Dr. Vitale briefed the council on the Dental Wellness Partners/Maverest situation and its leasing of its network to several major carriers including Guardian, CIGNA and Aetna. Aetna continued to pay claims at the discounted rate after contract termination was acknowledged by Maverest, and Maverest is now attempting to settle with affected dentists by paying the amount of underpayment; however, Maverest is requesting that dentists sign a release to avoid further action and publicizing of the payment.
D. Delta of Washington: T-Mobile Plan: The council reviewed a communication from Delta Dental of Washington concerning the T-Mobile Plan that it administers. Effective January 1, 2014, this plan will cover only services that are provided by a PPO dentist. There will be no out of network benefit paid.
E. Aetna Dental Network Bulletin: Embedded Benefits: The council reviewed a Bulletin sent to Aetna PPO participating dentists concerning the requirements of ACA as it relates to pediatric dental coverage. The Aetna medical plan will be marketed as a certified plan under ACA and have the pediatric dental benefit embedded in the medical plan. Insureds will be provided with a list of Aetna PPO participating dentists. Aetna medical is not on the exchange in New Jersey, but may be offered off the exchange. Only Horizon, Health Republic and Americhoice offer medical plans on the individual exchange and they have not included the pediatric dental benefits that are available separately.
F. Individual Dental Plans on NJ Exchange: The council reviewed the www.healthcare.gov dental plan information for individuals. Various products are available in New Jersey offered by Dentegra and United Concordia.
G. Dental Plans on Exchange for Small Business: The council reviewed the exchange plans available in New Jersey for small businesses; these include United Concordia, Dentegra, MetLife and Guardian.
H. Projected Increase in Dental Plan Enrollment Due to ACA: The council reviewed projections of the increase in the number of adults and children eligible for dental benefits from 2010 to 2018. The bulk of the increase will be due to Medicaid expansion.
I. ACA Dental Benefits Explained: The council reviewed information from the ADA website concerning ACA. This is a valuable resource for members that are confused about how dental coverage will be implemented under ACA.
IV. NEW BUSINESS:
A. Update on Legal and Regulatory Matters: Art Meisel briefed the council on legal matters, including a discussion of Maverest.
B. Petition for Rulemaking: Corporate Practices: Mr. Meisel briefed the council on NJDA’s Petition for Rulemaking submitted to the State Board of Dentistry and considered by the Board at its November 6, 2013 meeting. The petition requests that the State Board of Dentistry reaffirm and clarify that non-licensees are not permitted to improperly use management companies or other devices to acquire or exercise dominion and control over licensed dentists and/or dental practices. The State Board referred this matter to its Rules and Regulations Committee for further deliberation.
C. The next council meeting is scheduled for February 12, 2014.
Governmental Affairs-Mitch Weiner
COPGA Meeting Report: January 8, 2014
Board Appointment Nominations Considered: Due to the resignation from the State Board of newly elected ADA President-Elect Dr. Maxine Feinberg and the passing of Dr. Sheila Dashkow, the NJ State Board of Dentistry has 2 vacancies for the governor to fill. The Council reviewed the CV’s of 2 possible candidates for the governor’s consideration.
Student Debt Presentation: Representatives from Rutgers Dental School on the Council gave a presentation on dental student debt and the attractiveness that corporate entities present to debt-ridden recent grads due to the guaranteed salary and hours that will give them the security they need to begin making their loan payments. A proposal by ADA President-Elect Maxine Feinberg during her campaign to use surplus money in the ADA Great-West Life Insurance pot to provide lower interest loans for students and at the same time providing the ADA with a better return on the money than current fixed income investment options would be a win-win for both parties.
Cone-Beam Usage Update: NJDA has helped secure an exemption allowing dental radiological technologists to operate cone beams. In addition, in working with the NJDEP, we successfully proposed a program for monitoring dental CT scan units that will take effect in 6 months.
Division of Consumer Affairs Director Meeting: Representatives from NJDA and the Director of DCA meet annually. An upcoming meeting will take place to discuss: expungement of records for non-clinical/minor ad violations, exorbitant fees assessed for minor penalties, and ambiguity over dentists use of Groupon and the interpretation of this as a violation of fee splitting laws.
Betel Nut Status: NJDA would like to collaborate with the local Indian Dental Association on a brochure that would educate NJ’s East Asian communities as to the carcinogenic components of Betel Nut, while at the same time recognizing Betel Nuts’ use in religious ceremonies and other cultural sensitivities the issue presents.
Petition for Rule Making RE: Corporate Dental Practice: A law already exists in NJ preventing a non-dentist from having ownership in a dental practice. The State Board is interested in hearing more about this issue. The question is whether we need a regulation from the State Board if a law already exists.
Water Fluoridation Alliance with PEW, AAP (Pediatrics), and Oral Health Coalition: A statewide fluoridation mandate, in the governor’s eyes, would be a financial burden to the water purveyor’s, and the governor does not want to mandate anything that will raise the cost of municipal services in a bad economy. PEW is willing to put significant financial resources into initiatives including hiring an engineering company to conduct a study and find out the real costs of statewide fluoridation on the water purveyors. They want a leadership team with dentists but with a non-dentist as the principal player. This will likely be the role that reps from the Amer. Academy of Pediatrics would play.
2014 Legislative Agenda:
Non-Covered Services Bill-Sponsorship is presently being lined up before introduction of our signature initiative in the new legislative session.
Licensure Expungement Draft- a broad based bill that would cover all boards, not just dentistry involving prior ad violations being removed from licensees public records. The Attorney General’s office may not see eye to eye with us on this.
2014 Legislative Issues to Watch:
-Prescription Monitoring Program Bill: both prescribers and pharmacies question the feasibility of complying in various scenarios.
-All-Payer Claims Database: Would mandate surrender of all EOB information and thus access to our confidential fee information to a government entity that could potentially use this data to cap fees.
-Corporate Ownership of Medical Practices by Hospitals with Physicians as Employees: Legislative action is anticipated by the NJ Hospital Association as they have been denied the ability to structure their rampant purchase of area medical practices in this fashion.
Legislative Leadership Changes:
There will be a new Speaker of the Assembly (Vincent Prieto) and a new Chair of the Budget Committee (Gary Schaer). We have excellent relationships with both of these legislators as well as the Chair of the Regulated Professions Committee (Tom Giblin) and the Health Committee Chair (Dr. Herb Conaway).
Oral Health Coalition Summit: The Focus will be the ACA and Oral Health. It will be held in Hamilton in February.
Membership-Genevieve Fernandes, Nima Mir-Madjlessi
At the end of 2013, there were 4592 members. This is a net increase of 33 members from 2012.
The council received a copy of the campaign brochure that will be mailed later this week to all non-members not eligible for the 2014 ADA promotional incentive and not in practice more than 30 years.
Art Meisel has met with Rutgers Dental School Dean, Dr. Feldman, to discuss the NJDA working with student leadership to develop a mentoring program. Dean Feldman is very supportive of the idea. Tricia DeCotiis has spoken with Dr. Rosa Chaviano-Moran as President of the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine Alumni Association President. The alumni association has coordinated mentoring programs in the past and is interested in participating in the development of a new program. Dr. Chaviano-Moran, Dr. Roger Johansen (alumni association vice-president) and Dr. Robert Shekitka (treasurer) will be the contacts. Tricia will work with Eoin Halpin and Shruti Shah (student representatives to the council on membership) to schedule a meeting with student leaders, NJDA and RSDM alumni association representatives.
Component Marketing Program –NJDA will match up to $2,000 per component to cover the cost of a component marketing program. The component program must be submitted to the office of the NJDA for prior approval. Nicole Fredrickson, NJDA marketing manager, is developing protocol for this program.
Peer Review-Sandy Goldstein
There were no cases assigned or mediated last month.
Committee Reports:
Corporate Sponsorship-Ira Rosen
Bank of America will be our sole sponsor at the January NJDA Officers meeting. No raffle.
Mentor-Nima Mir-Madjlessi
The bi-annual 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 14, 2012 at St. Peter’s Medical Center, New Brunswick. It was well attended by 200 Dentists and their staff members. We are in the process of finalizing the time and location for the OSHA program to be held in June 2014.
Dental Shadowing-Maha Kaga
The program is on-going.
Hygiene Study Club-Alyssa Bernstein
The Central New Jersey Dental Hygiene [CNJDH] Study Club met on Wednesday January 8, 2014 at the New Jersey Dental Association Building. The lecture was presented by Dr. Jamie Leizer on “Local Anesthesia for the Hygienist”. Two CEU credits were awarded to the 26 hygienists that attend this meeting.
The next CNJDH meeting will be on Wednesday March 5, 2014 at the New Jersey Dental Association Building in North Brunswick. The speaker will be Dr. Mani Levi and he will be lecturing on “Treating the Pedo Patient in the ER”. Two CEU credits will be awarded for this seminar.
This CNJDH study club is available to our hygienists as a Dentist-member benefit of MCDS. Please contact Marlene Glickman, our Executive Secretary for MCDS, at 732-238-1255 for additional information and registration in advance for the program.
New Business-
Dr. Sanjeev Satwah is the next Educational Coordinator.
Respectfully Submitted,
Devang Modi,
Secretary

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January 2014 General Meeting

Editor’s Note: Since the January General Meeting was canceled due to snow, there are no photos. The Board will be attempting to reschedule the meeting, so we should have photos of the Life Member presentations and/or the NJDA officers either in a subsequent newsletter, or on our web site.

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