The official publication of the Oklahoma Dental Association DENTISTRY ...

 VOLUME 99/ISSUE 11 OCTOBER 2008 The official publication of the Oklahoma Dental Association DENTISTRY UNITED!

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 VOLUME 99/ISSUE 11 OCTOBER 2008

4ODA Today 4 Message from the Executive Director 5 Calendar of Events 5 In Memoriam 6 News You Can Use 7 Patient's Page - Cracked Teeth

8 ODF New Employee 8 ODA Back-to-School Picnic 9 2009 Dentist Day at the Capitol 10 ODA Legislative Loop 12 Ski-N-Learn 13 Adopt-a-Dentist Update

18 Features

18 Teeth Whitening by NonDentists

20 Universal Health Care

22 Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner

25 Unlock the Wealth in your Dental Practice

26 Governor's Task Force

26 Straight From the Members

14Who & What 14 2009 Annual Meeting CE Preview: George Bambara, MS, DMD 15 2009 Give Kids a Smile!? Information 16 Meet the Staff: Lauryn Carter, ODA Membership Services Manager

28 Clinical 28 Metastasis to the Oral Cavity

Inside Front Cover Stillwater National Bank Inside Back Cover ODA Endorsed Companies Back Cover Delta Dental

17 Alexander & Strunk 23 Chickasaw Nation Industries 24 CoreVault 27 CPR For Life

24 Dallas County Dental Society 19 Insurance Answers Plus 12 Lands' End 19 Melinda Lawrence Consulting 15 My Dentist 21 Ocean Dental 27 Paragon 23/27 Professional Practice Associates 19 Televox

28 Classifieds

ODA Today

From the Execuve Director

Dana A. Davis

DENTISTRY UNITED! Legislative Journal Issue

The Summer Olympics, football season, gas prices, foreclosures, to drill or not to drill, political party conventions, health care crisis, the future of SSI, war against terrorism, and the November elections. What will be the "new" face of Washington DC politics come January 2009?

These have been the major news stories lately (or seemingly forever). There are some things we can just sit back and enjoy reading about like football season, the Olympics, and maybe the two National Political Party Conventions.

We have all heard the saying "get out of your own little world". If you are like me, there are days when I like my own little world and would rather not deal with the bigger issues. I read two newspapers a day and several dental journals. I honestly get tired of reading about violent crimes, the economic slowdown, foreclosures, the growing cost of health care, Obama versus McCain, suicide bombings, etc. I could go on but I am getting depressed just writing this.

The truth is, I realize I cannot just live in my own little world ? most of which is the ODA (I know, get a life, Dana!). I also know that being depressed or angry and not taking action will not change the state of the world, Oklahoma, or the USA. Most importantly, I know I, as one individual, cannot have a major impact. It is true that there is strength in numbers.

In August, the ODA DENPAC Board approved contributions to some primary campaigns and will, in the near future, decide on contributions to the November election campaigns. Also, ADPAC has sent several contributions for ODA members to give to their Congressional Representatives.

The decisions in both cases were based on the voting records of the candidates as they relate directly to the safety and quality of dental care provided throughout the state and country. Both political party candidates received funds. These candidates are also individuals with whom dentistry has developed long-term relationships. In other words, we can approach them when we need a bill introduced, supported, amended, or defeated. These bills are not always specific to dentistry; rather, they include such issues as things that impact small business and tort reform. By virtue of my position, I am the person that members call when they are upset. I have had many calls about the teeth whitening kiosks in shopping malls this year (see page 18). I get calls when Sooner Care changes a reimbursement rate or procedure, or HealthChoice does something. Some members are concerned about the Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner proposal that is moving forward in a few states (see page 22).

During the current dues year only 430 of our members paid DENPAC dues ($ 110 remains with DENPAC and $40 is sent to ADPAC). Only 29% of ODA members have gotten out of their own little world and are helping the ODA fight on behalf of 100% of the membership. I applaud and thank those members listed on page 10 who know how important it is for dentistry to have a voice or clout in the political world.

I hope the 71% who are reading this and have not paid 2008 DENPAC dues will send a personal check for $150. It is not too late.

4 ODA JOURNAL October 2008

OFFICERS 2008-2009

PRESIDENT Jandra Mayer-Ward, DDS

PRESIDENT-ELECT C. Rieger Wood, DDS

VICE PRESIDENT Tamara Berg, DDS SECRETARY/TREASURER Doug Auld, DDS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE Stephen O. Glenn, DDS

EDITOR Raymond Cohlmia, DDS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dana A. Davis

JOURNAL STAFF

EDITOR Raymond Cohlmia, DDS

ADVISORY EDITOR Frank Miranda, DDS ASSOCIATE EDITOR David Shadid, DDS MANAGING EDITOR

Dana A. Davis ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

F. Lynn Means PUBLICATIONS/ADV. MANAGER

Stephanie Trougakos

CORRESPONDENTS

CENTRAL DISTRICT Larry Lavelett, DDS EASTERN DISTRICT

Don Logue, DDS NORTHERN DISTRICT

Mark Folks, DDS NORTHWEST DISTRICT

Lisa Grimes DDS OKLAHOMA COUNTY

Thai-An Doan, DDS SOUTH CENTRAL DISTRICT

William Beeson, DDS SOUTH WEST DISTRICT

Dustin Lively, DDS TULSA COUNTY Richard Brown, DDS

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Dana A. Davis

ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR F. Lynn Means

MEMBERSHIP RECORDS/IT DIRECTOR Phoebe Roth

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Shelly Frantz

PUBLICATIONS/ADV. MANAGER Stephanie Trougakos

MEMBERSHIP SERVICES MANAGER Lauryn Carter RECEPTIONIST

Kim Loving-Proby

THE OKLAHOMA DENTAL ASSOCIATION JOURNAL (ISSN 0164-9442) is published ten times per year by the Oklahoma Dental Association, 317 NE 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, (405)848-8873. Annual subscription rate of $6 for ODA members is included in their annual membership dues. Rates for non-members are $36. Single copy rate is $6, payable in advance. Periodical postage paid at Oklahoma City, OK POSTMASTER: Send address changes to OKLA HOMA DENTAL ASSOCIATION JOURNAL, 317 NE 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104. Opinions and statements expressed in the OKLAHOMA DENTAL ASSOCIATION JOURNAL are those of the author and are not necessarily those of the Oklahoma Dental Association. Neither the Editors nor the Oklahoma Dental Association are in any way responsible for the articles or views published in the OKLAHOMA DENTAL ASSOCIATION JOURNAL.

MEMBER PUBLICATION AMERICAN ASSOCIATION

OF DENTAL EDITORS

NOVEMBER

OCTOBER

ODA Today

3rd

> Adopt-a-Dentist Orientation & Lunch - ODA - 10:30 AM > ODF Board of Trustees Meeting - ODA - 1:30 PM

8th

> Children's Oral Health Coalition Meeting - ODA - 10:00 AM

9th

> DentFest - OUCOD - 5:00 PM

10th

> Adopt-a-Dentist Orientation & Lunch - ODA - 10:30 AM

13th

> ODF Mobile Dental Unit - Caring Hands/McAlester - 9:30 AM

14th

> ODF Mobile Dental Unit - AK Verdigris Valley Community Center/ Porter - 9:30 AM

> OCDS Board Meeting - ODA - 6:00 PM

15th - 21st

> ADA Annual Meeting - San Antonio

20th

> Retired Dentists Lunch - ODA - 11:30 AM

23rd

> OCDS Spouse Night - Crabtown/Bricktown - 6:00 PM

24th

> Dental Leadership Summit Planning Meeting - ODA - 11:00 AM > Annual Meeting Planning Committee Meeting - ODA - 1:00 PM

7th

> C.O.R.D. Meeting - ODA - 10:00 AM > ODA Board of Trustees Meeting - ODA - 1:30 PM > TCDS CE Meeting - All Day

10th

> ODF Mobile Dental Unit - Caring Hands/McAlester - 9:30 AM

11th

> ODF Mobile Dental Unit - AK Verdigris Valley Community Center/ Porter - 9:30 AM

12th

> Children's Oral Health Coalition Meeting - ODA - 10:00 AM

13th

> OCDS General Assembly Business Meeting

14th

> OCDS CE Meeting - All Day

17th

> Retired Dentists Lunch - ODA - 11:30 AM

21st

> ODA New Dentist Conference - ODA - 9:00 AM

27th - 28th

In Memoriam

Dr. Leo Gene McAtee 1929 - 2008 ~ Laverne, Oklahoma

October 2008 5

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