February 1, 2023 C.O.D.N.

CONTENTS OF NEWSLETTER:

• Upcoming Central Oregon Meetings & Events
• Central Oregon Dental News
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Classified Ads
• Regional CE Calendar
• More Info.
• Editorials / Commentary
• Dear Dr. Rupert

UPCOMING  CENTRAL  OREGON  MEETINGS  &   EVENTS

(Please email any dental related events or courses that you would like posted on this calendar.)

Feburary 9, 2023 Virtual Dental Day at the Capital

• 6:30 – 8:00 pm
• Zoom Meeting (need to register with link below)

With the Oregon Capitol building under renovations creating significant capacity limits in the building, we’ll be hosting Dental Day virtually this year. Now you can participate from anywhere in the state without missing time with your patients.

The ODA will have a discussion on ODA’s 2023 legislative agenda, and you’ll be able to engage with key state legislators on issues impacting dentistry. No previous training or experience is required. We will give you all the tools you need to be successful!

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAld-qrqDgqG9aPBtG_8-QihYcU21KtYWnR

April 13-15, 2023 Oregon Dental Conference

The 2023 Oregon Dental Conference will be 100% in-person! Join the ODA at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, OR April 13-15, 2023 for exceptional CE courses, the chance to shop the exhibit hall, and to catch up with your fellow dental professionals! Please check our Oregon Dental Conference website regularly for new developments and updates. http://www.oregondentalconference.org

April 22, 2023 Long-Term Practice Transition Planning Course

• Consani Associates Seminar Opportunity:
• 9:00 am – 3:30 pm
• Oxford Hotel (10 NW Minnesota Ave., Bend)
• Offered at no cost
• To register or for more info., email: info@mydentalbroker.com
• Long-Term Practice Transition Planning
• Cutting edge transition trends for both practice owners and future owners

May 1-2, 2023 Medical Management of Caries

• 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
• 849 Pacific Ave., Hood River, OR 97031 (Sponsored by One Community Health)
• Guest Speaker: John Frachella, DMD
• Register: contact Seirra Ogden [ sogden@onecommunityheal.org , (541) 386-6380 Ext 1740 ]
• More info: file:///C:/Users/Salari/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/MPBISK45/Medical%20Management%20of%20Caries%20(1).pdf

May 18, 2023 (Thurs.) Central Oregon Dental Society Business / Dinner Meeting

• 6:00 pm Social Hour
• 7:00 pm Dinner and Meeting / CE
• The Riverhouse — Currents Building (3075 US-97 BUS, Bend, OR)
• Speaker: TBD

September 21, 2023 (Thurs.) Central Oregon Dental Society Business / Dinner Meeting

• 6:00 pm Social Hour
• 7:00 pm Dinner and Meeting / CE
• The Riverhouse — Currents Building (3075 US-97 BUS, Bend, OR)
• Speaker: TBD

CENTRAL  OREGON  DENTAL NEWS

“Deeply-Rooted Dentistry” (Root Canals – Wisdom Teeth – Implants) is Finally Up & Running, and Ready to Serve Your Patients

After many months of countless delays… We are now starting to schedule patients. My beard used to be black, but now it is mostly white!  Thank you so much to each of you who have been so welcoming, supportive and accommodating during this process.

During my 14 years as an Air Force Dentist, I was trained in 2 different residencies with many USAF missions that allowed me to tackle all sorts of dental trauma.  The purpose of Deeply-Rooted Dentistry will be specifically providing Endodontic (RCT, Retreat, Root End Surgery), Oral and Perio Surgery (Hard & Soft Tissue Grafting using PRP/PRF), Implant placement (including surgically guided), TMJ Therapeutic Injections. We are a referral-based practice—and each patient that is treated will be returned to your office as soon as the procedure is completed.  I consider it a great privilege to provide personalized attention and the highest standard of excellence towards each patient that you entrust in my care—and will establish a direct and transparent communication with you until your patient is back in your office.

In the past two weeks, I have received a brand new Endodontic microscope.  I have had my eye on this specific one for the past 3 years and really look forward to putting it into good use.  Last week, the state-of-the-art, 70 Voxel CBCT from Rayscan Alpha Plus arrived. This is the 5^th CBCT brand that I have worked with and the technology surpasses all those I have used in the past. Mind Blowing!!  If you would like to come over and take a look, please feel free to contact me and we can set up a time. 

The website is finally up: www.deeplyrooteddentistry.com.  There are definitely some kinks I’m having to work through but I hope that you be able to take the time to see what we offer.  I have chosen to keep things simple in the office by making time for 4-6 patients a day, creating time for dental emergencies.  We will help maximize insurance reimbursements for your patients.

My children have acclimated well into their new school and we just skied Bachelor for the first time last week.  My wife Charlene has started teaching Voice officially at COCC this term, and she is totally enjoying her time there.  We have a Great Dane puppy, Vienna—and recently rescued a 4-year-old Huskita, Oslo.

We very much look forward to serving the Central Oregon Dental Community!

Please call us at 541-678-5060.

Dr. Paul Kim

Do You Have a Dental Assistant That Wants to Earn Their EFDA Certification?

The Oregon Dental Assistants Association (ODAA) supports all dental assistants without regard to the method in which they were educated. Graduates from Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) programs are awarded EFDA (Expanded Function Dental Assistant) Certification because they complete the skill sets within the program. However, assistants trained by other means earn the EFDA through an Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) examination and a check off sheet of skills.

The ODAA, in response to dental assistants who stated that they found it difficult to pass the DANB Oregon EFDA exam, has located content experts to create a course to help assistants prepare for this exam. The course will be presented as part of the Oregon Dental Conference in April.

This course entitled, Oregon DANB EFDA Exam Preparation will be held on Friday, April 14^th from 1:00-4:00 pm. The course will be presented by Ginny Jorgensen and Christina Becker who are both highly regarded dental assisting educators. It should prove to be a unique and excellent opportunity for your interested dental assistants!

Lynn Murray, M.Ed., CDA, EFDA, RFC, CPFDA, MADAA

Central Oregon Community College

Dental Assisting Program Director / Dental Clinic Manager

lmurray@cocc.edu or 541 383-7574

COCC Dental Assistant Clinic Needs a Few More Volunteers

Hello Amazing Dentists!

Thank you for your support of COCC and dental assisting students! We almost have the clinics covered by generous dentists who are donating their time to treat low income patients and give our new group of dental assisting students hands-on experience in COCC’s Dental Clinic.

We have three dates still available for a dentist volunteer and earn CE as well as meet our students; Feb. 17, March 3, April 7. If you or a collegue you know would be interested in volunteering please e-mail me at lmurray@cocc.edu or call 541 383-7574 and leave me a message and I’ll return your call ASAP.

Again, thank you all!

Lynn Murray

News From the ODA

• Did You Remember to Renew Your Membership? It’s Not too Late! We need your voice and perspective to influence what’s next for dentistry! Annual dues should have been paid by December 31, 2022, or through the ODA’s monthly installment payment plans. For your convenience, various payment options are available. We look forward to serving you in 2023! Pay your membership online, here.
• Nominate a Colleague for the ODA New Dentist Award Do you know a new dentist who’s making an impact in the profession? The ODA New Dentist Council is excited to present the ODA New Dentist Award. This new ODA award recognizes one amazing ODA member dentist who graduated from dental school less than 10 years ago. We’re celebrating new dentists who demonstrate excellence and inspire others in science, research & education, practice excellence, philanthropy, leadership, and advocacy. Nominate a colleague today!
• ADA Academy CE Catch up on the latest ADA webinars and on-demand video learning opportunities on your own schedule. From managing your practice to caring for your staff or your own mental health, new events are added regularly. See all digital events here. Many CE opportunities are free of charge.
• Paid Leave Oregon Program Begins January 1st The Paid Family & Medical Leave program launch is just around the corner — employers will start collecting contributions January 1, 2023. Employees will be able to access benefits starting September 1, 2023. Read more about the program here.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

• Please go to the ‘VOLUNTEER‘ page on the menu bar for contact and additional information about the following Central Oregon organizations seeking dental volunteers:
  • Central Oregon Community College Friday Clinic
  • Medical Teams International Mobile Dental Van
  • Donated Dental Service (DDS) Program
  • Healthy Beginnings  
  • Smile Central Oregon
  • Central Oregon Community College Dental Assisting Program
  • Volunteers in Medicine Clinic

 REGIONAL  CE  CALENDAR

CLASSIFIED ADS

MORE    INFO

Searching for a Dental Hygienist?

You might want to email the High Desert Dental Hygienists’ Association (CODHAinfo@gmail.com) and tell them about your need. They are very helpful and have a great database of Central Oregon Dental Hygienists and will email information about your opening to their members.

Announcements, Articles or Classifieds for the Newsletter

Article submissions for the Central Oregon Dental Community are encouraged and welcomed.  You can email your content to Dr. Mehdi Salari (bendsalari@gmail.com). The deadline to contribute articles or request the posting of information in the Newsletter is 5:00 pm PST on the last day of each month.  The Newsletter is typically sent out on the first or second day of each month. 

Advertising or Content for Future Newsletters

Please contact Dr. Mehdi Salari (bendsalari@gmail.com) if you would like to post a classified or advertisement in future issues of the Central Oregon Dental Newsletter.  The Central Oregon Dental Newsletter is available & sent to all practicing and retired Dentists, Specialists in Bend, Redmond, Prineville, Madras, Sisters, La Pine, Sunriver, Warm Springs & Powell Butte & Mitchell. The deadline to update or post an advertisement in the Newsletter is 5:00 pm PST on the last day of the each month.

…

…

…

Everything above the Red Line is put together as a service to the Central Oregon Dental Community and is the nonpartisan news and events of this Newsletter.

…

The Red Line

———————————-

The Red Line

…

Everything below the Red Line is either for entertainment purposes or to stimulate conversation or debate. It’s personal, opinion based, has a conservative slant and is not meant to offend or upset … only to stimulate discussion. Reader discretion is advised.

…

…

…

EDITORIALS / COMMENTARY

DISCLAIMER / WARNING: The opinions or comments expressed ARE NOT those of the Central Oregon Dental Society, Oregon Dental Association, American Dental Association or any of the Advertisers or Business Partners. Editorials and commentaries are OPINIONS ONLY and are simply meant to encourage discussion or dialogue. Readers are welcome and encouraged to contribute editorials or comments for inclusion in future issues.

Please Consider Contributing an Editorial or Column For Future Newsletters

This Newsletter is a forum for the Central Oregon Dental Community to stay in touch and connected and a place to have your voice heard. Your opinion columns, thoughts and feedback are encouraged and welcome.

Mixed Feelings About Some Upcoming Dental Related Legislation Mehdi Salari

First, the full disclosure: I have sat on our local Community College Dental Assisting Program Advisory Board for 20+ years. Most of our best, most loyal and hardest working Dental Assistants over the years have been products of our Central Oregon Community College Dental Assisting Program. I greatly appreciate the service that our local Community College Dental Assisting program has provided the Central Oregon Dental community, and I absolutely adore the individuals who run that program

A week or so ago, I got a concerned email from the Program Director of our local Community College Dental Assisting Program. She was concerned about the effects of a few bills coming up through the Oregon legislature on our local Dental Assisting Program. In particular, she pointed to House Bill 2996, Senate Bill 441, and House Bill 2979. She then asked me if I knew why the Oregon Dental Association was supporting these bills, when in her opinion, these bills were going to have a detrimental effect on the future of Dental Assistants and ultimately on the Dentists who hire these Assistants.

You can Google (type Oregon before the name of the bill to narrow your Google search) and read the full text of each bill for yourself, but here’s a quick summary of each bill:

• House Bill 2996 – removes the current requirement that a Dental Assistant demonstrate an understanding of Radiation Safety by eliminating the Radiation and Safety Exam.
• Senate Bill 441 – proposes creating Training Modules so Dental Assistants can more easily be trained on the job.
• House Bill 2979 – allocates nearly $20 million toward the recruitment and training of dental professionals and training modules around the state.

Our Dental Assistant Program Director is rightfully concerned about the following ramifications of these measures:

• Reduced understanding about and the inability to test and verify knowledge of Radiation Safety.
• Potential decrease in enrollment and students seeking a Community College path into Dental Assisting.
• Likely drop in entry level pay for Dental Assistants entering the field, since they will not have the experience or required 900 hours of Dental Assisting education that the accredited programs require.
• $2 million dollars being spent to create new Dental Assisting Training Modules which already exist.

I felt compelled to get a little more information and left a message for the Executive Director of the ODA to give me a call. I wanted to find out why the ODA was supporting these bills? The ODA Executive Director graciously returned my call and patiently took the time to explain the ODA’s position on the proposed legislation. Here’s a quick summary of what I learned from him:

• The ODA is well aware of the staffing shortages facing dental practices around the state and is looking into ways to help dentists.
• They are sympathetic to the fact that the Community College Dental Assisting programs around the state are only 65-70% full, and are designating some funds (HB 2979) toward recruitment and grants to help Dental Assisting programs.
• The ODA’s intent is to recruit additional individuals who are not currently able or willing to pursue Dental Assisting through an accredited Community College route and offer them Training Modules which they can complete in the evenings, weekends or whenever their schedule allows to hopefully entice and recruit them to consider Dental Assisting as a career.
• He explained that it is currently legal to train your own Dental Assistant on the job in Oregon and that nothing new is being introduced here. The Training Modules being created are meant to make the process easier for Dentists and prospective students to get into dentistry.
• He also added that there is widespread support for these measures within the leadership of the ODA, the Dentists and the corporate dental clinics around the state.

At the end of my conversation with the ODA Executive Director, I felt he had appropriately explained why the ODA was sponsoring these bills and his explanations did make sense; but of course … I also felt that our Dental Assisting Director had rationalized her concerns very well too and that her points had legitimacy as well. Both individuals want what’s best for dentistry, but they have different visions for the future of Dental Assisting and ultimately the Dentists who employ them.

I love to speak from the heart and express my opinion in these monthly Newsletters, but I don’t know if I can this month. I have a biased viewpoint in favor of our Dental Assisting Program; but I also feel empathy for my colleagues who are struggling to staff their offices and take care of their patients. Folks should educate and make themselves aware of these bills and either support or oppose them accordingly.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

February 2023

Dear Dr. Rupert,

I have a patient who has a terrible time being laid back in the chair.  She insists that we do her dental work while she is sitting up and we have practically broken our necks and backs over the years trying to accommodate and appease her.  She now needs another restoration on an upper molar and I am simply at my wits end, and I am not looking forward at all to her upcoming appointment.  My neck and back are absolutely going to be destroyed after spending an hour on her tooth while she is sitting up and I’m bent over sideways beside her!

Do you have any insight, advice or help that you can offer me?

Signed, Bent Over Backwards

—————————-

Dear Bent Over Backwards,

Just be grateful that you have a patient in your schedule and chair and stop your whining!  Nobody feels sorry for you, since we all have those challenging patients in our practices.  The tough and ugly stuff simply goes with the good and easy procedures that rolls our way.

Having said that, here are some helpful hints from Dr. Rupert and what I do when I have a patient who won’t let me put them in the position that makes the procedure most comfortable for me.  

The first thing that I do is tack on an additional $300 ‘Challenging Procedure’ fee to the charges for the day, since I’ll need to pay my masseuse for a few extra rubdowns and grinds to work the kinks out of my neck, shoulders and back after difficult procedures.

At the time of the appointment, I switch positions with the patient when it’s an upper tooth that we are working on.  I lie in the patient chair and have the patient stand over me.  Instead of having to lean over and break my back, it’s the patient who didn’t want to be leaned back who has to stand and lean. 

I then do the procedure as I am lying on my back and the patient is standing over the top of me with their mouth open.  I figure if Michelangelo could paint the Sistine Chapel upside down and looking up, that I too could cut a crown prep or an MOD upside down.  The first prep that I cut while laying on my back was a little messy and a lot of water, tooth dust and spit splashed down on me; but after COVID, I have so much leftover and extra protective gear that I’m not using for anything else; that I can slip into one of my various suits and goggles and just throw that stuff away after the appointment.  

The patient leaves with a sore neck and shoulders for having leaned over me for an hour, but the important thing is that I am comfortable and feeling good.  You have to think outside the box and stop beating up your body in order to please the hard to please patient.  Give them the choice of either lying back in the chair, or standing up while you lay down on the chair.  Those are the only two options! 

Never forget the first rule of medicine or dentistry is to do no harm and that includes you.

Glad I could help,

Dr. Rupert