March 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.)

March 5 – 11, 2023 Dental Assistant Recognition Week

This year March 5-11, 2023 has been designated by the American Dental Assistants Association as Dental Assistant Recognition Week. It is the perfect time to acknowledge and recognize the versatile, multi-talented members of your dental team.

The theme for 2023 is The ♥ of Dental Offices Through Education, Commitment, & Safety, and acknowledges the growing importance of dentistry’s role in health care and the responsibilities of dental assistants. Dental assistants are a key part of the dental practice year-round and strengthen the entire practice and enhance patient satisfaction.

Take a moment to celebrate the hard-working professionals who help you and your patients. They will feel so appreciated and special!

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

News From the ODA

• House Bill 2979: Addressing the Dental Workforce Crisis: On Monday, Feb. 13, the Oregon Legislature’s House Committee on Behavioral Health and Health Care heard testimony on ODA’s bill HB 2979, a $20 million dental workforce funding package. The bill aims to mitigate the dental assistant and hygienist shortage by providing flexible funding for dental hygiene and assisting programs at community colleges to expand capacity and support scholarships and recruitment, increasing funding for high school dental professions programs, providing new funding for dental career education for tribal youth, improving resources for ongoing chairside training, and more. You can find news coverage of the dental workforce initiative from KGW, Oregon Capital Chronicle, and the Portland Tribune.
• Wellness Support for All: We’re living through a time of uncertainty, and it’s normal to feel stressed and anxious. We have many challenges that lie ahead, and if you feel the need to reach out to someone, we are here, and you are not alone. The ODA’s Wellness Program offers a robust network of compassionate Wellness Ambassadors, armed with resources to help support colleagues. The wellness program is open to all members, non-members, and dental students. If you need help or know of someone that needs help, please request support. Find ODA website wellness resources here.
• CDC Health Alert Highlights Importance of Maintaining, Monitoring Safe Dental Waterlines: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory regarding dental waterlines because of recent outbreaks of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria. In addition to the recommendations listed in the CDC HAN notification, Oregon health care providers and clinical laboratories are required by law to report all cases and test results indicative of and specific for extrapulmonary NTM within one working day to their local public health authority.
• Board Member Needed – Represent Dentistry on the Board of Denture Technology with the Health Licensing Office: The Board of Denture Technology is seeking to fill a board vacancy with a licensed dentist. The board member’s roll is to provide input on industry standards, offer technical expertise, and provide a practitioner perspective on how policy changes affect the profession. Interested? Please contact Katy Adishian, ODA government affairs coordinator, at kadishian@oregondental.org for more details!

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

CLASSIFIED ADS

 REGIONAL  CE  CALENDAR

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.

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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.

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The Red Line

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The Red Line

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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.

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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.

Dentistry is Not an Oppressive Institution, Despite what the ADA is Printing Mehdi Salari

Did anybody read the February 2023 Journal of the American Dental Association Cover Story and Guest Editorial and Commentary? I’m glad to celebrate minorities and their achievements; but I felt terribly disappointed, offended and violated by the JADA Cover Story, Guest Editorial and Commentary.  The article started by celebrating the achievement of black dentists in the United States, but then took a sharp turn to the left.

I found great offense and sadness in the drawn conclusions, highlighted and bold statement in the guest editorial that “Dentistry should become an anti-oppressive practice that supports inclusion …“. As a member of multiple minority groups myself, my common sense, personal experience and observations tells me that statement is blatantly wrong, biased, shameful, politically motivated and discriminatory.

I find it upsetting that the Editorial Board of the American Dental Association would support and print such a divisive and politically charged statement and editorial. The ADA’s mission statement is to help dentists succeed and support the advancement of the health of the public. PERIOD. The ADA is supposed to be guided by its core values, which include integrity, excellence, and a dedication to bring evidence-based insights that empower dentists to provide quality oral care for all patients. The ADA should stick to its mission statement and not get involved in woke politics and assertions which are not universally evidence based.

I’ll repeat my experience as a minority in America and why I find offense in this type of political grandstanding by one particular minority. My skin is not white, few can spell or say my name, I’m not a Christian, English was not the language we spoke at home, my family left our home and belongings behind in Iran (1978) and we started a new life here in America. My two brothers and I certainly did not come from a so-called privileged, affluent or white background.

Despite the fact that my brothers and I are not white, did not speak much English when we got here, all have Islamic names, were by definition disadvantaged and did not enjoy any of the so called woke white privileges; each of us went on to wonderful careers in Healthcare (Hospital Pharmacist, Dentist and a Physician) here in America. Nobody oppressed us, nobody held us back, and nobody denied us an educational opportunity. We had the same opportunity to compete and succeed as any other American.

My parents and the culture they came from valued education and cared about us. They insisted that we get our homework done. They demanded that we get good grades in school. They expected us to hold down part-time jobs as teenagers. They did not tolerate us getting in trouble at school or in life and repeatedly told us the importance of staying in school and keeping our noses clean. We all attended public schools and paid for our education through savings from our jobs and government education loans. It took time and years, but it wasn’t hard.

There was a lot less discussion or awareness about oppression, discrimination or inclusion 35 years ago, when I began the application process for Dental School. I had done the things everyone had told me to do, in order to get into Dental School. I had maintained good grades, volunteered in my community, held a part-time job and job-shadowed with a few different dentists to get a taste of what dentistry was going to be like. I applied to six different Dental Schools, and I got into all six schools that I applied to. I was not discriminated against by a single school, nobody oppressed me. I was INCLUDED and admitted despite all the minority groups I belonged to. I got into dental school because all six institutions that I applied to could see by my grades and application that I met the criteria and had the potential to be successful in dentistry.

For me, my brothers and millions of other disadvantaged and minority healthcare providers, dentistry (and the other healthcare branches) have NOT been an oppressive institution, and I would like to call B.S. and challenge the writer of the JADA Guest Editorial who is asking that dentistry stop being an oppressive institution, to find me 5 individuals who had put in the pre-requisite work and time, and were excluded or prevented from entering or advancing in the field based purely on discrimination or oppression. I am confident that for every 5 names of individuals who feel they have been oppressed, I can find 10 individuals who went on to succeed despite being disadvantaged themselves. 

I feel dentistry and the public are best served when we select and welcome individuals based on the content of their character, their grades, their involvement in their communities, their ability to hold down a job and their desire and ability to help others. It doesn’t and shouldn’t matter what the color of someone’s skin is, their religion, their sex … none of that stuff matters, and should not be a criteria for their admittance into dentistry or any other field.  Unfortunately, the JADA article advocates for the advancement and promotion of one race over the others; which is sadly discriminatory, wrong and oppressive to the other races.

What’s best for our patients, and what I personally want when I go to see a healthcare provider, is an individual who has fulfilled all the requirements and criteria of being a healthcare provider. I don’t want to be seen by a healthcare provider, who lacked the core requirements of admittance into the field; but was allowed in because certain quota or number of a certain minorities had to be admitted into the field to make the politically correct folks happy.

The American Dental Association needs to stand behind what’s best for the public and what’s best for dentists.  The ADA should not be a puppet of the woke indoctrination culture. I think it’s shameful, sad and embarrassing that the ADA apparently supports the statement that Dentistry is an oppressive entity and non-inclusive. That is a direct slap and insult to every hard working dentist and dental student who worked their butts off to get into the field as it implies that lots and lots of more deserving, but minority individuals were oppressed or kept out, so they could enter the field.   

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March 2023

Dear Dr. Rupert,

Our Dentist is a habitual ‘sprayer’!  Any time he’s sitting around and visiting with us in the lunch room or after work, he sort of has little bubbles or spit pieces that come out of his mouth as he gets talking.  He gets excited easily and in his excitement, sort of forgets to swallow his own spit and periodically and inadvertently sprays or splashes people who are right in front of him. 

Anytime, he’s around food and talking, he’s practically like a sprinkler of spit over the chips, pizza, donuts or whatever happens to be sitting on the lunch room table!  COVID was the best thing that happened to our office and his patients, because it forced him to wear a mask; but now that we’re not really wearing our masks except for during patient care hours, he’s giving everyone and everything a little sprinkle during routine conversations.

Do you have any suggestions or ideas for us to stay dry?

Signed, Sprayed

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Dear Sprayed,

Your Dentist sounds a lot like my Newfoundland dog.  My dog has a continuous slobber or drool hanging from his mouth and anytime he shakes his head or brushes up against anything, he leaves a film of mucus and slobber on everything around him.  He’s the sweetest dog, but you need a towel each time he comes up to greet you.

The problems you are describing with your splashing Dentist sound awful!  You really can’t go up to your Dentist or boss and ask them to stop spraying you with spit every time they open their mouth.  That would be rude and inconsiderate on your part and is a form of bullying or hazing which could land you additional ‘Sensitivity Training’ hours.  You are thus obligated to tolerate the spit spray and the splashing of any food left on the lunch room table when he’s around.  

One idea that comes to mind is if you might start a game in your office that anytime staff members are in the lunch room that they have to talk like Daffy Duck from the old Bugs Bunny cartoons to each other.  If you remember, Daffy used to talk with his tongue between his duck lips and sort of spit as he talked, and if the rest of the staff started spitting and spraying the dentist (as part of this new morale boosting office Daffy Duck game), maybe, just maybe … he would realize that it’s really gross and realize he’s the real Daffy Duck and needs to slow down and swallow his own spit. 

The other idea that I have for you is for you to slip an anticholinergic or antihistamine drug (Benadryl is over the counter and easy to obtain) into his coffee or donut every morning.  Sure he’ll be groggy and a little tired, but you can dry him up a little with the aid of our pharmaceutical friends.

My last and final idea is to address his offence with an offence of your own.  Sometimes the best defense is a good offense.  Instead of you guys all getting splashed and sprayed by your Dentist, why don’t you put a little pepper on the back of your hand whenever you are in the same room with him and hold or inhale a little of the pepper up to your own nose before going up to your Dentist.  It’ll take you a few seconds, but the pepper will make you sneeze and you’ll want to aim your sneeze directly onto your Dentist without covering your sneeze or using a tissue.  Don’t apologize for sneezing directly on your Dentist, and while you’re at it … sneeze all over the food on the lunch room table.  I think after your Dentist witnesses all the spit flying around the lunchroom and has to wipe his face clean a few times … that he’ll get the message and back away from all of you and no longer be a problem to the rest of the staff.

Glad I could help,

Dr. Rupert