Why Are Some of Us Born Without Wisdom Teeth?

Why do some people lack wisdom teeth? Find out more from our Clinical Head and General Dentist, Dr. Marwan today!

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Who’s your superhero?

“We’ve got superheroes all around us loving the heck out of dentistry.” Those are the words of Dr. Dawn Wehking, a speaker at ADA 2016. It begs the question – who’s your superhero? It’s great if they’re a dentist, but it’s fine if they’re not! It could be anyone who helped you along the way – a teacher, a coach, a friend. Share this post on Facebook and let us know, or comment below!

Who's your superhero? #ADAMember #NewDentist #Dentistry #Dentist #ADAATL #Inspiration #BeInspired

A post shared by American Dental Association (@americandentalassociation) on Aug 28, 2017 at 11:51am PDT

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Pathways to dentistry: Private practice owner

As a boy, Dr. Hadi Ghazzouli remembers raising family members’ eyebrows with his peculiar interest in washing his grandfather’s denture. “I found it fascinating,” he said, adding with a laugh that his parents “weren’t sure if they should be happy” about their tot’s unusual hobby. But the curiosity about dentistry never wore off, and these days Dr. Ghazzouli oversees two dental practices in Pennsylvania.

Dr. Hadi Ghazzouli

After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Ghazzouli completed a general practice residency at a hospital that he said “reaffirmed” his interest in being a business owner in addition to a dentist.

“It gave me the opportunity to talk with different dentists around the area and gauge what I wanted to do,” he said of the residency.

Around that time, one of his dental instructors whom he had kept in touch with called. He needed help in one of his dental offices and wanted Dr. Ghazzouli to step in. After two years working at his former instructor’s dental office, Dr. Ghazzouli became a partner. A few years later, he bought a second office closer to the home he shares with Dr. Candice Ghazzouli, his wife who is also a dentist. “We felt like we saw an opportunity in a growing area, and we decided that we were ready to expand,” he said.

While both managing administrative tasks and seeing patients can be demanding, Dr. Ghazzouli said managing his own practices allows him to treat patients with his own patient-centered care philosophy. “The best thing is you’re your own boss,” he said.

For new dentists interested in practice ownership, Dr. Ghazzouli said networking is key.

Dr. Ghazzouli said he stays active in organized dentistry to be able to consult and share notes with other dentists. He also serves as a part-time instructor at the hospital at which he completed his residency, which he said helps keeps him abreast of the latest science and what’s happening in dentistry beyond his practices’ four walls.

With work and teaching and having a family, having a passion for dentistry is key. “I don’t think I’d be doing what I’m doing if I wasn’t passionate,” he said.

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Futudent EduCam goes mobile

Dental video just went mobile with the new Futudent Recording App for Android. Futudent is pleased to release the new app which makes tether-free filming possible for all EduCam users, old and new. The new app finally make it easy to film your work wherever you want from your own point of view, without needing to be connected to the computer.

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Getting to know you: Dr. Monica Urda

Dr. Monica Urda, a general dentist in Chicago, poses with her dog, Brad, at Starved Rock State Park.

Why dentistry?

I fell into dentistry by accident. I was a sophomore in college majoring in biology working in a biochemistry lab. I randomly landed a job working for an oral surgeon. I loved it. I always thought dentistry seemed dull. However, it proved to be the perfect combination of my passion for people and the sciences.

Why are you an ADA member?

The ADA is fundamental component of our profession. With the Internet, patients have access to so much information — some correct, some incorrect. The ADA is the only voice that can cut through the noise. It’s a trusted source for most patients and providers, and it helps keep our profession a trusted one.

What was your first job? 

I was a “deck and slide attendant” at the local pool. It was extraordinarily boring. There was a toddler slide that was isolated on three sides by a tall fake rock wall.  Unfortunately, once sequestered to the usually quiet and serene toddler slide, I would doze off. I would often awake to a small, wet, cold hand shaking my arm to see if they could go down the slide.

What has been the best time of your career so far?

Right now! My office has been open for a little over a year. I am honestly in disbelief how fast it has grown and continues to grow. We work Monday-Saturday, and one Sunday a month. It may seem like a lot of hours, but it’s amazing to be able to work in and on your dream every day. I no longer take naps on the job.

When I’m not practicing, I’m:  

I am out and about exploring the city that I love! My little five-pound dog, Brad, loves to walk miles and miles all over the city.  There is so much to do in Chicago that I tend to do something different almost every week.

One fun fact about me:  

I am proficient in both the Dab and the Nae Nae.

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Eight Ways to Acquire New Patients for Your Dental Practice

No matter how successful your dental practice may be, the need to acquire new patients is essential and should never be overlooked or forgotten. Here are eight tips for acquiring new patients for your dental practice.

1. Win through your Website
Your website is your main online presence, the face you show to the digital world. If you don’t yet have a website, creating one should be your number one priority. If you do have a site, ensure it’s easy to use. Make sure the layout is clean and potential patients can easily find what they are looking for.

You might even consider getting in touch with a web design and development agency that can help you run A/B tests on your site in order to make alterations that can lead to higher conversion. This scientific approach involves making seemingly small changes to your site, for example, changing the color of a ‘free consultation’ button from red to green, to see which variation receives a higher click-through-rate. Your website should include key dental pages that focus on the procedures and care you offer, as well as your staff and locations.

2. Focus on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
What use is a website if no one can find you? You can make changes to your site that may impact your SEO – ie, help you rank higher on a search engine results page, such as Google. Some easy changes you can make include:

-Compressing very large images to increase page load speed
-Regularly producing new, unique content to add to your site
-Including alt text on your images

Focusing on local SEO can also be hugely beneficial to dental practices targeting a particular area. For example, if you are based in Chicago, think about creating a web page specifically on your Chicago services. This will help people searching for ‘dental practices in Chicago’ find you. This can be a great tactic for practices based in smaller suburbs and towns.

3. Value Reviews and Testimonials
Patient reviews and testimonials are a great way to build trust between your practice and a potential patient. With the internet, potential patients can easily find out what other patients are saying about your work.

Always encourage patients to write honest reviews on Yelp and Google. If you’re afraid they’ll forget, there’s no harm in following up with a reminder email a few days later. Placing patient reviews on the website is important! A testimonial page with written and visual testimonials provides an opportunity for prospective patients to connect with your current patients. It is also imperative to interact and respond to patients testimonials! Whether you say thank you or answer a question, responding to testimonials in a timely manner will bring more positive feedback and improve patient relations.

4. Always Provide Great Service
There’s no better way to promote your own brand than through providing great service and creating a warm, welcoming environment. Great customer service, kindness, and efficiency never go out of fashion when it comes to serving patients and encouraging them to pass on a good word about your practice. To encourage valuable word of mouth promotion, you could even set up a referral program.

5. Write Blog Posts, Articles, and White Papers
Creating a blog or writing articles and white papers can help you meet the need to continuously produce fresh, new online content. Writing blog posts that discuss the various services you provide, answering generic dental questions, and introducing patients to your staff and location will positively affect your SEO.

Linking your blog to other websites that support your blog topics and can provide additional information increases your outbound links and makes your site a scalable resource. Blog posts are relatively easy to produce on a regular basis, with a goal of 400+ words for SEO value. Articles and white papers should be longer and will require more time, but can help you establish your presence as an industry leader and a professional organization that others look to for guidance.

6. Use Captivating Imagery and Videography
They say that a picture paints a thousand words, so investing in great professional photography is a must for anyone looking to market their dental practice or dental implants clinic. The use of video online is also on the rise. Video testimonials should be a consideration for many in the dental field.

7. Share Your News
Celebrate your successes and share them with your community via press releases and news stories on your site. Your dental press releases can range in topics from a new dentist joining your team, to a new location opening, even an anniversary for your clinic, so don’t hesitate and be creative! Local news outlets in particular are often keen to share stories about local businesses.

8. Connect via Social Media
Ensure you have a social media presence. Most of your patients are likely to scroll through Facebook and Twitter on a regular basis. Just seeing an update from you may help them feel connected to your organization and remind them of your team. If you’ve got a news story to share, as above, share it on social too. Promote blog posts on social, feature dental facts, celebrate new employees, and share real content that will help patients connect with your team.

Social media is another great place to share your images and videos. Use one or the other with every Facebook post you make. It is imperative to have an active presence on social media. Posting two times a day can increase the number of followers you have as well as bring more activity to your website.

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Do Oral Piercings Cause Infections?

Worried that your oral piercings can possibly lead to an infection? Find out more with Dr. Eman today!

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The Single Fastest Way To Grow Your Dental Practice

In a world of so much noise and information overload you are probably looking for an edge to grow your practice every year. Owning a dental practice requires you to be on the lookout for new ways to grow. DSOs seem to be popping up everywhere, the costs of doing business are rising, dental insurance carriers are constantly changing the rules for your patients, mid-level providers are now apparently making dentistry look like a commodity. All of this can make you crazy and send you into a downward spiral thinking, “Where do I start?”

The post The Single Fastest Way To Grow Your Dental Practice appeared first on ACTdental.

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Breaking News from Dental Times!!!

Latest release from Dental Times about the recent battle between our hero Molar Man and the evil Infector!

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Filling Holes in Your Schedule

Ever struggled with keeping the schedule full? “No Kirk, we NEVER have open time. We can never fit in  all the  patients beating down our door to scnedule major restorative work. We can’t shoo them away fast enough!” Ok…that would be a truly awesome problem!  But I’m guessing  like most practices, you’ve wrestled with the […]

The post Filling Holes in Your Schedule appeared first on ACTdental.

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Should you refinance your student loans?

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5 Oral Healthcare Tips for Moms-to-be

A lot of pregnant women skip dental visits thinking treatments can hurt their pregnancy. Is there a truth behind this myth? Find out from our specialist today.

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The one thing you need to know about CE online

As the summer of 2017 zips by, you’re thinking about enjoying the sun, visiting the pool, hosting barbecues and … planning your CE?

Surprisingly, the summer is the ideal time to see if you’ve taken the CE courses you need. At this time of year, your schedule is (perhaps) a bit more relaxed, and you have a chance to reflect and plan before the end of the year crunch time. So check what courses you’ve completed and what you need to complete. Then make a plan to take the courses you need before the end of the year. It will be harder to do when licensure deadlines are looming and your office is filled with patients who need to use their dental benefits before Dec. 31.

Once you know what you need, search the ADA’s extensive list of CE Online courses at adaceonline.org. All of them are 50 percent off through the end of August (just enter promo code HALFOFF when you check out). You can even purchase the courses now and take them any time before the end of the year.

Some of the most popular courses include:

• 7 courses on Clinical Implantology
• 9 courses on Emergencies in the Dental Office
• Infection Control and OSHA 2016
• Managing Sedation Complications

Take CE planning off your plate now, and free yourself up to focus on your patients for the rest of the year.

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It’s Not About the Gums

The post It’s Not About the Gums appeared first on ACTdental.

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Stay Cool, but Protect Your Teeth

When the summer sun is beating down, what can you do to stay cool?

If you're tempted to grab an ice cold soda or a tall glass of lemonade, you might want to think twice. The combination of acid and sugar in these drinks can harm your teeth. Water is an excellent way to stay refreshed and tooth-healthy. Milk is another good choice for keeping teeth strong.

What about a sports drink? Sports drinks are acidic, and many of them have a high sugar content — so they aren't good for tooth enamel. Again, nothing hydrates like plain water, an option that never damages your teeth.

If you choose a beverage other than water, it's best to drink it with a meal, and swish your mouth with water afterwards to reduce acidity. This tip applies to all acidic drinks, including fruit juice and diet soda.

One more thing: Acidic food and drink can soften tooth enamel, so wait at least 30 minutes before brushing. This will prevent erosion of tooth enamel over time.

The best advice for cooling down on a sizzling summer day? Grab a cold one — a cold glass of water, that is.

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4 Dental Health Tips for College Students

College is one of the most life-changing experiences for your child and for you. Whether you are sending your first or fifth child off to college, the empty nest feeling is always bittersweet. You want to prepare them as much as possible so that their transition to college life is simpler.

The last few weeks of the summer you will be extra busy making sure everything is squared away with tuition, books, transportation, housing arrangements, bank and savings accounts, credit cards, spending allowances, and establishing doctors/dentists. There are a few steps you must take to keep your child on track with their dental health while they are in college.

Establish a Dentist ASAP

Your child will be busy with getting to know the ropes around campus and adapting to their new lifestyle. For a while, their priorities will be studies, friends, and adjusting to a new schedule and way of life. If your child will not be attending college close to home and will be unable to see their current dentist, it is best to establish a trusted dentist near their campus. Refer to online reviews if you need help selecting a dentist and aren’t able to ask a friend or colleague.

Review Dental Insurance Policies

If your child is currently covered under you or your spouse, you will want to be sure that your insurance continues coverage through your child’s tenure in college. If your child will no longer be covered after age 18, it is important to shop for affordable policies so they can continue to receive dental care.

Continue to Stress the Importance of Dental Health

Remember when we talked about priorities earlier in the blog? Well, dental care is included among the forgotten. Oftentimes, people (especially younger adults) are guilty of neglecting dental care because they don’t have any pain. As parents, we must stress the importance of dental maintenance and explain that the lack of pain is entirely due to regular dental care.

Here’s a simple comparison to share with your child: a well-maintained car will continue to be a reliable source of transportation. If you don’t rotate/replace tires, change fluids, and get maintenance check-ups, the car will slowly deteriorate and the car will break down, more than likely at an inconvenient time. The same can be said about our teeth. Just because nothing is wrong at the present time doesn’t mean that we can slack on our dental appointments and routine care.

Put Appointments on Your Calendar

Eventually you will want your child to be independent enough to make their own dental appointments. Until that happens, remind them to make appointments every six months. Add them to your calendar so that you can remind them to make arrangements to not be in class (and work if applicable).

We can help send your student off to college with a bright and healthy smile. Set up an appointment and/or contact us with questions!

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Finding a job in federal dentistry

Almost 5,000 dentists work for the U.S. Public Health Service, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs or the military. Among the benefits with this professional choice:

• a base salary
• access to an assortment of nontaxable income and benefits
• a competitive compensation package that grows with years of service and promotions
• potential use of time to complete a residency or specialty program
• access to continuing education and often an opportunity to expand skill levels in an environment not unlike a general practice residency

Capt. Sarah Wheeler shares insights about her lifestyle as a Dentist in the Air Force:

Lt. Sarita Ojha talks about serving in the Navy Dental Corps:

While you may already be familiar with the military and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (sometimes referred to as the VA), you may be less familiar with the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

The U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps are uniformed dental officers, serving in the Indian Health Service, U.S. Coast Guard, Federal Bureau of Prisons and the National Health Service Corps. While their uniforms are derived from the uniforms of the U.S. Navy, the Commissioned Corps is under the Department of Health and Human Services, overseen by the Surgeon General, rather than under the Department of Defense. While the Commissioned Corps is not an armed service, officers may have the opportunity to assist in public health responses to man-made and natural disasters. Officers receive the same benefits as their counterparts in the military.

Check out Federal Dental Services eNews, a quarterly ADA publication.

Find more information on these opportunities:

• U.S. Army Dental Corps
• U.S. Navy Dental Corps
• U.S. Air Force
• U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs
• USA Jobs (Search keywords: Dental, Medical, Public Health)
• U.S. Public Health Service
• Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
• Indian Health Service
• National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• U.S. Coast Guard
• Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors

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School Lunches: Squeeze Out the Juice

Sending the kids back to school means it’s time to start packing those lunch boxes! And when you do, keep in mind that what your children drink can affect their oral health just as much as what they eat.

The scientific evidence is overwhelming that sugar is the most important dietary factor in causing tooth decay, and soft drinks are the largest source of sugar in many kids’ diets. But they’re not the only culprits: Even 100% fruit juices with no added sugar can promote tooth decay because of the sugar they naturally contain.

That’s one of the reasons why the American Academy of Pediatrics recently came out with new recommendations for children’s juice consumption, based on the latest research. Here are the new guidelines by age:

• Kids ages 7-18 should have no more than 8 ounces (1 cup) of juice per day.
• Children ages 4-6 should have no more than 6 ounces of juice per day.
• Toddlers ages 1-3 should be limited to 4 ounces of juice per day.
• Babies under age 1, and children of any age with abnormal weight gain, should have no juice at all.

Again, these guidelines apply to 100 percent natural juice with no added sugar.

So what drink should you pack in your child’s lunchbox? Water is the most tooth-friendly beverage of all. Low-fat or non-fat milk are also good choices for school-aged kids.

If you have any questions about nutrition and oral health, be sure to ask your dentist. And have a happy, healthy school year.

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Working together against oropharyngeal cancer

The American Dental Association (ADA) and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have joined together to combine their efforts to prevent oropharyngeal cancers through educational outreach to increase HPV vaccination rates.

The United States is experiencing an epidemic of cancers of the oropharynx (throat: the tonsils, base of tongue/lingual tonsil) related to human papillomavirus (HPV) particularly among middle-aged men. These cancers typically cause no symptoms in the throat and patients are usually made aware of the problem by feeling a painless mass in the neck, which represents spread of the cancer from the throat. Because these patients already have an advanced staged cancer at presentation, they typically require extensive treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy which results in multiple major oral and throat acute and long-term side effects.

The ADA and MD Anderson Cancer Center are synergizing their efforts to end tobacco use, the principal cause of oral cavity (mouth) cancers. The organizations are hosting a symposium on oropharyngeal cancer entitled “Working Together Against Oropharyngeal Cancer,” to be held on Wednesday, Oct. 18, preceding ADA 2017 – America’s Dental Meeting in Atlanta.

Speakers from the ADA, MD Anderson, and the CDC, will present the latest on the rising epidemic of oropharyngeal cancer and the global impact of HPV-related cancers, the potential for the HPV vaccine and eliminating tobacco use to prevent cancer, an update on emerging techniques to treat oropharyngeal cancers, and an overview of the major long-term side effects of current therapies. Key components of the symposium will focus on opportunities for dentists and other providers to enhance oropharyngeal and oral cavity cancer prevention and earlier diagnosis as well as to facilitate treatment of these cancers and management of treatment side effects.

A panel of survivors will bring a face to oropharyngeal cancer and relate their personal experiences in the cancer continuum from diagnosis to treatment to survivorship along with their straight forward advocacy for HPV vaccination and ending tobacco use.

We invite all related medical professionals to join us in the conversation. Register today at http://ift.tt/2sOmzOH.

This article was written by Erich M. Sturgis, MD, MPH, Professor, Tenure, Department of Head & Neck Surgery and Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Professor, Tenure, Joint Appointment, Department of Epidemiology, Division of OVP, Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

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Is Candy the Real Enemy?

Are candies the real culprit behind rotting children’s teeth? Find out from our Specialist Pediatric Dentist today.

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Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry Intern Spotlight: Abby Gribble

Oral health education is one of Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry’s most important values. We believe that education for our staff and patients is essential for optimal pediatric dental care.

We strive to pass down our values to our patients and hope that their time spent with us reflects in their dental health habits as they approach adulthood. For one of our long-term patients, completing her internship at CPD was a no-brainer. Her experience with us through her childhood resonated with her enough to choose us for this incredibly important experience.

Abby Gribble, a dental hygiene major at UNC Chapel Hill and former patient of CPD, spent some time with us this summer, honing her skills and immersing herself in all things pediatric dentistry. During her internship, she exuded professionalism and compassion with children, and was an exemplary part of our team.

Why did you choose CPD to complete your internship?

The only dentist I went to as a child was CPD, so when I needed an office to shadow this summer, the bright and happy office and smiling staff of CPD that I remembered as a little girl was the first place I thought of. As I consider my future career, I know combining working with children and dentistry most appeals to me, so CPD was a perfect fit.

What did you learn while job shadowing at CPD?

While shadowing at CPD, I learned greeting patients and parents with a welcoming smile goes a long way. Some children are nervous about coming to the dentist so helping them feel safe and comfortable is key. It is also important to explain that they need to take care of their teeth by brushing and flossing at home because often children don’t understand what cavities are and what can prevent them.

What are you looking forward to as you pursue your career?

I am excited about actually being able to start working on patients because now that I’ve seen everything I’m ready to actually try doing it myself. I am also excited to work with children in the future, and this shadowing opportunity has helped prepare me for that.

Interning at CPD

Our doctors consider it to be an honor when students choose CPD for their job shadowing experience. Dr. Moore had the pleasure of working directly with Abby, as he does most of our interns. Below he shares his farewell wishes for each intern, as well as some updates for future interns.

“We have always invited interns to our offices and every summer we’ll have 2-3 throughout the practice. Many are former patients, which is the highest compliment for the practice, and the others are often referred by other dental practices.

This summer we will experience time with 3 interns.  Abby was at Mallard Creek and she’s enrolled in the Dental Hygiene program at UNC. Mallory is at the Davidson location, and she is interested in dentistry as a career following her graduation from UNC. Jay, who moves between the Mallard Creek and Billingsley locations, has graduated from Appalachian State University and hopes to attend Dental School in the future.

My hope for Abby, as it is with them all, is she is inspired by the experience in our practice and with our incredible group of doctors and staff to the point that she will be even more motivated to embrace dentistry as a career.”

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7 ergo tips to help you stay healthy

Practicing dentistry often involves being in uncomfortable postures and performing repetitive hand motions for long periods of time. As a result, 40 to 60 percent of dental professionals suffer from work-related musculoskeletal issues.

Are you one of them?

A good, ergonomically designed operatory, along with daily stretching and exercise, can help dental practitioners and their staff enjoy long, healthy careers.

Use the printable graphics on posture break exercises and quick stretches for dental staff to help you remember these exercises. Put one in every operatory to start your day out right.

The ADA Center for Professional Success has a series of videos that explain and demonstrate some easy in office stretches to keep you and your staff healthy. To watch the videos, click here.

In addition, the ADA Center for Professional Success is giving a way a Grace Digital ECOSTONE 100 percent waterproof wireless AptX™ Bluetooth speaker to one of ADA members. For more information and to enter the free sweepstakes by Aug. 31, click here.

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Free webinar: Trends in the dental benefits market

Do you ever wonder how many people are covered by dental benefits or how many dentists participate in network plans? Participants in this webinar will hear from industry leaders on current trends in the dental benefits market and the underlying factors that drive these trends. Participants will also gain a better understanding of the market limitations on the expansion of dental coverage, while learning about developing requirements in dental network participation that can impact future dental practice costs and capabilities of practice management systems.

Webinar hosts will provide detailed information on coverage, factors influencing premiums, network participation and claims payments. In addition, the latest trends in coordination of benefits, electronic funds transfer (EFT) payments, dental coverage embedded in medical plans, quality measures and diagnostic coding will be discussed.

Register today!

ADA leadership continues to hear your feedback on these issues and this webinar is among the many tactics we are employing as part of our coordinated communications plan on dental benefits and third party issues. We look forward to your participation.

For more information on dental benefits, please visit: http://ift.tt/2pBErL5

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Vacation To-Do’s: See Your Dentist

Summer is a great time to get away from it all. Whether driving to a scenic campground or flying to an exotic locale, one thing is certain: You don’t want to deal with dental problems while on vacation. So among the first things on your vacation to-do list should be to see your dentist before you leave.

Your dentist can:

• check for loose fillings or loose caps
• treat decayed or chipped teeth and
• check sensitive teeth or other known dental problems you may have.

And if you’ve been putting off a root canal procedure, take care of that before you leave. The last place you want it to become an emergency is far from home.

Be sure to schedule your dental visit early enough so that any necessary follow-up treatments can be completed.

To ensure a big smile in your vacation photos, make sure your teeth are in great shape before you leave home, and don’t forget to pack your toothbrush!

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‘Time for our generation to lead’

New leaders: New dentist delegates pose for a group photo during the New Mexico House of Delegates meeting in June. This year, about half of the 44 delegates at the meeting were new dentists. It was the culmination of the state association’s years-long push to engage new dentists.

Albuquerque, N.M. — In the past, getting new dentists involved in organized dentistry felt almost like pulling teeth, said Dr. David Manzanares, secretary treasurer of the New Mexico Dental Association.

But looking at the NMDA’s House of Delegates meeting in June, he said, there was a sense of that changing.

“There was a feeling of the torch being passed from one generation to the next,” said Dr. Manzanares, who graduated in 2009 and has attended eight House of Delegates meetings in New Mexico. “It was one of the most amazing things.”

Of the 44 delegates during this year’s meeting, half of them were new dentists. It was the culmination of the state association’s — especially its New Dentist Committee’s — push to engage new dentists.

“From student debt and technology, new dentists face challenges that are very different for more experienced dentists,” Dr. Manzanares said. “It’s time for our generation to lead.”

And the new delegates didn’t just show up, they made their voices heard.

“You can’t complain about how things are going if you’re not willing to get involved,” said Dr. Stephanie Padilla, first-time delegate and a 2013 graduate of Baylor University School of Dentistry (renamed Texas A&M College of Dentistry).

Dr. Padilla co-authored a resolution requesting that insurers provide dentists the history of any services rendered to a patient under their plan.

“A lot of times, patients are poor historians,” she said, adding that some companies only provide a limited amount of information. “To have that information available, we can get a better sense of their treatment history and provide better continuity of care.”

The resolution passed.

It was Dr. Manzanares who reached out to Dr. Padilla and talked to her about the importance of new dentists providing input on the future of the dental field. The first-time delegate found the House of Delegates process fascinating — discussing issues that affect their professions, coming up with solutions, debating their ideas and ultimately voting on resolutions.

“The debates were absolutely incredible,” Dr. Manzanares said. “There were substantive discussions on several issues we talked about. People were engaged. And new members dove in really quickly.”

In recruiting new dentists to become delegates, it required some hard work.

Dr. Manzanares said NMDA and its New Dentist Committee leaders picked up the phone to invite new dentists to participate. They targeted new dentists from different specialties, those in private practices and those working in dental service organizations.

Dr. Joe Gherardi, NMDA New Dentist Committee chair, said his committee has engaged new dentists by doing a few social meetings — both throughout the year and around their annual convention, hosting new dentist-focused webinars, and by starting an annual new dentist symposium, a one-day event with a variety of speakers followed by a happy hour.

“Dentistry is both a successful career and efficiently run health care system because of its autonomy,” said Dr. Gherardi, noting that dentists of past generations have taken it upon themselves to make sure they are making the decisions on policies governing dentistry.

“If we want to enjoy this freedom and responsibility to provide the best care for our patients with the least amount of redundant inefficiencies, then we need future generations to do the same.”

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Does Midnight Snacking Cause Loss of Teeth?

Can midnight snacking lead to decay and loss of teeth? Find out more from Dr. Lina.

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