WMDDS Summer Bulletin 2012

SUMMER ISSUE 2012VOL. 44, NO. 4

Bulletin

DSG wants your patients to

Greet the Sunrise with a SmileWith over 20 years of experience in dental sleep medicine, DSG has everything you need to build your practice, including leading products, unequalled technical support, education programs, and practice development tools.

Dental Services Group is a North American network of more than 25 full-service dental laboratories with best-in-class capabilities. Our Centers of Excellence approach ensures you receive unsurpassed quality and customer service.

Call your sales representative for a free dental sleep medicine starter kit and to learn about partnering with the DSG Dream Team.

DSG offers a full choice of oral sleep appliances. Now offering the Myerson EMA® oral sleep appliance.

© Sentage Corporation 2011. All Rights Reserved.

[email protected] | 1-800-253-9227



SomnoDent® Adjustable PM PositionerTM TAP® 3 Elite EMA®

NEW

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2012 1

Contents

President’s Message ..................................................................................................... 2

Editor’s Thoughts ........................................................................................................ 4

ADA World Leadership Conference ........................................................................... 5

Trustee Report ............................................................................................................. 6

WMDDS Legislative Committee Update ................................................................... 9

Attracting (and Retaining) Top Talent in Tight Times ............................................10

2012-13 WMDDS Continuing Education Programs ................................................15

Technically Speaking ...................................................................................................16

Dental X-Rays Important to Detect and Treat Dental Problems .............................19

30 Questions to Ask Your CPA ...................................................................................20

West Michigan Dental Foundation Golf Outing .......................................................21

Classified Ads ...............................................................................................................22

Advertiser Index ...........................................................................................................23

WMDDS Member Spotlight .......................................................................................24

About the Cover

ADA World Leadership Conference in Washington, DC.

Left to right: Mr. Bill Sullivan, Dr. Norm Palm, Dr. Steve Dater, Congressman Justin

Amash, and Dr. Chuck Burling.

Mission StatementThe Bulletin is the newsletter of the WMDDS and its mission is to inform the membership of

upcoming and recent events, state & local issues related to dentistry, and as a forum for its officers,

representatives, and members to discuss appropriate topics of interest to the membership.

Communication & Advertising PolicyThe Bulletin will publish submitted articles from members and others that relate to the practice of

dentistry, small business, social, or political issues affecting dentists, or other subjects of interest to

the membership. All published items are subject to space restrictions and the community standards

of the WMDDS. The editors reserve the right to reject any article or advertisement deemed

inappropriate and to edit submissions as they see fit.

Submission & Publication Policy: Articles and advertisements must be submitted no later

than the 1st of the month preceding publication date. The Bulletin has six publications: the

directory issue, fall issue, holiday issue, winter issue, spring issue, and summer issue. Direct

submissions or correspondences to:

Dr. James C. Papp • 4880 Cascade Road SE, Suite B • Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Phone: 616.940.9872 FAX 616.940.2854 • Email: [email protected]

Include “Newsletter” in the subject line

Editor James Papp

Associate Editors Seth Vruggink Jeff Smith Aric Smith Larrisa Bishop

Advertising Editor Elaine Fleming Executive Secretary WMDDS 511-F Waters Building Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (616) 234-5605 [email protected]

West Michigan District Dental Society Executive Board 2011-2012 President Larissa Bishop President-Elect Tyler Wolf Vice President Margaret Gingrich Secretary-Treasurer Kathleen Ellsworth Editor James Papp Immediate Past President

Seth Vruggink

Directors Samuel Bander Steve Conlon Leonard BartoszewiczArea Representatives

Kent County Norman Wilhelmsen Ionia-Montcalm

Kirkwood Faber

County Mecosta County Erick Perroud Ottawa County Meredith Smedley

MDA IV District Brian Cilla Trustees Colette Smiley

Big Rapids Dental Study Club OfficersPresident Erick Perroud Vice President Christa SternSecretary Christa SternTreasurer Erick Perroud

Holland-Zeeland Dental Society OfficersPresident Meredith Smedley Treasurer Robert Ankerman Secretary Immediate Past President

Ionia-Montcalm Dental Study Club OfficersPresident Treasurer Kirkwood Faber

Kent County Dental Society OfficersPresident Lathe Miller Vice President Norman Wilhelmsen Secretary Michael PalaszekTreasurer Kathryn Swan

West Michigan Dental Foundation OfficersPresident Devin Norman Vice President John Marshall Secretary Carol Klein Treasurer Joe VanLaan

The Bulletin of the West Michigan Dental Society is published six times a year (the directory issue, fall issue, holiday issue, winter issue, spring issue, and summer issue). The opinions expressed in The Bulletin are not necessarily the opinions of the West Michigan District Dental Society.

Contributions to The Bulletin are welcome and should be addressed to The Bulletin Editor, 4880 Cascade Road SE, Ste. B, Grand Rapids, MI 49546. Requests for purchase of advertising space should be directed to the Advertising Editor, Elaine Fleming, (616) 234-5605. The deadline is the 1st of the month prior to publication.

© 2011-2012 West Michigan District Dental Society Bulletin

id that get your attention, soldiers? I hope so,

because that was my intent. I gave that line much

thought, as it is not my desire to offend any of you

with my first foray into presidential

messages. It is rather my wish to in-

cite and inspire you to a call of duty.

At the risk of being too melo-

dramatic, our profession is being

attacked from all sides and on all

fronts. Our message is resolute. Our

defense is steadfast… but only too

few. You’ve heard it before, but it is

only too true… There is strength in

numbers.

We have a strong contingent

of member-dentists here in West

Michigan, but unfortunately we

have not heard or seen much of you

when it comes to dealing with the

number of issues that threaten our

very ability to provide the best care

for our patients and make a fair compensation doing it. Not

to mention, being allowed to meet the high demand of need

in the safest and most effective manner – or at least have a

say in how that is managed. After all, we are the experts, the

professionals, right?

Part of the responsibility lies with us, we, me, the Board,

your representation… to make sure that you are informed of

exactly what is going on; i.e. what the threat(s) is (are). While

being humble, I feel that we have provided you with plenty of

information and suggested avenues to avail yourselves with

more. I’m just not sure if you have paid proper attention. Or

maybe we have not been clear as to how this affects you.

Maybe you’ve noticed a bit more pulling at your practice

bottom line, or your wallets? Or more and more hoops to

jump through with insurance? Or more governmental intru-

sion into your office? Or more patients reading the media and

asking why you aren’t doing more to help those in need? Or

maybe they are just more worried about why you are charg-

ing more when really it is their insurance paying less… or

even these same insurances (even non-profit ones) having the

audacity to tell them that you should not be charging what

you are charging for that particular procedure because it is

neither “usual” nor “customary.” What’s more is that it is not

even a benefit covered under their plan anyway?

Sound familiar?

Yep. These are just a few of the

things that we are dealing with and

discussing every time we meet as

a Board. And every time we get

together as a caucus or a delegation

to vote on how the Michigan Dental

Association should be spending your

hard-earned dues dollars and PAC

Funds. AND every time that we, the

proud and the few, meet with local

legislators to discuss our position as

dentists on these issues.

Ah yes…. Here is where you

soldiers come in. (You knew I was

coming back to that, right?)

Let’s just say that we had an

opportunity to meet with our local

and state lawmakers in a non-pressure setting… say maybe

over breakfast or something… and tell them right to their

listening and attentive faces, what it is that is on our minds.

That would be great right!

It just so happens that we do have that opportunity…. It

happened on April 27 just past. Only 22 out of our 600-plus

dentists in West Michigan took the time to take advantage of

it. The word pitiful comes to mind. What must these lawmak-

ers think about us if this was the extent of our turnout? Are

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 20122

P R E S I D E N T ’ S M E S S A G E

We Want You...(to get off your ass and fight!)By Tyler A. Wolf, DDS, WMDDS President

D“ My first act as president

of the WMDDS is to

recruit as many of you

as I possibly can to

do more to help your

profession, and in turn,

yourself.”


P R E S I D E N T ’ S M E S S A G E

they apt to listen and be influenced? I hope so, but I think

that our position and influence was proven to be a little weak

if that poor showing is the indication. We have a great lobby-

ing team at the MDA, but they can only do so much without

our help. The legislators want to hear from potential voters….

And larger numbers drive them. This is why the teachers’

unions, for example, are so successful. Their members are

constantly in the lawmakers’ ears – bombarding them with

their concerns.

We need more from you, plain and simple.

If you have any concern to protect our great profession, we

need you to get up and do more. It doesn’t even have to hurt.

A forty-five minute breakfast with people just like you and me

is only one example of this.

Member FDIC

LocationsCascade Rd at Spaulding - SE

Northland Dr at Plainfi eld - NE

Monroe Ave at Louis - Downtown

Wilson Ave at 56th - SW

(616) 956-9030foundersbt.com

Born here.

Staying here.Growing here.

Our local bank proudly supports the

dedicated West Michigan Dental Community.

My first act as president of the WMDDS is to recruit as

many of you as I possibly can to do more to help your pro-

fession, and in turn, yourself. Call or email me personally to

find out what you can do to help yourself. I would be more

than happy to inform you as to what the issues are that we

face. If I can’t answer your questions or get you the informa-

tion that you need, I will put you in contact with the person

who can. My email is [email protected]. My office number

is 457.4600.

Thank you for listening. We are always here ready to listen

to you, our members.

At ease. Dismissed.


he last two issues I have been talking about evidence-

based dentistry and the importance of practicing with

evidence-based decisions. In review, evidence- based

dentistry is the integration and interpretation of the available

current research evidence combined

with personal experiences. It allows

us to make decisions to improve

our clinical practice and better treat

our patients based on sound clinical

research. In my opinion, this is what

we as professional clinicians should

strive to incorporate into our daily

practice. With a steady dose of prod-

ucts and techniques being thrown

our way on a daily basis from various

companies, vendors, and/or speak-

ers slating it as the next best thing

can easily cloud the air, so to speak.

Compounding things are viewpoints

and so-called “studies” being pushed

to the public and our profession

(with a lot of money behind it) that

may easily mislead the general public on some issues pertain-

ing to dentistry. Mid-level provider (or low-lever provider

as our president Jeff Johnston refers to the issue) and dental

radiographs are two topics that quickly come to mind. But

by “keeping our eye on the ball,” focusing on evidence-based

dentistry, we can make intelligent evidenced-based decisions

to sift through the various options available to us. Utilizing

evidence-based dentistry to make sound clinical decisions

builds confidence. Confidence from a personal, professional

Evidence-Based Dentistry: Final ThoughtsBy Dr. James C. Papp, WMDDS Editor

E D I T O R ’ S T H O U G H T S

and patient-oriented perspective. By definition, confidence is

generally described as a state of being certain either a hypoth-

esis or prediction is correct or that a chosen course of action

is the best or most effective. From the personal perspective,

evidence-based dentistry gives us confidence that we per-

sonally are “doing the right thing” for our patients. Derived

from evidence-based research, recommending products and

particular techniques into proposed treatment plans gives

us confidence that we personally are doing all we can in our

daily practice. An evidence-based decision also breeds con-

fidence on a professional level. Interacting with one another

within our profession often involves questions, debates and

inquiries on various topics in our daily practice. Exchanging

viewpoints that are derived from sound research builds

confidence in our profession and what we can do for our

patients. It often can shed some

clarity on particular issues, tech-

niques and products that may be the

topic at hand. Loosely exchanging

viewpoints based solely on personal

experience without sound proven

evidence can be dangerous, and fur-

ther clouds the air in respect to

what is best for our patients. When

I read various commentaries and

hear viewpoints from dental profes-

sionals and/or professional groups

related to dentistry that seemingly

swerve from evidence-based conclu-

sions, I often wonder what’s hap-

pening here? From a clinical stand-

point, why is this person or people

clinically rejecting what’s been gen-

erally accepted as a “standard” or equal to the standard? Is it

ignorance? Is it arrogance? Are there financial implications/

influences? Unfortunately, I think it’s any and/or all of these.

For a comprehensive look at evidence-based dentistry and

a practical resource for scientific evidence related to den-

tistry, visit the ADA Center For Evidence-Based Dentistry at

http://ebd.ada.org/.

T“ Utilizing evidence-based

dentistry to make sound

clinical decisions builds

confidence. Confidence

from a personal,

professional and patient-

oriented perspective.”


r. Norm Palm and I represented West Michigan

at the ADA’s World Leadership Conference in

Washington, DC, May 7–9. The conference gives

dentists the opportunity to do some networking about what is

going on around the country, and there is also a coordinated

effort to lobby our members of Congress and our Senators.

The main issues we were lobbying on were the following:

Repeal of the Medical Device Tax. Under Obama Care,

there will be a 2.3% tax on medical devices. The big unknown

is there is nothing spelled out to what exactly that means

for dentistry, it has not been determined (I know you are all

shocked something would pass and nobody has a clue). This

ADA World Leadership ConferenceBy Dr. Steve Dater, DDS

A D A N E W S

bill has been sponsored by our local congressman. Both state

Senators are opposed to the repeal. If this is not repealed, the

cost of equipment will be increasing and it could even include

supplies, dentures, crowns, etc.

Coordination of Pro Bono Medically Recommended Dental Care Act. This bill would provide funds to coordi-

nate treatment of medically-compromised patients that need

dental treatment to get the medical treatment they need to

survive. We asked all of our representatives to sponsor, but so

far none have signed up to do so.

The Dental Insurance Fairness Act of 2012. This Bill

would do two things:

1. All health plans that offer benefits will provide coordination

of benefits. Basically, a secondary insurance would have to

cover the amount left over from the primary up to 100%.

2. All health plans that offer dental benefits will permit assign-

ment of benefits to the provider, regardless of whether or

not they participate with the plan.

I think we have a better chance with one vs. two, but we

shall see. This bill was introduced by Dr. Paul Gozar, a dentist

representing Arizona.

Besides that, the food was overpriced as were the hotels. I

think the country may be run by the 25 to 35-year-old staff of

our elected officials (might not be a bad thing).

D

HANC Ad for the Bulletin 5/15/12 Size: 7.5” wide x 3.25” high (One-third Horizontal) 1112-4266

Good Ideas for Dental Practices

Hungerford, Aldrin,Nichols & Carter, P.C.C P A S A N D C O N S U L T A N T S

Where Good Ideas Add Up.™

“ Set up a separate entity to own your practice equipment and lease the equipment to your practice. This structure can protect your assets and create tax planning opportunities.”

For 14 more Good Ideas from Hungerford, please email Rick Chrisman at [email protected], or call Rick at (616) 949-3200.

Good Ideain a series of 15

When it comes to building your practice,

experience matters. Hungerford’s

Healthcare Industry Services team has it.

Our understanding of the dental

industry helps us provide services and

expertise beyond the scope of most

accounting firms. We can help enhance the efficiency and success

of your business.

Get to know us.

www.hanc.com

#1


T R U S T E E R E P O R T

his year the MDA annual session was held in

Lansing. Attendance by member dentists and their

staff made the meeting a success. The volunteers

and MDA staff are to be congratulated for putting on such a

big event and making everything run so smoothly (except for

the buses, but that’s another story). We can appreciate that

our Speaker, Dr. Deb Peters, has made the MDA House of

Delegates (HOD) a model of efficiency. I would like to thank

the MDDS and WMDDS delegate and alternate delegates for

getting the job done at this year’s HOD. Dr. Connie VerHagen

is now past-president and her husband, Dr. Mike Cerminaro,

is elated. Dr. Jeff “Give ’em Hell” Johnston has become our

new MDA president. I look forward to an interesting year as

an MDA trustee.

MDA Board of Trustee Topics of InterestGovernance – The MDA by-laws stipulate that we must

review governance on a periodic basis (at least every twelve

years). The ADA is also going through this process at the

present time. The MDA Board has reviewed four requests for

proposals related to the MDA’s governance structure. It was

resolved, that the OPIS consulting firm will be retained in

Summer 2012 Trustee Report By Dr. Brian Cilla, MDA Trustee

T

PUBLICATION SIZE SCREEN WO # IO # NOTES

West Michigan District Dental Soc.

141052 606633 4-color

7.5” x 4.75” 100 lpi

Tremendous Earning Potential • Defined Career Path to Ownership • Proven Practice Model Comprehensive Marketing & Business Support • Ongoing Professional Development

Dentist opportunities available throughout Michigan!At Aspen Dental we recognize that our success is a direct result of empowering and supporting ambitious dental professionals. We provide a professional, fast-paced, entrepreneurial work environment based on a mutual respect that keeps our interests aligned. Together, we build and develop successful, patient focused dental practices.

AspenDentalJobs.com/356

We’ve got the perfect opportunity for you!

Join Aspen Dental - the premier network of dental practices.

866-451-8814

Aspen Dental is an EOE.

Connect with us:

Practice Made Perfect SM


order to evaluate and provide recommendations to the MDA

on its governance structure. We will begin this process at our

June Board meeting.

Botox – The Board reviewed the recently released Botox

Statement by the Michigan Board of Dentistry. The MDA

Board believes there are numerous questions regarding this

issue. The committees on peer review/dental care and ethics

have been asked to collect questions and submit them to the

State Board of Dentistry for further response.

University of Detroit Mercy (UDM): A Mid-Level Provider Study Proposal – The Board heard a presentation from the

UDM Dean, Dr. Mert Aksu, regarding a proposal for a three-

year pilot program, which would train dental hygienists to

perform limited restorative procedures. These individuals

would be placed in existing public dental health care settings,

under the supervision of a dentist, for the purpose of provid-

ing restorative care to “underserved patient populations.”

Quantitative and qualitative assessments would be taken dur-

ing the clinical trial phase of the study. According to Dr. Aksu,

there is much speculation and/or opinions regarding the

viability and/or sustainability for mid-level dental care pro-

viders in the USA. However, very little real data exists which

directly addresses the question of whether or not a mid-level

dental provider would have any significant impact in address-

ing the access to dental care issue. Currently, UDM is in the

preliminary stage of seeking funding for this study.

Actions of the 2012 MDA House of Delegates (HOD)MDA Dues Decrease – The 2013 annual dues for the

Michigan Dental Association active members will be reduced

to $641. The decrease in dues is related to a balanced MDA

budget and paying off the MDA headquarters mortgage

earlier than previously anticipated.

Public Education Campaign Assessment – The HOD

approved continuation of the MDA Public Education

Campaign. This program will be funded by renewal of a

special assessment for the next three years.

Loss of Membership for Nonpayment of Dues – This

HOD action clarifies the timelines and status for delinquent

dues paying members versus those that are to be considered as

non-members. A member whose dues have not been received

by January 1 shall be granted a grace period, after which time

the member shall be declared a delinquent non-member. A

member whose dues have not been received by March 31 shall

cease to be a member of this association. If a nonmember’s

membership has lapsed for more than one administrative

year, the dentist must submit a new membership application.

Dental Patients’ Rights and Responsibilities – The MDA

has adopted the ADA document titled “ADA Statement on

Dental Patient Rights and Responsibilities” as its own state-

ment and encourages all MDA members to distribute it to their

patients. This document can be viewed on the ADA website.

Payment Accountability and Audit Time Limits for Insurers – The MDA will support the Michigan State Medical

Society initiative to address payment accountability and audit

time limits for insurers. Additionally, the MDA will seek to

add those carriers covered by the Non Profit Corporation

Dental Act (Delta) to this legislation.

Explanation of Benefits Requirement – The MDA will

seek to require that any individual making the final decision

regarding accepting or rejecting a dental claim for a dental

benefit plan/company must be a licensed dentist in the United

States, preferably within the jurisdiction of the dentist treating

the patient in accordance with applicable state law.

Healthy Kids Dental – The MDA will continue to advo-

cate for increased funding and expansion for Healthy Kids

Dental to include all 83 Michigan counties. Additionally, we

would like to see inclusion of any willing Michigan licensed

dentist in the Healthy Kids Dental Program, regardless of

their participation status in any other programs by the pro-

gram administrator. As of this writing, Governor Snyder has

been listening to the MDA. His preliminary budget proposal

includes increased funding for the program.

Dental CT Requirements – The MDA will work to stream-

line or eliminate the actions of the Certificate of Need

Commission with regard to the practice of dentistry.

Non-Covered Services Legislation – The HOD has resolved

that the MDA should pursue all available avenues to prohibit

the practice of allowing insurance companies to set fees on

services they do not cover.

Mandated Oral Health Program – The MDA will continue

to advocate that the Michigan Department of Community

Health (MDCH) maintain a statewide oral health program

and that a dental officer should supervise this program. This



dental officer should be a resident of Michigan; hold a current

Michigan license to practice dentistry or dental hygiene; and

be appointed on the basis of education, training, experience

and interest in public dental health. It is desired that this

individual should help determine the public dental health

needs for the residents of Michigan; provide the MDCH with

advice regarding public dental health; serve as the guardian of

any comprehensive oral health plan; act to further the plan’s

ongoing implementation, effectiveness, and oversight; and

supervise the activities of dental services rendered in a public

health setting within the state. It is desired that MDCH, and

the dental officer, solicit and accept grants to fund oral health

programs and the position of the state dental health officer.

Workforce – When addressing dental workforce issues, the

following four principles are to be advocated and followed by

the Michigan Dental Association:

1. The MDA maintains that only a dentist provides the

responsibility for all dental care rendered under his/her

direction and supervision. The MDA recognizes the den-

tist as the leader of the dental team and is responsible for

maintaining one standard of care for all patients.

2. The MDA supports the current dental team members to

improve the efficiency of delivering oral health care ser-

vices. These current team members should be used to their

maximum effectiveness with team member duties being

expanded when it is appropriate to improve the efficiency

of delivering care.

3. The MDA maintains that only a dentist can diagnose oral

conditions, prescribes treatment and medications, per-

forms irreversible procedures, supervise patient care, and

engage in the responsibilities that require the education

and training of a dentist.

4. The MDA believes that the creation of a new member of

the dental team must be based upon need. The new team

member must be supervised by a dentist, have sufficient

education and training through a CODA-accredited pro-

gram, have oversight by the Michigan Board of Dentistry,

and a scope of practice that ensures the protection of the

public’s oral health.

PA161 – The MDA will continue to pursue further changes,

including the possibility of legislation, to improve PA161


which will be consistent with our core values of providing

dental care.

School-Based Care Guidelines – The MDA supports and

approves distribution of the School-Based Care Guidelines as

stated in the following documents:

• Selecting a School-Based Oral Health Program: Questions

and Answers for School Staff

• School-Based Oral Health Care: A Choice for Michigan

Children

• Best Practices for the Application of Dental Sealants

• Guidelines for School-Based Oral Health Care

Miscellaneous MusingsThere are very few opportunities for us to directly interact

with our elected officials regarding issues that impact the

dental profession. One such way was evident at the WMDDS

sponsored legislative breakfast in April. This meeting was

well attended by member dentists and our local politicians. A

format like this allows us to garner support for dental topics

of importance, such as expansion of the Healthy Kids Dental

Program. We can thank Dr. Steve Dater for his efforts in

making sure that this event was a success. It is important to

note that WMDDS is a statewide role model for these types of

endeavors. Without political activism, the voice of the dental

profession will not be heard. Please make an effort to attend

the next breakfast meeting when it is scheduled in our area.

Access to dental care issues will not be going away anytime

soon. PEW and Kellogg seem to be the primary advocates for

pursuing the utilization of mid-level providers as a means of

“solving” the dental access problem. Funding for treatment

and prevention have been of secondary concern to these

politically influential organizations. This is a national issue

and Michigan is not immune to their efforts. We need to be

active and not reactive. It is important to stay informed and

to get involved. Every voice counts.

Your input is valuable. Do not hesitate to call or write

[email protected] if you have any questions, concerns or com-

mentary regarding MDA issues or activities. I hope that every-

one has an enjoyable summer. Have fun in the sun!


riday, April 27th was the day planned for the WMDDS

Legislative Breakfast. We met at the Holiday Inn

located in Downtown Grand Rapids. This year, we

had twenty-two dentists out of the almost 600 members of the

WMDDS. Now while that is well below what I was hoping for,

it was an increase of 57% from last year, so we must be head-

ing in the right direction (or you could say last year was really,

really poor!) We also had ten of our elected officials and a staff

person from Congressman Amash’s staff in attendance. The

MDA was also represented this year by our MDA Executive

Director, Drew Eason and Bill Sullivan, MDA Director,

Legislative/Insurance Affairs. This year, we also were fortu-

nate to have members of a workgroup headed by First

Steps that is bringing professionals from different areas to

the table to address the oral health care needs of children in

our area.

Having the group from First Steps was very positive. It

showed the legislators that this is not just a dental issue, but

a health issue. The message that getting Healthy Kids Dental

into all the counties of the state would greatly improve the

situation was heard loud and clear, and, when it comes from

non-dentists I believe it means even more. I want to thank

WMDDS Legislative Committee UpdateBy Dr. Steve Dater, DDS

L E G I S L A T I V E B R E A K F A S T

those individuals who took time out of their schedule to

attend our breakfast and deliver the message to our legisla-

tors, and to Colette Smiley for thinking to invite this group.

Thanks!

The other message that was delivered was that the dentist

must remain the head of the dental team and that we have the

best model to deliver care. With the mid-level provider debate

surfacing everywhere around the country and in Michigan, it

is more important than ever that this message gets through to

our elected officials. It can’t be delivered by paid lobbyists that

don’t vote for these legislators, it has to be delivered by the

grass roots dentists. That is why it is so important to establish

relationships with our legislators and get to know them and

have them know us. I encourage all of you to look up your

elected official and see when they are having a coffee or town

hall meeting. Go introduce yourself and get to know them. If

you do that, I am sure I will see another increase at next year’s

legislative breakfast!

Finally, this could not have happened if not for all the work

Elaine Fleming put into organizing the breakfast (I really did

write this. Elaine did not edit this in!). Thanks, Elaine, for all

your hard work.

F


f all the practice-management issues, staffing is one

of the most challenging – and most critical. After all,

your hygienists, dental assistants and office manager

are often the face of the practice … and your greatest assets

in providing the quality care you need to grow your practice.

The goal is to make yours the practice where top-notch

talent wants to work. Here are a few suggestions to help

attract and retain good employees.

Salary StrategyIf you underpay quality team members, you may run the

risk of losing them. Overpay them and you can endanger the

financial viability of the practice. One idea is to aim for the

75th to 90th percentile. That means that staff in your office

will be paid more than 75 to 90 percent of the workers in your

community doing the same job.

The thought is if you pay slightly more than the average,

you’ll save money in the long run because you’ll hopefully

have less staff turnover. On the other hand, if your office is

considered a better-than-average place to work you may not

need to lead the pack in salaries.

A wage survey of your community will tell you what

others are paying for similar job titles. Good sources include

other dentists, your county or state dental society, as well as

employment and temporary help agencies.

Incentivizing EmployeesBonus and incentive plans tend to be a good idea because they

are based on a timeless management principle: “By reward-

ing the behavior you want to receive, you’ll receive more of

that behavior.” The idea here is to help team members think

and work more like entrepreneurs, understanding that more

money in the pot means more money to take home.

And it doesn’t have to be all about money. Some ideas are

a visit to a local spa for a massage or manicure, a health club

membership, or even travel.

Just remember that any incentive plan needs to protect

the practice’s cash flow and overhead. Checking with your

accountant for guidance on any tax liability that may arise is

also a good idea.

Don’t Forget Low-Cost Perks Benefits don’t have to equal big bucks to make a big impact.

Here are some suggestions on low-cost perks to reward and

motivate your hardworking staff:

• Help with their development – Consider reimbursing

staffers for workshops, seminars, books, tapes, and other

training and self-improvement activities. Smaller practices

might simply offer paid time off for continuing education

on the employee’s dime.

• More time off for long-term employees – Reward loyal

staffers with more generous vacation benefits. One exam-

ple: 1 to 3 years = two weeks off; 4 to 6 years = three weeks

off; 7+ years = four weeks off.

• Pats on the back – Make sure to let employees know – early

and often – that they’re a valued and respected part of your

practice. The old management adage to “praise publicly

and reprimand privately” really applies here.

• Vendor discounts – Take advantage of any perks and dis-

counts that your vendors may provide (e.g., free employee

checking and direct deposit from your bank) and pass

them on to employees.

• The little things – Never underestimate the power of a

heartfelt gesture, no matter how small. Some ideas are

meals brought in during a hectic day, even a $50 gift card

to a favorite restaurant or store.

Know What Doesn’t WorkConsistently, the top three reasons given by dissatisfied

employees are:

1) Lack of training

2) No growth opportunity

3) No feedback from supervisors

Often, what staff want most is simply positive reinforcement

from the dentist they work for.

At PNC, we understand that generic financial services

aren’t always the right solution for the unique needs of den-

tists. To learn more about the solutions offered at PNC, please

contact Scott Hoag at 616.771.8810 or [email protected].

Attracting (and Retaining) Top Talent in Tight TimesSubmitted by Scott Hoag, Vice President, PNC Healthcare Business Banking

S T A F F I N G S T R A T E G I E S

O

FIRST PRINT 100% PRINT 100% ADDITIONAL PRINTSCOLORS/SWATCHES SAVED TO PRODUCTION

IMAGES LINKED TO ART FLIGHTCHECK w/REPORT PRINTCORRECT FONTS CORRECT FILE NAME/ROUND

Mechanical QC Release QC

1 2

QC:

FILE PRINTED AT: 100% of Actual Size SCALE: 1” = 1”BLEED: None 7.5” x 9.75”TRIM: 7.5” x 9.75” 7.5” x 9.75”SAFETY: None 7.5” x 9.75”OUTPUT FINAL AT: 100%

CLIENT: PNC Bank

PUB: W Michigan Dental

PUBDATE: December 2011

PROJ. MGR: Renee Coltrane

PROD: Melissa Betancur

DATE CREATED: 3-16-2011 11:00 AM

DATE MODIFIED: 11-7-2011 3:21 PM

AE: Diana Ovalle

AD: Tosakul Boonklan

CW: Scott Higgins

JOB#: PNC_BBK_M01306SAP#: 10031306-1040-A0WORK ORDER #: 44284-77.5FILE NAME: PNC_BBK_M01306_MS_32.R1TOOLKIT #: N/AARTIST: napoleon.nicdao

FONT FAMILY: PNC Sans (Regular, Bold, Bold Italic, Regular Italic, Medium Italic)

COLORS: IMAGES: Y15711-A-12.eps (/Volumes/Art/PNC/Images/Y15711-A-12.eps; 21.3MB), Y93646-C-1.eps (/Volumes/Art/PNC/Images/Y93646-C-1.eps; 215KB), Y15656-A-1.eps (/Volumes/Art/PNC/Images/Y15656-A-1.eps; 346KB), Y05635-A-1.eps (/Volumes/Art/PNC/Images/Y05635-A-1.eps; 372KB), Y04883-A-1.eps (/Volumes/Art/PNC/Images/Y04883-A-1.eps; 355KB)

FILE PATH: Production:Volumes:Production-1:PNC:Mechanicals:Business_Banking:Healthcare:PNC_BBK_M01306:PNC_BBK_M01306_MS_32.R1

The person pictured is an actual PNC customer, who agreed to participate in this advertisement. Moore Smiles Family & Cosmetic Dentistry’s success was due to a number of factors, and PNC is proud of its role in helping the company achieve its goals. All loans are subject to credit approval and may require automatic payment deduction from a PNC Bank Business Checking account. Origination and/or other fees may apply.

PNC is a registered mark of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (“PNC”). BBK-6817 ©2011 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. All rights reserved. PNC Bank, National Association. Member FDIC

CHALLENGE: Dr. Moore always dreamed of having a cutting-edge dental practice. And with a growing patient list, he was eager to expand. But his cash flow challenges were limiting his growth potential.

SOLUTION: Dr. Moore had the Cash Flow Conversation with his PNC Healthcare Business Banker, who used his detailed knowledge of the industry to help Dr. Moore tackle key business issues. They consolidated his equipment leases into one monthly payment, which lowered expenses and freed up working capital — and tailored a real estate loan that helped open the door to bigger opportunities.

ACHIEVEMENT: Moore Smiles Family & Cosmetic Dentistry now has a beautiful, modern space to call home. And Dr. Moore has turned his dream into a reality.

WATCH DR. MOORE’S FULL STORY at pnc.com/cfo andsee how The PNC Advantage for Healthcare Professionals can help solve your practice’s challenges, too. Or call PNC Healthcare Business Banker Scott Hoag at 616-771-8810 to start your own Cash Flow Conversation today.

SHAWN L. MOORE, DMD / OWNERMOORE SMILES

FAMILY & COSMETIC DENTISTRYLOUISVILLE, KY

SINCE 1999 10 EMPLOYEES

DREAMINGBIGGER

ACCELERATE RECEIVABLES

IMPROVE PAYMENT PRACTICES

INVEST EXCESS CASH

LEVERAGE ONLINE TECHNOLOGY

ENSURE ACCESS TO CREDIT

S:7.5”S:9.75”

- R1


* Malpractice insurance is underwritten by Professional Solutions Insurance Company, 14001 University Ave., Clive, IA 50325. Professional Solutions Insurance Company is rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best for financial strength and operating performance. A.M. Best ratings range from A++ to S. ©2012 PSIC NFL 9191 ALL

To learn more, call 1-800-718-1007, ext. 9191,or visit www.profsolutions.com.

Get competitive dental malpractice insurance coverage with protection you can trust

from an “A” (Excellent) rated* company—PSIC.

PLATINUM SPONSORS

DSG Davis Dental LaboratoryRepresented by Amy Stump, Rick Calkins,

& Heather Brooks 5830 Crossroads Commerce Parkway

Wyoming, MI 49519616.261.9191

Great Lakes Financial Insurance CompanyMolly T. Murray

4930 Cascade Road SEGrand Rapids MI 49546

616.301.2599, ext. 3

DDS IntegrationGreg Feutz, President

PO Box 150633Grand Rapids, MI 49515

616.914.4479

Henry Schein Dental265 Leonard Street NWGrand Rapids, MI 49504

616.454.1223

PNC BankScott Hoag, Vice President, and Matt Uhl, Vice President, Business Banking

PNC Healthcare Business Banking171 Monroe Avenue NW, Mail Stop: Z2-B700-03-1

Grand Rapids, MI 49503616.771.8810

[email protected] | [email protected]

MDA Insurance MDA Services3657 Okemos Road Suite 100

Okemos, MI 48864517.346.9446

SUPPORTING SPONSOR

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS WHO SUPPORTED OUR WMDDS CONTINUING EDUCATION SEMINARS IN 2011-2012

Aspen DentalRepresented by Lisa Weber,

Recruitment Manager315.350.8795

[email protected]

Hungerford, Aldrin, Nichols & Carter, PCCPAs and Consultants

Rick Chrisman, Peggy Murphy, Suyong Hazlett, Sam DeMarco, Lesa Petrucci, Jon Sytsma

2910 Lucerne Drive SEGrand Rapids, MI 49546

616.949.3200

GOLD SPONSOR SILVER SPONSOR


56 Grandville Avenue sw . Suite 100Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 . 616 235 5200

Your practice depends on the individualized service you provide each and every client. So does ours.With extensive hands-on experience in the healthcare industry, our team focuses on the financial and operational challenges you face everyday. We are committed to providing industry-specific expertise relevant to you, without compromising your patient focus.

For more information please visit BeeneGarter.com or contact Brian LaFrenier at (616) 235-5200.

Evolving your practice today for a healthier tomorrow.

Tax Planning and Preparation

Sales and Use Tax

Accounting Software Installation and Support

Bookkeeping and Assistance

Start-Up Consulting

Choice of Entity Analysis

Cash Flow Projections

Overhead Analysis

IRS Representation

Payroll Processing

Retirement Plan Design and Administration

Human Resources

Succession Planning

Business Valuation

Estate Planning and Wealth Management

Copyright © B

eene Garter LLP An independent m

ember of M

oore Stephens International Limited


Watch for the 2012-2013 WMDDS Program Overview to be sent out this summer.

Registration forms will be mailed 2 months prior to each course and will also be available online

at www.wmdds.org.

2 0 1 2 – 2 0 1 3 W M D D S C O N T I N U I N G E D U C A T I O N P R O G R A M S

O C T O B E R 2 6 , 2 0 1 2

MeDICINe, DeNtIStry AND DruGS (tHe CHeAtSHeetS LeCture)Presented by Dr. Robert Fazio

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park | 8:00 AM — 4:00 PM | 7 CEU’s

For information, call Elaine Fleming at 616.234.5605 or email at [email protected]

J A N U A R Y 1 1 , 2 0 1 3

your FANtAStIC DeNtAL teAM, wHAt MAkeS It work?Presented by Dr. Rhonda Savage



D E C E M B E R 1 3 , 2 0 1 2

weSt MICHIGAN DIStrICt DeNtAL SoCIety HoLIDAy DINNer AND AwArDS NIGHt

Cascade Hills Country Club | Grand Rapids, MI | Business Attire

Socialize with friends: 6:30pm | Dinner and Program: 7:30pm

WMDDS Award Presentations

2012 MDA & ADA Life Members

2013 Silent Bell Recipients – Dr. Chase Klinesteker and Dr. Thomas Sommerdyke

M A R C H 2 2 , 2 0 1 3

wHAt GooD IS A DeAD PAtIeNt wItH PerFeCt teetH?Presented by David Meinz




T E C H N I C A L L Y S P E A K I N G

n each WMDDS Bulletin, I will be fielding your questions about technology, its place in the dental practice, and beyond. Send your questions to [email protected]

and I’ll answer them on my blog, facebook, and in each Bulletin. Here’s a topic that many of you have questioned.

Why are servers so expensive? Besides running my Practice Management, what is it doing?Sure we’ve all received the ads from Dell or Best Buy for a

$300 desktop or laptop, so what is it about servers that are so

expensive?

Let me start by saying this: Don’t buy a $300 desktop or

laptop for your office. Or do so and then proceed to pay your

tech person a lot of money to upgrade it to a professional ver-

sion of Windows, buy and install Microsoft Office, buy and

add memory, extend the warranty, and uninstall the 50 junk

programs it comes loaded with. Or 49 if you consider “My HP

Games” a necessary program.

Back to part one of the original question. Here is why servers

are expensive.

All components are built to last. A server is designed to be

up and running all the time. More components are built from

metal vs. plastic, and they undergo more strenuous testing

before making it onto the market. All in all, they can with-

stand heat, physical abuse, software abuse, and everything else

better than a workstation.

Everything is faster than your workstations. Consider that

your server is processing requests from every computer in

your office, often concurrently. Imagine (maybe you don’t

have to imagine) every one of your staff members demanding

your attention at the same time. It takes some serious process-

ing power to handle this.

Processors in servers have long been quad core while workstations are mostly still dual core, though quad are becoming more common.

Memory in servers is always dual ranked and operates at a much higher frequency than what we usually find in workstations.

Hard drives are found in pairs or sets of three in your server, assuming it was set up right. This is so a hard drive

failure does not cause any downtime. Additionally, they spin

at more than twice the speed of a typical desktop hard drive,

which means they can serve up those digital x-rays you’re

requesting 100 times a day quickly.

They have redundancy. Along with the two or three hard

drives, they often come with two or four network cards and two

power supplies.

Microsoft licensing is more expensive. Windows server

software is more robust, more reliable, and requires licensing

for every computer that connects to it. If you have 20 comput-

ers in your office, you have to pay for 20 client access licenses

from Microsoft.

The warranty is better. When I call Dell regarding a server,

I get pro support, which is much better and much faster. For

many of my clients, Dell can have a new part to us in four hours.

Part two, what is my server really doing?

Let’s talk instead about what your server is probably not

doing. Once you consider all it could and should do, the price

starts to become more justified.

Storing your company documents. It’s great that Dentrix

or Eaglesoft or other Practice Management is sitting on your

server, but with all that extra storage space and all the money

you paid for redundancy, doesn’t it make sense to store

everything else there too? Every document your staff creates,

whether it is recall letters, birthday cards, referral letters, etc…

should be stored on the server. Then there is QuickBooks

and Quicken. I don’t know about you, but my QuickBooks

company file has a lot of data in it that I don’t want to have

to recreate. Mine sits safely on my server where it’s backed

up. More often than not, all these documents sit locally on

each workstation. If and when that workstation crashes, it’s

all gone. Additionally, how much easier would it be if every-

Tech Q & ASubmitted by Greg Feutz, President, DDS Integration

Greg Feutz is President of

DDS Integration, a

Grand Rapids based dental

technology company.

I



one had access to the same files? So again, the fact that your

server has redundant hard drives and is backed up (hopefully)

makes it a no brainer to store these files on it.

Backing up once a day and continuously. Your server should

be equipped with sophisticated backup software that can back-

up open files (who forgot to close out of Dentrix last night?)

and make images or clones of itself. It should also be backing

up continuously to an offsite location. If you’re not into sleep-

ing at night, these things are of course completely optional.

Managing your antivirus settings throughout the whole office. Your servers’ job is to be the boss in the office. What

it says goes. If you have ten or more computers you should

absolutely have a business class, centrally-managed antivirus.

Otherwise any changes need to be made on each individual

workstation. This leaves potential for inconsistency and

higher cost as you pay your tech person hourly to change the

same setting ten times.

Managing your connections within your network and out to the internet. Set up properly, a server is your computers’

communication gateway. Often an $80 cable modem is doing

all of this. I’d rather my server, which I paid a lot for, do this

important work.

Greg’s 2 cents on computer costs in general.Can you get away with spending less and getting budget

computers in your office? Technically yes. As long as you

meet the minimum requirements specified by your Practice

Management System (they all have these requirements) you

will be ok. Here is what I would invite you to consider: Each

time you have a computer set up in your office, you have to

pay your tech person (or invest the time yourself) to config-

ure everything and install all the necessary programs on it. A

budget computer is going to last you probably one to two

years, whereas the right computer will last you three to five.

Now I am all about supporting your local tech person (I know

a good one!), but if you are also interested in a lower overall

investment, I would argue that it makes sense to get the right

computers in place so you don’t have a revolving door of

technology. Also, you and your staff will be a lot happier with

computers built to do the job you are asking them to do.

Whether it’s our computers, our cars, or our teeth, we’re

often reminded that we should be taking better care. As a

dentist, it makes perfect sense to you why your patients

should come see you every six months. Some patients may see

this as a device for you to get more of their money, but I’m

with you. I think it’s necessary. I personally subscribe to the

idea of preventative maintenance in all aspects of life because

I don’t have the time to deal with a slow computer, broken

down car, or problematic tooth.

So which camp are you in? Are you religious with your oil

changes? Do you get tech help before it’s an SOS?

As you know with your patients, a big part of effectively

treating them and keeping their smiles healthy is proper edu-

cation. An uninformed patient is unlikely to sign up for treat-

ments they don’t see as necessary. This is why you make such

an effort to make sure they know and understand the why’s

and how’s of regular dental visits. In that spirit, let’s look at

the how’s and why’s of computer maintenance.

VirusesWhy: If you’ve ever had a virus, you know why. They are

nasty, they steal information (usually without you knowing),

and they are a royal pain.

How: Assuming you already have antivirus (that’s not a

big assumption right?) it is important to check antivirus logs

to see if anything has been detected. If so, was it successfully

cleaned or does it require further action? Is one particular

computer getting large numbers of viruses? If so, let’s take a

look at internet usage.

Disk CleanupWhy: You know how when your desk or house or closet gets

really cluttered it becomes impossible to find anything? Just as

we store paper, shoes, keys, etc… your computer stores docu-

ments, pictures, temp files, etc.… Over time these become

cluttered, and it takes the computer a lot longer to find the

files you are looking for. The end result is a much slower

computer.

How: Quite simple, really. Windows Disk defragmenter.

The more often you run this (once a month is plenty) the less

likely your computer is to slow down due to a cluttered hard

drive. Windows 7 schedules this automatically, but if you still

have XP it needs to be manually run (or manually scheduled

if you know what you’re doing).


Software updates and patchesWhy: Because there are hackers, malicious coders, iden-

tity thefts, and other mean people out there on the internet.

Here’s what happens: Microsoft comes out with Windows

7 with increased security so current malicious code cannot

infiltrate it. Hackers figure out another way into your system.

Microsoft releases an update that blocks this new way into

your system. Hackers find another way in. Microsoft patches

that way in. Suffice to say, it’s a constant cycle. And it’s more

than just Microsoft, too. Hackers can find their way in via

Adobe reader (pdfs that we open every day), Adobe flash

player (youtube and other videos), and lots of other software

that you use on your computer.

How: On your personal computer, I would suggest you

do updates as soon as they become available. On your office

computers, however, I would suggest they be done on a

scheduled basis for two reasons. First, it’s important to keep

all computers as similar as possible. If Frontdesk1 is on

Windows 7 Service Pack1, and Operatory3 has Windows 7

with no Service Pack, it can be very difficult to troubleshoot

why Frontdesk1 works differently than Operatory3. The second

reason is that with your Practice Management software, there

are some updates and patches that can actually cause issues.

For example, in Dolphin Management (for you orthos out

there) there are Microsoft.Net updates that will kill your abili-

ty to open jpg files in Dolphin Document Organizer. If you do

your updates on a schedule and have a tech person do them,

who knows about these conflicts, you will not have issues.

Test your backupWhy: Why not? How sure are you that your backup is really

running? Sure, the email notifications (you do have this with

your backup solution, right?) are telling you that the backup

is completing successfully, but isn’t it a good idea to test it

once in a while?

How: Do an actual test restore of your data to another

computer (not your server please). Once restored, see if you

can actually open up files and see your data.

Get rid of unnecessary startup and background programsWhy: Ever shop for a TV and end up with $200 monster

cables, a 30 year warranty, and a 30 day trial of DirecTV? Well

me neither, but when you buy a TV they try to get you to get

all of the add-ons. Next time you go to install Adobe Flash

Player pay attention, because if you don’t uncheck certain

boxes you are going to also end up with McAfee Security Scan

or some other product you don’t want. Guess what? That’s a

program that will run all the time, and you don’t need it to.

More and more software comes complete with add-ons and

things you don’t need. Don’t get me started on iTunes. This

add-ons phenomenon is becoming a leading reason for slow

computers.

How: Under the start menu there is a folder called “start-

up”. Anything listed in there starts when your computers

start. Secondly, using the msconfig utility there are more

programs and services that can be turned off. Just make sure

you know what they are.

Test battery backupsWhy: Hopefully you have these to better protect your com-

puters, and like any battery they have a limited life cycle. I

think we’ve all had a laptop a few years old that lasts 15 sec-

onds on battery.

How: Most have a ten-second test that can either be run

through the computer’s software or by the button on the bat-

tery itself. This will tell you if the battery can at least support

the load that’s plugged into it.

Check event logsWhy: This is where the computer tells us what it’s been doing,

and more importantly, what problems it’s having. Most of the

time you won’t find anything too serious, but certain errors

like ftdisk can indicate a hard drive is on its last leg.

How: In computer management, you can look through

event logs for System, Applications, Security, and others. If

and when you see errors and warnings, google can be a good

place to start to see what it means.

Take care of your to do listWhy: If you have your tech people doing the maintenance,

you might as well have them take care of any items that need

fixing or upgrading. If they’re like us, they will love to multitask!

How: Call your techs (or us) and ask about scheduling a

time for maintenance. This is a good time to discuss any prob-

lems you are having or any projects you’d like done.

What are your thoughts? Are you a maintainer or a “if it ain’t broke yet don’t fix it” type? Comment on our blog or facebook article. We’d love to hear

your opinions on Maintenance or any other topic.

Facebook: facebook.com/ddsintegration

Blog: ddsintegration.com/blog



organization, the ADA fully supports continuing research that

helps dentists deliver high-quality oral health care safely and

effectively.

The benefits of dental x-raysSince many diseases of the teeth and surrounding tissues can-

not be seen when your dentist examines your mouth, an x-ray

can help reveal: small areas of decay between the teeth or

existing fillings; infections in the bone; gum disease; abscesses

or cysts; developmental abnormalities; some types of tumors.

Finding and treating dental problems early can save time,

money and unnecessary discomfort.

Dental x-rays vs. other radiation sources The amount of radiation that we are exposed to from dental

x-rays is very small compared to our daily exposure from cos-

mic radiation and naturally occurring radioactive elements.

Radiation exposure is measured in millisieverts (mSv), a

unit of measure that allows for some comparison between

radiation sources that exposure the entire body (natural back-

ground radiation) and those that only expose a portion of the

body (dental x-ray).

For example, a dental bitewing x-ray yields 0.038 mSv,

compared to radiation from outer space yielding 0.510 mSv

per year. In addition, the average radiation in the U.S. from

natural sources each year is 3.0.

Pregnancy and dental x-raysIn some cases, a dental x-ray may be needed for dental treatment

that can’t wait until after the baby is born. Because untreated

dental infections can pose a risk to the fetus, dental treatment

may be necessary to maintain the health of the mother and

child. The use of a leaded apron minimizes exposure to the

abdomen and should be used when any dental radiograph is

taken. The use of a leaded thyroid collar is recommended for

women of childbearing age, pregnancy women and children.

Dental x-ray exams do not need to be delayed if you are trying

to become pregnancy or are breast feeding.

Talk to your dentistBe sure to talk to your West Michigan District Dental Society

Dentist during your next six-month checkup if you have

questions about dental x-rays.

ince many oral diseases cannot be spotted by just a

visual or physical examination x-rays are a valuable

preventive tool to help your dentist identify oral health

problems early. X-rays provide information about your oral

health, such as early-stage cavities, gum disease, infections

or some types of tumors. How often dental x-rays should be

taken depends on your overall oral health condition, age, risk

for disease and any signs of oral disease that might be present.

While a recent study suggests that yearly or more frequent

x-rays may increase the risk of developing meningioma, the

most commonly diagnosed brain tumor, the American Dental

Association reiterates its professional opinion that dentists

should continue to order x-rays when necessary for proper

diagnosis and treatment.

It is important to note that this latest “study” relied on

patients’ memories of having x-rays taken years earlier.

Studies of this type have shown that the ability to accurately

recall information is often difficult. Therefore, the results of

studies that use this design can be unreliable because they are

affected by what scientists call “recall bias.”

Further, the study acknowledges that some of the subjects

received dental x-rays decades ago when radiation exposure

was greater. Radiation rates were higher in the past due to the

use of old x-ray technology and slower speed film.

The West Michigan Dental Society urges you to continue

to see your dentist regularly and to talk with your dentist

about the importance of x-rays and what standard safety pre-

cautions are used in the dental office.

How do dental x-rays work? As x-rays pass through your mouth they are mostly absorbed

by teeth and bone because these tissues are thicker than

cheeks and gums. When x-rays strike the film or a digital

sensor, an image called a radiograph is created. Radiographs

allow your dentist to see hidden problems, like tooth decay,

infections and signs of gum disease.

Patient safety The American Dental Association recommends the use of

protective aprons and thyroid collars on all patients. In addi-

tion, the ADA recommends that dentists use E or F speed

film, the two fastest film speeds available, or a digital x-ray.

Patients are encouraged to talk to their dentist if they have

questions about their dental treatment. As a science-based

T H E G R A N D R A P I D S P R E S S H E A L T H S E C T I O N A R T I C L E

Dental X-Rays Important to Detect and Treat Dental Problems Reprinted from The Grand Rapids Press, June 3, 2012

S


ne of the reasons to own your own practice is

that if you make good business decisions, you are

positioned to benefit from those decisions. The

challenge is determining what a “good” decision is and what

a “not-so-good” decision is. One of the secrets to making

“good” business decisions is getting advice from those that

are knowledgeable. Surround yourself with advisors that are

trustworthy, smart, and are sincerely interested in your suc-

cess. Ask questions and listen. Then make informed decisions.

Your CPA is in a unique position. He works with many

practices that are similar to yours. He sees what works and

what doesn’t work. Your challenge is to use that knowledge

to your benefit. If your CPA does not regularly offer ideas and

suggestions that benefit your practice, then it’s your responsi-

bility to request that he do so. Even if you pay for this advice,

it will be worth it.

Following are some questions that you might want to ask

your CPA. The answers might surprise you and give you some

ideas to improve your practice.

1. When is a good time to refinance the mortgage on my

building?

2. Should I structure my business as a corporation, a part-

nership or a proprietorship? What are the advantages and

disadvantages of each?

3. What is an S corporation? What is a limited liability company?

4. What kinds of check-writing controls should I have in place

to prevent employees from misusing company funds?

5. How can I protect myself from embezzlement or other

unauthorized use of funds?

6. Should I have a buy-sell agreement with my partners/

shareholders? Should the agreement be funded with life

insurance?

7. If I buy a building, should I put it in my name, my

spouse’s name or my company’s name? What are the

advantages and disadvantages of each?

8. How can I establish a succession plan that ensures contin-

uation of my practice when I retire, or if I die or become

disabled?

9. How do I know when it’s time to upgrade my computer

system?

10. Do I need to take special precautions with my computers

to prevent tampering or loss due to accidents or viruses?

11. Does it make sense to own business equipment personally

and lease them to my company?

12. When does an independent contractor become an

employee for whom I have to withhold payroll taxes?

13. How can I minimize my estimated tax payments without

making myself vulnerable to penalties?

14. For tax purposes, do I have to run my company on a

calendar year basis?

15. What are the most common mistakes that companies

make in attempting to reduce their tax liabilities?

16. Am I pricing my services correctly?

17. Which indicators of my company’s financial performance

should I be tracking on a weekly, monthly, or annual basis?

18. How do my financial ratios and percentages compare

with the averages of other practices?

19. How much is my practice worth? Can you help me with a

professional valuation?

20. What can I do to maximize the interest income from my

business bank accounts?

21. What are five good ways to reduce my operating expenses?

22. Should my practice be on the cash or accrual basis of

accounting?

23. How long do I need to keep cancelled checks and paid

invoices? Can you give me guidelines for the retention of

all major business records?

24. What steps can I take to deal with the rising cost of

employee health insurance?

25. Should I establish a 401k plan? Should it be funded

entirely by my employees or by a mix of employee and

company contributions?

26. Do I need a credit policy? What should it cover and how

do I set it up?

27. What is the difference between a “defined contribution”

and a “defined benefit” pension plan? Which one is the

best for me?

28. How and when should I take deferred compensation?

29. Should I set up a trust to accumulate funds for my

children’s education?

30. How much money do I need to set aside to retire?

30 Questions to Ask Your CPASubmitted by Richard L. Chrisman, CPA MSTHungerford, Aldrin, Nichols & Carter, PC

F I N A N C I A L N E W S

O


iehard golfers contended with inclement weather

for this year’s West Michigan Dental Foundation

golf outing at Egypt Valley Country Club on June

1, 2012. In spite of the weather, rain and temperatures in the

50’s, those that attended had an enjoyable day.

The outing was organized by the West Michigan Dental

Foundation’s golf outing committee chaired by Dr. Devin

Norman. Also serving on the committee were Dr. Larissa

Bishop, Mr. Jim Ditta, Mr. Hal Henkel, Dr. Tim Meade, Dr.

Ken Mulder, Dr. Mike Palaszek, Dr. Mark Powell and Dr.

Ryan Zolman.

Also braving the weather were some very dedicated volun-

teers. This outing would not have run smoothly without them:

GRCC dental assisting students

Carol Klein – OMSA

Betsy Hall – The Bank of Holland

Sara Van Horn, Renee Biggs – OMSA

Nicole Baltutat, recent grad, GRCC dental hygiene program

Ashley and Sharon from VanderLugt, Mulder, DeVries

and Elders

Wendy McGinnis and others from Founders Bank

Matt Uhl and Scott Hoag from PNC Bank

Mike DeSmyter and others from Midwest Capital Advisors

This year’s sponsors were a huge part of making the outing a

great success. Thank you to the following sponsors:

Dinner Sponsor - $2,000Davis Dental Laboratory

Eagle Sponsors - $1,000Grand River Endodontics – Dr. Sarah Lennan

Grandville Endodontics – Dr. Brian Licari

Great Lakes Insurance and Financial Agency

Hungerford, Aldrin, Carter & Nichols, PC

Henry Schein Dental

Meade and Zolman Family Dentistry

OMSA of Western Michigan, P.L.C.

Oral Surgery Associates

Patterson Dental Supply

Swan Orthodontics – Dr. Kathryn Swan

West Michigan Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery PC

Birdie Sponsors - $500Bank of Holland

Drs. Caldwell and Christopherson

Chase Bank

DDS Integration

First Companies, Inc.

Founders Bank & Trust

Grand River Endodontics – Dr. Sarah Lennan

Huyser Orthodontics – Dr. David Huyser

Dr. Bruce Jackson

Dr. Jacob Lueder

MDA Insurance MDA Services

Midwest Capital Advisors

Norman Family Dentistry

Dr. Thomas Nykamp

Partners in Dental Care, PC

PNC Bank

Dr. Mark Powell

Professional Consulting and Accounting Group, Inc.

Vander Lugt, Mulder, DeVries and Elders

Major Patron Sponsors - $250Dental Art Laboratory

Doctors Palm, Panek and Billups

Dr. Ralp Rader

Valleau and Van Deven Pediatric Dentistry

Contest WinnersMen’s Scramble (with a score of 60)

Kevin Kross, Ray Ribitch, Kurt Van Dyken, Tim Alles

Play Your Own Ball (best of 4 with a score of 68)

Kim Jones, Dan White, Gary Mancewicz, Steve Mancewicz

Men’s Medalist - Scott Brady

Men’s Longest Drive – Tom Winquist

Women’s Longest Drive – Karen Pierre

Closest to the Pin – #3 – Dan White, #6 – Bill Reminga,

#15 – Scott Brady, #17 – Bob Mac Tavish

Putting Challenge Winner – Pete Zwier

Watch for an announcement in the next issue of the Bulletin

on how much was raised at the outing.

West Michigan Dental Foundation Golf Outing

W M D F N E W S

D


Established Dental Office Space – 2003 Burton SE (between Breton and Plymouth). End unit with 720 sq. ft. and a full basement, on-site parking, adjacent 3 spaces occupied by estab-lished dentists. Great traffic counts on Burton in an established residential area. Call Bruce at 942.9492.

General Dentist Seeking Associate Position in Grand Rapids area – General dentist residing in the Grand Rapids area is seeking an associate position for 1-2 days per week in the Grand Rapids and surrounding area. If you are looking for an associate for your practice, please call 616.975.2870. REF # GR Associate.

Office Space for Lease – Up to 6900 S.F. available; will divide. Basement storage available. Newer class A building. Great visibility! Located at 1151 East Paris Ave SE (across from Bonefish Grill). Owner occupied. Call Dr. Sam Bander 616.949.5980 or e-mail [email protected]. Visit www.drsambander.com to take a look.

Associate Position/Practice for Sale Wanted: General dentist with 13 years experience looking for a place to practice in the Grand Rapids and surrounding east areas. Open to all options. Please email to [email protected].

For Sale – Several items from ortho-dontic office. Siemens 10E Pan/Ceph x-ray, Ritter PA x-ray, treatment chairs and stools. Call 616.538.3545 anytime for more information.

Northwest Michigan – Modern fee-

for-service, general dental office averaging over $600K/yr with solid net on 3.5 days/wk. Beautiful Lake Michigan resort town. Digital Radiology and laser included. Building with recent remodel also available. Call Phil Stark 888.477.7325 or visit www.peakdental.com

Dental Office for Lease – Why spend $250,000 in dental build-out costs? Beautiful dental suite is now available for lease in Class A contemporary three-story brick and glass building located off of East Beltline Avenue in Grand Rapids Township. This ten-year old modern dental office includes 3 private ops, 4 chair open bay area, is plumbed for nitrous, air, water, power, CAT-5, vacuum, wet/dry lab and x-ray. The building is a contemporary 3 level with ample parking, 4 bathrooms, staff lunch area, private doctor’s office with restroom and shower, reception desk for check-in and out, and has a heated storage area if needed. Immediate oc-cupancy. $16.25 per square foot, triple net. Please contact Scott Morgan at Colliers International at 616.292.3455 to schedule your visit.

Current student at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry – graduating May 2011, looking for full-time or part-time position in a private practice as an associate in the Grand Rapids and surrounding areas. Please contact 954.562.1122 or [email protected].

Associate position wanted – Newly graduated dentist from UDM looking for full time position as an associate

C L A S S I F I E D A D S

The classified ad rate is $10.00 up to and including 30 words; additional words 15¢ each. Space permitting, WMDDS members may

place ads free of charge as a membership service. Ads should be submitted in writing and sent with payment to Elaine Fleming,

WMDDS, 511-F Waters Building, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Telephone numbers and hyphenations count as two words, abbrevia-

tions count as one word. Ads received after the first of the month prior to publication may appear in the following issue.

of progressive dental practice in Grand Rapids and surrounding areas. Please call 616.617.9725 or email [email protected].

Dental Office for Lease – Time to move up? Busy northeast area dental suite at 1750 Grand Ridge Ct. NE, 3295 SF, ten-year old modern dental office available. 3 pvt ops, 4 chair bay area, plumbed for nitrous, air, water, power and vacuum, lab, x-ray, staff area, pvt. office, reception, storage available. Former pedo practice obtainable Jan. 1st 2011. Contact Dr. John Monticello 616.364.1700 or [email protected]

General Dentist – Looking to pur-chase a practice along the lakeshore (Grand Haven, Holland, Saugatuck area) or Grand Rapids area. Please contact [email protected].

For Sale – Sirona Cerec 3D Acquisition unit 3.8 updated software, MCXL Mill-ing Machine with wireless interface. Excellent used condition. Less than 100 units milled. Transfer owner with Patterson, includes vita blocks and wall mount block board, $40,000/obo.Other used dental equipment for sale: 2 Royal and 3 Dental Eze chairs, 5 Pelton Crane pole mounted chair lights, 2 Adec and 2 Marus dental units, 1 Biotec unit, 1 Panorex J Morita Versa View, 5 ceiling mount arms and 3 wall mount arms for computer mon-itors, 1 Porter portable nitrous delivery system, 1 Aribex Nomad Handheld X-ray. Please call for more info, prices, or photos 616.634.0605.


C L A S S I F I E D A D S

Dental Office for Lease – with imme-diate availability. Near the “medical mile” on primary road with high traffic count and super visibility. Has been a dental office for over 40 years. Very good lease terms/rates. Would make awesome start-up or satellite. For more info, email [email protected].

General Dental Practice in Grand Rapids Area – Established practice with gross receipts in excess of $600,000 with a healthy recall pro-gram, paperless office, 6 fully equipped operatories. For additional informa-tion please call 616.975.2870 or email [email protected].

For Sale – Panoramic Corporation PC-1000. Works great, but is not making the move to our new office. $1000 OBO. Please email [email protected] if interested.

Seeking Employment – General dentist with several years of experi-ence seeking part-time employment in the West Michigan and surrounding areas. Proficient in all areas of general dentistry. A team player. Please reply to [email protected].

Equipment for Sale – Two Belmont Pro II patient chairs, wing back style for sale. Model 037S. Better than good condition. Two casting units for sale and a porcelain oven for sale. Call 616.633.8132.

Associate Position Wanted – University of Michigan School of Dentistry May 2012 graduate, and West Michigan native, seeking full/part-time associate-

ship in the West Michigan area. Please contact for resume: 616.970.5289 or [email protected].

For Rent – An upstairs air-conditioned

dental office, approximately 1440

square feet in downtown Greenville,

Michigan, 40 miles northeast of Grand

Rapids. The office consists of 3 opera-

tories, a private office, 2 laboratories,

and a reception area. The office build-

ing has ample free parking.

$800 per month.

For Sale – Lab Master Foster Model

Trimmer, Model # MT115, like new

$600. ESPE Pentamix 2, $100. Contact

616.949.7510.

The Bulletin wishes to thank our valued

advertisers who support organized

dentistry by helping to defray the cost

of printing and mailing.

Advertising in the Bulletin is seen

by over 90% of the dentists in the

West Michigan District. This includes

five of the fastest growing counties

in the state: Kent, Ottawa, Ionia,

Montcalm and Mecosta.

For information on advertising rates,

call Elaine Fleming, WMDDS Executive

Secretary at 234-5605. Target your Market

– advertise in the Bulletin!

Aspen Dental .......................................6

Beene Garter ......................................14

DDS Integration .... outside back cover

Davis Dental

Laboratory ............... inside front cover

Founders Bank & Trust ......................3

Great Lakes Financial Insurance ........9

Henry Schein ............inside back cover

Hungerford, Aldrin, Nichols &

Carter, PC ............................................5

MDA IFG ...........................................14

PNC Bank ..........................................11

Professional Solutions ......................12

A D V E R T I S E R I N D E X


W M D D S E X E C U T I V E B O A R D

Dr. Scott Hodges was awarded the MDA Public Service Award for his long time commitment to volunteering and

sharing his knowledge with dental and dental hygiene stu-

dents. Dr. Hodges’ first mission trip to Guyana in 2001 has

turned into a yearly event. Dr. Hodges recruits other dentists,

dental assistants, and dental hygiene students to be part of

the Guyana experience. He was also instrumental in organiz-

ing and implementing Project Homeless Connect in Grand

Rapids back in 2009. This one-day event helped many home-

less individuals in Grand Rapids receive dental care. An article

in the June 2012 MDA Journal notes, “His (Dr. Hodges’)

charisma, faith and good works have been an inspiration for

all who come in contact with him or have had the honor to

serve on a mission with him.”

West Michigan Members Honored at 2012 MDA Annual Session

est Michigan District Dental Society is proud

to have two of its members recognized as MDA

award-winners at the MDA House of Delegates

meeting on Thursday, April 19, 2012.

W

W M D D S M E M B E R S P O T L I G H T

Dr. Seth Vruggink was awarded the MDA Matt Uday New Dentist Leadership Award for his long time involvement in

organized dentistry, starting back when he was still in dental

school serving on the MDA’s Special Committee on Annual

Session. He eventually chaired this committee in 2006 and

continues to be an actively involved committee member. On

the local level, Dr. Vruggink has served on many WMDDS

committees and served on the Board going through the

chairs, eventually serving as president in 2010-2011. In 2012,

he chaired the Western Michigan Steering Committee. As the

article in the June 2012 MDA Journal noted, “Anyone who’s

met Dr. Seth Vruggink knows he has a quick wit and a keen

sense of humor. But behind the jokes stands a devoted dentist

and proven leader.”

Congratulations to Dr. Scott Hodges and Dr. Seth Vruggink!

MDA President, Dr. Connie Verhagen and Dr. Scott Hodges

Dr. Seth Vruggink, MDA Matt Uday New Dentist Leadership Award

recipient.

WEST MICHIGAN DENTAL SOCIETY

511-F Waters Building

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE

PAIDGRAND RAPIDS, MI

PERMIT # 657

WMDDS Summer Bulletin 2012

Documents

Transcript of WMDDS Summer Bulletin 2012