Wellness Program
Life does not always go smoothly. All of us experience times when a personal problem or crisis situation affects the way we function in the dental office and at home. The MDA offers a variety of resources to assist dentists and their families during these difficult times.
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Sand Creek Group:
The Minnesota Dentist Wellness Program offers a Consulting and Counseling service to help Minnesota dentists with the many stressors that impact their lives and their practice. Sand Creek has been serving Minnesota dentists since 2003. This service is offered free of charge by the Minnesota Dental Association to all Minnesota dentists and their families. Help is available by phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 1-800-632-7643. Face-to-face help is also offered through a counseling and consulting network with over 500 offices in Minnesota.
If you’re a member of the MDA, Sand Creek Group also offers a comprehensive web-based information resource that provides dentists and their families with a treasure trove of interactive tools and current information about child care, adoption, education, eldercare, wellness and everyday life issues.
Dentists Concerned For Dentists (DCD):
Dentists Concerned for Dentists (DCD) was formed in the late 1970s by a small group of Minnesota dentists to provide help and support for dentists suffering from alcohol and drug addiction. This group not only functions as a support group and resource, but also serves to provide interventions for dentists in need of help. The primary goal of DCD is to assist dentists in getting the help they need to continue practicing dentistry without receiving sanctions from the State Board of Dentistry. We’re as close as your phone: call 651-275-0313. The DCD meetings take place on the third Wednesday of each month at the Minnesota Dental Association’s headquarters building located at 1335 Industrial Blvd., Minneapolis, MN 55413. The meetings start at 6:30 p.m. If you would like more information please contact Glen Bjornson at 651-275-0313.
Health Professional Services Program:
In 1994, the state legislature mandated that a monitoring program be formed to allow health care professionals to get help without being reported to their state board. HPSP monitors the treatment and continuing care of health professionals who may be impaired due to illness, including substance abuse, psychiatric disorders, and /or medical conditions. The HPSP mission is to enhance public protection and provide support for regulated health care professionals whose ability to practice with reasonable skill and safety may be impaired due to illness. Call 651-643-2120 or visit the HPSP web site.
ADA Health and Wellness:
The ADA’s Dentist Health and Wellness program provides a variety of personal assistance resources to help dentists be more proactive with their own health and wellness, including referral information on treatment facilities for substance abuse and mental health disorders. This program also includes support for disabled dentists who can no longer practice, as well as activities related to ergonomics and dental practice.
Minnesota Board of Dentistry:
By law, impaired dentists need to report their impairment to the Minnesota Board of Dentistry or HPSP or risk losing their license. Any licensed practitioner within an impaired dentist’s office is also obligated to report impairment or risk losing their own license. In 2002 the State Board of Dentistry changed the Dental Practice Act to require mandatory reporting of impaired practitioners. For more information contact the Minnesota Board of Dentistry or call 612-617-2250.