News

January 7, 2009

MINNESOTA VOLUNTEER DENTISTS SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS FOR FREE DENTAL CARE FOR NEEDY CHILDREN IN FEBRUARY

(Minneapolis, MN)  - -   Minnesota dentists will provide free dental care to less fortunate children on Friday, February 5 and Saturday, February 6 at nearly 200 locations statewide.  The Minnesota Dental Association is sponsoring this unique outreach effort, called Give Kids a Smile, for the 8^th consecutive year.  Appointments are being scheduled now.

“We know that government funded programs for families have been dramatically cut.  Volunteer dentists are trying to close the gap for the low income children who are not getting the dental care they need and deserve,” said Dr. Robert Templeton, president of the Minnesota Dental Association.  “With no eligibility requirements and no insurance paperwork for patients, each volunteer dentist treats these children straight from the heart.  We are very proud of this.” 

This year marks the 8th consecutive year the Minnesota Dental Association has sponsored Give Kids a Smile and more than 2,500 volunteer dentists and dental professionals will provide the care.  Since its inception, the program has served 32,000 young children and the donated services top $10 million dollars in value.

Patients seeking appointments should be under the age of 18 and accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.  People interested in scheduling an appointment can call United Way 211 (just dial 2-1-1) or the statewide toll-free number 1-800-543-7709 or see a list of clinics providing care at www.mndental.org.  Information on specific services that will be provided will be outlined when an appointment is scheduled.

The Minnesota Dental Association is the voice of dentistry in Minnesota, representing 81% of practicing dentists.  It is committed to the highest standards of oral health and access to care for all Minnesotans.  Learn more at:  www.mndental.org.

October 20, 2009

MINNESOTA DENTISTS WARN HALLOWEEN SHOPPERS:

SOUR CANDIES MAY TRICK, NOT TREAT TEETH

(Minneapolis, MN) - When making Halloween candy purchases, the Minnesota Dental Association warns that popular “sour candy” can trick teeth by causing permanent erosion of the dental enamel on the teeth. The Minnesota Dental Association encourages adults to consider "tooth healthy treats" that will both put and keep a smile on children's faces.

“As dentists, we see an alarming number of children with permanent erosion of the dental enamel on their teeth,” says Dr. Bruce Templeton, a practicing dentist in Minneapolis who is also president of the Minnesota Dental Association. “We know that the increasingly popular sour candies are a factor, so we invite you to consider other alternatives for Halloween treats.”

Specifically, the hard and gummy candies which promise an “extreme” sour or candies which promote a sweet and sour experience are the candies to avoid. Acid weakens the protective tooth enamel.  Without it, teeth are prone to tooth decay.  The teeth can also become more sensitive to consuming hot, cold or sweet food and drinks. 

GOOD TREATS TO GIVE

There are many tooth-friendly treats, not the least of which are non-food treats.  Healthier alternatives for Halloween include:

• Money: nickels, dimes, quarters
• Small bags of chips, peanuts or pretzels
• Sugarless gum
• Treats that are eaten quickly and done with, like small candy bars (Not treats that take long to eat and that may linger on teeth long afterward, like caramels)
• Stickers, rings, hair bows.
• Toothbrushes.

The Minnesota Dental Association and its members are taking a national lead in educating parents and children with a campaign called The Power of Sour on Your Teeth.

The Minnesota Dental Association is the voice of dentistry in Minnesota, representing 81% of practicing dentists.  It is committed to the highest standards of oral health and access to care for all Minnesotans.  Learn more at:  www.mndental.org, or find  us on Facebook.

Read article  

Power of Sour Campaign

See Acid Levels 

September 25, 2009

DR. BRUCE TEMPLETON 
ELECTED PRESIDENT OF MINNESOTA DENTAL ASSOCIATION 

MINNEAPOLIS, MN—Dr. R. Bruce Templeton, D.M.D., chief of oral surgery and dentistry at the Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center in Minneapolis, has been elected president of the Minnesota Dental Association at the Association’s annual House of Delegates meeting held this month in Rochester, Minnesota.

Dr. Templeton has been deeply committed to organized dentistry over his professional career and has held numerous offices at local, state and national levels. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, past president of the Minnesota Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, past president of the Minneapolis District Dental Society, and holds the rank of clinical professor at the University of Minnesota Faculty of Dentistry. He has also been a board member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine and chaired their annual session for two years.

In accepting the new position as MDA President, Dr. Templeton said, ”I look forward to working with the entire dental community to help pave a future for dentistry that reflects our past excellence, while expanding on opportunities to provide access to quality dental care for all Minnesotans. It is a privilege to serve the dentists and the citizens of Minnesota.”

Dr. Templeton received his dental training (DMD) at the University of Manitoba, Canada, and worked as a general dentist in Canada’s far north prior to completing an oral surgery (OMS) residency at the University of Minnesota.  He is past chief of surgery at North Memorial Medical Center, a level one trauma center in Minneapolis, and past chief of dentistry at Minneapolis Children’s Medical Center.

Dr. Templeton has been involved in numerous charitable dentistry activities over the years, including outreach efforts to bring needed dental care to underprivileged populations in the U.S. and abroad.  He resides in Edina, Minnesota, and is actively involved in community service, including the Rotary Club of Edina and NC Little Hospice.

The Minnesota Dental Association is the voice of dentistry in Minnesota, representing 81% of practicing dentists.  It is committed to the highest standards of oral health and access to care for all Minnesotans. Learn more at: www.mndental.org. 

July 6, 2009

PATIENT FINANCING PROGRAM
ADDS 24 MONTH NO INTEREST PAYMENT PLAN

COSTA MESA, CALIF., JULY 6, 2009 — In response to practice demand for expanded payment options that give patients longer terms to pay, CareCredit, the nation’s leading patient care financing program, recently added a 24 Month No Interest Payment Plan (if paid within promotion period).

Oral health is important - in any economy.  Now more than ever, dental teams are finding it necessary to provide patients with both a treatment plan that helps them achieve their dental goals, as well as help patients fit care comfortably into their financial situation.  To help practices help more patients, CareCredit is now offering a 24 Month, No Interest Payment Plan for treatment of $2,500 or more.  “This new plan gives patients the best of both worlds,” explained Cindy Hearn, Senior Vice President, CareCredit.  “They can take advantage of No Interest financing, which is extremely attractive to patients who, today, may be considering their spending more carefully.  In addition, they can now take up to 24 months to pay off their balance.”  All CareCredit providers offer at least 3 Months No Interest for every transaction and the new plan is offered to patients at the discretion of the practice.

For over 20 years, CareCredit has been helping patients get the dentistry they need. Today, CareCredit is at work in more than 120,000 practices and is used by over 7 million patients. CareCredit is exclusively selected for their members by most state and national dental associations, including ADA Business Resources^SM, AGD, AAOMS, and AAP, and is also recommended by leading practice management consultants. For more information on CareCredit, call 1-800-300-3046 ext. 4519 or visit http://www.carecredit.com.  

ADA is a registered trademark of the American Dental Association. ADA Business Resources is a service mark of the American Dental Association. ADA Business Resources is a program brought to you by ADA Business Enterprises, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Dental Association.

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June 16, 2009

Michael M. Birdman Named President of Midwest Dental Benefits 

Midwest Dental Benefits has announced the hire of Michael M. Birdman as president of the Minneapolis-based dental benefits provider.   Birdman began his new position on June 15, 2009, bringing 15 years experience in employee benefits and insurance product sales and client service management.

Since November of 2006, Birdman served as Vice President of Client Services for Direct Response Insurance Administrative Services in Chanhassen, MN.  In this position, he managed the client services team and implemented new business development strategies to drive revenue growth. He also designed and implemented a segmentation strategy targeting new outsourcing markets, including direct insurance and reinsurance carriers.

Previously Birdman was Regional Vice President of Allianz Life in Golden Valley, MN. In this position he managed the western sales territory, while also developing and executing new products, services, and operational processes to improve Allianz’s competitive position.

Birdman holds a Master of Business Administration from the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Arizona, Tucson. He resides in Edina, MN. 

Midwest Dental Benefits (MDB) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Minnesota Dental Association.  MDB is a nationwide Third Party Administrator for employers with self-funded group dental plans.  Offering a unique marketplace alternative to traditional dental insurance, MDB exclusively focuses on dental benefits, providing employers with direct-reimbursement dental plans that are affordable, highly flexible and easy to administer.

June 16, 2009                                                                                                                                 

Governor slashes oral health care through unallotment

Pawlenty cuts funding to clinics and dentists who treat poorest, most compromised patients 

Minneapolis, Minn. ­­­- The Minnesota Dental Association (MDA) expressed profound disappointment in Governor Pawlenty’s cuts to oral health care services that treat Minnesota’s most vulnerable populations. The governor cut $6.2 million to the Critical Access Dental Provider Program, which funds clinics that treat low-income and rural patients, as well as those with special needs.

“Poor people don’t have lobbyists,” noted Dr. John Flor, founder of Main Street Dental M.A. in Blooming Prairie. “We see 15,000 medical assistance patients per year, and some come from up to 200 miles away to get access to our care. But we can’t accept new patients without adequate funding. While our clinic will survive these cuts, others may not.” 

While Pawlenty’s unallotment for the Critical Access Dental Provider payments will not take place until April 2010, many clinics will be forced to reexamine the types of patients they serve in the future. These cuts may force some clinics to close and force patients to visit hospital emergency rooms for treatment of their oral pain rather than the more cost effective use of dental offices. Statewide, there are currently more than 20,000 emergency room visits for dental care each year.

The MDA looks forward to working with the legislature to restore the funding for oral health care during the 2010 legislative session.

The Minnesota Dental Association is the voice of dentistry in Minnesota, representing 81 percent of practicing dentists. It is committed to the highest standards of oral health and access to care for all Minnesotans. You can learn more at www.mndental.org.

May 26, 2009

Dentists’ concerns shape new dental position, but more needs to be done

By Dr. Lee Jess

Many communities are facing problems with access to dental care; perhaps they are a low-income community that struggles with the ability to pay for care or a rural community that may have too few dentists in the area. To ensure every Minnesotan has access, the legislature sought a new approach to expanding access while maintaining health care quality.

In the next few years, a new position, called the dental therapist, will be added to your local dental team. While we were initially concerned about the safety of the scope of practice for this new worker, the Minnesota Dental Association was at the table to ensure that important patient protections were established. These important patient protections, negotiated by the Minnesota Dental Association, ensure safe, high quality dental care for Minnesota’s low-income and underserved populations. Most importantly, this position may help improve access for Minnesotans.

This new position will provide oral healthcare to Minnesota’s low-income and underserved populations. The dental therapist will be allowed to perform basic restorative procedures with the on-site supervision of a dentist. With additional training, a dental therapist can qualify as an advanced dental therapist and perform these procedures outside of the dental office with the permission of the supervising dentist. To ensure patient safety, these new dental team members will have a strong supervisory relationship with a dentist who can step in if a procedure becomes too complex. 

The dental therapist and advanced dental therapist positions are only part of the solution to Minnesota’s access problem. Many Minnesotans suffer from ailments that go beyond the scope of what a dental therapist or advanced dental therapist will be trained to do.

Minnesota’s dental community has developed and will continue to lead many successful programs to provide dental care to low-income and underserved individuals, from the Critical Access Dental Provider program, to the Donated Dental Services program, to the Give Kids a Smile program. In addition, Minnesota dentists will continue to help establish dental care options community by community throughout the state, seek financial assistance for graduating dentists who choose to practice in underserved areas, advocate for adequate funding for public dental programs, and seek to streamline the administration of public dental programs.

Most importantly, the MDA will work to ensure that dental therapists are serving those most in need and are providing safe, quality dental care to rural and low-income populations with the best training possible. Ultimately, Minnesota must find the political will to fund a dental health system in which the people in greatest need, and who also have the most complex oral health needs, can get care from fully trained dentists.

Dr. Lee Jess is president of the Minnesota Dental Association. He practices in Grand Rapids, Minn.

May 12, 2009                                                                                                                                                        

Minnesota dentists effect key changes to dental therapist legislation
New positions meet dentists’ requirements for safe dental care 

Minneapolis, Minn. ­­­- The Minnesota Dental Association (MDA) successfully effected changes to key elements of legislation that now ensures patient safety with the creation of  mid-level dental therapist and advanced dental therapist positions. These positions meet the principles long adhered to by the Minnesota Dental Association  for appropriate scope of practice and supervision requirements. The dental therapist and advanced dental therapist will provide oral care to Minnesota’s low-income and underserved populations.

“The MDA and its member dentists have worked hard over the past few months to ensure that principles for appropriate education, supervision, and scope of practice were maintained. Minnesota dentists have worked with other dental professionals to create a position that will ensure patient safety and create an integrated member of the dental team,” said Lee Jess, president of the Minnesota Dental Association. “We are pleased that our concerns were heard and that this new position is a workable program to reach those in need while ensuring high quality care.”

A dental therapist will be allowed to perform basic preventive and restorative procedures with the on-site supervision of a dentist. With additional training, a dental therapist can qualify as an advanced dental therapist and perform additional procedures with the permission of the supervising dentist. An advanced dental therapist may also assess a patient’s condition, although a licensed dentist must authorize a treatment plan.

“Minnesota’s dental community has developed and will continue to lead many successful programs to expand access,” explained Jess. “Moving forward, the MDA will work to ensure that dental therapists are serving those most in need and are providing safe, quality dental care to underserved communities.”

The Minnesota Dental Association is the voice of dentistry in Minnesota, representing 81 percent of practicing dentists. It is committed to the highest standards of oral health and access to care for all Minnesotans. You can learn more at www.mndental.org.

April 14, 2009

Minnesota dentists launch ad campaign to support creation of supervised, dental school trained mid-level professional

Minnesota legislature creating new type of dental worker, but must ensure patient safety 

Minneapolis ­­­- Today the Minnesota Dental Association (MDA) launched an ad campaign to oppose the creation of a new, mid-level dental worker that would not have to be supervised by a dentist when performing irreversible, surgical dental procedures and would not have to be educated at an accredited dental school.

The ads will run on radio, in print and on the Web in several media markets, including the Twin Cities, Rochester and St. Cloud.

“Minnesota dentists support the creation of this new position, but workers must be educated at an accredited dental school to be properly trained in surgical procedures, like pulling teeth,” explained Lee Jess, president of the Minnesota Dental Association. “Furthermore, a dentist must be in the building to help out in case something goes wrong when these procedures are performed.”

Even routine procedures like drilling or pulling teeth can lead to complications and require a dentist be available to assist. A broken root tip or uncontrolled bleeding can dramatically change the course of a procedure beyond the new mid-level worker’s capability and training.

“We’re proud that Minnesota is leading the way toward a more efficient dental care delivery system. But we need to get it right,” continued Jess. “Lawmakers should only support safe and supervised treatment from a dental school trained professional.”

Copies of the ads are available at: http://www.mndental.org/public_home/about_us/legislative_news/

About the MDA
The Minnesota Dental Association is the voice of dentistry in Minnesota, representing 81 percent of practicing dentists. It is committed to the highest standards of oral health and access to care for all Minnesotans. You can learn more at www.mndental.org.

April 1, 2009

RECORD NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED FREE DENTAL CARE TO NEEDY CHILDREN IN MINNESOTA 

GIVE KIDS A SMILE SURPASSES $10 MILLION MARK IN DONATED CARE 

(Minneapolis, MN)  - -   The results are in and a record number of nearly 2,500 volunteer dental professionals throughout Minnesota provided their services for free to children whose families could otherwise not afford the care.  The annual Give Kids a Smile outreach effort provided 5,200 needy children with free dental care.

“It was wonderful to see a record number of volunteers come forward in this tough economy to help children whose families are facing difficult times,” said Dr. Lee Jess, president of the Minnesota Dental Association, whose practice is located in Grand Rapids.   Give Kids a Smile is sponsored by the Minnesota Dental Association with support from 3M ESPE Dental Products, HealthPartners, United Way 2-1-1 and the Minnesota Dental Foundation.

The free care was provided on two days in February when 533 dentists across the state open their offices and clinics to provide completely free dental care to children whose families cannot otherwise afford the care.

This year marks the 7th consecutive year the Minnesota Dental Association has sponsored Give Kids a Smile. Since its inception, the program has served 32,000 young children and the donated services top $10 million dollars in value.

Nationwide the American Dental Association reports that over 12,000 dentists participated in this year’s event, reaching 466,000 underserved children. The value of donated dental care in 2009 is estimated to be over $30 million.

The Minnesota Dental Association is the voice of dentistry in Minnesota, representing 81% of practicing dentists.  It is committed to the highest standards of oral health and access to care for all Minnesotans.  You can learn more at www.mndental.org.

January 29, 2009

MINNESOTA DENTAL ASSOCIATION
STATEMENT OF CONCERN
REGARDING GOVERNOR PAWLENTY’S BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS

The following statement from Minnesota Dental Association President Dr. Lee Jess is in response to the proposed budget cuts announced by Governor Tim Pawlenty. Dr. Jess practices dentistry in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

“Governor Pawlenty’s proposed budget cuts will further restrict access to oral health care at a time families need it the most. And the proposed cuts will have the greatest impact on those whose oral health is most fragile.”

KEY FACTS: How the Governor’s proposed budget impacts oral health care

1) Under the Governor’s proposed budget cuts, dental care for needy adults is completely eliminated. Care for children remains only because it is required by the federal government.

2) The proposed cuts eliminate a widely acclaimed program to encourage dentists to provide critical care to needy children and adults. Known as the Critical Access Provider Payment Program, this successful initiative has allowed dentists to treat even more patients on public assistance.

3) The proposed cuts eliminate the healthcare access fund but keep the tax on dentists and others in place, diverting those funds to the general fund.

The Minnesota Dental Association is the voice of dentistry in Minnesota, representing 81% of practicing dentists. It is committed to the highest standards of oral health and access to care for all Minnesotans. Learn more at: www.mndental.org

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