Newsletter August 2011 Vol 27 No. 2Valley District Newsletter
VOLUME 27 NUMBER 2 AUGUST 2011
EDITORAL STAFF: AARON DEMAIO, DMD
JACKIE BUTLER 413-568-8200
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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
It is hard to start thinking about the upcoming year while we bask in the beautiful summer sun but I am getting excited for the future of the VDDS. We will sorely miss the leadership of our past President, Joe Wegiel and our past Secretary, Mary Kreitzer who have given countless hours to the Valley. Joe has been a terrific, stable force for us during his presidency and has handled many difficult matters with great wisdom and diplomacy. I want to thank him for handing over the presidency in such good condition and thank him for his stewardship for the past two years. Dr. Kreitzer has gone above and beyond, serving as the Secretary after serving as our President. As Secretary, she has worn many hats and has done a masterful job coordinating, organizing and reporting all the various aspects of our society's business. Joe and Mary, a great debt of gratitude is owed to you and I thank you for all of your service and passion.
As we look to the future, I believe it is important to set goals and benchmarks so we can assure progress. My job as President is to make your membership more valuable when I am finished than it is today. I plan to continue to be your watchdog on the political and regulatory fronts so you can protect your livelihood and be proactive but the emphasis of my presidency is going to be placed on inclusiveness and communication. I feel that the only way for us to grow as a society is for every member to know that they have a voice and can and will be heard. Attending meetings used to be the only way issues were discuss and solved but with all of the advancements in technology, we have many other options that may solve some of the past limitations.
I have been told that members don't come to our meetings because they do not feel comfortable because they are too young, female, a minority and/ or the meetings are at a bad time, too long, too far away, too chaotic and/ or conflict with their family life. As a result, many members have decided to have their own study clubs or societies to get together and network. I feel we have a great opportunity to reach out to the members who feel disenfranchised and work with them to not only help their groups grow but also have a voice and a presence in the VDDS and MDS. I would like to meet personally with all of these groups and encourage and facilitate each group to take on a leadership positions within the VDDS. I understand that one method will never work perfectly for everyone, so someone will have to serve as a central contact and that person should be the President.
I will be reaching out to some of you in September and asking if I can meet with your group to work with you to see what the VDDS can do for you and how we can make the VDDS and MDS more accessible. I will also be encouraging everyone to look at the various committees on our website and see if there is a committee you may want to join or even chair. The Nomination Committee meets each year in October to nominate members and chairs for the various committees and I would love to have some new names on that list.
I know that as a group we can grow collectively while we grow individually and I look forward to hearing from you about any suggestions you may have for improvement or change. Please feel free to email me anytime at drsteve@mckortho.com or call me at the office if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing you in the fall.
Stephen W. McKenna D.M.D
SECRETARY'S REPORT
Many thanks to Mary H. Kreitzer the outgoing secretary who has diligently, and gracefully served the VDDS society for the last 6 years. I also wanted to introduce myself as the incoming secretary. I have been practicing orthodontics in the area for the last five years in Northampton and Amherst MA. I am a graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, and received a certificate in Orthodontics from Tufts University.
The last meeting at the Delaney House was called to order by Dr Joseph Wegiel. New members to the society were voted in. The MDS president Dr. John Fisher addressed the meeting thanking Dr. E. J. Welch for his work as the VDDS Trustee to the MDS and welcoming Dr. Stephen Mckenna as the incoming VDDS president. Dr Fisher went over the MDS sponsored bills before the state legislature including:
-An act relative to the financial services and contracts, that insurance companies cannot put a cap on non-covered services.
-A study of the oral trauma in sports as the MIAA only has a mandate for mouthgaurds in soccer.
-In-hospital anesthesia for dental services for children younger than six to be covered by insurance carriers
-Restoration of Mass Health coverage for oral health for adults
-A mandate of a dental exam for children entering kindergarten
Dr Fisher also encouraged more dentists to join/rejoin the Mass Health program.
Life members Dr. Thomas Cleary, Dr. Frederich Mackler, Dr. Thomas Reen, Dr. Edward Robinson, and Dr. Joseph Wegiel were recognized.
I hope everyone has a happy and safe summer. See you all at the September business meeting.
Aaron A. DeMaio, D.M.D.
V.D.D.S. Secretary
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TRUSTEE'S REPORT
First District Trustee Dr. Robert Faiella
Dr. Robert Faiella shared his recent travel and activities related to his candidacy for ADA Vice President. The Board of Trustees look forward to having an ADA President from our own state.
Dr. Faiella reported that the ADA has established a relationship with Sharecare, a healthcare information website started and sponsored by Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions. The ADA, as part of a consortium, has also submitted a proposal to the AD Council to develop a service announcement on children's dental health.
BORID Dr. Andrea Richman
Past President Dr. Andrea Richman reported that the Board of Registration in Dentistry (BORID) will be meeting with the deans of the dental schools this summer to discuss PGY1, a post graduate residency year that could replace the clinical exam. She also noted that proposed dental assisting regulations are being reviewed by BORID and public hearings are planned for this fall.
Continuing Education
Director of Continuing Education, Dorrey Powers, informed the Board that a letter had been sent to members in May 2011 regarding continuing education credits. BORID's new regulations state that hands-on courses, including those taken at Yankee 2011, are now one continuing credit per hour. Previously two credits per hour were allowed for hands-on courses.
CAPIR
The Board approved the recommendation of the Council on Access, Prevention and Interprofessional Relations (CAPIR) to discontinue the Mass Dentists CARE program. Any person seeking assistance for oral health care will be referred to community health centers or dental schools for treatment.
Society's Relief Fund
The Board voted to contribute $10,000 from the Society's Relief Fund to the Missouri Dental Association to assist dentists in the state who were affected by the recent tornadoes. The Board recommends that any MDS member who has been affected by the tornadoes call their District Dental Society and report such losses. MDS wants to help you.
Donald L. Farley, D.D.S. Past Trustee
Attending Trustee Meeting for Edward J. Welch, D.D.S.
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DELTA DENTAL YEARLY ADVISORY MEETING REPORT
Required Documentation (Effective July 7, 2011)
Please include required documentation with initial submission of the procedures listed below for both pre-estimates and date of service claims.
Required documentation
|
Procedures codes |
Pre operative
x-ray |
Pano or
FMX |
Perio Chart
Preoperative |
Perio Chart
Re-eval post
Phase I |
Comments |
|
D2710-D2794 Anterior Crowns |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
D2950-D2954 Build ups/cast posts |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
D4210-D4211 Gingivectomy (for patients under age 30) |
X |
|
X |
X |
FMX and or current BW |
|
D4240-D4241 Flap Surgery (for patients
under age 30) |
X |
|
X |
X |
FMX and or current BW |
|
D4341 Scaling and root planning (for
patients under age 30) |
X |
|
X |
|
FMX and or current BW |
|
D4260-D4261 Osseous surgery (for
patients under age 30) |
X |
|
X |
X |
FMX and or current BW |
|
D6010 Surgical Implant |
X |
X |
|
|
X-rays must show entire arch |
|
D6056, D6057 Implant abutments |
X |
|
|
|
X-rays must show entire arch |
|
D6058-D0667, D6094 Implant crowns |
X |
|
|
|
X-rays must show entire arch |
|
D6068-D6077, D6194 Implant retainers |
X |
|
|
|
X-rays must show entire arch |
|
D6973 Bridge Build-ups |
X |
|
|
|
|
X-rays should be current, properly dated, labeled (left and right) and of good diagnostic quality.
Submit duplicate x-rays since they will not be returned. Anytime you submit x-ray (s) you would like returned you must send a prepaid, self-addressed envelope in which to return them.
If the x-ray does not adequately support the need for treatment, please submit a narrative, clinical records and/or intraoral photographs.
Clinical narratives should be patient specific and detailed to support treatment.
You may use NEA to submit documentation electronically. Options for electronic attachment submission include 1. Practice management software system and 2. NEA FAST Attach. (note: narratives cannot be picked up from your electronic claim REMARKS field)
Periodontal charting should be comprehensive, date, documented with six measuring points, recorded in mm. per tooth and is current (within 12 months) prior to the date of treatment).
Narratives and periodontal charting should be legible, written in dark ink, and should NOT be highlighted (highlighter ink will appear as a black page once scanned into our imaging system.
When appealing a claim denial do not submit a new claim form. Appeals should be sent with a copy of the denied EOB along with any supporting documentation.
Delta Dental reserves the right to request documentation for any claim at anytime.
Christopher J. Root, D.M.D.
Delta Dental Advisory Committee
Valleydistrictdental.org
Formatted emails are going out on a regular basis from August to May which is the Valley's business year. Please open these emails so that our server knows that you have received them.
Periodic updates of the site are being done with an emphasis on the Calendar area so that you will know what is happening dentally in the Valley. Please be sure to also visit the Massachusetts Dental Society website. The MDS has been active in sending out emails and if you have not received any, then you need to ensure that your information is up to date on their site. The Valley information does not transfer to the MDS; each member is responsible for their own information.
James E. Maslowski, D.M.D.
CPR REPORT
The VDDS has been approved by the American Heart Association to continue as its own CTC (Community Training Center). Tufts School of Dental medicine is the only other Dental organization approved to teach the CPR training program in Massachusetts.
Instructors certified with the New CPR Guidelines are: Dr. William Bontempi, Dr. Patrick Edmunds, Dr. Richard Fraziero, Dr. David Kosiorek, Dr. Mary Kreitzer, Dr. Stephen Paolella, Dr. Michael Pepek, Dr. Stephen Scannell, Dr. Scott Smith, Dr. Richard Szal, Dr. Carl Szarlan, Dr. Joseph Wegiel and Dr. Alan Sampson.
The following is a reminder of Bystander VS. Professional CPR:
Recommended: AED should be part of the emergence protocol in a
Dental Office. It is mandated by BORID.
Stats: In a witnessed event if a patient is shocked within 3
minutes, the chance of survival is about 97% for a normal life.
Hands-Only CPR for adults who suddenly collapse:
Hands-Only CPR has been widely publicized by the AHA as an appropriate bystander response to adult victims of out-of-hospital, witnessed sudden cardiac arrest. So, don't be surprised if others at the scene of such an event are performing Hands-Only CPR, that is, CPR without breathing. They probably learned the following two simple steps:
1. Call 911
2. Push hard and fast in the center of the chest
Hands-Only CPR is not recommended for: Unresponsive infants and children, or victims of drowning, trauma, airway obstruction, acute respiratory diseases, and apnea, such as associated with drug overdose.
Health Care Provider: Using your CPR skills as a "bystander"
The skills you learn in this training program will prepare you to respond to unresponsive patients in the course of your professional duties as a healthcare provider. For those patients who are unresponsive, not breathing normally and pulseless, you will learn how to perform conventional CPR, that is CPR with breaths combined with chest compressions of an adequate depth and rate, with full chest recoil and minimal interruption.
Of course, those same skills can also be used in the event that you encounter a victim of cardiac arrest, either in public or private location, while not working in your professional role as a healthcare provider. In other words, you may also need to use your skills as a "bystander" to help an "out-of-hospital" victim of cardiac arrest. Just as with the patients you care for in your professional role, you should focus on providing good quality chest compressions with minimal interruption to an out-of- hospital cardiac arrest victim.
In the event that the victim you encounter in the out-of hospital setting is an adult who suddenly collapsed, your skills can be used to perform:
Conventional (30:2) CPR breaths
Combined with chest compressions
Or
Hands-Only CPR chest compressions only
Both methods have been shown to be effective in the first few minutes of an out-of-hospital adult cardiac arrest. You should perform the method with which you feel confident you can deliver good quality chest compressions with minimal interruption.
Alan D. Sampson, D.M.D.
V.D.D.S. CPR Chairman
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EDUCATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The education committee has completed the educational program for the 2011-2012 educational year. This coming September, nationally known Dr. John West an Endodontist, will be giving an "Endodontic Update" to our membership. This program will be for those members interested in performing basic endodontic care as well as those members interested in developing a better understanding of current and future state of the art endodontic processes.
A special program has been arranged on October 26, 2011 when we will have Rella Christensen speaking to our dental society on a "Dental Materials Update". Dr. Gordon Christensen has visited the Valley District twice over the past decade and this coming program with his wife Rella is certainly something not to be missed. We look forward to seeing her and updating our membership on state of the art dental materials.
As we move into 2012, we will be featuring a program by Dick Collier on practice management systems and financials. This program will be crafted to meet the needs of our local membership with a questionnaire being sent out prior to the program for membership input. Finally, in May of 2012 Dr. Joe Massad will be giving a long awaited program on implant over-dentures and removable prosthesis. Dr. Massad is internationally known for his removable prosthetics especially with implant prosthesis, an area of dentistry that has been overlooked for many years. We look forward to a successful educational program this year, we ask for all of your support.
Vincent J. Mariano, D.M.D., FACP
V.D.D.S. Education Committee Co-chairman
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DENTAL CONNECTIONS REPORT
2011-2012
Dental Connections will present four continuing education courses this year between October, 2011 and April, 2012. The meetings begin with a social hour at 6 p.m., including a light buffet. At 7 p.m. sharp our guest speaker presents a two-hour program, which is oriented to dental assistants, hygienists and business office personnel. Each Dental Connections program provides two hours of continuing education credits for auxiliaries and helps them meet current educational requirements. Also again this year the Proctor & Gamble Company will sponsor two of our programs. Crest-Oral-B have been very generous over the past few years to Dental Connections with both financial and product support.
The first program on Tuesday, October 4, 2011 will bring back Dr. Howard Pactovis. Dr Pactovis will conduct an OSHA training session for auxiliaries which will qualify them as OSHA trained for the year. This program because of its topic and engaging speaker has always been over subscribed. Early registration once forms have been sent out (and not before ) is encouraged.
The second presentation on Wednesday, November 2, 2011 will discuss Autism and it's implications for treatment in the dental setting. There is an ever-growing awareness of Autism in our country and as dental professionals we should be able to accommodate this population in an appropriate manner.
On Tuesday, March 6, 2012, Jacalyn Fallman from the National Dental Pulp Laboratory will educate us in the realm of stem cell research and in particular dental stem cells and their use for treatment of diseases in the future.
Our final presentation for the year will be on Wednesday, April 4, 2011, and we will have information on this program at a future time.
Our committee is always looking for new and interesting topics and speakers. Any auxiliary or doctor with ideas or contacts for future programs should contact me or one of the auxiliary committee members at a Dental Connections meeting.
Thomas M. Cleary, D.M.D.
V.D.D.S. Education Committee, Co-chairman
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MDS-PAC/ PEOPLE'S COMMITTEE (July 2011)
The MDS-PAC board recently met in June for their annual retreat. They highlighted the district's consistent and remarkable fundraising efforts, with the highest aggregate dollar contributions out of all the districts. While as well as the highest rate of Governor's Club and Beacon Hill Club contributors out of all the districts. While this is positive, there are many that are not contributing. Involvement in legislation is critical at the present time. The cost to contribute is miniscule compared to how it may impact our practices. Additionally, the board discussed best practice across the state in terms of effective fundraising and communicating the activities of the PAC, highlighting the Valley District Legislator's night as an outstanding event. In planning for 2012, please be advised that Beacon Hill Day will be held on Wednesday, April 11th, 2012 in Boston.
Governor's Club V.D.D.S. Contributors
James G. Hunt, DDS Donald L. Farley, DDS
Mary H. Kreitzer, DMD Francis J. Feeney, DMD
Anthony P. Laudano, DMD Cynthia M. Fox, DMD
Stephen W. McKenna, DMD Barbara W. Freed, DMD
Jonathan C. Sudol, DMD Gordon A. Freed, DMD
R. Carl Szarlan, DDS Steven H. Goldsher, DDS
John W. Torchia, DMD Charles P. Hapcook, DDS
Joseph F. Wegiel, DDS John R. Hennessy, DDS
Beacon Hill Club Frederick J. Kapinos, Jr., DDS
William J. Bontempi, DMD, MD John A. Kellogg, DDS
Kelly M. Bouchard, DMD Edward C. Larkin, DMD
Robert D. Boynton, Jr., DDS Constantinos A. Levanos, DDS
Thomas M. Cleary, DMD Lawrence W. Life, DMD
Badri Z. Debian, DMD Mark P. Logan, DMD
Patrick Edmunds, DMD David W. Manning, DMD
Lisa B. Emirzian, DMD Thomas J. Manning, DDS
Benjamin H. Falk, DDS Takis J. Megas, Jr., DMD
Michael S. Hrinda, DMD Gregg K. Mullens, DDS
Frederic S. Mackler, DMD J. Michael Pepek, DDS
Christopher J. Magiera, DMD Patrick W. Pepek, DDs
Vincent J. Mariano, DMD Stanley E. Piecuch, DMD
James E. Maslowski, DMD Paul S. Polo, Jr., DMD
Frank J. Mitera, DMD David B. Reen, DMD
John S. Mott, DDS Thomas K. Reen, DMD
Ronald A. Pahl, DMD Jared J. Reid, DMD
David P. Piech, DMD Mitchell B. Resnick, DMD
James B. Reid, DDS Linda Rigali, DMD
Stephen H. Root, DDS Robert M. Salem, DMD
Joseph A. Walz, DMD John R. Savoia, DDS
Martin A. Wohl, DDS Kelly A. Scanlon-Chase, DMD
V.D.D.S. Contributors R. Scott Smith, DMD
Karen C. Aborjaily, DMD Elliott R. Smolensky, DMD
Thomas H. Acquista, DMD Douglas G. Spink, DDS
Jerome M. Azia, DDS Christopher Steed, DDS
Hans-Christopher L. Beer, DMD Paul F. Thomas, DMD
Patricia A. Bonner, DMD John E. Varley, Jr., DDS
Anthony E. Breglio, DMD Edward J. Welch, DDS
Michael J. Calabrese, DMD Carol Wilkins, DMD
Boriana Canby, DMD Donald H. Willett, DDS
Winnie W. Cheung, DMD Steven A. Wolman, DMD
James E. Clayton, Jr., DMD Anthony J. Zepko, DMD
Herbert I. Cohen, DDS Joseph F. Zgrodnik, DMD
Jeffrey Collura, DMD George Falk, DDS
Brian P. Craven, DDS
Jeffrey W. Cullington, DMD
Robert A. Desautels, DMD
Maurice J. Dullea, III, DDS
William M. Dupont, DDS
Richard G. Elfman, DDS
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V.D.D.S. SCHOLARSHIPS
The winners of educational scholarships this year are:
Tiffany Peloquin of Westfield, is a former dental assistant now completing the dental hygiene program at STCC. She won the MDS Stephen Stone Scholarship $500, matching VDDS $500, and additional VDDS $500 essay winner.
Renee Sarnelli of East Longmeadow, is a former CDA also now completing the dental hygiene program at STCC. She won the MDS Stephen Stone Scholarship $500, matching VDDS $500.
Decisions were made based on financial need. Both women have additionally shown their dedication to dentistry by working for year as dental assistants. They chose to return to school to earn dental hygiene degrees, and to continue to grow and to contribute to the people of the Valley.
Congratulations!
Sue Keller, D.M.D.
Education Committee Scholarship Chairman
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OPEN WIDE OPEN GOLF OUTING
The golf outing took place at The Ranch Golf Club on June 1st. The dentists are dedicated golfers, although there was a tornado they did manage to finish golfing.
First place Gross was Michael Asselin, second place was Dr. James Hunt and third place was Mark Rosen. First place Net was Dr. Mark Logan, second place Dr. Gus Levanos and third place was Jack Dombek.
Closest to the pin was Dr. Vozzella and the Longest Drive was Dr. James Hunt.
Next year's Open Wide Open will again be at the Ranch Golf Club on Wednesday, May 23, 2012. We hope you and your friends will join us.
R. Scott Smith, D.M.D.
V.D.D.S. Golf Outing
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NEW MEMBERS
Deepti Kalra, DMD Church Street Dental, Chicopee, MA
Dmitry Tsvetov, DDS Oral Surgeon at McNally Brothers
Christopher Blount, DDS Oral Surgeon at Conn Valley Oral Surgery
Seth Eichenlaub, DMD Mountain View Dental, Easthampton
William Sung, DMD No office address listed yet.
Najlaa Hanna, DMD No office address listed yet.
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IN MEMORIAM
Dr. Stanley H. Frodyma, 85, died on Wednesday, March 31 at Holyoke Medical Center. A life long resident of Holyoke, he graduated from Holyoke High School and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. After college, he graduated from McGill University, Faculty of Dentistry, in Montreal Canada. He practiced dentistry in Holyoke for 44 years and closed his own practice in 2004 and thereafter practiced part-time at the Holyoke Soldiers Home. He proudly served his country in the Army during WWII. He was a faithful, lifelong communicant of Mater Dolorosa Church and a Knight of the Equestrian order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. Dr. Frodyma was preceded by his wife and his two brothers. He is survived by two sons, a granddaughter, a sister and several nieces and nephews.
Dr. Francis William " Dutch" Welch, died on Tuesday April 12 at home. Dr. Welch practiced General Family Dentistry in Springfield. He was a third generation dentist, the seventh of eight dentists in the Welch family which included his father and brother. An uncle was the first dentist to open in Springfield in 1909 and in the 2010 the family celebrated 101 continuous years of dentistry in the greater Springfield area. He graduated from Classical High School and attended American International College. He received his undergraduate degree from Springfield College in 1958. He served in the US Army and was also a member of the Air National Guard at Barnes Airport in Westfield. He graduated in 1963 from the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, University of Maryland. He was a lifelong member of the American Dental Association, the MDS and the Valley District Dental Society. He was a communicant of Sacred Heart Church in Springfield and a past member of the Knights of Columbus. An avid boater he spent time on Long Island Sound on his boat the "Dutch Treat". He is survived by his wife, Patricia and three sons. He is also survived by his brother Dr. Paul Welch and several nieces and nephews.
Respectfully Submitted,
Patrick W. Pepek, D.D.S.
V.D.D.S. Memorial Committee
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CLASSIFIEDS
Associate Wanted for a well established group dental practice looking for an experienced associate dentist part time leading to full time with the possibility of a full partnership. Candidate must be a caring individual who is committed to providing quality patient care. Our practice continues to grow and we have a great working atmosphere. Most of our dedicated staff has been with us for many years. If you are interested, please send resume to Dr. Frank J. Mitera, Ludlow Family Dentistry, 257 Kendall St. Ludlow, MA 01056. Email: f.mitera@ludlowfamilydentistry.net. Fax (413) 547-8909.
General Dentist position available in Northampton, to work with our dedicated staff of caring professionals two to three days per week. Seeking associate with at least 3 years experience of GPR. Please fax CV to Dr. Atkinson at 413-584-5835.
Rental Space available for dental specialists (ortho.,perio.,endo.,or oral surgeon) in modern state of the art general practice in Spfld. Many existing patients in the general practice available for referral. Please call 413-739-4500.
Mobile X-ray Unit available. Works well. Great for wheelchairs, endo, or any situation without an x-ray head in the operatory. Easily portable from room to room. Stands 6 feet 8 inches tall. Requires electrical outlet. Free if you come pick it up. Call Dr. Jenna Bagley @ 413-772-0842 for more info.
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