2014 summer bulletin - wmdds

SUMMER ISSUE 2014VOL. 46, NO. 3

Bulletin

T h e L a b o r a t o r y N e t w o r k

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WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 2014 1

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

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

submissions or correspondences to:

Dr. Jeffrey S. Smith • 3050 Ivanrest SW, Suite B • Grandville, MI 49418

Phone: 616.531.1554 FAX 616.531.6947 • Email: [email protected]

Include “Newsletter” in the subject line

Editor Dr. Jeff Smith

Associate Editors Dr. Seth Vruggink Dr. Derek Draft Dr. David Huyser Dr. Brian Licari

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 2014-2015 President Dr. Samuel Bander President-Elect Dr. Steve Conlon Vice President Dr. Leonard Bartoszewicz Secretary-Treasurer Dr. Tyler Wolf Editor Dr. Jeff Smith Immediate Past President

Dr. Margaret Gingrich

Directors Dr. Brian Mulder Dr. Lathe Miller Dr. Kathleen EllsworthArea Representatives

Kent County Dr. James Papp Ionia-Montcalm

Dr. John O’Donald

County Mecosta County Dr. Erick Perroud Ottawa County Dr. Kevin Rebhan

MDA IV District Dr. Brian Cilla Trustees Dr. Colette Smiley

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

Holland-Zeeland Dental Society OfficersPresident Dr. Meredith Smedley Treasurer Secretary Immediate Past President

Ionia-Montcalm Dental Study Club OfficersPresident Treasurer Dr. Kirkwood Faber

Kent County Dental Society OfficersPresident Dr. Michael Palaszek Vice President Dr. Kathryn Swan Secretary Dr. James PappTreasurer Dr. Kathleen Eisin

West Michigan Dental Foundation OfficersPresident Dr. Michael Palaszek Vice President Dr. Sarah Mahar Secretary Mrs. Dawn Kamyszek Treasurer Mr. Joe Van Laan

The Bulletin of the West Michigan Dental Society is published six times a year (the winter issue, spring issue, summer issue, directory issue, fall issue, and holiday 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, 3050 Ivanrest SW, Suite B, Grandville, MI 49418. 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.

© 2013-2014 West Michigan District Dental Society Bulletin

Contents

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

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

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

2015–2017 PR Dues Assessment Renewal ................................................................. 9

Points of Light: From Inception to Success ...............................................................10

The Age One Dental Visit ...........................................................................................11

The Infant Oral Health Screening Form:

A Counseling Tool for the Age One Dental Visit ...................................................12

Would You Like More Patient Referrals? Dental Referral Guide .............................16

Working MOM ............................................................................................................18

HDVCH Pediatric Clinic Fluoride Varnish Project ..................................................20

2014-2015 WMDDS Continuing Education Programs ............................................21

WMDF Golf Outing ....................................................................................................23

2014 Steel Water Award Winner: Doug Mack, MD ..................................................24

Technically Speaking ...................................................................................................25

Beyond Traditional Asset Classes: Exploring Alternatives ........................................26

Help! I’ve Been a Victim of Tax Identity Theft .........................................................28

Classified Ads ...............................................................................................................30

Advertiser Index ...........................................................................................................31

About the Cover

Pediatric dentist, Dr. Veronica Hamilton, performs an age one dental visit on

one-year-old Gwyneth Hamm with the help of her mom, Elizabeth Hamm.

very year at this time, the WMDDS bylaws call for a

“changing of the guard.” Welcome back to Dr. Tyler

Wolf (Secretary-Treasurer), and Dr. Kathy Ellsworth,

serving as First-Year Director. Ellsworth joins our other

directors, Dr. Lathe Miller and Dr. Brian Mulder. Dr. Len

Bartoszewicz moves up to Vice President, Dr. Steve Conlon

is President-Elect, and I will be serving as President of the

WMDDS for the next twelve months.

I graduated from the University of Michigan Dental School

in 1981 (seems like yesterday) and came back home to Grand

Rapids to practice with my dad, Dr. Thomas Bander. We

practiced together for about 15 years or so until his retire-

ment. I miss those days of having another dentist in the office

to bounce ideas off of. Those of you who practice with a fam-

ily member or mentor should cherish those days. The experi-

ence of our senior colleagues is PRICELESS!

I served on the WMDDS Board for a while in the 80s – then

went on to be involved in the Grand Rapids Jaycees (thanks to

Dr. Chuck Caldwell), and served as its president in 1989. All

the practice management speakers of the day said that com-

munity service was a great way to build your practice, so I got

involved with my church and my community. What I found

out was that “service” of any kind is good for the soul – and

practice growth is just the icing on the cake. Bottom line –

GET INVOLVED – in organized dentistry, in your commu-

nity, in your church, with your kids’ school … anything! Just

get involved because all the good things you do reflects well

on all dentists and on dentistry.

Five years ago, Seth Vruggink asked if I wanted to serve

on the WMDDS Board again. I was 52. I reluctantly said yes

– and now at 58 – I am President of the WMDDS (thanks

for asking, Seth). Wendie and I are empty nesters, and life is

pretty good (knock on wood). So now you know a little about

me and my story.

But enough about me. From now on it is about US! We

are all in this together. And together we have a responsibility

to give back to insure this organization thrives. I would like

to encourage YOU to get involved and give back to organized

dentistry. Whether you are a recent graduate or a seasoned

dentist, you have something to offer. Whether you are in solo

practice, group practice, corporate practice, or community

practice, we can all use the help of the WMDDS. The mission

of the MDA is to “help member dentist’s succeed.” By getting

involved and giving back, you can help yourself and your

fellow WMDDS members succeed. We all have an obligation

to help keep the ADA, MDA, and WMDDS as the recognized

authorities on dental care in our community.

We have a committed Board of Directors and a thriving

organization thanks to outgoing President Margaret Gingrich

and all who went before her. Our executive secretary Elaine

Fleming is passionate about dentistry and keeps us on the

right track even as presidents and boards of directors come

and go. We have many members who volunteer in many

ways, locally, statewide, and nationally. Thank you for your

service and I look forward to working with you this year.

Please contact me with any questions, concerns, or ideas at

616.949.5980, or email [email protected].

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | SUMMER ISSUE 20142

P R E S I D E N T ’ S M E S S A G E

Bridging the Generation GapBy Samuel Bander, DDS, WMDDS President

E

New DeNtist Forum GolF outiNG

FriDay, september 5, 2014

Quail riDGe GolF Club iN aDa

Watch your mail for more

information on registering or

contact Dr. Devin Norman at

[email protected]


1932 Dr. Ward Moore

1936 Dr. Jack Beukema

1937 Dr. W. B. Steele

1938 Dr. Vernor Eman

1944 Dr. Russell Klinesteker

1946 Dr. Titus Van Haitsma

1949 Dr. Claire Cartier

1950 Dr. Carl Anderson

1951 Dr. Henry Sullivan

1952 Dr. Richard Elias

1953 Dr. Henry Walcotten

1954 Dr. O.H. Mc Connell

1955 Dr. Henry Homan

1956 Dr. Howard Sparkie

1957 Dr. Gerald Moore

1958 Dr. Fred Prescott

1959 Dr. Julius Lubbers

1960 Dr. Robert Richards

1961 Dr. Harry Luton

1962 Dr. Robert VanDragt

1963 Dr. Robert Hoek

1964 Dr. Charles Malaney

1965 Dr. Robert Reagan

1966 Dr. Joseph Ellis

1967 Dr. Gerald Vander Wall

1968 Dr. William Creason

1969 Dr. Robert Streelman

1970 Dr. John Cook

1971 Dr. Donald Cole

1972 Dr. Julius Franks

1973 Dr. Dennis Winn

1974-75 Dr. Claude Raby

1975-76 Dr. David Seibold

1976-77 Dr. Gerald Knape

1977-78 Dr. Thomas Sommerdyke

1978-79 Dr. Thomas Bander

1979-80 Dr. Robert O’Brien

1980-81 Dr. Lawrence Marcotte

1981-82 Dr. Eugene Bonofiglo

1982-83 Dr. William Avery, Jr.

1983-84 Dr. Daniel Kemp

1984-85 Dr. Charles Van Dyken

1985-86 Dr. Arnold Baker

1986-87 Dr. Lawrence Manning

1987-88 Dr. Herbert Carpenter

1988-89 Dr. Charles Caldwell

1989-90 Dr. Timothy Gietzen

1990-91 Dr. Michael Vander Veen

1991-92 Dr. Richard Nezwek

1992-93 Dr. Erick Rupprecht

1993-94 Dr. George Baumgartner

1994-95 Dr. Lisa Sostecke

1995 Dr. Robert Mitus

1995-96 Dr. John Vander Kolk

1996-97 Dr. Chris Smiley

1997-98 Dr. Greg Oppenhuizen

1998-99 Dr. James Eldersveld

1999-2000 Dr. Steve Schultz

2000 Dr. John Garlick

2000-01 Dr. John Marshall

2001-02 Dr. John Marshall

2002-03 Dr. Debra Peters

2003-04 Dr. Norm Palm

2004-05 Dr. Brian Cilla

2005-06 Dr. Laura Fogle

2006-07 Dr. John Frey

2007-08 Dr. Amy DeYoung

2008-09 Dr. Doug Killian

2009-10 Dr. Doug Klein

2010-11 Dr. Seth Vruggink

2011-12 Dr. Larissa Bishop

2012-13 Dr. Tyler Wolf

2013-14 Dr. Margaret Gingrich

2014-15 Dr. Samuel Bander

WMDDS Presidents

BRINGING MORE“EUREKA!” MOMENTS TO YOUR BUSINESS.

RICK CHRISMAN, CPA, MANAGING [email protected](616) 949-3200

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WMDDS IPHONE 7.5 x 3.25.ai 1 2/26/2014 10:21:18 AM


hroughout this issue you will see a number of differ-

ent articles focusing on infant oral health, and more

specifically the Age One Dental Visit. These articles

are the product of a new task force that formed over the last

few years. The people that make up this task force are a small

group from our dental community who are passionate about

the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists’ recommenda-

tions on early visits to the dentist, and the positive impact

we believe it can have our community’s oral health. We have

taken on the name “Points of Light Task Force” because we

are basing some of what we are doing around the Points of

Light program and its ideals. We are all registered with Points

of Light, and we believe this program has a lot of potential

to impact children’s oral health state wide. But even beyond

that, it is more about what Points of Light stands for, and

why we believe that is so important. Also, the task force has

a goal of helping others implement the ideals of Points of

Light, and going beyond just signing up on a website. The

task force includes a few general dentists, a pediatric dentist,

an orthodontist, and others who care about this mission. Our

goal is to help our West Michigan community do a better job

of integrating infant oral health into our practices, and reach

more parents and kids who need our help in this area. You

will not find a lot of discussion about access to care in this

issue, as that is a somewhat different topic that could fill a

whole issue on its own.

You probably have seen the statistics on Early Childhood

Caries (ECC), and the high incidence of this disease in kids in

the United States. ECC has become one of the most, if not the

most, common diseases in our children, and it extends well

beyond those struggling for access to care. No matter what

information parents are getting from their pediatricians, they

often are not doing enough to follow through with their kids’

oral health. I am sure you all have had the experience of seeing

a 3-, 4-, or 5-year-old child for the first time that has multiple

areas of decay. What a terrible experience! There is nothing

I hate more than looking in a kid’s mouth for the first time

and seeing decay. It is such a sad event, especially because it

is so preventable. If we can get to these kids earlier, and more

importantly get to the parents early to educate them, this

disease is completely preventable. In the end, prevention and

education is what this is really about. The Age One Dental

Visit is the best way to make sure that we can properly edu-

cate parents about the things they can, or must do, in order to

start their kids off on the right path. We can all hope and wish

that the information parents are getting from pediatricians

is enough to get them doing the right things, but it is clear

that is not the case. It is up to us to make sure we are doing

everything we can to get information in front of parents, and

intervene early with kids using Age One Dental Visits. If we

can get the education out there earlier, we can do a better

job of keeping these kids away from ECC throughout their

childhood.

There is no doubt that there is some resistance to the Age

One Dental Visit. Some of you reading this right now are

thinking that this is something you don’t ever see yourself

doing. You haven’t done it before, so why are you going to

do it now. Or, you see the point, but you just don’t have time

to go about figuring out how to do this. Or, and probably the

most common reason, you understand the problem, but just

don’t have the desire to have a screaming infant in your chair,

that you are not going to be able to do anything for anyway.

I get it. It is not fun to picture trying to deal with an uncoop-

erative infant or 2-year-old disturbing your whole office just

so you can look in their mouth, and then you have to try to

imagine what it will be like to fix a problem if you find one.

These are all valid concerns.

Part of our goal with the Points of Light Task Force is to

try to make it easier on you. Many of us have the systems in

place already in our office to do this well, and we are going to

try to share that with you, so you don’t have to do as much to

prepare for it. The articles you see in this issue will give you

tips on how you can make this run smoothly in your office.

T

Introducing the WMDDS Points of Light Task ForceSubmitted by Scott Van Timmeren D.D.S., Chairperson, WMDDS Points of Light Task Force

E D I T O R ’ S T H O U G H T S


We will also offer you examples of forms and codes you can

use to simplify the process. We will explain Points of Light,

and how you can use it to market yourself to physicians and

parents. We will be placing a wealth of generic information

on the WMDDS website in downloadable formats that you

can access, print, alter, and use in your office as you see fit.

There will be packets that you can provide to parents ahead

of their initial Age One Visit to go through, or that you or

your hygienist can go through with them when they come in.

We will even have sample protocols on the website for your

staff and letters that you can use to tell people why you are

encouraging these visits. Our goal is to make this easy on you

with the hope it will encourage as many offices as possible to

start integrating Age One Dental Visits in to practice.

There are many other conversations and things that we

need to wrestle with within our profession about how we

can better serve the children of West Michigan. Eventually,

if you talk to other medical professionals about what you are

doing, you may get questions about Medicaid, Healthy Kids,

and other programs, and whether you are including those

things now that you are doing these exams. There are no easy

answers to those questions, and groups like ours and the Kent

County Oral Health Coalition are wrestling with them, too.

But for now, there is a large population of kids out there who

have the ability to get in to see you at an early age, but just

don’t know that they need too. It is time for us to shift that

paradigm, and we need your help. Please be one of the people

who will make a difference in fighting against this problem.

E D I T O R ’ S T H O U G H T S

5WMDDS Bulletin Zac ad OUTLINED.pdf 1 4/15/14 9:58 AM


ummer has finally arrived. Time to fire up the grills. Have fun at all of the open houses, receptions and picnics. Speaking of parties, the MDA Annual Session

was once again well received by our colleagues from around the state. This year’s MDA Spirit of Michigan Annual Session, held April 30–May 3 in Grand Rapids, saw an increase in the number of dentists registered for the meeting compared to the last time the annual session was held in Grand Rapids. A total of 1,192 MDA member dentists were present. The over-all registration for this event was 4,113. It was nice to see that the exhibits and MDA courses were well attended.

The MDA House of Delegates (HOD) had a significant session as well. Bylaw changes were made that change the way that the MDA operates. These governance changes were a long time coming and are intended to improve MDA opera-tional efficiency. It is expected that this will enhance respon-siveness and allow for increased organizational expertise. The process for developing the proposed revisions involved three HOD meetings and hard work by the MDA Governance Work Group. A special thanks need to be extended to Drs. Kevin Rehban and Connie Verhagen for their efforts on the Work Group. Our HOD Speaker, Dr. Deb Peters, did an absolutely fantastic job stewarding the whole process by keeping everyone informed and on task. These governance changes are as follows:

• Make the MDA Board of Trustees the governing body of the association, with the House serving in an elective and representative capacity;

• Reduce the number of trustee positions from 17 to 9 and make them all at-large positions, no longer elected by trustee districts but instead elected by the house itself;

• Create a house nominating committee to select all can-

didates for MDA officers, MDA trustees, delegates/alter-natives to the ADA meeting, and the ADA 9th District Trustee;

• Combine the secretary and treasurer officer positions on the Board;

• Eliminate the Vice President officer position;• Give the House and Board the authority to suspend or

remove Board members;• Give the Board the authority to form an Executive

Committee as needed, to be comprised of the association’s officers;

• Create a House of Delegates Bylaws Committee.

Dr. Norm Palm will be chair of the new House Nominating Committee and Dr. Seth Vruggink will be the first West Michigan/Muskegon representative on that committee. The first meeting will take place on August 1st at the MDA head-quarters.

Other House ActionsThe topic of genetics being used for dental insurance benefit determination was addressed by a series of resolutions. The HOD adopted a resolution that the MDA opposes the switch-ing of plan participants into new dental plan designs that have the consequence of circumventing the spirit of the GINA regulations (which are intended to protect the patient from health plan discrimination based upon genetic information). The Board of Trustees will continue to monitor the standards for genetic tests as utilized for determination of patient risk factors for dental disease. This information will be provided to the House of Delegates via the Delegate Digest and to the general membership via the MDA website and/or the MDA Journal. Also, it was resolved when a patient’s risk status is used by a plan to determine benefit coverage, all services sup-ported by evidence-based clinical recommendations for care of patients with such risk should be considered for coverage. Additionally, the Board of Trustees will act on an ongoing basis to establish policy on the Application of Risk Assessment in Dental Benefit Plans to protect the patients of Michigan.

The BOT was directed to prepare an annual report to the House of Delegates on progress made in eliminating perfor-mance gaps identified by the Governance Work Group in 2013, as well as identifying any new gaps and how they are being addressed.

S

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

Summer 2014 Trustee ReportBy Dr. Brian Cilla, MDA Trustee

A new House Committee on Bylaws has been formed in order to report annually to the House of Delegates about how well our governance process is working.

Mission of Mercy (MOM)I would like everyone to know that Dr. Margaret Gingrich played an instrumental role in making the MOM a great suc-cess. Also, everyone at the MDA would like to offer a sincere thanks to all of those that participated with this years’ MOM event up in Big Rapids. Without your help and participation, this type of event could not succeed. It is only through the dedication of volunteers that a Mission of Mercy is even pos-sible. Giving your time and talent for others is the greatest expression of care and compassion. Our volunteers are the heart of a MOM event. Here are some key statistics from the event: There were 1,329 patient visits. Overall, 858 patients were treated. The value of the services rendered was priceless (actually $847,064). MDA members and volunteers provided an average $987.25 per patient. This is well above the national average of $500–$600 for this type of event.

New Delta Dental Benefit Plan ConcernsThe validity of using genetic testing to assess an individual’s risk for periodontitis was the subject of a standing-room-only continuing education seminar held Friday, March 21 at MDA headquarters in Okemos. More than 120 dentists and staff attended the seminar, which was the largest CE seminar ever held at the MDA headquarters, reflecting growing member interest in the topic.

The speaker was Thomas Hart, DDS, PhD who is a nation-ally recognized expert on the topic. Dr. Hart is a periodontist and has a doctorate in human genetics. Hart took the attend-ees through a crash-course in human genetics, emphasizing the rapid emergence of new information and new techniques in analysis, driven in large part by the ready availability of data for research and analysis. As a result, a great deal more is now known about the role of genetics in disease conditions. He explained that for some conditions, there is an obvious link between a single gene and a related condition. In dentistry, amelogenesis imperfecta is an example of this kind of one-to-one relationship. “If you have AI, we can figure out what kind you have through genetic testing,” Hart said. “We can also start to figure out why this occurs, so we can try to develop treatment.” But for most conditions, including chronic peri-



odontitis, there are hundreds to thousands of small genetic factors which may contribute, as do many environmental fac-tors. Hart took issue with the validity of using genetic testing to predict an individual’s risk of chronic periodontitis.

It is important to note that the retrospective claims analysis study sited by Delta as a basis for the new plan design used tooth loss as a surrogate outcome for severe periodontal dis-ease. No clinical exams were performed and no attempt was made to verify the actual reason for tooth loss. Additionally, neither Delta nor the researchers have disclosed that the SNP’s (segments of genetic material being assayed) used by Delta test are also found with over 300 other diseases. Also, Delta has not clearly elaborated on the specificity and sensitiv-ity (false positive/false negative) of the genetic test being used as a tool to determine dental benefits.

This study was partially funded by Delta, and 100% of the patient data was provided by Delta. In the interest of full dis-closure, Delta owns a portion of the genetic testing company that processed the saliva samples and until recently held a seat on that companies’ board of directors. The Delta RightSize dental plan provides benefits for use of this particular genetic test. This will now create a market for a product with which Delta has an ownership interest. This fact should be known to plan participants and clinicians considering implementing its use in their practices.

The use of a genetic test by Delta Dental of Michigan in determining benefit eligibility is controversial. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) includes provi-sions that generally prohibit group health plans and health insurance issuers from discriminating based on genetic infor-mation. Specifically, genetic information is to be used to pro-vide enhanced benefits and not for underwriting that limits access to services. RightSize plan participants were switched into this plan design from a traditional plan that covered two cleanings annually as a core benefit. Plan participants now must consider a genetic test as one way to gain access to a service that was a traditional benefit in their previous plan. The implementation of the RightSize plan may conform to the letter of the GINA, but may not comply with the spirit or intent of the law.

Application of evolving science into determination of benefit eligibility should require a high level of evidence sup-porting anticipated outcomes. Questions persist about the science surrounding the genetic test used by Delta Dental


of Michigan for risk determination in its new RightSize plan. Representatives from the American Dental Association described this test as “unproven.” Analysis of systematic reviews of the genetic test shows data that may be statistically significant, but does not necessarily rise to the level of hav-ing clinical validity. Periodontal disease is a complex disease impacted by thousands of genes. At best the science support-ing this test is debatable. Based on the supporting evidence, its suitability for use in determining eligibility for benefit cover-age is of justifiable concern.

Governor Snyder signs Bill Improving Care for Mobile Dentistry PatientsGov. Rick Snyder recently signed legislation supporting patient protection and higher care standards for patients of mobile dental facilities. “Good dental health contributes to good overall health. Children and seniors are among our most vulnerable residents and they are also the most common cus-tomers of mobile dental facilities,” Snyder said. “Raising the quality of care delivered by these facilities will help ensure all Michiganders receive the services needed to live healthy lives.

Mobile dental facilities travel to schools, head-start centers and nursing homes on a regular basis, delivering diagnostic and preventative services to patients. However, they often do not return to the same locations, and local dentists have expe-rienced difficulty contacting them to retrieve x-rays, patient information, and payment records.

House Bill 4865 requires mobile dental facilities to establish formal relationships with local area dentists (memorandum of agreement) to ensure patients are referred for proper follow-up dental procedures and improved treatment. Owners of these facilities must apply for a permit through the Department of Community Health. The bill also defines appropriate equipment and supplies for a mobile dental facility.

Public Health Code Review ProjectThe Public Health Code of Michigan (Act 368 of 1978) is the regulatory framework for health care in Michigan. In addi-tion to numerous other roles, the Act primarily serves “to protect and promote the public health.” Since it was originally enacted in 1978, there have been amendments and repeals passed to ensure that the Act continues to serve its’ intended purpose. However, there has not been a review completed since the Act was created 35 years ago. As a result, Governor

Snyder called for a review of the Public Health Code in his 2011 Health and Wellness Message.

In July 2013, an Advisory Committee was assembled to begin the high-level review and recommendation process. Based on feedback that will be gathered from numerous stakeholders and the public, the Advisory Committee will conduct the review and prepare a report of recommendations to the MDCH Director and Governor Snyder in the spring of 2014. The Advisory Committee will be making only recom-mendations, not changes, to the Public Health Code.

The committee is primarily comprised of nurses and indi-viduals from a public health background. An attorney chairs the workgroup. There are no private practice health care pro-viders as constituent members of this group. As of now, the Advisory Committee has not held public hearings nor made any attempt to solicit commentary from the Michigan Dental Association.

MDA Radiography Training ProgramThe MDA has updated the popular radiography-training program. This revision debuts in an online form only. It is a self-paced, in-office training course. Additionally, this new course meets the State of Michigan radiography certification requirements. Further information can be found on the MDA website under “Tools for Success.”

Point of Personal PrivilegeI would like to thank Dr. Norm Palm for his time as MDA President, and for his years of WMDDS and MDA service. His dedication to our profession is unrivaled. When expert knowledge was required about complex topics, we could always depend on Norm’s ability to gather the pertinent facts, analyze, process and thoughtfully communicate that informa-tion. He has been a mentor and friend. I find it humorous that just when Norm thought that he could coast, he now has to chair the House Nominations Committee. Don’t worry about Norm, he will have fun with this new role.

Thank you for taking the time to read this report. As always, I make myself available for questions or concerns about MDA activities. Any suggestions, recommendations or com-plaints will be welcomed. I can be reached at [email protected] or 616-481-7747.



ear West Michigan District Dental Society Members,

Since the 1980’s, part of the cost of membership in the

West Michigan District Dental Society (WMDDS) has

included a $45 dues assessment designated for public rela-

tions. This three-year assessment, approved by a membership

vote, has enabled the WMDDS Public Relations Committee

to keep the WMDDS name before the public through edu-

cation and service to the West Michigan community. These

funds have been effectively used in a variety of ways, but the

message is the same: West Michigan District Dental Society

member dentists care about our communities.

Recent past projects have included Tooth Time at the

Grand Rapids Children’s Museum during February’s National

Children’s Dental Health Month. This is a two-day event that

had over 1,000 children come and learn about oral health.

We also helped 500 underprivileged kids attend the Grand

Rapids Griffins matinee game that was preceded by a health

education expo, that included a booth that was sponsored by

WMDDS and staffed by GRCC dental hygiene students who

promoted good oral health practices. During the Whitecaps

season, we sponsored two innings per each home game where

our message of importance of “visiting a member dentist” is

prominently displaced on the jumbo computer score board in

the outfield. With this year’s Mission of Mercy project in Big

Rapids on May 30 and 31, we have made a generous financial

donation from WMDDS. This two-day event is projected to

provide dental care to 2000 low-income patients. We have

also donated to the Kent County Oral Health Coalition,

which is a newly-formed project aimed at increasing access to

care for low-income families. We are also working with the

WMDDS Points of Light task force as they work to increase

the number of dentists who will provide age one visits in their

office. Lastly, we are in the process of updating the WMDDS

webpage for better exposure and communication for our

member dentists.

Our public relations efforts have focused attention on the

significance of membership in our Society. Continued efforts

will enable us to strengthen the positive, caring image that

WMDDS members have in their communities.

The Board of the WMDDS and Public Relations Committee

recommends that the $45 per member per year public rela-

tions assessment be renewed for 2015, 2016, 2017. This

means there will be NO increase in the cost of the WMDDS

membership.

This article serves as notification of the vote that will be

done by mail-in-ballot later this summer.

The WMDDS Public Relations Committee thanks you for

your consideration of this request.

D

W M D D S N E W S

2015–2017 PR Dues Assessment Renewal By Suzanne K. Port DDS, MS Chairperson, WMDDS Public Relations CommitteeMatthew Gietzen, DDSBrian Mulder, DDS

wmDDs at tHe GriFFiNs HealtH eXpo


he American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the

American Dental Association, and the American

Academy of Pediatrics all recommend that children

have their first dental visit by age one. And the Points of Light

project embraces this recommendation; seeking to improve

infant and children’s oral health by connecting them with a

dental home by age one.

The Points of Light project was initiated in 2004 with

statewide grassroots efforts in eight Michigan communities –

Brighton, Flint, Holland, Jackson, Lansing, Muskegon,

Traverse City, and Ypsilanti. These efforts focused on foster-

ing relationships between physicians and dentists, and with

a relatively small number of pediatric dentists in the state,

solving the issue of physicians not knowing who in the dental

community would accept infants and toddlers as patients.

Since that time, the Points of Light concept – timely refer-

rals before potential problems arise – has grown to include

seven states, including Indiana and California, with its larg-

est participation in Michigan and Missouri. Over the last ten

years, Points of Light has connected thousands of children

with hundreds of dentists and has continued to evolve as an

organization. Today Points of Light serves multiple patient

groups by building networks of dentists within communities

that accept not only infants, but also Head Start students,

children with special healthcare needs, Healthy Kids Dental

patients, and pregnant women.

Pointsoflightonline.org provides a database for families and

physicians to find you!

On the Points of Light website, the Parent Resources page

offers a zip code-driven search function that enables parents

to locate dentists in their area that accept infants. As a reg-

istered Points of Light provider, you can specify the patient

population you desire to treat – infants, Head Start patients,

children with special healthcare needs, Medicaid patients,

pregnant women, or Healthy Kids Dental patients. Check

only those patients you are comfortable treating – there is no

requirement to check all boxes!

In West Michigan, a Points of Light Task Force has come

together with the goal of increasing the network of West

Michigan practices willing to accept infants and address the

oral health needs of the youngest among us. Once a tipping

point is achieved, the task force plans to approach the medi-

cal community to stimulate early referrals to this network.

The oral and overall health of the community, starting with

the youngest members, will improve as a shift occurs from a

surgical caries intervention to prevention.

Log on to pointsoflightonline.org and click on the

Professional Resources tab. Here you will see “Register as a

Points of Light Dentist.” It’s good for kids and good for you

– register for Points of Light today.

T

P O I N T S O F L I G H T

Points of Light: From Inception to SuccessBy Colette Smiley, D.D.S.

The PoinTs of LighT ProjecT

If you would like more information regarding our project or would like to register as a participant, please visit our website at: pointsoflightonline.org.


ou are now well aware of the recommendations that

infants have their first dental visit by age one. But if

a dentist has never before completed an infant exam,

the thought of a baby in your operatory may seem quite intimi-

dating. One of our goals is to provide West Michigan dentists

with tools and information so infant exams can be performed

easily and confidently in your offices. You may find seeing an

infant an enjoyable change in your normal daily routine!

While the specific protocols for infant visits vary among

offices, I will share how they typically go in our practice. I

greet the infant and parent in the reception room and escort

them back to an operatory. Some offices will have the hygien-

ist greet the family first as well. You can decide based on what

works best for your office flow and the personnel in your

office. We start with a medical and dental history. Then we

begin to gather information from the parent on current habits

and provide anticipatory guidance and counseling specific

for the patient. The details of those recommendations will be

included in a later article in this edition of the Bulletin, and

you can access more information on this from the WMDDS

website. This part of the visit will take the longest, as the time

you spend learning from the parents, and educating them, is

really what this visit is all about.

The knee to knee exam is the next component of the visit.

I first explain to the parent how the exam will be performed

and what I will be evaluating. We use an upright chair in the

corner of our operatory, but the dental chair may be used. I

ask the parent to hold the baby facing them, with baby’s legs

straddling the parent’s stomach. I then position my opera-

tor stool so my knees are touching the parent’s knees. While

the parent holds the baby’s arms, I guide the infants head

gently into my lap. Infants all react differently to this. Some

one-year-olds are quite cooperative, others cry loudly. If you

are having difficulty getting the infant to open, gently slide

your pointer finger along the mucosa of the cheek back to the

retormolar pad area, this will gently force the child to open. If

nothing is successful in getting the infant to cooperate, then

it may be advantageous to cancel the exam for that day, and

reappoint the child. Maybe a different time of day would be

better, aim for right after a nap when they are well rested.

Once in the mouth, if the child will allow it, I perform

either a toothbrush or rubber cup prophylaxis. This is helpful

to remove surface stain or plaque to facilitate the examina-

tion. If the child is screaming, which may happen, you are

probably not going to do any prophylaxis, but at least you

will be able to see inside the mouth. Evaluate hard and soft

tissues, oral hygiene, eruption sequence, and perform a caries

risk assessment. Depending on the outcome of your caries

risk assessment and the behavior of the child, fluoride varnish

can be applied at this time. The individual dentist can decide

to treat or refer to a pediatric dentist if decay is diagnosed.

“Watching” lesions in an infant is not advised as decay pro-

gresses quickly. A recall frequency can also be determined

based on the caries risk assessment. Generally infants can be

seen on a six-month recall basis. Unless they are considered

high risk, then three-month recalls are advised. If it is deter-

mined that the child is stable, some prefer to see the child

yearly until they reach three years old, and then they switch

to six-month recalls.

Seeing an infant can be a really enjoyable time of your day.

And you actually get paid for it, too! The initial visit for an

infant under the age of three is coded as D0145. Recall visits

for infants are coded as a periodic exam, D0120. Depending on

what level of prophylaxis was performed, a pediatric prophy

may be billed, as well as the fluoride varnish application.

As general dentists, we don’t need to be intimidated by the

possibility of finding decay in an infant and actually having

to treat it. We have specialists to help. But there are too many

infants for our pediatric dentists to screen themselves. It is

our responsibility to see these infants and their families at a

young age so we can intervene with counseling and guidance

and provide oral health literacy that builds healthy kids and

healthy mouths. I challenge any of you who have not per-

formed an infant oral exam to try one!

Y


The Age One Dental VisitBy Stephanie Benton-Langejans, D.D.S.


he American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry rec-

ommends the first dental visit take place at age 12

months, or six months after the first tooth erupts.

Despite these recommendations, many dentists may find

themselves asking: Why is the age one visit important?

Infants have unique caries risk factors such as the ongoing

establishment of oral flora and host defense systems, newly

erupted teeth which are still going through the post-eruption

maturation process, and the development of dietary habits.

By establishing a dental home for the infant dental patient

and their parents early on in life, we are able to detect decay

early, ease patient anxiety regarding the dental office, and

most importantly, provide a lifetime of preventive education.

Anticipatory guidance and counseling is arguably the

most important component of the age one dental visit. Our

goal as dentists is to “provide practical, developmentally

appropriate information about children’s health to prepare

parents for significant physical, emotional, and psychological

milestones.” i So what should we be discussing with parents

at this visit, and what questions should we be asking them

regarding their childs’ habits and oral health? The Ohio

State University Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program has

developed a questionnaire that is used to interview parents

and caregivers at the beginning of the age one dental visit.

The questions help identify areas of concern in the childs’ or

parents’ habits, thereby guiding the dentist in their discussion

with the caregivers. Dentists are able to use the informa-

tion gathered as well as clinical findings to determine caries

risk, and establish an appropriate recall interval and fluoride

exposure routine. The same form is completed at each recall

visit, allowing the practitioner to evaluate any changes in the

patient’s caries risk.

The original form designed by The Ohio State University

is quite long. With permission from the program director

at OSU, Dr. Homa Amini, we have created an abbreviated

version which can be used in your practice in order to assist

you in the counseling portion of the age one dental visit.

There are several key components to the Infant Oral Health

Screening Form: Oral Hygiene Practices, Dietary Habits, Non-

Nutritive Sucking Habits, and Caregiver Caries Risk.

Oral Hygiene PracticesIt is important to establish with the parents who is brushing

the patients’ teeth, how often, and what type of toothpaste is

being used, if any.

Recommendations: Children at moderate or high caries

risk should brush their teeth twice a day. Patients ages 0-2

years should use a smear of toothpaste, and those ages 3-5

years should use a pea size. Rinsing after brushing should be

eliminated altogether. It is important to start Oral Hygiene

practices no later than when the first tooth erupts.ii

Dietary HabitsDietary habits are established by 12 months of age and are

maintained throughout early childhood. The age one dental

visit gives us a unique opportunity to discuss these habits

early on in the child’s development. Key questions to ask the

parent are: What does the child eat or drink between meals?

Do they go to bed or naptime with a bottle? If so, what is in it?

It has been demonstrated that “prolonged or frequent bottle

or training cup feeding with sugar-containing drinks and fre-

quent between meal consumption of sugar-containing snacks

or drinks will increase risk of caries.” Higher frequency con-

sumption of sugary liquids increases caries risk in children.i

It is also important to establish if the patient is still breast

feeding on demand. While breast milk alone has not been

shown to be cariogenic, once other carbohydrates are intro-

duced into the diet, it can become cariogenic.ii The literature

has demonstrated that ad libitum breast feeding has been

associated but not consistently implicated in ECC.ii

Recommendations: The American Academy of Pediatrics

recommends that children 1-6 years old consume no more

than 4-6 oz. of fruit juice per day, from a regular cup as part of

a meal or snack.ii Ad libitum breast feeding should be discour-

T


The Infant Oral Health Screening Form: A Counseling Tool for the Age One Dental VisitBy Veronica R. Hamilton D.D.S., M.S.



aged once the first primary tooth erupts and carbohydrates

are introduced into the diet.ii Patients should be weaned from

the bottle at age 12-18 months, and parents should try to reduce

the frequency of sugar-containing snacks between meals.ii

Non-Nutritive Sucking HabitsNon-nutritive sucking habits such as pacifier use or thumb

or finger sucking are normal in early development, but can

affect facial development and occlusion if used for sufficient

frequency, intensity or duration. It is important to ask the

parent what habits the child has and how often the patient

practices this habit.

Recommendations: It is recommended that the habit is

discontinued by age 3.i

Caregiver Caries RiskEstablishing the caregivers caries risk is an important part

of anticipatory guidance. Parents and caregivers who had

untreated decay place their child at higher risk for caries.

Vertical transmission of Mutans Streptococci has been docu-

mented in the literature. Infants whose mothers have higher

levels of MS as a result of untreated caries are at greater risk

of acquiring the organism than children whose mothers had

low levels.iii

Recommendations: Saliva sharing activities should be dis-

couraged, and caregivers should be encouraged to seek care

for their decay.iii

Caries Risk AssessmentThe outcomes of the Infant Screening Form can be combined

with the clinical examination to determine caries risk.

iii. Guideline on Periodicity of Examination, Preventive Dental Services,

Anticipatory Guidance/Counseling, and Oral Treatment for Infants, Children

and Adolescents. AAPD Reference Manual 2013/14; 35(6):114-121

iii. Policy on Early Childhood Caries (ECC): Classifications, consequences, and

Preventive Strategies. AAPD Reference Manual 2013/14; 35(6):50-52.

iii. Guideline on Parinatal Oral Health Care. AAPD Reference Manual 2013/14;35(6):

131-136.

ComiNG sooN iN late Julyplease visit the newly re-designed wmDDs website to find

more information and resources that you can use for infant oral Health

From the website you will be able to access:

• printable or downloadable files to give to parents to take home covering all important infant and children’s oral health topics;

• the parent questionnaire you found in this issue;

• a guide you can use to train staff following the methods others are already using with success in their offices;

• a sample letter you can use to send to patients, or to provide with your packets if you decide to give them away to people who are not already patients.

All files will be available as pdf or Word files that can be altered to fit for your individual needs.

www.wmdds.org


Visit mdaprograms.com or call today at 800.860.2272.

We do.Find out what thousands of Michigan dentists already know. Get all your insurance from the most trusted and knowledgeable source.

You know how to restore your patientto perfect occlusion.

But do you know if you’re getting the best discounts on home

and auto insurance?

Call Monday

for quote on

car insurance

Patient Name: _____________________________________

Date of Birth: _____________________________________

11. Does an adult brush the childs’ teeth?

a. Yes

b. No

12. How many times a day are the childs’ teeth brushed?

a. 1

b. 2

c. 3

13. Does the child use tooth paste?

a. Yes

b. No

14. If the child uses toothpaste, what kind?

a. Training toothpaste/infant toothpaste

b. “Kids” toothpaste

c. Adult toothpaste

d. Other

e. N/A

15. Is the child currently breastfeeding on demand?

a. Yes

b. No

16. Does the child use a bottle?

a. Yes

b. No

17. Does the child use a sippy cup?

a. Yes

b. No

18. What does the child drink from the bottle or sippy cup?

a. Water

b. Milk

c. Juice

d. Pop

e. Kool-Aid

f. Other

g. N/A

19. Does the child go to bed or nap with a drink?

a. Yes

b. No

10. If the child goes to bed or nap with a drink, what type

of drink?

a. Milk

b. Pop

c. Water

d. Juice

e. Kool-Aid

f. Other

g. N/A

11. How many times a day does the child snack?

a. 1-2

b. 2-3

c. 3-4

12. Does the child have any of the following habits?

a. Thumb sucking

b. Finger sucking

c. Pacifier

d. Other

13. Do the child’s parents/caregivers have dental decay?

a. Yes

b. No


Infant Oral Health Information

Visit mdaprograms.com or call today at 800.860.2272.

We do.Find out what thousands of Michigan dentists already know. Get all your insurance from the most trusted and knowledgeable source.

You know how to restore your patientto perfect occlusion.

But do you know if you’re getting the best discounts on home

and auto insurance?

Call Monday

for quote on

car insurance


ould you like more patient referrals from

respected physicians without additional outlay

of time or money? Do we have your attention?

The primary mission of the Points of Light Program is to

promote the first dental visit by age one. Additionally, the

Points of Light program provides an online database, serv-

ing as a parent resource, of participating dentists that accept

infants, Head Start students, or children with Special Health

Care Needs. This is a great resource, but it may not be enough

to just have a website with some names and addresses on it,

that parents have to search out in order to find a dentist for

their child. We would like this database to be reproduced

and made available to the Pediatric and Primary Care medi-

cal community in the form of an Infant Oral Health Dental

Referral Guide – distributed in paper form similar to the

Hospital & Pharmacy Directory that is published and distrib-

uted by AMR. The guide will include names, addresses, and

likely even a map of participating dental offices. Your West

Michigan District Dental Society and members of the Points

Of Light Task Force are going to do the leg work for you. If

you sign up for Points of Light, you will automatically be

included when the guide is created. We will take it from there.

If for some reason you do not wish to join Points of Light, but

are willing to start, or are already seeing infants and children

under the age of three in your practice, we would love to

include you as well. We envision this directory to be specific

by county or smaller area, and foresee distributing the perti-

nent directory to physicians in that area that see infants and

children on a regular basis. Our friends in Genesee County

have instituted a program like this with good success, and we

are happy to follow in their footsteps (see “Baby Those Baby

Teeth” guide on the next page for an example of the guide).

Even with all of the information we now know is out there

about the importance and benefits of early dental visits, many

pediatricians and family practice doctors are still not making

it a point of emphasis to parents of young children. It may

be that some of that is just a lack of understanding about our

willingness as dentists to see infants in our offices. This guide

can work as a starting point to make those doctors aware

of the opportunities parents have to find a dental home for

their kids at an early age. Hopefully, now that the physicians

have moved to an electronic records system and standardized

forms, they are asking about dental health and dental visits in

their health histories. Young patients that don’t have a dentist

would be guided to this list by their primary providers. This

directory would also be available as an online resource, but

we feel paper distribution will be key initially to educate front

office staff and physicians of those dentists willing to accept

age 1 referrals. The exact method of how and when this refer-

ral guide will be distributed is still being ironed out. This

will be the start of a great collaborative effort by our dental

community to work with the medical community in a visible

way to improve the overall health of the children in our area.

You will not want to miss out on this very visible sign of your

willingness to help an infant find a dental home that can grow

into a lifetime of healthy and happy patients in your dental

family. Please keep your eyes and ears open for more informa-

tion on this in the near future.

W


Would You Like More Patient Referrals? Dental Referral GuideBy Karen O’Rourke D.D.S.


This information is brought to you by the Greater Flint Health Coalition Children’s Oral Health Task Force in cooperation with the Genesee District Dental Society.

For additional information, please contact the Greater Flint Health Coalition

at [email protected] or visit the website www.gfhc.org

DENTIST REFERRAL GUIDE FOR INFANTS & TODDLERS

The numbers on the map match the numbers for each dental office listed on the back page.Genesee County Dentists Accepting Infants and ToddlersUse this guide to make an appointment for your infant or

toddler to see a local dentist and establish a dental home. Ask your own primary dentist if they would accept your child as a patient and, if not, contact one of the Genesee County dentists currently accepting infants and toddlers, listed on the back page. Use the map to find one near you!

Why Dental Care for Baby Teeth? Healthy baby teeth help improve your child’s health related

to chewing, speaking, preventing infection, and spacing of permanent teeth

Baby teeth can get tooth decay from their first appearance Pain from tooth decay can affect a child’s behavior and

ability to eat, sleep, and learn

Why a Dental Home? For regular visits to prevent tooth decay To have a dentist to call for injuries to your child’s mouth

or teeth

When Should Infants and Toddlers See a Dentist? When the first tooth appears or at age one to have a

well-baby checkup for baby teeth and gums Every 6 months for a check-up

Vienna Rd. Vienna Rd. Vienna Rd.

Mount Morris Rd.

Carpenter Rd.

Coldwater Rd.

Bristol Rd.

Lippincott Rd.Lippincott Rd.

Oregon St.

Clark Rd.

Davison Rd.

Rich�eld Rd.

Court St.

Bristol Rd.

Miller Rd.

Atherton Rd.

Maple Rd.

Grand Blanc Rd.

Hill Rd

Thompson Rd.

Maple St.

Holly Rd.

Dort H

wy.

Dort Hwy.

Irish Rd.

State Rd.

Elba Rd.

Center Rd.

Genesee Rd.

Clio Rd.

Elms Rd.

Elms Rd.

Seymour Rd.

Mill St.

Linden Rd.

Gr. Trav.

Saginaw St.

State Rd.

Belsay Rd.

Saginaw St.

Fenton Rd.

N. Leroy St.

Linden Rd.

N. Bridge St. Silver Lake Rd.

Grange Hall Rd.

Pierson Rd.

Beecher Rd.

Calkins Rd.

W. Court St

W. Corunna Rd.

Lennon Rd.

Flushing Rd.

Main St.

23

23

475

475

75

75

75

6969

691

310

12

18

2627

17

29

45 46

47

484950

44

13

56

9 111415

16

52

53

4

19

20

37

3840

4243

54

55

41

21

23,34

31

35

3657

3025

32

39

5

8

6

7

Genesee Rd.

69

24

15

15

15

51

15

15

2

22

24, 28,33

2, 5,8


Mount Morris Rd.

Carpenter Rd.

Coldwater Rd.

Bristol Rd.


Oregon St.

Clark Rd.

Davison Rd.

Rich�eld Rd.

Court St.

Bristol Rd.

Miller Rd.

Atherton Rd.

Maple Rd.

Grand Blanc Rd.

Hill Rd

Thompson Rd.

Maple St.

Holly Rd.

Dort H

wy.

Dort Hwy.

Irish Rd.

State Rd.

Elba Rd.

Center Rd.

Genesee Rd.

Clio Rd.

Elms Rd.

Elms Rd.

Seymour Rd.

Mill St.

Linden Rd.

Gr. Trav.

Saginaw St.

State Rd.

Belsay Rd.

Saginaw St.

Fenton Rd.

N. Leroy St.

Linden Rd.


Grange Hall Rd.

Pierson Rd.

Beecher Rd.

Calkins Rd.

W. Court St

W. Corunna Rd.

Lennon Rd.

Flushing Rd.

Main St.

23

23

475

475

75

75

75

6969

691

310

12

18

2627

17

29

45 46

47

484950

44

13

56

9 111415

16

52

53

4

19

20

37

3840

4243

54

55

41

21

23,34

31

35

3657

3025

32

39

5

8

6

7

Genesee Rd.

69

24

15

15

15

51

15

15

2

22

24, 28,33

2, 5,8

HOLLY


Mount Morris Rd.

Carpenter Rd.

Coldwater Rd.

Bristol Rd.


Oregon St.

Clark Rd.

Davison Rd.

Rich�eld Rd.

Court St.

Bristol Rd.

Miller Rd.

Atherton Rd.

Maple Rd.

Grand Blanc Rd.

Hill Rd

Thompson Rd.

Maple St.

Holly Rd.

Dort H

wy.

Dort Hwy.

Irish Rd.

State Rd.

Elba Rd.

Center Rd.

Genesee Rd.

Clio Rd.

Elms Rd.

Elms Rd.

Seymour Rd.

Mill St.

Linden Rd.

Gr. Trav.

Saginaw St.

State Rd.

Belsay Rd.

Saginaw St.

Fenton Rd.

N. Leroy St.

Linden Rd.


Grange Hall Rd.

Pierson Rd.

Beecher Rd.

Calkins Rd.

W. Court St

W. Corunna Rd.

Lennon Rd.

Flushing Rd.

Main St.

23

23

475

475

75

75

75

6969

691

310

12

18

2627

17

29

45 46

47

484950

44

13

56

9 111415

16

52

53

4

19

20

37

3840

4243

54

55

41

21

23,34

31

35

3657

3025

32

39

5

8

6

7

Genesee Rd.

69

24

15

15

15

51

15

15

2

22

24, 28,33

2, 5,8

Lapeer


Mount Morris Rd.

Carpenter Rd.

Coldwater Rd.

Bristol Rd.


Oregon St.

Clark Rd.

Davison Rd.

Rich�eld Rd.

Court St.

Bristol Rd.

Miller Rd.

Atherton Rd.

Maple Rd.

Grand Blanc Rd.

Hill Rd

Thompson Rd.

Maple St.

Holly Rd.

Dort H

wy.

Dort Hwy.

Irish Rd.

State Rd.

Elba Rd.

Center Rd.

Genesee Rd.

Clio Rd.

Elms Rd.

Elms Rd.

Seymour Rd.

Mill St.

Linden Rd.

Gr. Trav.

Saginaw St.

State Rd.

Belsay Rd.

Saginaw St.

Fenton Rd.

N. Leroy St.

Linden Rd.


Grange Hall Rd.

Pierson Rd.

Beecher Rd.

Calkins Rd.

W. Court St

W. Corunna Rd.

Lennon Rd.

Flushing Rd.

Main St.

23

23

475

475

75

75

75

6969

691

310

12

18

2627

17

29

45 46

47

484950

44

13

56

9 111415

16

52

53

4

19

20

37

3840

4243

54

55

41

21

23,34

31

35

3657

3025

32

39

5

8

6

7

Genesee Rd.

69

24

15

15

15

51

15

15

2

22

24, 28,33

2, 5,8

OTISVILLe


Mount Morris Rd.

Carpenter Rd.

Coldwater Rd.

Bristol Rd.


Oregon St.

Clark Rd.

Davison Rd.

Rich�eld Rd.

Court St.

Bristol Rd.

Miller Rd.

Atherton Rd.

Maple Rd.

Grand Blanc Rd.

Hill Rd

Thompson Rd.

Maple St.

Holly Rd.

Dort H

wy.

Dort Hwy.

Irish Rd.

State Rd.

Elba Rd.

Center Rd.

Genesee Rd.

Clio Rd.

Elms Rd.

Elms Rd.

Seymour Rd.

Mill St.

Linden Rd.

Gr. Trav.

Saginaw St.

State Rd.

Belsay Rd.

Saginaw St.

Fenton Rd.

N. Leroy St.

Linden Rd.


Grange Hall Rd.

Pierson Rd.

Beecher Rd.

Calkins Rd.

W. Court St

W. Corunna Rd.

Lennon Rd.

Flushing Rd.

Main St.

23

23

475

475

75

75

75

6969

691

310

12

18

2627

17

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Genesee Rd.

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15

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15

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22

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LINDeN


Mount Morris Rd.

Carpenter Rd.

Coldwater Rd.

Bristol Rd.


Oregon St.

Clark Rd.

Davison Rd.

Rich�eld Rd.

Court St.

Bristol Rd.

Miller Rd.

Atherton Rd.

Maple Rd.

Grand Blanc Rd.

Hill Rd

Thompson Rd.

Maple St.

Holly Rd.

Dort H

wy.

Dort Hwy.

Irish Rd.

State Rd.

Elba Rd.

Center Rd.

Genesee Rd.

Clio Rd.

Elms Rd.

Elms Rd.

Seymour Rd.

Mill St.

Linden Rd.

Gr. Trav.

Saginaw St.

State Rd.

Belsay Rd.

Saginaw St.

Fenton Rd.

N. Leroy St.

Linden Rd.


Grange Hall Rd.

Pierson Rd.

Beecher Rd.

Calkins Rd.

W. Court St

W. Corunna Rd.

Lennon Rd.

Flushing Rd.

Main St.

23

23

475

475

75

75

75

6969

691

310

12

18

2627

17

29

45 46

47

484950

44

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Genesee Rd.

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24

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15

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22

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FeNTON


Mount Morris Rd.

Carpenter Rd.

Coldwater Rd.

Bristol Rd.


Oregon St.

Clark Rd.

Davison Rd.

Rich�eld Rd.

Court St.

Bristol Rd.

Miller Rd.

Atherton Rd.

Maple Rd.

Grand Blanc Rd.

Hill Rd

Thompson Rd.

Maple St.

Holly Rd.

Dort H

wy.

Dort Hwy.

Irish Rd.

State Rd.

Elba Rd.

Center Rd.

Genesee Rd.

Clio Rd.

Elms Rd.

Elms Rd.

Seymour Rd.

Mill St.

Linden Rd.

Gr. Trav.

Saginaw St.

State Rd.

Belsay Rd.

Saginaw St.

Fenton Rd.

N. Leroy St.

Linden Rd.


Grange Hall Rd.

Pierson Rd.

Beecher Rd.

Calkins Rd.

W. Court St

W. Corunna Rd.

Lennon Rd.

Flushing Rd.

Main St.

23

23

475

475

75

75

75

6969

691

310

12

18

2627

17

29

45 46

47

484950

44

13

56

9 111415

16

52

53

4

19

20

37

3840

4243

54

55

41

21

23,34

31

35

3657

3025

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39

5

8

6

7

Genesee Rd.

69

24

15

15

15

51

15

15

2

22

24, 28,33

2, 5,8

MONTrOSeVienna Rd. Vienna Rd. Vienna Rd.

Mount Morris Rd.

Carpenter Rd.

Coldwater Rd.

Bristol Rd.


Oregon St.

Clark Rd.

Davison Rd.

Rich�eld Rd.

Court St.

Bristol Rd.

Miller Rd.

Atherton Rd.

Maple Rd.

Grand Blanc Rd.

Hill Rd

Thompson Rd.

Maple St.

Holly Rd.

Dort H

wy.

Dort Hwy.

Irish Rd.

State Rd.

Elba Rd.

Center Rd.

Genesee Rd.

Clio Rd.

Elms Rd.

Elms Rd.

Seymour Rd.

Mill St.

Linden Rd.

Gr. Trav.

Saginaw St.

State Rd.

Belsay Rd.

Saginaw St.

Fenton Rd.

N. Leroy St.

Linden Rd.


Grange Hall Rd.

Pierson Rd.

Beecher Rd.

Calkins Rd.

W. Court St

W. Corunna Rd.

Lennon Rd.

Flushing Rd.

Main St.

23

23

475

475

75

75

75

6969

691

310

12

18

2627

17

29

45 46

47

484950

44

13

56

9 111415

16

52

53

4

19

20

37

3840

4243

54

55

41

21

23,34

31

35

3657

3025

32

39

5

8

6

7

Genesee Rd.

69

24

15

15

15

51

15

15

2

22

24, 28,33

2, 5,8

CLIO


Mount Morris Rd.

Carpenter Rd.

Coldwater Rd.

Bristol Rd.


Oregon St.

Clark Rd.

Davison Rd.

Rich�eld Rd.

Court St.

Bristol Rd.

Miller Rd.

Atherton Rd.

Maple Rd.

Grand Blanc Rd.

Hill Rd

Thompson Rd.

Maple St.

Holly Rd.

Dort H

wy.

Dort Hwy.

Irish Rd.

State Rd.

Elba Rd.

Center Rd.

Genesee Rd.

Clio Rd.

Elms Rd.

Elms Rd.

Seymour Rd.

Mill St.

Linden Rd.

Gr. Trav.

Saginaw St.

State Rd.

Belsay Rd.

Saginaw St.

Fenton Rd.

N. Leroy St.

Linden Rd.


Grange Hall Rd.

Pierson Rd.

Beecher Rd.

Calkins Rd.

W. Court St

W. Corunna Rd.

Lennon Rd.

Flushing Rd.

Main St.

23

23

475

475

75

75

75

6969

691

310

12

18

2627

17

29

45 46

47

484950

44

13

56

9 111415

16

52

53

4

19

20

37

3840

4243

54

55

41

21

23,34

31

35

3657

3025

32

39

5

8

6

7

Genesee Rd.

69

24

15

15

15

51

15

15

2

22

24, 28,33

2, 5,8

DaVISON

Last Updated 2013


OW, what a weekend! After 12-plus months of

emails, planning, and hard work, the Mission of

Mercy took place at Ferris State University, Big

Rapids on May 29–June 1, 2014.

If you were there, then I don’t need to tell you what a

great time was had by all. The semi-truck of equipment was

dropped off on Wednesday, and at 7 am Thursday morning

it was opened for setup. As locals from the Big Rapids area

joined dental team members and MDA dentists from across

the state, the setup was complete by early afternoon. The first

patient, Dwayne Dallas, arrived about 8 pm Wednesday night!

I offered to take Dallas home and bring him back on

Thursday afternoon. He was coming from ten miles South

in Standwood and took four days off work to get his teeth

fixed. As I introduced myself, Dallas was eating nuts and had

a case of water under his chair. He sheepishly put his nuts

away and said,”Don’t let the nuts fool you, I am only eating

on two good teeth. I have been waiting months for this clinic

to come. I have wanted to get my teeth fixed for a while, but

couldn’t afford it on a cook’s salary. I don’t qualify for help

from the state because I don’t have any kids.” I can truly say

Dallas was not there for a free handout – he volunteered for

setup all day Thursday (we promised to hold his spot) and

after all the dental work was completed, Dallas volunteered

Saturday afternoon for cleaning up! Dallas received over

$2,600 in dental treatment including extractions, fillings,

and flippers. Dallas told me when he left that this was a life-

changing event, and he was thankful to all involved. And to

think he received a flier from a friend and saw it on Facebook!

For most volunteers, the next morning started between

4:30-5:30 am on Friday. For a few lucky souls, myself includ-

ed, the morning started at 3 am. This year we received a

$5,000 grant from Osceola County Community Foundation

to feed patients while they waited. Volunteers served food

such as yogurt from Yoplait (who made a cash donation), to

hot hotdogs and chips from Frito-Lay (who donated chips),

and water from Ice Mountain (who also donated). The line

was over 200 people long by 4 am that morning – people

arrived from all over the state! I talked with patients through-

out the weekend from Wayne County to Cheboygan to Three

Rivers – and everywhere in between. Although this MOM was

held in a rural area of Big Rapids, it didn’t stop people from

coming to get relief from pain and fix their smiles.

Saturday morning was much the same. We had great

weather that made it easier on volunteers and patients alike.

With the help 1,164 volunteers (including 170 dentists), we

saw 858 patients for a grand donation of over $847,000! This

was the biggest volunteer project our most northern county

of WMDDS has every seen, and with the help of volunteers

like many of you it was very successful. By Sunday, June 1

at noon, the entire clinic was packed up and everyone was

heading home. Many had changed lives, both patients and

volunteers alike.

If you are interested in seeing more on this event, go to

YouTube and search “Mission of Mercy 2014.” This MOM

Project was also mentioned in local newspapers, newscasts

such as WZZM 13, and Detroit News for over two weeks after

the event. There are Facebook postings, including one from a

Big Rapids native on the MDA Facebook page. Our presence

was noticed by several legislators and other important public

figures. With all that was accomplished, we even have a sur-

plus to pass on to the next mission!

Now that my reign as WMDDS president is over and I have

completed my other duties as local lead for the mission, I am

picking up my “other” mom duty with my daughter, Lexi. I

am sure wherever the next MOM is held, you will see volun-

teers from WMDDS and especially from the Big Rapids area!

THANK YOU, WMDDS for all the support. It was nice to see

West Michigan shine all over the state. I hope to see you in

2016 at the next Mission of Mercy!

W

M I S S I O N O F M E R C Y

Working MOMBy Margaret S. Gingrich, D.D.S.


M I S S I O N O F M E R C Y

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act: Dental caries represents the number one chronic

infectious disease of early childhood.

In our community, the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital

(HDVCH) Pediatric Clinic cares for approximately 10,000

children, with the majority receiving health insurance through

Medicaid plans. Due to a number of complex factors, although

the recommendation is that children be seen for their first

dental visit six months after first tooth eruption or no later

than 12 months of age, most children in this population are

not evaluated by a dentist until they are much older. An initial

visit and caries diagnosis delayed until the age of 3 or 4 often

requires a more invasive restorative approach and the benefit

of prevention and early intervention is lost.

Evidence is showing a 37% decrease* in caries for children

at high risk who receive prophylactic fluoride varnish appli-

cation to primary teeth. As children in the 0-3 age group see

a physician at greater frequency than they do a dentist, to

improve the oral health of young children and decrease early

childhood caries, the Michigan Department of Community

Health VARNISH! Program provides education on varnish

application and supplies fluoride varnish to Medicaid medical

providers (pediatricians and family practitioners).

In 2013, the Michigan Department of Community Health

accepted the HDVCH Pediatric Clinic as a site for this pre-

ventive varnish program. Managed by Dr. Karen VanderLaan,

fifty-eight pediatric and internal medicine/pediatric resident

physicians and ten attending pediatricians completed the var-

nish educational program and last December, began applying

fluoride varnish to children beginning at nine months of age.

Varnish continues to be applied at all well-child visits (two-four

times a year) until the child reaches three years of age. Prior

to each application of varnish, a caries risk assessment and

screening for signs of dental decay is completed; proper refer-

ral to a dental home is made for children with apparent caries.

Dr. VanderLaan reports families have been receptive to

this oral health service since its inception. The benefits of the

program include an oral screening, parent/caregiver educa-

tion about decreasing exposure to sugary containing liquids

and foods, emphasis on promoting increased water intake,

and oral hygiene instruction on brushing twice daily with an

appropriate amount of fluoridated toothpaste.

Medicaid medical providers participating in the VARNISH!

Program are required to collect certain oral screening data on

each child that receives a varnish application. This data will be

used by the Michigan Department of Community Health for

the enhancement of future oral health programs in Michigan.

* Fluoride varnishes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents.

Retrieved May 15, 2014, from http://summaries.cochrane.org/CD002279/

fluoride-varnishes-for-preventing-dental-caries-in-children-and-adolescents

F

C O M M U N I T Y N E W S

HDVCH Pediatric Clinic Fluoride Varnish ProjectBy Colette Smiley, D.D.S.

Karen S. VanderLaan, MD Pediatrics

& Pediatric Neurofibromatosis,

Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital

WEST MICHIGAN DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY | HOLIDAY ISSUE 2013 21

reGistratioN Forms will be maileD 2 moNtHs prior to eaCH Course aND will also be available oNliNe at www.wmDDs.orG.

2 0 1 4 – 2 0 1 5 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

F r i Day, J a N u a r y 1 6 , 2 0 1 5

TEN MiNuTEs To savE a LifE: EMErgENcy MEdiciNE iN dENTisTrypresented by Dr. stanley malamed

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park | Registration 7:30 — 8:00 AM | Seminar 8:00 AM — 4:00 PM | 7 CEU’s

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

F r i Day, o C t o b e r 2 4 , 2 0 1 4

dr. farraN’s oNE day dENTaL MBa sEMiNar: you wENT To dENTaL schooL, Now dr. farraN TEachEs you aNd

your sTaff ThE BusiNEss of dENTisTrypresented by Dr. Howard Farran



F r i Day, m a r C H 1 3 , 2 0 1 5

succEssfuL MaNagEMENT of acuTE dENTaL PaiN aNd

MaNagiNg ThE ENdodoNTic iNfEcTioNpresented by Dr. Ken Hargreaves



(*fulfills 1 hour pain management credit needed for license renewal)


Call 1-800-718-1007, ext. 9191www.profsolutions.com

www.profsolutions.com/dentalquote

Scan or Visit

FIND OUT WITH AN INSTANT RATE QUOTE

FROM PSIC.

Malpractice insurance is underwritten by Professional Solutions Insurance Company.

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beautiful, warm, sunny day greeted 106 golfers on

Friday, June 6th at Egypt Valley Country Club for

the West Michigan Dental Foundation’s annual

golf outing. It was a perfect day for golf ! This year, the golf

committee decided to try a new format with a 9:00 am shot-

gun start and it was very well-received. As golfers arrived,

they could assemble their own Bloody Mary at the “Rise and

Shine” Bloody Mary bar and enjoy a continental breakfast. At

9:00, the golfers spread out across the Ridge course where a

fantastic 18 holes of golf was had by all. Following their round

of golf, everyone gathered in the clubhouse for lunch, awards,

and the raffle prize drawing. This is the WMDF’s largest fun-

draiser, raising over $19,000 at this year’s event.

Thank you to the WMDF golf committee, chaired by

Dr. Mike Palaszek. Also serving on the committee were Dr.

Larissa Bishop, Mr. Jim Ditta, Dr. Matt Gietzen, Dr. Tim

Meade, Dr. Ken Mulder, Dr. Devin Norman, Dr. Mark Powell,

and Dr. Ryan Zolman.

Helping to make the outing a success were GRCC dental

assisting students who worked contest holes and sold raffle

tickets. Thanks too to Renee Biggs, Sara Van Horn, and Lisa

Israels who expertly managed registration, sold raffle tickets,

and manned the Hole-in-One hole.

A special thank you to the sponsors who made this year’s

outing such a success:

Lunch sponsor ($2500)Davis Dental Laboratory

On course beverage sponsor ($2,300)Bredeweg & Zylstra LLC

Eagle sponsors ($1,000)Grand Management

Grand River Endodontics – Dr. Sarah Masterson

Grandville Endodontics – Dr. Brian Licari

Great Lakes Financial Insurance Company – Molly Murray

Mac Dental Lab – Bob Mac Tavish

OMSA of Western Michigan, P.L.C.

Oral Surgery Associates

Patterson Dental Suppy

Swan Orthodontics – Dr. Kathryn Swan

West Michigan Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, PC

WMDF Golf Outing Submitted by Dr. Mike Palaszek, Chairperson, 2014 WMDF Golf Committee

A

W M D F N E W S

Birdie Sponsors ($500)Bank of Holland

Caldwell & Christopherson Orthodontics

Chase Bank

DDS Integration

Founders Bank & Trust

Grandville Dental Health Care Center – Dr. Larissa Bishop

Henry Schein Dental

Dr. Bruce Jackson

MDA Insurance MDA Services

Norman Family Dentistry

Dr. Thomas Nykamp

Partners in Dental Care, PC

Dr. Mark Powell

Professional Consulting and Accounting Group, Inc.

Major Patron Sponsors ($250)Dental Art Laboratories

Herremans Orthodontics

Dr. Jacob Lueder

Valleau and VanDeven Pediatric Dentistry

The following golf courses also donated golf packages:

Gleneagle • Ironside • Maple Hill• Pilgrim’s Run •

The Meadows • The Rogue • Saskatoon • Treetops

Here is a list of event winners:Men’s Scramble: Devin Norman, Matt Peal, Tom Williams,

Andy Knowlton

Women’s Scramble: Elizabeth Christopherson, Heather

Gietzen, Sarah Masterson, Hilary Lane

Play Your Own Ball: Gary Mancewicz, Steve Mancewicz,

Kim Jones, Scott Bolkema

Longest Drive – Men’s: Jared Van Ittersun

Longest Drive – Women’s: Juli Wemmer

Closest to the Pin #3: Brad Bruinsma

Closest to the Pin #6: Dale Shoemaker

Closest to the Pin #15: Steve Mancewicz

Closest to the Pin #17: Don Vander Linde

Watch for an announcement about the 2015 golf outing in

a future issue of the WMDDS Bulletin or at wmdds.org.


he Steel Water Award is presented to a non-dentist

who has made significant contributions to dentistry

and the West Michigan dental community. This

year’s award was presented at the WMDDS summer board

meeting on June 25th to Dr. Doug Mack.

Dr. Doug Mack received his MD from Loma Linda

University and became a Medical Examiner in 1968. He

received his Master’s in Public

Health from the University of

Michigan in 1971.

Doug’s involvements have

included academic appoint-

ments at Michigan State

University, the University

of California Davis, and the

University of Michigan.

He has been the Director of

Public Health in the Branch-

Hillsdale-St. Joseph District

Health Department, the

Merced County California

Department, and Kent County

Health Department where he

was not only the Director of

Public Health, but also the

Chief Medical Examiner from

1977-79 and 1983-2001.

Doug’s professional activities

include pages of appointments,

committees, and involvement

on the National, State, and

local levels where he has served all of us with his leadership,

his vision, and his heart. He served two terms on the Michigan

State Board of Medicine from 1992-1999.

As our top public health officer, Doug was always very

supportive of the Adult Dental Services Program. During his

watch, the AIDS crisis was in full swing and this crisis needed

to be met by the public health community. Policy issues,

treatment and care issues, and a myriad of other things had

to be developed on the national, state, and local levels. Doug

was very involved with all of this at all levels and he was always

sensitive to the fact that dental care was an important part of

2014 Steel Water Award Winner: Doug Mack, MD Submitted by Dr. Jim Wieland

T

S T E E L W A T E R A W A R D

this challenge. Locally, Doug consistently supported dental

representation in this process. We had a seat at the table.

What about the man Doug Mack? Have any of you ever been

on Mount Everest? Well, Doug has – and he has also climbed

the highest peak on every continent including Antarctica.

The only highest peak he did not reach is Everest, and that is

because he and another climber had to save the life of an uncon-

scious French climber who

had developed brain edema.

Additionally, how many of

you have run a marathon in

Antarctica? Well Doug has,

but he has also run a marathon

in every other continent.

Somehow, Doug found

time to serve on the first

Fluoride Commemorative

Committee, and when fun-

draising floundered and our

committee also failed in its

efforts to make this celebration

national and international,

Doug almost single-handedly

turned that around by get-

ting his compatriots at the

CDC in Atlanta involved. We

were almost ready to fold up

our tent when Doug said to

the committee, “We cannot let

this die. We are the only com-

munity in the world that can

have this commemorative celebration.”

When all was said and done, Grand Rapids had a truly

international symposium and unveiling of the commemora-

tive. There was a good representation of dentists and public

health officials from Europe, Asia, South America, and North

America.

For all of Dr. Mack’s contributions, it is only fitting that

the WMDDS give the Steel Water Award to Doug for all of

his service to our community, and specifically our dental

community.


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

like car examples, so let’s all imagine hopping into our

car and driving down the road on a nice summer day.

Pretty easy so far, right? Let’s next imagine our check

engine light comes on and the car starts to chug, at first just

a little, then so much that you decide to pull over and give

that little light your full attention. Next comes popping the

hood, checking for obvious problems, and ultimately calling

for a tow truck. Remember that nice summer day? It’s pretty

much over now.

Let’s rewind a bit. The Check engine light comes on, your

car starts chugging, and then suddenly the light goes off and

the car starts running great again. Just as you’re wondering

what in the world just happened, your phone buzzes. You

check it (after pulling over for safety obviously) and your

mechanic has just emailed you to let you know your car’s

Engine Control Unit was receiving strange data from the

Mass Airflow sensor, so he reset it. The details you don’t really

care about, just the last part of his email that says “Your car

notified me, I logged in and fixed it, and just wanted to let

you know. I’ll keep an eye on it”. You continue on your jour-

ney to the golf course and wish your golf swing had a magic

mechanic like your car.

If your imagination is like mine, the second scenario was

much nicer. While this type of technology may eventually be

making its way into cars, this article is really about comput-

ers. The computers in your practice impact your ability to

take x-rays, schedule patients, process payments, check face

… insurance coverage, and ultimately, to meet production. I

would ask you to imagine the same scenario as above except

with a computer in your practice but I don’t need to. You’ve

been there. It’s not fun. You’d probably prefer the car scenario.

The point is, this type of technology that actively reports

on what your computer is doing does actually exist and can

do amazing things. Not long ago, cost was prohibitive except

for large enterprise level networks but now it is affordable and

cost effective in dental practices, especially compared with the

“call when it’s broken” model. Getting your IT company in

the loop on what is happening with your computers in real

time means less downtime, less hassle and wasted time for

staff, and ultimately, far less reactionary cost. Just like the car

scenario above, often times the problems will be detected and

solved before you even know it. Imagine that.

More and more companies are beginning to offer these

proactive services, because the value makes sense for their

clients. Proactive services can minimize and regulate IT costs.

Why? Big problems cost big money. Getting your IT costs into

a structured plan helps keep costs consistent and predictable.

Additionally, when your IT company is providing proactive

services for its clients, it frees them up to be more available to

you. Proactive work (think scheduled hygiene appointments)

are much more predictable and easier to schedule than reac-

tive work (think emergency appointments) Here’s what to

look for in a plan like this:

Active monitoring for:

• Memory & CPU usage

• Virus detections

• Added or removed software

• Low disk space

Software patch management (updates) for:

• Microsoft

• Adobe (Acrobat & Flash)

• Java

Other items

• Data backup monitoring

• Quarterly on-site maintenance

• Quarterly staff training

• Mobile device tracking/locking/recovery assistance

What are your thoughts?Comment on our blog or facebook article. We’d love to hear

your opinions. How do you feel about your check engine light?

Facebook: facebook.com/ddsintegration

Blog: ddsintegration.com/blog

Fixed Before It’s BrokenSubmitted by Greg Feutz, President, DDS Integration

Greg Feutz is President of

DDS Integration, a

Grand Rapids based dental

technology company.

I


Beyond Traditional AssetClasses: Exploring AlternativesBy Bernard Bowhuis, CLU, ChFc, CFP®, CEO, Benchmark Financial Design Group, Inc.

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

tocks, bonds, and cash are fundamental components of an investment portfolio. However, many other investments can be used to try to spice up returns or

reduce overall portfolio risk. So-called alternative assets have become popular in recent years as a way to provide greater diversification.

What is an alternative asset?The term “alternative asset” is highly flexible; it can mean almost anything whose investment performance is not cor-related with that of stocks and bonds. It may include physical assets, such as precious metals, real estate, or commodities. In some cases, geographic regions, such as emerging global markets, are considered alternative assets. Complex or novel investing methods also qualify. For example, hedge funds use techniques that are off-limits for most mutual funds, while private equity investments rely on skill in selecting and managing specific businesses. Finally, collectibles are included because the value of your investment depends on the unique properties of a specific item as well as general interest in that type of collectible.

Each alternative asset type involves its own unique risks and may not be suitable for all investors. Because of the com-plexities of these various markets, you would do well to seek expert guidance if you want to include alternative assets in a portfolio.

Hedge fundsHedge funds are private investment vehicles that manage money for institutions and wealthy individuals. They gener-ally are organized as limited partnerships, with the fund man-agers as general partners and the investors as limited partners. The general partner may receive a percentage of the assets, fees based on performance, or both.

Hedge funds originally derived their name from their ability to hedge against a market downturn by selling short. Though they may invest in stocks and bonds, hedge funds are considered an alternative asset class because of their unique, proprietary investing strategies, which may include pairs trad-ing, long-short strategies, and use of leverage and derivatives. Participation in hedge funds is typically limited to “accredited investors,” who must meet SEC-mandated high levels of net worth and ongoing income (individual funds also usually require very high minimum investments).

Private equity/venture capitalLike stock shares, private equity and venture capital represent an ownership interest in one or more companies, but firms that make private equity investments may or may not be listed or traded on a public market or exchange. Private equity firms often are involved directly with management of the businesses in which they invest.

Private equity often requires a long-term focus. Investments may take years to produce any meaningful cash flow (if indeed they ever do); many funds have 10-year time horizons and you may not have access to your funds when you want them. Like hedge funds, private equity also typically requires a large investment and is available only to investors who meet SEC net worth and income requirements.

Real estateYou may make either direct or indirect investments in build-ings – either commercial or residential – and/or land. Direct investment involves the purchase, improvement, and/or rental of property. Indirect investments are made through an entity that invests in property, such as a real estate invest-ment trust (REIT), which may be either publicly traded or not. Real estate not only has a relatively low correlation with the behavior of the stock market, but also is often viewed as a hedge against inflation. However, bear in mind that physical real estate can be highly illiquid, may involve more work on your part to manage, and may be subject to weather hazards, rezoning or other factors that can reduce the value of your property. The value of a REIT will depend not only on fluc-tuations in the value of its real estate holdings – it’s subject to the risks associated with the real estate market in general – but on investor sentiment and market volatility. Also, some types of REITS are considered more illiquid than others, which could mean problems if you need to sell quickly.

S



Precious metalsInvestors have traditionally purchased precious metals because they believe that gold, silver, and platinum provide security in times of economic and social upheaval. Gold, for instance, has historically been seen as an alternative to paper currency and therefore may help hedge against inflation and currency fluctuations. As a result, gold prices often rise when investors are worried that the dollar is losing value, though prices can fall just as quickly.

There are many ways to invest in precious metals. In addi-tion to buying bullion or coins, you can invest in futures, shares of mining companies, sector funds, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Natural resources/equipment leasingDirect investments in natural resources, such as timber, oil, or natural gas, can be done through limited partnerships that provide income from the resources produced. In some cases, such as timber, the resource replenishes itself; in other cases, such as oil or natural gas, it may be depleted over time. Timberland also may be converted for use as a real estate development. Some limited partnerships pool your money with that of other investors to invest in equipment leasing businesses, giving you partial ownership of the equipment those businesses lease out, such as construction equipment.

Commodities and financial futuresCommodities are physical substances that are fundamental to creating other products and are basically indistinguishable from one another. Examples include oil and natural gas; agri-cultural products; livestock such as hogs; and metals such as copper and zinc.

Commodities are typically traded through futures con-tracts, which promise delivery on a certain date at a speci-fied price. Futures contracts also are available for financial instruments, such as a security, a stock index, or a currency. Though the futures market was created to facilitate trading among companies that produce, own, or use commodities in their businesses, futures contracts also are bought and sold as investments in themselves, and some mutual funds and ETFs are based on futures indexes.

Futures allow an investor to leverage a relatively small amount of capital. However, they are highly speculative, and that leverage also magnifies the potential for loss.

Art, antiques, gems, and collectiblesSome investors are drawn to these because they may retain value or even appreciate as inflation rises. However, those values can be unpredictable because they are affected by sup-ply and demand, economic conditions, and the quality of an individual piece or collection.

Why invest in alternative asset classes?Part of sound portfolio management is diversifying invest-ments so that if one type of investment is performing poorly, another may be doing well. As previously indicated, returns on some alternative investments are based on factors unique to a specific investment. Also, the asset class as a whole may behave differently from stocks or bonds.

An alternative asset’s lack of correlation with other types of investments gives it potential to complement more traditional asset classes and provide an additional layer of diversification for money that is not part of your core portfolio, though diversification cannot guarantee a profit or ensure against a loss.

Tradeoffs you need to understandAlternative assets can be less liquid than stock or bonds. Depending on the investment, there may be restrictions on when you can sell, and you may or may not be able to find a buyer. Performance, values, and risks may be difficult to research and assess accurately. Also, you may not be eligible for direct investment in hedge funds or private equity.

The unique properties of alternative asset classes also mean that they can involve a high degree of risk. Because some are subject to less regulation than other investments, there may be fewer constraints to prevent potential manipulation or to limit risk from highly concentrated positions in a single investment. Finally, hard assets, such as gold bullion, may involve special concerns, such as storage and insurance, while natural resources and commodities can suffer from unusual weather or natural disasters.

Securities offered through Founders Financial Securities LLCMember FINRA/SIPC and Registered Investment Advisor

Benchmark Financial Design Group, Inc.Bernard Bowhuis, CLU, ChFC, CFP®, CEO2358 S. Garden Ct., Jenison, MI 49428616.667.8834 | [email protected] | www.ddsMoneyCoach.com



he IRS releases their “Dirty Dozen Tax Scams” to be on the lookout for at the start of each new tax season. This year it seems doctors and dentists were

hit hard by the number one tax scam – Identity Theft. The issue was so prevalent among the dental community that it prompted the Michigan Dental Association (MDA) and the American Dental Association (ADA) to send out email noti-fications to their members. According to an article published by the Associated Press in early May, nearly 100 doctors in Connecticut, 150 health care providers in New Hampshire and Vermont, and more than 300 dentists in Michigan claimed to be victims of tax identity theft.

If you were a victim of tax identity theft this year, you’re probably asking yourself, “how could this happen to me?” According to a U.S. Department of Justice article published in December 2013, approximately 16.6 million individuals, or 7% of all U.S. Residents over the age of 16, were victims of some form of identity theft in 2012. A majority of these cases (77%) involved the unauthorized use or attempted use of a credit card or bank account. Unfortunately, there has been an uptick in tax identity theft cases. According to IRS com-missioner John Koskinen, “Identity theft is one of the fast-est growing crimes nationwide, and refund fraud caused by identity theft is one of the biggest challenges facing the IRS.”

If you’ve been notified that you may have been a victim of tax identity theft, there are a few steps you need to take: 1. Notify your accountant and they will prepare an Identity

Theft Affidavit Form 14039, which will be attached to a paper filing of your return. The affidavit will inform the IRS that you have been a victim of identity theft, which has affected your federal tax records. You will be required to attach your social security card or photo identification.

2. Once the IRS processes your tax return, you will receive a notice assigning you an Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IPPIN). This number will be

required when filing future tax returns to verify that the return belongs to you. The IPPIN number is only good for one year and a new one will be issued annually as long as the Identity Theft Indicator is on your account.

There are additional steps that should be considered, as well:• Notify the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and file an

Identity Theft Report.• Contact the IRS Identity Theft Protection Unit.• Contact the three credit reporting agencies: Equifax,

Experian, and TransUnion.• Contact your bank and credit card companies.• Notify local authorities and consider filing a police report

using the FTC’s Identity Theft Report.

If you haven’t been the target of Identity Theft, or if you’re recovering from being a victim, consider taking these proac-tive measures:

• Create strong passwords for all of your computing devic-es, including your cell phone, and change them often.

• Exercise discretion when sharing information on social media. A number of individuals post personal informa-tion such as date of birth, address, and telephone number on social media outlets, which can then be used to crack security questions.

• Make sure you store your sensitive documents in a secure place. Items like birth certificates and social security cards should be stored in a safe or safety deposit box at the bank.

• Shred documents that include banking or other personal information when they are no longer of use.

• Check your credit report. You are entitled to a free credit report each year. Make the time to request it and check the activity.

• Never respond to emails requesting personal informa-tion. The IRS will never communicate or request personal information via unsolicited email.

Remember, if you’re a victim of Identity Theft, you’re not alone. The sooner you report the incident the better.

Connect with Brian LaFrenier on LinkedIn at: www.linkedin.com/in/blafyLike Beene Garter on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BeeneGarterFollow Beene Garter on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/BeeneGarter

Help! I’ve Been a Victim of Tax Identity TheftBrian LaFrenier, CPA, Audit Partner, Beene Garter, LLP

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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

Since the official launch of our Smile Design same-day crown/bridge/veneer program at the MDA Expo, dentists who have prescribed the program for their patients are suggesting that our CAD/CAM e.max restorations have the esthetics and fit of pressed e.max. Experience Smile Design for your patients and yourself.

Eliminate temporizing and experience perfect fitting restorations Transition your practice to digital impressions and achieve precision Double your chair-time profit versus conventional restorative methods Powdering not required with Sirona Omnicam digital impressioning Differentiate your practice and drive patient acceptance Reduce and eliminate post restorative tooth sensitivity

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Smile Design Case of the Month:

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

Part Time Associate Dentist – Well

established dental office located

approximately one hour north of

Grand Rapids in White Cloud is seek-

ing an energetic, motivated dentist

to join our busy office. We provide

quality dentistry and many advanced

procedures such as implants, soft and

hard tissue grafts, implant borne pros-

thetics, sinus augmentation, CT scan

analysis, third molar surgery, ortho-

dontics and endodontics. This is a

great opportunity to provide advanced

dental services to patients who don’t

care to drive to the big city. We are

happy to work with a young dentist

just getting started or with a more

seasoned dentist. This position is for

1-2 days a week with the possibility

of progressing to partnership or

buyout. Please submit resume to

[email protected].

Dental Office Building for Sale –

1600 square feet on very high traffic

street. Has been a dental office since

1960. Very large signage. Free stand-

ing building with its own parking lot.

Brick exterior. Remodeled in 2010,

new roof 2010, high efficiency furnace/

AC 2009. Four equipped ops, dark

room, lab/sterilization area, reception,

business office, staff room, private

office, basement and a lot more. Will

be great for starting a new office or

relocating your office if you want to

own your building. Please contact

[email protected], or Michael R. Gantos,

Gantos Group LLC, at 616.957.5500

or email [email protected].

For Sale – Lab Master Foster Model

Trimmer, Model # MT115, like new

$400. Contact 616.949.7510.

Busy, high tech general practice in beautiful Grand Haven searching for general dentist – Ideal candidate

would have 2 to 5 years of experience,

work well in a group setting, and

enjoy all phases of dentistry including

extractions and endo. Position is for a

short associateship and a lifetime part-

nership. We also value someone who

likes to be involved in our commu-

nity. Enjoy coastal living, a great staff

and wonderful patients. Please fax

your resume to 616.842.0955 or email

[email protected].

Dental Office Space for Lease/

Possible Buyin – 2554 Woodmeadow

Drive, SE (near Breton and 28th

Street), 1300 sq. ft., 4 ops, private

office, lab, reception, staff lounge, full

basement with lockable storage, excel-

lent parking, plumbed for dentistry

and cabled for digital dentistry. Three

other dental suites in an all dental

building. Very competitive lease rate.

Available April 2014. For more infor-

mation, email [email protected]

or call 616.401.5134.

Immediate opening for an associate

dentist in the Grand Rapids area. We

are an up-to-date, modern office that

is completely paperless. Our office

performs all aspects of general and

cosmetic dentistry. Email your resume

to [email protected].

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.

Exciting Opportunities for Dentists

in the Grand Rapids Area – Help

enhance the quality of life for chil-

dren by providing a positive dental

experience right in the school setting.

Excellent compensation. Monday-

Friday. No weekends. For more

information or to apply:

www.smileprograms.com.

For Sale – Family practice in Grand

Rapids NE that is part time with great

potential, located in an excellent high-

visibility location. There is 2050 sq.ft.

with 5 ops and a 6th op is plumbed

in. Opportunity for more footage if

desired. Call 616.485.4884 for details.

Seeking full-time employment in a

West Michigan general practice office

to contribute immediately to the suc-

cess of an office with a willingness to

work nights/weekends to help bolster

production and practice availability, as

well as generate new patients. I have a

desire to be included within the prac-

tice’s leadership team to contribute to

decision making, developing strate-

gies for practice growth, and to sup-

port team development and morale.

I’ve been consistently regarded as

responsible, personable, a producer,

positive, professional, and upbeat. I

am currently in a hospital based GPR

and am comfortable with all aspects of

dentistry, including endodontics and

surgery. For a copy of my resume and

to discuss possible opportunities in-

detail, please contact me at grapdds@

gmail.com or call 989-225-0753.


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

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!

Beene Garter ......................................29

DBS Companies ................................31

DDS Integration .... outside back cover

Davis Dental

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

Founders Bank & Trust ....................19

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

Hungerford Nichols ...........................3

Lake Michigan Credit Union .............5

MDA IFG ...........................................15

Professional Solutions ......................22

Studio 2 Dental .................................29

A D V E R T I S E R I N D E XKavo Handpieces for Sale –

6000B have 5 at $400/handpiece,

6500B have 6 at $400/ handpiece,



649B have 2 at $200/handpiece.

Call 616-453-6323.

Panoramic x-ray unit (Gendex GX

Pan. 70-98KVp. Film Size 5” x 12”)

for Sale – Was in a good working

order when disassembled by dental

technicians. No longer needed.

Asking $2000 O.B.O. Please email

to [email protected].

Bay City, MI Main Office 800-327-2377 Dr. Peters, Grand Rapids, MI Direct 616-550-3913 [email protected]

Theodore Schumann, CPA, CFP®Daniel Peters, DDSDonna Rosebush

Accounting, Consulting, Coaching, Investment, and Practice Transitions for the Dental Professional

Dentists who work with DBS Management Consulting experience an increase in profits and a reduced stress load. Call us today to see how we can help you, 800-327-2377.

Ask for Donna, Dan, or Ted Sr.

WMDDS 2.30.2014 Ad - Dan Ted Donna Highlight.indd 1 2/28/2014 4:43:56 AM


Scheduled Events

8:00 a.m. CE Course Check-In8:30 a.m. CE Course – Pain Management 10:00 a.m. Golf Check-In PGA Pro Massage Therapist Lunch11:30 a.m. Shotgun Start Scramble Format3:30 p.m. Cocktails BBQ Buffet Awards Banquet

Golf Registration Includes

18 Holes on a Private Course, Cart, Gift, PGA Pro, Lunch, Massage Therapist, Beverages, BBQ Buffet Dinner, Raffle & Awards

For additional information, questions, or to register by phone, please contact:

Dawn Maynard at 734-615-2870 or [email protected]

http://www.dent.umich.edu/alumnirelations/home/golfouting

Registrant Information

Name

Address

Phone

Email Address

City State Zip

$175 per individual golfer $700 per foursome

Date and Location

Friday, September 19, 2014

Polo Fields – Washtenaw2955 Packard RoadYpsilanti, MI 48197734-434-2150

17th Annual Alumni & Friends Golf Classicand Optional Continuing Education Course

Registration DeadlineAugust 15, 2014

WHEN IS THE LASTTIME A PATIENT BRAGGEDABOUT YOU?ATTRACT NEW PATIENTS WITH PLANSCAN SAME-DAY RESTORATIONS.

SCHEDULE YOUR PLANSCAN DEMONSTRATIONTODAY AND GET A FREE RESTORATION* .With the PlanScan CAD/CAM Restoration System, driven by E4D Technologies, you can produce lab-quality restorations in hours instead of days – with remarkable speed and accuracy, intuitive design software, on-site milling and, of course, no impressions or powders. The resultis a vastly improved restorative process that gives you – and your

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WEST MICHIGAN DENTAL SOCIETY

511-F Waters Building

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE

PAIDGRAND RAPIDS, MI

PERMIT # 657

2014 summer bulletin - wmdds

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