FEBRUARY 2010 VOLUME 11, ISSUE 2 AVAILABLE ONLINE AT TDA.ORG

Inside

TDA Smiles FoundationHealthy Smiles Golf ClassicGreat Grape Chase Southwest Dental ConferenceRecord Attendance at Dallas Conference Texas A&M Health Science Center Recognizes TDA Members Hispanic Dental AssociationTDA Member Named President Evidence-based Tip of the Month

MK’s Board Notes

March Journal News

What is Different in Operative Dentistry?

Dental Burs and Endodontic Files: Are Routine Sterilization Procedures Effective?

A Comparison of Shear Bond Strength on Bleached and Unbleached Bovine Enamel

Around the State

March 5TDA Smiles Foundation Board of Directors meeting, Austin March 26 & 27TDA Board of Directors meeting, Austin April 10TDA Smiles Foundation Fluoride Fest, Goliad April 15 – 17Star of the South Dental Meeting, Houston

Click & Connect

New Third Party Payor topicstda.org/thirdpartypayor February Journal

tda.org/tdapublications

JUNE, 2008 VOLUME 9, ISSUE 6 AVAILABLE ONLINE AT TDA.ORG

InsideMedicaid in My Office?Yes, I Think So!Richard M. Smith, DDS

TDA Smiles FoundationTMOM gains ardent advocate

Ask the PresidentIncoming President’s messageHilton Israelson, DDS

Let’s TalkOutgoing President’s messageA. David May, Jr., DDS

2008-2009 TDA Board of Directors

Meet Your TDA StaffTDA’s new Finance Director Dee Dee Delagarza

Congratulations to TDA Component Societies

Streamline Your Insurance ClaimsSpeeding up confirmation of benefits and eligibility

TSBDE Rule UpdateRequirements for dental office radiograph machines

In the NewsTDA members in the news

July Journal NewsTooth Whitening: A Clinical Review

TDA Historical PerspectivesDentists, dental hygienists, and the dental team

The 2007 C.T. Rowland AwardOrthodontic case report

The El Paso Dental Conference

Around the StateAugust 14:TDA Board MeetingAustin, Texas

October 15-19:ADA Annual SessionSan Antonio, Texas

Click & ConnectUpdate Profile tda.org – Membership Info

Ask a Colleague tda.org – Features

TEXAS Meeting Photostexasmeeting.com/estore

Volunteer for ‘08 ADAtda.org/volunteerada08

Every Member MattersRise’ Lyman, DDS, TDA Future Focus Committee

Membership growth is vital to any thriving organization. The Texas Dental Association (TDA) Board is strongly committed to the Membership goal within the “TDA 2009” strategic plan, which addresses continued growth. I am proud to report that, as evidence of that commitment and for the second year in a row, the TDA received the following ADA awards in 2008:

Greatest Percentage Membership Net Gain: Texas had a net gain of 198 members in the year 2007.Top Constituent Dental Society with Greatest Percentage of Non-Members to Membership: Represents a conversion of 4.7 percent of non-members into membership at end of year 2007.Top Constituent Dental Society to Improve Retention Rate Percentage in 2007: Represents a 97 percent Association retention rate, which is an increase of 7 percent from the previous year.Greatest Percentage of New Dentist Members: Represents a gain of 111 new dentist members (those dentists who are 1-9 years out of school).

Another example of the commitment to the growth of our Association is the TDA Externship Program, which builds student awareness of organized dentistry. This innovative program, created in 2007, offers students the opportunity to gain insight into the different components of organized dentistry including legislative and regulatory affairs, membership, governance, continuing education, and charitable dentistry and to gain a better understanding of their role as future leaders of the dental team. The program is open to dental students from each of the three dental schools in Texas. This year the externship program will take place June 20 – June 27 in Austin at the TDA central office.

As an ongoing effort to enhance the value and benefits of the Association, the TDA Council on Membership developed a survey that was sent to all members in 2006. The results clearly showed that members have a high satisfaction rating with benefits such as the TEXAS Meeting, TDA publications, and the ability to participate philanthropically in the TDA Smiles Foundation. A great number of the discounted programs offered to members through the TDA Perks Program also received a high satisfaction rating. In accordance with the strategic plan, the Council on Membership, will survey members again in 2009.

Participation from all members and a collaborative effort between the ADA, TDA, and local component societies are the keys to successful membership recruitment and retention. We encourage every member to get involved whether it is by attending local meetings, taking part in Give Kids a Smile! Day activities, volunteering at a Texas Mission of Mercy, or participating in TDA Legislative Day activities in Austin. Each member matters and is essential to the continued growth of our Association and of organized dentistry.

This is the seventh and final in a series of articles focused on the TDA’s accomplishments guided by the strategic plan. To view the entire plan, log in at www.tda.org and click on “TDA 2009” under “Current Issues” on the member homepage. For more information, please contact Lyda Creus Molanphy, staff liaison to the Future Focus Committee, at the TDA central office, (512) 443-3675.

MembershipDentists will value membership and participation in the TDA.

Objectives1. Improve perceived value and benefits of membership in TDA.

a. Increase members’ knowledge about the impactb. Ensure that components are an integral aspectc. Create greater awareness of the availability ofd. Actively promote adherence to the Code ofe. Enhance communication with members andf. Build student awareness of and interest ing. Ensure ongoing contact with studentsh. Work closely with dental school faculty.i. Evaluate number of nonmember dentists who

Foundation programs, etc.).Metrics1. Seventy percent of active licensed dentists in TX will

membership retention rate to 97 percent by Aprila-d. Increase the number of dentists serving onparticipation rate of 2-5 percent relative to the total

2. Ninety percent of TX dental school graduatesdental student conversion from the graduating class

3. Increase the number of member dentists actively– participation at TX Meeting, TMOM, TXDDS,report to TDA Board by the Council on

4. Establish baseline of nonmember participation at5. Established baseline of members’ understanding of

Benefits and Services Survey (completed Nov 2006),6. Sixty-five percent of all full-time faculty will be

Mission: To be The Voice of DenTisTry in Texas

Manpower Advocacy OrganizationalExcellence

PublicImage

Development Membership

The TDA will update it’s strategic plan with

In 2003, Texas Dental Association members from across the

The TDA House of Delegates approved TDA’s 5-year strategic plan, “TDA 2014”, in May 2009 and implementation began during the latter half of the year. Following approval, the Future Focus Committee (FFC) distributed the plan to individual councils and committees and staff liaisons asking for input.

In addition, the FFC planned the annual August strategic planning retreat. Prior to last year, this annual retreat was conducted to allow updating of the strategic plan, depending on the current and predicted legislative and economic environment. However, in 2009, with the newly developed strategic plan, members at the retreat addressed elements of “TDA 2014”. Specifically, the purpose of last year’s retreat was to ensure that councils and committees had a forum to study and comment on the metrics assigned by the TDA Board of Directors, and to allow interaction between councils or committees that have joint responsibility for various metrics. Finally, a portion of the August 2009 retreat was devoted to information concerning the development and updating of individual action plans.

The design of “TDA 2014” is a structure made up of goals, objectives, and metrics. The goals are the broadest statements. Objectives are more narrow and specific. Finally, metrics are the specific building blocks that, when completed, build on each other allowing the strategic plan to reach fruition.

In TDA’s strategic plan, metrics are defined as “describing what will be counted or measured to mark progress toward meeting the objectives and usually contain detail in terms of numbers, percentages, dates, etc.” In “TDA 2014”, the metrics are divided into three parts: a measure, a baseline, and a target. The measure portion of the metric describes what will be measured (e.g., the number of legislators with dentist key contacts). The baseline portion indicates the starting level of the item or items to be measured (e.g., 89 percent of legislators currently have key contacts in 2008), and the target portion indicates the ending figure or level and the projected date for attaining that figure or level (e.g., 100 percent of legislators will have dentist key contacts by the end of 2014). The purpose of these metrics is to provide measurements of appropriate variables that are directly related to objectives, thus providing a means to attain the associated objectives and afford a method for tracking progress through the plan.

TDA 2014 Strategic Plan: An Update

Johnny G. Cailleteau, DDS, Chair, TDA Future Focus Committee

The Board of Directors convened this month for a mega discussion on Public Image, a metric in TDA’s strategic plan. Jeff Hunt, principal and co-founder of PulsePoint Group, a communications management consulting firm, presented a PowerPoint and led discussion on branding, social media, and the public image of TDA.

The other topic of the August 2009 retreat was devoted to action plans. These plans, while not strictly a part of the strategic plan, are the engines that drive the association toward completion of metrics, objectives and ultimately the goals of “TDA 2014”. In effect, actions plans are designed to provide step-by-step procedures that detail roles, responsibilities, expected results, specific objectives, and milestones that will lead to accomplishing the metrics within the strategic plan. These action plans are developed by the individual councils and committees based on metrics that were created for each objective. They are the methods by which the metrics can be measured and targets achieved. As stated above they are an essential ingredient for maintaining a successful plan.

The FFC introduced an action planning form and an action plan update or progress form. These forms were designed to aid the councils and committees in allocating personnel and other resources to each project and helping to allow efficient updating of each action plan throughout the year.

Since the August 2009 retreat, the FFC has revised the metrics of the strategic plan based on input from the meeting; the councils and committees have begun developing action plans based on the metrics assigned by the TDA Board of Directors. As always, we depend on our staff liaisons working closely with the chairs of the councils and committees on these action plans; they keep the individual chairs abreast of any changes so that implementation of “TDA 2014” can proceed smoothly.

Finally, we must acknowledge the efforts of a number of groups that have been essential in maintaining a successful strategic plan. First, we are fortunate as an organization to have our TDA staff members who continue to work daily toward meeting the deadlines and sorting through the details of TDA’s strategic plan. In addition, the volunteers of TDA’s councils and committees unselfishly give their time and energy to pursue the goals and objectives of “TDA 2014”. And finally, this could not be undertaken without the support of our TDA Board of Directors and its excellent leadership throughout the years.

For more information on “TDA 2014”, please visit tda.org.

TDAT Feb 10.indd 1 2/16/10 12:35:11 PM

Legislative UpdateOn February 2, 2010, the final Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE) rules went into effect, implementing Senate Bill (SB) 455, TDA’s dental assistant bill. SB 455 amends the Dental Practice Act by allowing Texas dentists to delegate additional duties to dental assistants.

Direct Supervision:• Underdirectsupervision,adentalassistantholdingapit&fissuresealant

certificateissuedbytheTSBDE,mayapplysealants.ThedentistdoesnothavetobeaMedicaidproviderorworkinanunderservedarea.

• Underdirectsupervision,adentalassistantholdingacoronalpolishingcertificate issued by the TSBDE, may perform coronal polishing on all exposed surfaces of the teeth.

• PleasevisittheTSBDEwebsite(www.tsbde.state.tx.us)formore information about the three options for obtaining a coronal polishing certificate. At this time, the following Commission on Dental Accreditation Dental Assisting Programs are offering the TSBDE coronal polishing course: Texas State Technical College — Harlingen, Houston Community College (Coleman College for Health Sciences), and Grayson County College.

• Underdirectsupervision,adentalassistantmayapplyfluoridevarnish.

General Supervision (Supervising dentist not physically present in the office):• Undergeneralsupervision,adentalassistingholdingaTSBDEissuedcertificate

ofradiologyregistrationmaymakedentalradiographs(X-rays).• Undergeneralsupervision,adentistmayauthorizeadentalassistanttotreatcertain

minordentalemergencies.Thisprovisionwouldbelimitedtoconditionsthat: • ariseunexpectedly; • causepatientdiscomfortorpain;and • canbetreatedwithreversibleproceduresanddonotrequirecuttinghardor

soft tissue.

Thedentalassistant(ordentaloffice)mustfirstnotifiythesupervisingdentist,whohas delegated — orally or in writing — the procedures to treat the minor emergency. Thesupervisingdentistmustscheduleafollow-upappointmentwiththepatientwhoreceivesinterimtreatmentbyadentalassistantwithinareasonabletime.

Continuing Education Requirements: Thereisnowa12-hourmaximumannualcontinuingeducationrequirementfordental assistants who hold certificates of registration, regardless of the number of certificatestheyhold.Asalways,thereisnoannualCErequirementfortheNitrousOxide Monitoring Certificate therefore, dental assistants should not count this certificate in the total number of certificates they hold.

Register Now for the 2010 Healthy Smiles Golf Classic!

Going to The TEXAS Meeting in May? Join us Friday morning, May 7, for Nobel Biocare’s Healthy Smiles Golf Classic, benefitting your TDASF. The 7:30 am shotgun start will begin 18 holes of relaxation for most, frustration for some, followed by lunch and an awards ceremony. The single player fee is $199. Foursomes enjoy a small team enrollment discount of $750. Tournament sponsorships are also available, offering your business a great way to reach hundreds of prominent dental professionals! All sponsorships include

a complimentary tournament foursome, website presence, and recognition in the TDASF Annual Report.

Double Eagle — $5000 (2 available)Benefits above plus logo recognition in The TEXAS Meeting onsite guide, plus:Beverage Sponsor: Name and logo placed on all drink carts and complimentary drink tickets.Wide-Mouthed Cooler Sponsor: Name and logo placement on the front of a drink cooler giveaway.

Eagle — $2500 (2 available, 1 sold)Benefits above, plus:Golf Cart Sponsor: Name and logo placement on all golf carts. Short message to players can be included.Ball Cap Sponsor: Name and logo placement on giveaway ball cap.Valuables Pouch Sponsor: Name and logo placement on pouch stuffed with golf goodies.

Birdie — $1000 (15 available, 3 sold)Benefits above, plus:Exclusive name and logo placement at a single golf hole.

Pleasegototdasf.orgtoregisterandformoreinformation.

February 2010 / TDA Today / 2

Happy, Healthy Smiles … That’s Our Mission!

2010SmokingCessationLiterature

In preparation for an editorial on smoking cessation in the March 2010 issue of the Texas Dental Journal, a PubMed search for articles about smoking cessation found the following titles. The pertinent information of these abstracts is listed. The complete abstracts are found using pubmed.gov.

“Women frequently quit smoking during pregnancy but then relapse postpartum. The BABY & ME-Tobacco Free program combines prenatal and postpartum smoking cessation counseling and biomarker feedback with monthly postpartum incentives and was found to be an effective smoking cessation program for pregnant and parenting women (1).”

“Maternal passive smoking during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk for cleft palate with or without cleft lip in offspring (2).”

“Increasing the frequency and quality of support from a woman in the smoker’s social network is a promising prenatal smoking cessation strategy (3).”

“Second-hand smoke presents a health risk for a large group of entirely helpless nonsmokers: unborn children. Reliable data on women continuing to smoke during pregnancy are essential for effective preventive and interventional programs. A smoking partner, a large number of children, a high rate of tobacco consumption, as well as deficiencies in prenatal care were predictors of smoking during pregnancy (4).”

“Tobacco use among pregnant women and children’s exposure to tobacco use (secondhand smoke) are associated with pregnancy complications such as placental dysfunction (including previa or abruption), preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes, spontaneous abortions, and decreased birth weight and infant stature. Neonates and children who are exposed to secondhand smoke are at increased risk for developing otitis media, asthma, other respiratory disorders later in childhood; dying from sudden infant death syndrome; and learning disorders (5).”

“The authors conclude that findings support adverse behavioral effects of tobacco smoke exposure in school-age children (6).”

References1. Gadomski A, Adams L, Tallman N, Krupa N, Jenkins P. Effectiveness of a

Combined Prenatal and Postpartum Smoking Cessation Program. Matern Child Health J. 2010 Jan 21.

2. Li Z, Liu J, Ye R, Zhang L, Zheng X, Ren A. Maternal Passive Smoking and Risk of Cleft Lip With or Without Cleft Palate. Epidemiology. 2010 Jan 14.

3. Hennrikus D, Pirie P, Hellerstedt W, Lando HA, Steele J, Dunn C. Increasing Support for Smoking Cessation During Pregnancy and Postpartum: Results of a Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. Prev Med. 2010 Jan 13.

4. Schneider S, Huy C, Schütz J, Diehl K. Smoking cessation during pregnancy: a systematic literature review. Drug Alcohol Rev. 2010 Jan;29(1):81-90.

5. Albrecht SA, Maloni JA, Thomas KK, Jones R, Halleran J, Osborne J. Smoking cessation counseling for pregnant women who smoke: scientific basis for practice for AWHONN’s SUCCESS project. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2004 May-Jun;33(3):298-305.

6. Rückinger S, Rzehak P, Chen CM, et al. Prenatal and Postnatal Tobacco Exposure and Behavioral Problems in 10-Year-Old Children: Results from the GINI-plus Prospective Birth Cohort Study. Environ Health Perspect. 2010 Jan;118(1):150-4.

Evidence-Based PracticeTip of the Month

Stephen R. Matteson, DDS, Editor

The 2nd Annual TDASF Great Grape Chase“In wine there is wisdom … in water there is bacteria.”More than 50 dental professionals participated in the TDASF second annual Great Grape Chase at the Southwest Dental Conference in Dallas.

Participants challenged their taste buds to determine the most expensive wines among flights of chardonnay and cabernet, and Dr. Kenneth Crossland of Canyon emerged the winner for the second year in a row.

Dr. Crossland was awarded the prize bottle of Heintz Cabernet, and Baylor dental student Corbin Gatlin was the only player who correctly identified Shafer’s Red Shoulder Ranch as the most expensive chardonnay.

Proceeds benefitted TDASF. Congrats to the winners and thank you to the Southwest Dental Conference and The Adolphus Hotel.

Texas A&M Health Science Center Recognizes TDA Members with Presidential Awards for Excellence

Texas A&M Health Science Center (HSC) recognizes Baylor College of Dentistry’s Rena D’Souza, D.D.S., Ph.D., and Ernestine Lacy, D.D.S., for their work and accomplishments.

Last month, Dr. D’Souza received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Research, which honors significant contributions that enhance, facilitate or accelerate the HSC research enterprise. Dr. Lacy received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Education and Mentorship, which honors exceptional contributions and achievements as an educator or mentor and is reflective of the breadth of educational and mentoring activities across the HSC.

Dr.D’Souza, professor and chair of biomedical sciences at HSC-BCD, has made significant contributions to the fields of tooth development and genetics, received millions of dollars in research funding from the National Institutes of Health and accepted the highest accolades for scientific achievement and mentorship from her peers.

Dr.Lacy, director of student development and associate professor of restorative sciences at HSC-BCD, has created programs through that target students from kindergarten through post-doctoral education. The services provided include career awareness, recruitment and assisted-entry activities; retention services such as tutoring and test-taking strategies; and postdoctoral faculty training. The primary objective of the programs is to assist qualified students from underserved communities with gaining admission into and successfully graduating from dental school.

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Dr. Rena D’Souza receives the HSC-BCD Presidential Award for Excellence in Research.

Dr. Ernestine Lacy receives the HSC-BCD Presidential Award for Excellence in Education and Mentorship.

Official Call for Secretary/Treasurer Nominations TDA secretary-treasurer Dr. J. Preston Coleman will not seek re-election at the May 2010 TDA House of Delegates. Therefore, the position is open for nominations. Only an active, life, or retired member in good standing of this Association shall be eligible. A curriculum vitae (CV) must accompany a letter of intent and the nominee will also have to sign a conflict of interest statement. We request that nominations are made as early as possible so that membership eligibility can be verified and the House of Delegates can be prepared for an informal vote. Duties of the Secretary-Treasurer are enumerated in the Bylaws and include the following:• Serve as chair of the Budget Committee; • Serve as chair of Assets Management Committee; • Examine income and expenses of TDA and report at each Board meeting; • Ensure that House of Delegates and TDA Board minutes are maintained; • Serve as a non-voting member of TDA Executive Committee; and • Perform other duties as specified by the Board of Directors. Nominations are to be mailed to Dr. J. Preston Coleman, TDA Secretary-Treasurer, Texas Dental Association, 1946 South IH-35, Suite 400, Austin, Texas 78704; or e-mailed to TDA Executive Director Ms. Mary Kay Linn, marykay@tda.org. (According to Article V, Section 10 of the Constitution of the Texas Dental Association and the TDA Bylaws, Chapter IV — Section 30, Chapter V — Section 40, Chapter VI — Sections 10, 20, 30, 70, and 90).

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(L-R) Dr. Kenneth Crossland of Canyon, TDASF Board of Trustees secretary Dr. Beverly Zinser of Gerogetown, TDASF missions manager Judith Gonzalez, TDASF Board of Trustees member Dr. David Woodburn of Amarillo, TDASF missions associate Melinda Biggs, TDA program manager Cassidy Neal, TDASF Board of Trustees member Carol Woods of Georgetown, and Carolyn Lelong prepare for the games to begin.

The Hispanic Dental Association Names TDA Member PresidentThe Hispanic Dental Association (HDA) announces its 2010 president, Dr. Victor Rodriguez of Houston.

Dr. Rodriguez received his bachelor of arts in biology degree from the University of Texas at Austin and his dental degree from the University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston. He is a general dentist in solo private practice in Houston.

Dr. Rodriguez has been a member of HDA since starting as a student member in 1994. He is also active in the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry, and he holds current and past board and chairman positions in the TDA, Greater Houston Dental Society, and Bay Area Study Club.

For more information on the Hispanic Dental Association, please visit hdassoc.org.

Rodriguez

TDAT Feb 10.indd 2 2/16/10 12:35:22 PM

February 2010 / TDA Today / 3

The February Board meeting is in the books as they say, and with its completion only one Board meeting remains before the Texas Dental Association House of Delegates convenes in May. In last month’s TDA Today, each of you saw the increase in membership numbers from last year, and in this financially fragile environment, I am very pleased to see this growth.

At this month’s meeting, your Board worked to present a budget to the upcoming House of Delegates that reflects the economic times in which we find ourselves. We have reviewed every department and made adjustments to the budget to prevent a dues increase. I will also tell you that, with a rebounding stock market, our reserve fund has recovered quite a bit from the downturn of the year before. Herbert Hoover once said, “About the time we can make the ends meet, somebody moves the ends.” I believe we won’t see the end move with this budget.

Texas will host the State Strategy Conference in a couple of weeks that will focus direct attention on ways to protect our profession from the ever increasing encroachment of mid-level providers. We were asked to host this conference, and the TDA Board approved it without hesitation. Twenty states from across the country are invited and will bring to the table their ideas and lessons learned.

Finally, a few words need to be said about the mounting problems we face with third-party payors. There is an ever growing wave of companies that want to dictate all of the fees we can charge our patients even when those companies do not cover all of the procedures. This is commonly called “controlling non-covered services”. Your Association is studying this intrusion and will make recommendations to the upcoming House of Delegates.

Look over and enjoy this month’s TDA Today, and until the next edition, keep smiling and stay In the Loop.

In The Loop

Matthew B. Roberts, DDS, TDA President 2009-2010

Top 10 Reasons for Traveling to San Antonio May 6 – 9, 2010 Karen Frazer, DDSBoard Liaison, Council on Annual Session 10) Three Words: THE TEXAS MEETING! Take advantage of your TDA membership benefit. No registration fees for

TDA member and office staff.9) Signature San Antonio venues and events rich in culture and cuisine.8) Great deals in the exhibit hall and complimentary beverages on Thursday and Friday, 4:30 PM.7) The Texas Party: Thursday, 6:00 PM -- 9:00 PM. New location, more centrally located, stars Nightfire, the ultimate

PARTY band!6) Wine seminar and tasting: Thursday, 3:30 PM -- 5:00 PM.5) Texas Taste of Tuscany at the Sandy Oaks Olive Orchard: Thursday, 9:30 AM -- 1:30 PM.4) Cooking Latin Style with Art Glass: Friday, 9:30 AM -- 12:30 PM.3) Golf at Pecan Valley Golf Club supporting our own TDA Smiles Foundation: Friday, 7:30 AM shotgun start.2) Excellent education with your friends and colleagues! Ninety-five outstanding speakers present 200+ lectures and

workshops.

And the number one reason to attend The TEXAS Meeting …

1) YOUWILLBEATTHELARGESTDENTALMEETINGINTEXAS!

November 6 –7, 2009: Summary of TDA Board of Directors’ actions, with TDA president Dr. Matthew B. Roberts presiding.

MISCELLANEOUS45-2010-B(NP): Approved TDA to apply for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s Dental Home Initiative (DHI) grant money to further support Texas’ DHI related projects.

40-2010-B(NP):Approved to modify TDA’s current travel policy to include reasonable luggage allowance.

50-2010-B(NP): Approved Public Image to be a mega issue topic Board discussion.

54-2010-B(NP): Approved a $500 increase in 2011 to the $6500 stipend currently allocated to the Alliance to the Texas Dental Association.

56-,57-,58-2010-B(NP): Authorized TDA to negotiate contracts beginning January 1, 2010, and ending December 31, 2011, with David Sibley, Susan Ross, and Nora Del Bosque to provide consulting and lobby services for the Association.

59-2010-B(NP): Authorized Building Committee to do further study on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ramp prior to proceeding with the final construction plans.

63-2010-B(NP):Approved the TDA address access to care barriers facing older and physically dependent Texans and design initiatives to increase awareness about the oral health needs of those groups.

67-2010-B(NP): Approved the TDA’s Department of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs continually update the oral health indicator statistics published in the “Building Better Oral Health — A Dental Home for All Texans” report beginning in 2010 and present the statistical updates annually to the Board during its winter meeting.

68-2010-B(NP): Authorized appointment of a Task Force to retain the services of an independent law firm to perform an audit of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) case, the decision making process of the TDA, and ongoing settlement process. Financial implication: $25,000.

75-2010-B(NP):Approved ADA fluoride spokesperson and media training with an estimated $1,200 cost funded through a reallocation within the Council on Dental Economics’ budget.

79-2010-B(NP):Authorized TDA to return to a PDF formatted Board Book and investigate other online and paperless applications for meeting services.

80-2010-B(NP):Authorized the TDA New Dentist Committee to develop a state student association plan, working with the Council on Constitution and Bylaws, to bring to the Board for approval at their meeting in February.

Policy Resolutions

MISCELLANEOUS48-2010-B(P):Approved TDA to waive quarter year dues from $113.75 to $0 for former and non-members who join through the 2009 Marketing Collaborative Pilot Project October 1 -- December 31, 2009.

55-2010-BS(P):Approved TDA Finance and Audit Committee shall be responsible for recommending to the TDA Board of Directors an audit firm to perform the annual audit of the TDA, its affiliates and subsidiaries; the selection of an audit firm shall be approved by the TDA Board of Directors.

61-2010-B(P): Approved TDA encourage general dentists and specialists to practice in underserved areas and to treat underserved populations; appropriate councils and committees of the TDA evaluate programs to accomplish this initiative; and the TDA supports federal and state loan repayment programs which encourage dentists to practice in underserved areas.

62-2010-B(P): Approved TDA to support innovative communications initiatives that raise the public’s awareness about the importance of oral health especially in relation to systemic health.

64-2010-B(P):Approved as TDA policy that a dental home is the ongoing relationship between the dentist who is the Primary Care Provider and the patient which includes comprehensive continuously accessible, family centered, coordinated, and effective oral health care, ideally beginning no later than age one; and that every Texan should have a dental home.

65-2010-B(P):Approved TDA to support additional state funding for the Oral Health Branch (OHB) within the Texas Department of State Health Services.

66-2010-B(P):Approved TDA to support access to oral health care for all Texans and making access to care a priority for organized dentistry.

69-2010-B(P): Approved the Council on Legislative & Regulatory Affairs draft language amending “The Practice of Dentistry” – Sec.251.003 of the Texas Occupations Code – to include performing “tooth whitening procedures.”

MK’s Board Notes

Mary Kay Linn, TDA Executive Director

Southwest Dental Conference Shatters Attendance Records in its 83rd Year The Dallas County Dental Society (DCDS) welcomed 10,919 dental professionals from across the country to its 83rd annual Southwest Dental Conference (SWDC) last month in Dallas.

The SWDC is a recognized leader in providing quality continuing education for dental professionals through 3 days of lectures, hands-on workshops, special events, and live-patient demonstrations. More than 140 sessions provided the latest in dental research and technology for dentists, hygienists, dental assistants, lab technicians, and business assistants.

In addition to continuing education opportunities, a trade show featured more than 375 exhibit booths that provided demonstrations, products, and services throughout the event. The exhibit hall also featured the innovative Center for Knowledge, live-patient demonstrations featuring the latest technologies, unique to this conference.

For more information, please visit swdentalconf.org or contact the DCDS office at (972) 386-5741.

Pictured are TDA past president Dr. Hilton Israelson of Richardson and Dr. Terry D. Watson of Dallas.

TDA parliamentarian Dr. Michael L. Stuart of Sunnyvale and TDA president Dr. Matthew B. Roberts of Crockett attend the SWDC last month in Dallas.

Continued on page 4

TDAT Feb 10.indd 3 2/16/10 12:35:27 PM

Paper Special!FEBRUARY 2010 VOLUME 11, ISSUE 2 AVAILABLE ONLINE AT TDA.ORG

EDITORIAL STAFFDr. Stephen R. Matteson, D.D.S., Editor

Nicole Scott, Managing EditorBarbara S. Donovan, Art Director

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Matthew B. Roberts, D.D.S., PresidentRonald L. Rhea, D.D.S., President-Elect

Hilton Israelson, D.D.S., Immediate Past President Vice Presidents

Craig S. Armstrong, D.D.S., SoutheastJohnny G. Cailleteau, D.D.S., Southwest J. Brad Loeffelholz, D.D.S., Northwest Arlet R. Dunsworth, D.D.S., Northeast

Senior DirectorsR. Lee Clitheroe, D.D.S., Southeast

John W. Baucum III, D.D.S., Southwest Kathleen Nichols, D.D.S., Northwest Donna G. Miller, D.D.S., Northeast

DirectorsKaren E. Frazer, D.D.S., SoutheastLisa B. Masters, D.D.S., Southwest

Robert E. Wiggins, D.D.S., Northwest Larry D. Herwig, D.D.S., Northeast

J. Preston Coleman, D.D.S., Secretary-TreasurerGlen D. Hall, D.D.S., Speaker of the HouseMichael L. Stuart, D.D.S., Parliamentarian

Stephen R. Matteson, D.D.S., EditorMary Kay Linn, Executive DirectorWilliam H. Bingham, Legal Counsel

TDA Today (USPS 022-007) is published monthly except for December by the Texas Dental Association, 1946 S. IH-35, Ste 400, Austin, Texas 78704-3698, (512) 443-3675. Periodicals Postage Paid at Austin, Texas and at additional mailing offices.POSTMASTER: Send address changes to TDA TODAY, 1946 S. IH-35, Ste 400, Austin, TX 78704-3698.Annual subscriptions: Texas Dental Association (TDA) members, $5. In-state American Dental Association (ADA) affiliated, $15 + tax. Out-of-state ADA affiliated, $15. In-state non-ADA affiliated, $30 + tax. Out-of-state non-ADA affiliated, $30.Single issue price: TDA members $1. In-state ADA affiliated, $3 + tax. Out-of-state ADA affili-ated, $3. In-state non-ADA affiliated, $6 + tax. Out-of-state non-ADA affiliated, $6.

Contributions: Manuscripts and news items of interest to the membership of the Associa-tion are solicited. Manuscripts should be typewritten, double spaced, and the original copy should be submitted. Please refer to Instructions for Contributors in the annual September Directory of the Texas Dental Journal for more information. Every effort will be made to return unused manuscripts if a request is made but no responsibility can be accepted for failure to do so. Anonymous communications will receive no consideration whatsoever. All statements of opinion and of supposed facts are published on authority of the writer under whose name they appear and are not to be regarded as the views of the Texas Dental As-sociation, unless such statements have been adopted by the Association. Articles are accepted with the understanding that they have not been pub-lished previously. The Information for Contributors is available at tda.org.

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TSBDE Rule Update This recurring section is designed to help TDA members keep up with important Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE) rules, other regulations, and state law affecting their practices.

Are You Ready for the February 18 “HITECH Act” Compliance Deadline?The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (the “HITECH Act”), which is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, enacts significant changes to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). As you may recall, dentists are considered HIPAA “covered entities” when they electronically send information in connection with HIPAA covered transaction.

HITECH expands upon HIPAA’s privacy and security protections for individuals’ health information. Two potentially significant aspects of the Act are 1) expansion of the HIPAA privacy and security rules to business associates (BAs) of covered entities, and 2) the first federally-mandated notification requirements in cases of breaches of protected health information. The compliance date for both changes is February18,2010.

Under HITECH, BAs of covered entities must comply directly with the HIPAA security rule in its entirety, as well as the use and disclosure provisions of the HIPAA privacy rule. BAs will also be subject to the same governmental civil and criminal penalties as covered entities. Both covered entities and BAs will be required to notify patients when their protected health information has been compromised.

Covered entities have no obligation to train their BAs in HITECH compliance. However, they will need to renegotiate their BA agreements to incorporate these changes prior to the February 18 deadline.

The real challenge for many covered entities will be identifying their BAs. HIPAA broadly defines a “business associate” to include any person or organization that performs or assists in the performance of any function or activity involving the use or disclosure of individually identifiable health information. Examples of a dentist’s typical business associates include (but are not limited to) information system vendors, electronic clearinghouses, lawyers, accountants, technical support companies and others. Employees are not business associates, nor are most referral or group practice relationships as long as the information shared is related to the treatment of a patient.

For more information on the HITECH Act and HIPAA, including details on the new breach notification requirements, go to the American Dental Association web site at ada.org or contact TDA policy manager Diane Rhodes at (512) 443-3675 or diane@tda.org.

MK’s Board Notes continued from page 370-2010-B(P):Approved TDA delegation to the ADA introduce a resolution to the ADA House of Delegates asking the ADA to have the Food and Drug Administration regulate tooth bleaching products greater than 10 percent carbamide peroxide as drugs.

71-2010-B(P): Approved the TDA seek legislation to extend the jurisdiction of the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE) to include persons violating the Dental Practice Act by practicing dentistry without a license. This may include additional TSBDE appropriations for investigation and enforcement.

72-2010-B(P): Approved TDA assist consumers in reporting to the Texas Attorney General injury caused by the application

of tooth whitening chemicals by persons not licensed to practice dentistry in Texas and not under direct supervision by a Texas licensed dentist; and work with the Texas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection division to design a specific tooth whitening complaint form that will be posted on the public side of the TDA website.

73-2010-B(P): Authorized the Council on Legislative & Regulatory Affairs draft language amending the definition of dentistry in Sec.251.003 of the Texas Occupations Code.

74-2010-B(P): Authorized TDA to develop an evidenced based clinical policy paper (White Paper) detailing the need for individuals seeking tooth whitening services to receive a comprehensive examination by a dentist, including diagnosis, prior to beginning tooth whitening treatments.

TDAT Feb 10.indd 4 2/16/10 12:35:35 PM