Category: Opinion & Editorial

    The Supreme Court will soon decide whether the minimum coverage provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,  (cleverly called the “individual mandate” by critics), is constitutional. Under longstanding constitutional precedent, this requirement that everyone maintain a minimum amount of health ... [continue reading]

    On March 26-28, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the legal challenge to the 2010 federal health care reform law.  While the court will consider several issues related to the Affordable Care Act, the main challenge is to the individual mandate, which requires virtually every American to purchase health ... [continue reading]

     It may be true that it is easier to recruit a midlevel provider (MLP) to rural areas than a dentist. Some have even argued that “any treatment is better than no treatment.” According to National Public Radio on November 14, 2011,1 Julie Rovner reported “in medicine midlevel providers are filling in the ... [continue reading]

“I tend to live in the past because most of my life is there.” Herb Caen      Yeah, I know, this is February, not New Year’s, but I’m writing this as I wait for the ball to fall in Times Square. Not that I’ll be awake that late, but I can dream, can’t I? Let’s talk about plans and ... [continue reading]

     A patient came in the other day with an emergency. She had fractured a molar crown. I quickly looked it up in her records and confirmed my fears.  Yes, it was one of mine.  I had placed the crown just a bit less than 2 years ago.      Why did it break? Insufficient prep?  Occlusion too ... [continue reading]

Last month, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I read an interesting study in the December 2011 edition of the Journal of the American Dental Association that shows the number of practicing African American Dentists in Cuyahoga County has decreased significantly since 1985.  The study, authored by Francis Curd, DDS, DMD, the assistant dean of ... [continue reading]

“When did the 3 C’s of Comfort, Caring, and Compassion give way to the 3 E’s of Economics, Ego, and Ethical indifference?” -Ken Jones (1944 and still here.) I don’t think I was all that obvious. I didn’t say, “Why didn’t you do as I recommended?” I didn’t say, “If you’d have ... [continue reading]

Martha J. Buchholz 1921-1970Robert C. Buchholz 1921-1980 “Sorry to bother both of you about some current societal issues...not that you’re even aware of my thoughts. All I know is, it makes me feel better...to share.”“So, here we go!”“Remember that time, for no particular reason I stuck that marble up my right ... [continue reading]

I just spent a fantastic evening at a concert with the band Chicago. Formed in 1967, four of the eight founding band members still represent the core of the group today. Though Robert Lamm, Walt Parazaider, Lee Laughnane and Jimmy Pankow are now in their mid sixties, they still can play and put on a fantastic show. Anyone who has played in a high ... [continue reading]

David J. Owsiany, JD – ODA Executive Director The following piece originally appeared in the Columbus Dispatch on November 19, 2011. This week, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a case that will likely determine the constitutionality of the federal health care reform law's individual mandate. Interestingly, the legacy of a Dayton-area ... [continue reading]