Category: ODA Today

In my president-elect’s message to the House of Delegates last year I outlined the challenges facing our profession, our individual practices and organized dentistry in the coming years. As Dr. Marko Vujicic, vice president of the ADA Health Policy Institute, related during the ODA Leadership Institute, we are on the threshold of changes in ... [continue reading]

The Ohio Dental Association regularly surveys its members to ensure we are meeting your needs and expectations. One of the things we regularly hear is that our member dentists value our advocacy efforts. In recent years, we have achieved a number of legislative successes to ensure dentists retain the ability to practice in an effective and ... [continue reading]

As the new director of legal and legislative services at the Ohio Dental Association, I am pleased to participate in the “ODA Today”’s Legal Briefs column discussing various legal and ethical issues confronting dentists. The ODA regularly receives calls from our member dentists seeking guidance on how to handle specific scenarios ... [continue reading]

Is there a difference between an inlay and an onlay? Yes, there is and the difference is both in terms of clinical practice and benefits determinations. While the answer may seem obvious, the Ohio Dental Association continues to receive reports from third-party payers that some dentists may not fully appreciate the differences when submitting ... [continue reading]

Like many of us in the profession of dentistry, I have spent my career building a relationship-based practice. In addition to providing excellent dental care, we endeavor to become close friends with our patients. By learning who they are and what they value, we can provide a higher level of care for them. We become a part of their lives and they ... [continue reading]

Mercury, trans-fats, wine, coffee, cholesterol, and sweeteners can cause consternation! We get bombarded with conflicting advice, causing us to experience dietary panic! Should we be vegans, carnivores, fat-free, kosher, lacto-ovo or just go organic?   Are you like me – dazed and confused about what to drink and eat? What’s the ... [continue reading]

This one goes out to all the ladies! About a year and a half ago, after a membership committee meeting in Columbus, volunteers were sought to offer a commitment to write quarterly in this ODA periodic. In the spirit of true volunteerism and a secret delight in having a sounding box, I was excited to participate. Karli Hill, the director of ... [continue reading]

Let me begin by saying that I have the highest admiration for nurses, both individually and as a profession. However, it must be acknowledged that in a hospital setting, nurses are subservient to doctors. Doctors issue orders. Nurses, by contrast, are expected to follow orders. Recently, our local dental society hosted Dr. Thomas Paumier as our ... [continue reading]

The deadline for all eligible professionals (including dentists) who prescribe part D covered drugs to either enroll in Medicare, register as an ordering/referring provider or opt out of Medicare has been pushed back to June 1, 2016. Dentists who do not enroll, register as a referring provider or formally opt out of Medicare will likely see their ... [continue reading]

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) needs your help! They are conducting a short 10 minute survey examining how dental professionals interact with patients who use tobacco. For participating in this survey, you will be entered into a lottery to win a $100 Amazon gift card. To access the online survey, visit www.websrg.com/odhdentist/ and enter ... [continue reading]