News

As I write this, we have just gotten word that dental offices can reopen. We are all learning about what the “new normal” will look like for our practices. We had been closed for over a month. Besides nearly constant emails, texts, calls and conference calls, I have done lots of laundry, cleaning and cooking. My dog, Bear, is thrilled ... [continue reading]

Dear ODA Members, For what it’s worth, I sure do miss you all. Face to face stuff – you know what I mean. Not partaking in the ODA Leadership Institute and now having to turn the ODA Foundation annual meeting with the Executive Committee into the electronic give-and-take of a conference call. Once again, giving up the golden ... [continue reading]

ODA President Dr. Sharon Parsons donates excess gloves and masks to a local hospital. Many Ohio dentists and dental societies have donated excess PPE to their local hospitals or emergency management agencies during the COVID-19 pandemic. “As most of you know, I donated some PPE from my office to help my medical colleagues,” said ... [continue reading]

As I write this column it is May 5 – Cinco de Mayo. It doesn’t necessarily feel celebratory today, but who knows? Maybe I will have a party of one this evening since we are still social distancing. Early in this pandemic, someone shared a quote with me that I want to share with you. “Adversity does not build character, it reveals ... [continue reading]

As I write this column in mid-May, most dental offices are just beginning to reopen to provide the full range of dental services following over a month of being shut down (except for emergencies) because of the coronavirus pandemic. While Ohio begins the process of trying to get back closer to normal, many more questions than answers continue to ... [continue reading]

Over the last few months I have spoken with many of you over the phone or through email. The one constant in all of those conversations is that change is inevitable. It seems like in the first few weeks of the coronavirus pandemic information could go stale between morning and afternoon phone calls. It seems that every time we get information to ... [continue reading]

  Even before Ohio dentists were permitted to re-open their dental offices to provide more than just emergency only dental care, there was much discussion about the increased costs that dentists would incur in order to provide dental care in the current and post COVID-19 era. These discussions have involved not only increased costs but also ... [continue reading]

I was cleaning out my office over the weekend and came across pictures of my old office, circa 1988. Smiling in a bout of nostalgia, I had a revelation. Let me explain … After graduation and a year’s general practice residency, I purchased the practice of David Pearson, DDS, in Berea, Ohio. Dr. Pearson was a past president of the ODA ... [continue reading]

Much information has been shared with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic. The different agencies tasked with informing us offer what little they know in an attempt to protect us from this unseen enemy. Their mantra seems to be “we are doing these things in an abundance of caution.” In an abundance of caution, well where does that leave ... [continue reading]

As we are in the midst of our new reality as a result of COVID-19, I find myself and my team working together to move forward. As all dentists in Ohio are forced to forge their own path forward during this public health crisis, the true colors of our office culture will emerge to either help or hinder us. Whether we realize it or not – ... [continue reading]