Dentistry Commons^™

It’S Time To Rally Together And Advocate For Dentistry, Laura Givens

Virginia Dental Journal

The Virginia Dental Association (VDA) is actively advocating for dental insurance reform, licensure changes, and better mental health resources for dentists during the 2024 Virginia General Assembly session. Members are encouraged to contribute to the VDA PAC and attend Dental Days at the Capitol to support these efforts. The 2023 VDA PAC contributions report shows progress towards their goal, with Southwest Virginia surpassing its target. Additionally, the VDA Foundation collaborated with Central Virginia Health Services to provide free dental care to underserved residents in Petersburg, highlighting their commitment to community health.

Virginia 2023 Election Alters Power In The General Assembly, Chuck Duvall, Tripp Perrin, Missy Wesolowski

Virginia Dental Journal

The recent 2023 elections have resulted in Democrats narrowly controlling both chambers of the Virginia legislature, leading to significant turnover and new leadership. The VDA emphasizes the importance of building relationships with the new legislators to advance their advocacy efforts.

We’Re Taking On The Fight For Fairness And Transparency, Laura Givens

Virginia Dental Journal

The Virginia Dental Association (VDA) is advocating for increased transparency and accountability in dental insurance by requiring carriers to disclose their actual loss ratios annually. Dentists are encouraged to support this initiative by contacting legislators, joining the VDA Grassroots Network, and contributing to the VDA PAC.

Advocating For Transparency And Better Patient Care, Ryan Dunn

Virginia Dental Journal

Ryan Dunn, CEO of the VDA, emphasizes the importance of transparency and advocacy in dental care. He highlights the challenges faced by dentists due to insurance companies, including inadequate reimbursement rates and claim denials. The VDA is pushing for legislation requiring insurance companies to disclose how premiums are used for patient care, aiming to help patients and employers make informed decisions. The VDA also seeks regular meetings with insurers to address business practices that hinder patient care. Dunn encourages VDA members to stay engaged and support legislative efforts to improve oral healthcare in Virginia.

Let Me Introduce Myself - Leslie Hicks, Leslie Hicks

Virginia Dental Journal

Leslie Hicks, the Manager of Member Relations at the Virginia Dental Association (VDA), is dedicated to developing and managing membership outreach and engagement efforts. With a background in accounting and experience in building professional relationships, she aims to reinvigorate recruitment efforts and strengthen the VDA community. Leslie emphasizes active listening and addressing the needs of both current and prospective members. She is excited about the "Lead 3" program, which encourages current members to recruit new ones, fostering peer-to-peer mentorship and professional growth.

Where We Have Been And Where We’Re Going In 2024, Gary Oyster Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

Gary D. Oyster, DDS, reflects on his tenure as the 16th district trustee of the American Dental Association (ADA) and highlights significant changes. Key initiatives include the formation of the Strategic Forecasting Committee to enhance responsiveness, the partnership with the Forsyth Institute to boost research capabilities, and efforts to engage new dentists and dental students to reverse declining membership. The ADA is also transitioning to Salesforce/Fonteva for better membership data management and adopting a flexible Financial Operating Plan to quickly adapt to program changes. Workforce shortages and dental benefits programs remain ongoing challenges. The ADA aims to thrive through collaboration …

Farewell, Richard F. Roadcap Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

Dr. Richard Roadcap reflects on his 16-year tenure as Editor of the Virginia Dental Journal, highlighting the transition from analog to digital publishing and the sense of community he aimed to create. He expresses gratitude to his Managing Editor Shannon Jacobs, publishers Dr. Terry Dickinson and Ryan Dunn, and his supportive wife Norma. He acknowledges the contributions of the Journal’s Editorial Board and thanks the VDA staff. As he steps down, he introduces Dr. Sarah Friend as the new Editor and hopes the Journal continues to thrive.

The Professional Student, Sarah Friend Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

Dr. Sarah Friend, a dentist, shares her journey of embracing new technology through a fellowship in forensic dentistry. Despite initial challenges and reliance on younger colleagues for tech support, she highlights the importance of continuous learning and adapting to technological advancements in the dental field. She encourages fellow professionals to expand their comfort zones, learn new techniques, and stay current to succeed in the evolving world of dentistry.

Challenges And Change, Dustin Reynolds Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

Dr. Dustin Reynolds, President of the Virginia Dental Association (VDA), reflects on the past three months and outlines key challenges and initiatives for 2024. He emphasizes the importance of supporting dental education programs to address workforce shortages and highlights the need for legislative support for interstate licensure compacts and transparency in dental insurance. Dr. Reynolds also discusses the impact of staffing challenges on dental practices and the importance of innovative technology in shaping the future of dentistry. He remains optimistic about improving access to oral healthcare in Virginia.

Va Dent J January, February And March 2024

Virginia Dental Journal

The latest issue of the Virginia Dental Journal (Volume 101, Number 1) highlights significant advancements and challenges in Virginia's dental community. A central feature is a farewell to Dr. Richard Roadcap, who reflects on his impactful 16-year tenure as editor. The issue includes a compelling research study on patient and parent perspectives regarding craniofacial care, with a focus on treatment access, outcomes, and the role of telehealth. Advocacy efforts take center stage with updates on legislative initiatives aimed at increasing transparency in dental insurance and improving patient care access. Additional columns emphasize the importance of embracing technological advancements in dentistry, …

Linking Transcriptome And Morphology In Bone Cells At Cellular Resolution With Generative Ai, Lu Lu, Noriaki Ono, Joshua D Welch

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Recent advancements in deep learning (DL) have revolutionized the capability of artificial intelligence (AI) by enabling the analysis of large-scale, complex datasets that are difficult for humans to interpret. However, large amounts of high-quality data are required to train such generative AI models successfully. With the rapid commercialization of single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptomics platforms, the field is increasingly producing large-scale datasets such as histological images, single-cell molecular data, and spatial transcriptomic data. These molecular and morphological datasets parallel the multimodal text and image data used to train highly successful generative AI models for natural language processing and computer vision. …

Wmdds Bulletin Holiday 2024

West Michigan District Dental Society Bulletin

In the Holiday 2024 issue, the reader will find the following:

• 2024 WMDF Community Grant Committee Report
• West Michigan Dental Foundation Scholarship Award Winners
• Debunking Misperceptions: The Interfaith Dental Program
• An Interview with Tamar Shrikian, MDA Trustee
• Highlights of exclusive HR tools and resources available to MDA members

Also included are classifieds from West Michigan counties, the President's Message and Editor's Letter.

Cathy Griffanti, Northern Virginia Dental Society Executive Director, Retires, Christopher Spagna Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

Cathy Griffanti, who served as the Executive Director of the Northern Virginia Dental Society (NVDS) for 18 years, has retired. She was known for her dedication, compassion, and significant contributions to the society, including her involvement in the Northern Virginia Mission Of Mercy project. Cathy was recognized with numerous awards and was highly respected by her peers. Her tenure was marked by her sincere care for the members and her ability to foster a welcoming and supportive environment. The NVDS community is grateful for her service and wishes her well in her retirement.

Through The Looking Glass, Sarah Glass

Virginia Dental Journal

Dr. Sarah Glass, an Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologist at VCU School of Dentistry, discusses various oral pathology cases. A 72-year-old female patient with vesicle-like lesions likely has superficial mucoceles. A 30-year-old female with a hole in her hard palate is diagnosed with central odontogenic fibroma. A 40-year-old male with blue-gray tori likely has discoloration due to past minocycline use.

The Use Of Silver Diamine Fluoride By Dentists In Virginia, Jessica Eisenberg Dds, Parthasarathy A. Madurantakam, Tegwyn H. Brickhouse Dds, Jayahumar Jayaraman Dds, Caroline K. Carrico, Carol Caudill Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

A study was conducted to assess the use of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) by dentists in Virginia and the factors influencing its adoption. The survey revealed that recent dental school graduates and those with adequate training were more likely to use SDF. SDF is valued for its ability to arrest caries and provide a minimally invasive treatment option, especially for patients with behavioral issues or severe dental anxiety. However, its use is deterred by concerns over aesthetics and effectiveness. The study highlights the need for increased training and better reimbursement to encourage wider adoption of SDF among dentists in Virginia.

Interprofessional Healthcare – A Cornerstone Of Vcu’S Dental Education, Anneliese Goetz

Virginia Dental Journal

At Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), first-year dental students are introduced to interprofessional healthcare through the IPEC 501 course, which includes students and faculty from various healthcare disciplines. This course emphasizes collaborative care, communication, and decision-making across different levels of healthcare. Throughout their education, dental students engage in multidisciplinary learning and clinical rotations, working closely with other healthcare professionals and dental specialties. By their third year, students participate in the Interprofessional Health Assessment Simulation, further enhancing their collaborative skills. This comprehensive approach ensures that VCU students are well-prepared to provide high-quality, evidence-based care.

The Value Of Lunch And Learns, Lily R. Mlynarczyk

Virginia Dental Journal

The American Student Dental Association (ASDA) at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) hosts "lunch and learns" to provide dental students with valuable information not covered in their regular curriculum. These events, organized by second-year ASDA representatives, offer insights into the business side of dentistry, networking opportunities, and exposure to various dental companies and brands. They serve as supplemental learning experiences, helping students gain knowledge in a comfortable and engaging environment.

Using Artificial Intelligence In Your Office’S Content Marketing Efforts, Michaela Mishoe

Virginia Dental Journal

The article discusses the use of AI, specifically ChatGPT, in enhancing content marketing efforts for dental offices. ChatGPT, a large language model-based chatbot, can assist in generating content ideas, drafting blog posts, creating social media content, and composing emails. It helps save time and keeps content fresh, though human oversight is necessary to ensure quality. The article encourages experimenting with prompts to maximize the benefits of AI in marketing activities.

Do The Math: Your Social Security Benefit, Bobby Moyer

Virginia Dental Journal

Most Americans rely on Social Security for retirement support, but many do not fully understand the implications of when to start receiving benefits. Claiming benefits early at age 62 can reduce the overall amount, while delaying can increase it by 8% annually. Factors like health, life expectancy, and income needs should be considered. Full retirement age is between 66 and 67 for most. Widows and divorced individuals may be eligible for additional benefits. Consulting with an advisor is recommended to optimize Social Security benefits.

Council On Government Affairs Update, Roger Palmer

Virginia Dental Journal

The VDA Council on Government Affairs (CGA) has been actively addressing several key issues, particularly challenges with dental insurance companies, such as reduced reimbursements and extended intervals for procedures. They are gathering data from members to address these issues. The CGA discussed the dental licensure compact, which allows dentists to practice across state lines, but they do not support the ADA's version and seek alternative pathways. They also support adding dentists to the Safe Haven legislation and are reviewing proposed revisions to remote supervision laws. Additionally, the CGA aims to increase transparency in dental insurance premiums and create a repository …