{"id":21496,"date":"2025-05-01T15:43:24","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T19:43:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/?page_id=21496"},"modified":"2025-08-22T16:15:41","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T20:15:41","slug":"journal-back-page-story","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/mda-journal\/current-journal-issue\/journal-back-page-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Journal Back Page Story"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1698696973333{margin-top: -40px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;background-color: #009ba7 !important;}&#8221; el_class=&#8221;white-text&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h1>Journal Back Page Story<\/h1>\n<p><nav  aria-label=\"breadcrumb\"><ol class=\"breadcrumb\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BreadcrumbList\"><li class=\"breadcrumb-item active\" aria-current=\"page\" itemprop=\"itemListElement\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ListItem\"><span itemprop=\"name\">Home<\/span><meta itemprop=\"position\" content=\"1\"><\/li><\/ol><\/nav>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row disable_element=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>Building for the Future: How the MDA Is Evolving to Better Serve Members<\/h2>\n<p>By John Tramontana, MS, CAE<br \/>\nCEO\/Executive Director<\/p>\n<p>As the dental profession continues to adapt to rapid technological, economic, and generational changes, the Michigan Dental Association is taking proactive steps to remain a forward-thinking, member-focused organization. Through investments in technology, advocacy for early career dentists, and a renewed focus on both education and engagement, we\u2019re committed to building an association that reflects the needs of today\u2019s dental professionals.[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1755893700029{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}&#8221;]Here\u2019s a look at some of the key initiatives currently underway.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Moving to a new membership database.<\/strong> Historically, our membership database was integrated with the ADA, but the time has come to take control of our own data infrastructure. By moving to an MDA-managed platform, we will gain greater flexibility in how we manage and support member services and improve the user experience, which will help us serve you better and more efficiently. This transition marks a critical milestone in our broader plan to refashion the association, and it opens the door for more innovations in the near future.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Investing in technology and AI.<\/strong> Technology is not just changing how dentistry is practiced \u2014 it\u2019s also transforming how associations like ours operate. AI has the potential to streamline internal operations, improve personalized communications, and eventually enhance services such as continuing education, data analytics, and member support. This is just one more way we\u2019re preparing the MDA to remain strong and innovative.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Supporting early career dentists.<\/strong> New dentists face a unique set of challenges as they begin their professional journeys \u2014 particularly when it comes to finances. In response, the MDA has signed on to a resolution, drafted by the Illinois State Dental Society and submitted to the ADA House of Delegates, that proposes a significant dues adjustment for early career dentists across the tripartite system. If adopted, this resolution would reduce ADA dues for the first five years after graduation, easing the financial burden during this critical early phase of a dentist\u2019s career. We believe this is an important step toward building a more inclusive, accessible membership structure that better supports younger dentists.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The <em>Journal<\/em> returns to print.<\/strong> We\u2019re also thrilled that the MDA <em>Journal<\/em> has returned to print! The <em>Journal<\/em> will be mailed to members every other month, while we will continue to provide digital content for convenience and accessibility.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;21548&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; onclick=&#8221;custom_link&#8221; img_link_target=&#8221;_blank&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1744917289991{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}&#8221; title=&#8221;\u2014 advertisement \u2014&#8221; link=&#8221;https:\/\/www.goldmanpracticesales.com&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1755893690341{margin-bottom: 25px !important;}&#8221;]<strong>Expanded online CE and learning opportunities.<\/strong> Continuing education is essential \u2014 not only to maintain licensure, but to grow professionally. That\u2019s why we\u2019re expanding and upgrading our online education platform to provide more flexible, affordable, and accessible CE opportunities for members. Whether you\u2019re looking for clinical content, practice management resources, or updates on public health and policy, the MDA\u2019s online education offerings are growing to meet your needs. Expect more course variety, an improved user experience, and additional ways to learn on your own schedule.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Reimagining Annual Session.<\/strong> The MDA Annual Session has long been a cornerstone event for our members, but as times change, so must the experience. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve launched the Annual Session Viability Task Force, a group dedicated to rethinking what the Annual Session could and should be in the future. From educational programming and networking to exhibit hall design and social experiences, everything is on the table. Our goal is to transform the Annual Session into a can\u2019t-miss event that is engaging, relevant, and valuable to all members, no matter where they are in their careers.<\/p>\n<h4>Looking ahead<\/h4>\n<p>The MDA\u2019s work today is guided by one central belief: Our association must continually evolve to meet the needs of our members. Thank you for being part of this exciting journey. Your participation and your feedback help shape the future of the MDA \u2014 together, we\u2019re building a stronger, smarter, and more-connected profession.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;23467&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; onclick=&#8221;custom_link&#8221; img_link_target=&#8221;_blank&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1755893612890{margin-bottom: 25px !important;}&#8221; title=&#8221;\u2014 advertisement \u2014&#8221; link=&#8221;https:\/\/www.mdaprograms.com\/mda-insurance-programs\/health-life-disability\/health-insurance\/&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner disable_element=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<strong>3. Build a safety net.<\/strong> You\u2019ve got to have enough in savings to cover your expenses \u2014 team salaries, rent, supplies \u2014 without having to cut hours or wages. I can\u2019t stress this enough. It gives you the peace of mind to lead confidently even when revenue dips early on.<\/p>\n<p><strong>4. Your team must be with you.<\/strong> You need your entire team on board. This takes strong leadership, from the heart. They must see that you believe in what you&#8217;re doing, even when the schedule looks empty. If you doubt yourself, they\u2019ll feel it too.<\/p>\n<p><strong>5. Commit with faith.<\/strong> You have to burn the ships behind you. There&#8217;s no turning back. You\u2019ll have moments of fear and discouragement, but move forward anyway. I leaned heavily on my faith during this time. Trust that you\u2019re doing the right thing for your patients and your practice.<\/p>\n<p><strong>6. Tighten up your systems.<\/strong> Your billing must be clean and accurate. We use a third-party billing service, and it\u2019s helped tremendously. Don&#8217;t wait until after you&#8217;ve dropped plans to get this figured out.<\/p>\n<p><strong>7. Remind patients often.<\/strong> Even after multiple conversations, some patients still forget that we file all the insurance paperwork for them. People are busy and don\u2019t always retain details. Keep reminding them\u2014they appreciate it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8. Be an advocate, not just a provider.<\/strong> Your front desk team plays a huge role in guiding patients through the change. They must offer compassion and clarity. Also, give patients a few payment options, so cost doesn\u2019t become a reason they delay care.<\/p>\n<p><strong>9. Create your own in-office plan.<\/strong> We started \u201cThe Gentle Dentist Plan\u201d for patients who pay their own premiums. It covers preventive care and gives a fixed dollar discount \u2014 not a percentage \u2014 on select procedures. Don\u2019t offer a percentage discount or you\u2019ll end up becoming your own PPO.<\/p>\n<p><strong>10. Know your \u201cwhy\u201d and share it.<\/strong> Ours is simple: We want to be free to do what\u2019s best for our patients, without restrictions. Patients understand that. Most already know how medical insurance has changed, and they don\u2019t want that in their dental care. I remind them that dental insurance isn\u2019t really insurance. It\u2019s a benefit with the same outdated annual maximums we had 30 years ago.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m grateful that the MDA is spotlighting this critical topic. My hope is that it becomes mainstream, empowering younger dentists and preserving private practice ownership.<\/p>\n<h4>About the Author<\/h4>\n<p><em>Robert Antolak, DDS, practices general, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry as well as placing implants. He practices in Shelby Township. He is a 1987 graduate of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Atnolak is also a founder and dental director of Trinity Community Care, a free medical and dental clinic located in Shelby Township for those who can\u2019t afford basic dental services. See the related article in this issue\u2019s \u201cMDA Foundation\u201d column. Contact him at <a href=\"mailto:DrAntolak@TheGentleDentist.com\">DrAntolak@TheGentleDentist.com<\/a>.<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>Hospital General Dentistry: Needed Now More Than Ever<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1753892674803{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}&#8221;]By Tanaya K. Porter, DDS, and Craig C. Spangler, DDS<\/p>\n<p>Historically, hospital dentistry was a stand-alone service that housed oral surgery and general dentistry. Routinely the dentists and oral surgeons had to fight for privileges, as physicians were concerned about other disciplines encroaching on their territory. Today, the hospital based general dentist is a valuable member of the medical staff that helps them achieve the best patient outcomes. What brought about this change?<\/p>\n<p>The shift is largely due to the vital role hospital dentists play, particularly for neurodivergent adult patients who are unable to be seen in traditional dental offices. When it is not possible for patients of differing abilities to easily access preventive and restorative care, they develop significant dental needs that cannot be addressed in any setting outside of general anesthesia in the hospital. Advances in medicine have improved the quality and longevity of the lives of these patients, resulting in increased dental needs.<\/p>\n<p>Today, the hospital dentist plays an important role regarding inpatient and presurgical care as well. Patients in the hospital today are hospitalized for a good reason. They have acute problems, requiring skilled intervention, frequently due to chronic illness. This includes patients who are organ transplant patients, cancer patients, and those with cardiac problems requiring surgery. These patients often have other co-morbidities such as diabetes or hereditary diseases that complicate their current medical conditions. Quite often there are untreated dental issues as well. In attempting to diagnose the patient\u2019s illness, it is not uncommon for the patient\u2019s lab blood cultures to show infections due to bacteria commonly found in the oral cavity.<\/p>\n<p>The patients presenting with these chronic illnesses range from as young as their late 20s to the late 80s. Demographic determinants such as race, socio-economic status, and urban vs. rural residence are more indicative than age of the patient. These patients usually present with missing teeth, which do not allow for adequate chewing and digestion. Rampant decay results from poor diet, xerostomia from medications, and lack of a daily oral hygiene routine. While the condition of the dentition does vary, many of the patients have non-restorable teeth. Conversely, those patients with well-maintained dentitions.<\/p>\n<p>Surgeons, including transplant, head and neck, and cardiothoracic, are keenly focused on a successful outcome for their life-saving, and complex procedures. The last thing that they want is a dental issue threatening the success of this incredibly significant procedure. Hospital-based general dentists can evaluate, diagnose, and plan to prevent dental complications, considering both the patient\u2019s dental history and future needs. Most importantly, they can provide follow-up care to make sure that the pre surgery prognosis for the dentition can be realized. As the patients start their post-surgery life, the general dentist can coordinate with both surgical and primary care providers to improve the quality of the patient\u2019s life by restoring and maintaining the dental health and function for the patient.<\/p>\n<p>However, fewer hospitals today have general dentists on staff, let alone facilities on site to deliver care. As the dental health of many citizens continues to decline, more patients will have unmet dental needs. Today many of these medical procedures are successful in extending the lives of the patient. Good oral health and a functional dentition are crucial for a good quality of life. Now, more than ever, general dentists in the hospital can improve the patient\u2019s quality of life and facilitate successful outcomes for both the patient and the surgeon.<\/p>\n<p><em>Dr. Porter is the section head, Hospital Dentistry, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, and Spangler is the former GPR Program director, Trinity Health Oakland, Pontiac, Mich.<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;21548&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; onclick=&#8221;custom_link&#8221; img_link_target=&#8221;_blank&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1744917289991{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}&#8221; title=&#8221;\u2014 advertisement \u2014&#8221; link=&#8221;https:\/\/www.goldmanpracticesales.com&#8221;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;22944&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; onclick=&#8221;custom_link&#8221; img_link_target=&#8221;_blank&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1753892517062{margin-bottom: 25px !important;}&#8221; title=&#8221;\u2014 advertisement \u2014&#8221; link=&#8221;http:\/\/bankofamerica.com\/practicesolutions&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1698696973333{margin-top: -40px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;background-color: #009ba7 !important;}&#8221; el_class=&#8221;white-text&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;] Journal Back Page Story [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row disable_element=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;] Building for the Future: How the MDA Is Evolving to Better Serve Members By John Tramontana, MS, CAE CEO\/Executive Director As the dental profession continues to adapt to rapid technological, economic, and generational changes, the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":21409,"menu_order":16,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-template-full-width.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","protect_children":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-21496","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2025-11-17 18:18:28","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21496","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21496"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21496\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23496,"href":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21496\/revisions\/23496"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21409"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.michigandental.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21496"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}