Page 7 - Bulletin Vol 30 No 2 - May - Aug. 2025 FINAL_

Message from the Executive Director:

Organized Dentistry - What You Can Do

As we approach the Fall season I hope you all had a wonderful Summer. We have
another great slate of CE offerings coming up this Fall. Included in the fourteen
courses are some unique topics, including Regional Pain Syndrome, Orthognathic
Surgery, Cone Beam, Tongue Tie, and a special hands-on course on Injection

Molded Direct Composites, which as of this writing, is almost sold out. Our new
registration system has had most of the bugs worked out, so I hope you are all
finding an easier time with it. Of course, we’re always just a phone call away
should you have any problems or questions.
Those of you in the neighborhood of my age group probably remember the old Saturday Night Live skit with
Garrett Morris using the tag line, “Baseball’s been berry berry good to me!” I think most of you would agree

dentistry has been very good to all of us. It’s not without its challenges, for sure, but overall it is a rewarding
profession that allows us a comfortable lifestyle while improving the lives of others.

Whether you realize it or not, organized dentistry plays an important role in forming that lifestyle. Sure, on
the surface our tripartite provides members with discounts on various products and services. It provides
free and low-cost CE to expand your clinical expertise and provides the necessary hours to fulfill
re-licensure. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. For example, NYSDA’s Wellness Initiative provides
members and their families with comprehensive counseling services for, among other things, mental health

wellness, financial wellness, and work-life balance.

Managed Care contract analysis and a Legal Protection Plan providing up to $10,000 in legal consultations
are further examples of underutilized member benefits.

Many dentists cite dental insurance as the source of one of their greatest frustrations. The ADA’s Third-
Party Payer Concierge service provides members with much-needed assistance with insurance-related
questions and concerns. One-on-one help with questions concerning coordination of benefits or assistance
with appealing a claim denial is only a phone call away at 1-800-621-8099.

An ADA Credit Union is on the horizon as well, which will provide members with low-cost loans for practice
purchase or expansion as well as home mortgages.

Of course, one of the biggest “unseen” member benefits is advocacy. NYSDA and the ADA are constantly

reviewing legislation that could impact your practice, your patients, and the profession as a whole. They, of
course, have been leading the charge against the short-sighted and misguided attacks on fluoride. This
summer, the ADA compiled a document outlining President Donald Trump’s budget reconciliation bill’s im-
pact on dentists and dental practices through provisions relating to tax policy, student loans and state Med-
icaid programs. The pass-through entity tax deduction was fully restored in the bill due to ADA advocacy.

Continued on page 8

Nassau County Dental Society ⬧ (516) 227-1112 | 7