gda action april 2012

ACTIONACTIONTHE JOURNAL OF THE GEORGIA DENTAL ASSOCIATION APRIL 2012

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AA Anesthesia, P.C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18Ackerman Medical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2AFTCO Transition Consultants . . . . . . . . . . . . .35Aspen Dental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Atlanta Age Management Medicine /

Dr. Ana Casas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33Center for TMJ Therapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29Dental Care Alliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28The Doctor’s Safety Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

EC Price General Contractors . . . . . . . . . . . . .14GDA Dental Recovery Network . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Georgia Dental Insurance Services . . . . . . . . .36Georgia Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry . . . .16Great Expressions Dental Centers . . . . . . . . . . .7Law Office of Stuart J. Oberman . . . . . . . . . . .31MobileCat, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17National Practice Transitions, LLC . . . . . . . . . .30PDQ Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Dr. Mark Padolsky—TMD Dentist . . . . . . . . . .32Paragon Dental Practice Transitions . . . . . . . .34PPM / Revenue Well . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15Professional Practice Management . . . . . . . . .18Dr. Mark Rabin—Dentist Available . . . . . . . . . .32Southeast Transitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33UBS Financial Services, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

index of advertisers

GDA ACTION (ISSN 0273-5989) The official publication ofthe Georgia Dental Association (GDA) is published monthly.POSTMASTER: Send address changes to GDA Action at7000 Peachtree Dunwoody Road N.E., Suite 200,Building 17, Atlanta, GA 30328. Phone numbers in state are(404) 636-7553 and (800) 432-4357. www.gadental.org.

Closing date for copy: first of the month preceding publicationmonth. Subscriptions: $17 of membership dues is for thenewsletter; all others, $75 per year. Periodicals postage paidat Atlanta, GA.

Dr. Jonathan Dubin Delaine HallGDA Editor GDA Managing Editor2970 Clairmont Rd 7000 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd NESuite 195 Suite 200, Building 17Atlanta, GA 30329 Atlanta, GA 30328

2011-2012 Georgia Dental Association Officers Michael O. Vernon, DMD, PresidentSidney R. Tourial, DDS, President ElectMarshall H. Mann, DDS, Vice PresidentJames B. Hall III, DDS, MS, Secretary/TreasurerJonathan S. Dubin, DMD, Editor

GDA/GDIS Executive Office Staff Members

Martha S. Phillips, Executive Director

Nelda Greene, MBA, Associate Executive Director

Delaine Hall, Director of Communications

Skip Jones, Director of Marketing (GDIS)

Courtney Layfield, Director of Member Services

Victoria LeMaire, Medical Accounts Manager

Judy Lively, Administrative Assistant (PT)

Melana Kopman McClatchey, General Counsel

Denis Mucha, Director of Operations (GDIS)

Margo Null, Property and Casualty Accounts Manager

Patrice Williams, Administrative Assistant

Phyllis Willich, Administrative Assistant

Pamela Yungk, Director of Membership & Finance

GDA Action seeks to be an issues-driven journal focusing on current mattersaffecting Georgia dentists, patients, and their treatment, accomplished throughdisseminating information and providing a forum for member commentary.

© Copyright 2012 by the Georgia Dental Association. All rights reserved. No partof this publication may be reproduced without written permission. Publicationof any article or advertisement should not be deemed an endorsement of theopinions expressed or products advertised. The Association expressly reservesthe right to refuse publication of any article, photograph, or advertisement.

4 GDA Celebrates

Legislative Victories

9 Alliance Springs Into

Action with Projects

10 GDA Celebrates

10 Years of Give Kids A Smile

14 Surviving a Dental Medicaid Audit

34 Member Alert: X-ray Media Coverage

4 Parting Shots

5 Editorial

6 News and Views

9 Calendar of Events

27 Classifieds

Registration is open for the “Amazing inAmelia” GDA Annual Meeting in AmeliaIsland, Florida. The fun starts on Thursday,July 19 and run through Sunday, July 22.Join your fellow GDA members at thedrop-dead gorgeous Ritz-Carlton. Turn topage 19 to read about the meeting eventsin store. Use the form in the center toregister for the meeting and buy your eventtickets, or register at www.gadental.org.

ACTIONACTIONTHE JOURNAL OF THE GEORGIA DENTAL ASSOCIATION APRIL 2012

other features sections

on the cover

Member Publication American Association of Dental Editors

ACTION

V O L U M E 3 1 , N U M B E R 4 • A P R I L 2 0 1 2

Note: Publication of an advertisement is not to be construed as anendorsement or approval by the GDA or any of its subsidiaries,committees, or task forces of the product or service offered in the

advertisement unless the advertisement specifically includes anauthorized statement that such approval or endorsement hasbeen granted.


4 GDA ACTIONAPRIL 2012


Last week, in the mail, I received anotheroffer to be listed as one of ‘America’s TopDentists.’ Now, I try really hard to be the bestdentist that I can be. I attend lots of continu-ing education courses, read plenty of journals,and treat my patients who seek care like Iwould want to be cared for. To be honest, it isvery flattering to receive a mailing such as theone I opened last week. That is, until onereads past the headline. When you dive intothe fine details, you realize that anyone can belisted as a ‘Top Dentist’ and anyone canproudly display a plaque or trophy statingsuch. All that is required is mailing in all ofyour credit card information or enclosing acheck for several hundred dollars. Who wouldknow otherwise? I guess you could write offthe cost on your taxes as advertising sincethere is not a category for “ego.”

This falls under the heading of ‘justbecause it is in print, doesn’t make it so.’ (Inthese times, we have to paraphrase ‘justbecause it is on the Internet, doesn’t make itso.’) I also get enticements from Internet sitessuch as Angie’s List and several publicationsthat would do a very nice write-up about meand (airbrushed photos included) even place aphoto on the cover of a magazine. All that isrequired is a very nice fee.

Of course, just as the printed word andInternet ratings can be inflated in positiveways (there are even companies that you canpay to flood Facebook and Google, amongother sites, with favorable ‘hits’), negative rat-ings can be inflated. One unhappy patientwho rightly or wrongly is upset with you cantarnish your name instantly with a keyboardand a wifi connection.

There are now companies that you canpay to monitor your name on the Internet andtake actions that could potentially neutralizeand counteract any negative connotationattached to your good name. It is a shame thatthe same cannot be done for attacks by aninsurance company that may sully your nameand drive a wedge of mistrust between youand your patient. All the insurance companiesneed to do is place a simple sentence or twoon a patient’s explanation of benefits formsuch as ‘Your doctor’s fees are too high’ or ‘Youmay consider another dentist.’

Advertising appears to be getting farbeyond ‘marketing’ a practice. What with theprint material that can be bought, the Internetsites that can be influenced, and ‘Groupon’and ‘half off’ deals that flood our lives all withthe intent of promoting our good names, theopposite may be true. The trouble lies in thatthe proliferation of and saturation of advertis-ing may have the opposite effect of bolsteringus, and instead lump our profession in withevery trade on the ‘Angie’s Lists’ of the world.Then we look more like a trade and less likethe honorable profession that we joined.

How much will our names be worththen?

What’s In a Name?

5GDA ACTIONAPRIL 2012

Jonathan S. Dubin, DMD

editorialperspective



The U.S. House of Representatives in Marchapproved by voice vote an amendment thatwould repeal the McCarran-FergusonAct’s antitrust exemption as it applies tohealth insurance companies. That exemption,which Congress enacted in 1945, wasintended to make it easier for states toregulate insurance without federalinterference. The ADA and other healthcare groups have long argued that theexemption gives the insurance industry anunfair advantage in the marketplace. Rep.Paul Gosar, a former Arizona dentist,offered his legislation as a floor amend-ment to the ADA-supported HelpEfficient, Accessible, Low-cost, TimelyHealthcare Act (HR 5). HR 5 (whosesponsor is Rep. Phil Gingrey of Georgia)which would reform medical malpracticelaws by limiting awards and attorney fees,passed the House on March 23 by a vote of223 to 181. This is not yet law–just apositive step forward.

In late March, the federal governmentannounced it would delay enforcement ofHIPAA 5010 transactions to June 30, 2012.It is the second three-month delay onenforcement made by the Centers forMedicare & Medicaid Services’ Office ofE-Health Standards and Services (OESS).While progress is being made, there arestill some issues to work out. According toOESS:

• The Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS)program is currently reporting successfulreceipt and processing of over 70 percentof all Part A claims and over 90 percentof all Part B claims in the Version 5010format.

• Commercial plans are reporting similarnumbers.

• State Medicaid agencies are showingprogress as well, and some have made afull transition to Version 5010.

“At the same time, OESS is aware thatthere are still a number of outstandingissues and challenges impeding fullimplementation,” an OESS statementcontinued. “OESS believes that theseremaining issues warrant an extension ofenforcement discretion to ensure that allentities can complete the transition. OESSexpects that transition statistics will reach98 percent industry wide by the end of theenforcement discretion period.”

OESS urged those covered by the ruleto collaborate more closely on appropriatestrategies to resolve remaining problems.The statement said the agency would stepup its existing outreach to include moretechnical assistance for covered entities.OESS is also partnering with severalindustry groups as well as MedicareFFS and Medicaid to expand technicalassistance opportunities and eliminateremaining barriers.

The ADA is launching a Safety AwarenessCampaign to remind dentists to performroutine safety checks on equipment intheir dental offices. Reminders will beissued through ADA News, e-publications,and ADA.org twice a year as the UnitedStates changes clocks in the spring and fall.A downloadable “Safety Checklist forDental Equipment” is posted on ADA.orgthat will assist dentists with inspecting andtaking action on items. The Council onDental Education and Licensure took thelead in developing the Campaign, workingwith members from the Council onCommunication, Council on Dental Practice,Council on Scientific Affairs, and theCouncil on Membership.

The federal Drug Enforcement Agency(DEA) published new registration fees inthe Federal Register on March 15. Theincrease was effective 30 days following

publication. Dentists who prescribe con-trolled pain medication must now pay athree-year registration fee of $731, whichamounts to a $60-per-year increase overthe current fee.

The American Dental Associationobjected to the DEA’s methodology in cal-culating the new fees when it was firstrevealed a year ago. The Associationpointed out that the “weighted-ratio”formula used to determine the differentfees for practitioners, manufacturers, anddistributors did not take into account thefact that dentists make no profit simplywriting a prescription. The relative feespaid by dentists and pharmaceuticalcompanies, for instance, do not reflecttheir huge differences in income.

While the final rule noted the ADA’sobjection, the agency nonetheless willimplement the fee increase based on theweighted-ratio calculation.

Registration for the 2012 ADA AnnualSession in San Francisco opens on April11. With almost 50 ADA official hotels,those who register (visit www.ada.org fordetails) early have a better chance of get-ting their preferred hotel and making areservation at a property closest to theMoscone Center. Making hotel reserva-tions through the ADA allows theAssociation to keep registration costs lowand continue to negotiate competitiverates for future Annual Sessions. The 2012Annual Session is scheduled for Thursday,October 18 through Sunday, October 21.The exhibit hall will be open Thursdaythrough Saturday.

Eight public colleges are on pace to com-bine into four on January 8, 2013. That’swhen Georgia Health Sciences Universityand Augusta State University will becomeone institution with multiple campuses.

generalnews

HIPAADelayed Rule

ADAAntitrust Progress

ADADental Safety

ADASession Registration

GHSUAugusta State MergerDEA

New Fees



To reach the January target, the mergingschools have several steps to take. Forinstance, in May, they will ask the Board ofRegents to approve mission statementsfor the combined schools. They will alsosubmit three names to the Board ofRegents for each merged school in Augustor September for review and approval.

By October, the schools must have anorganizational chart showing who willwork where and what their jobs will be.University System officials have said somejobs will be eliminated. October is alsowhen the accrediting agencies get detailedplans on how the new schools will work.They’ll vote on those blueprints inDecember ahead of the regents’ final go-ahead the next month.

Dr. Ricardo Azziz, Georgia HealthSciences University president and the des-ignated head of the combined entity, toldthe Walter News Service he’s pleased withthe process so far.

“People are starting to understand thepotential benefits to Augusta and the statefrom the combined institution,” he said.

Board of Regents Associate ViceChancellor Shelley Clark Nickel agrees.“In Augusta, that one is going to be a full-fledged research university, and really ithas the opportunity to change the face ofthat region of the state,” she said in aWalter News Service statement.

A 3D printer-created lower jaw has beenfitted to an 83-year-old woman’s face inwhat doctors say is the first operation of itskind. The transplant was carried out inJune 2011 in the Netherlands.

The implant was made out of titaniumpowder, heated and fused together by alaser, one layer at a time.

The surgery follows research carriedout at the Biomedical Research Institute atHasselt University in Belgium, and theimplant was built by LayerWise—a spe-cialized metal-parts manufacturer based inthe same country.

The patient involved had developed achronic bone infection. Doctors believedreconstructive surgery would have beenrisky because of her age and so opted forthe new technology.

The implant is a complex part involv-ing articulated joints, cavities to promote

muscle attachment, and grooves to directthe regrowth of nerves and veins.However, once designed, it only took a fewhours to print.

“Once we received the 3D digitaldesign, the part was split up automaticallyinto 2D layers and then we sent those crosssections to the printing machine,” RubenWauthle, LayerWise’s medical applicationsengineer, told the BBC. “It used a laserbeam to melt successive thin layers of tita-nium powder together to build the part.This was repeated with each cross sectionmelted to the previous layer. It took 33layers to build 1mm of height, so you canimagine there were many thousand layersnecessary to build this jawbone.”

Once completed, the part was given abioceramic coating. The team said theoperation to attach it to the woman’s facetook four hours, a fifth of the timerequired for traditional reconstructive sur-gery.

“Shortly after waking up from theanaesthetics the patient spoke a few words,and the day after the patient was able toswallow again,” said Dr Jules Poukens

from Hasselt University, who led the surgi-cal team.

The patient’s new jaw weighs 107g,just over a third heavier than before, butthe doctors said that she should find it easyto get used to the extra weight. Follow-upsurgery was scheduled for the team toremove healing implants inserted intoholes built into the implant’s surface. Aspecially made dental bridge will then beattached to the part, following whichfalse teeth will be screwed into the holesto provide a set of dentures.

3D PRINTINGTransplant Jaw

NEWSContinued on page 8



The GDA remembers these dentists whomade significant contributions to theirprofession, patients, families, andcommunities and whose informationwas recently forwarded to the GDA office.

Robert M. Bretches, DDS, who diedFebruary 13, 2012, at the age of 80. Dr.Bretches was a 1960 Emory UniversitySchool of Dentistry graduate and amember of the GDA through theNorthern District. He was a generaldentist and an American DentalAssociation Life Member.

Isaac M. Funderburg, DDS, who diedMarch 14, 2012, at the age of 89. Dr.Funderburg was a 1946 University ofTennessee School of Dentistry graduateand a member of the GDA through theNorthwestern District. He was an oral surgeonand an American Dental Association LifeMember.

Brian D. Shelton, DDS, who diedAugust 22, 2011, at the age of 59. Dr.Shelton was a 1978 University of MissouriKansas City School of Dentistry graduateand a member of the GDA through theWestern District. He was a general dentist.

Harry B. Stivarius Jr., DDS, who diedMarch 4, 2012, at the age of 87. Dr.Stivarius was a 1956 Emory UniversitySchool of Dentistry graduate and a memberof the GDA through the Western District.He was a general dentist and an AmericanDental Association Life Member.

DENTISTSIn Memoriam

NEWSContinued from page 7



Your GDA Alliance has done some amaz-ing things this spring. All dental spousesare invited to become a part of this fantas-tic organization which is involved with leg-islative advocacy, the wellbeing of the den-tal family, and dental health educationactivities year round.

This is just a sampling of our activitiesover the past few months. Visit theAlliance page at www.gadental.org fordetails on how your spouse can join. I lookforward to reporting on our HinmanSocial, April Leadership Conference(being held in Stone Mountain), and ourpreparations for the GDA Annual Meetingin July.

• In January, Alliance volunteers HelaineSugarman, Molly Bickford, JanelleKauffman, and Nancy Ferguson deliv-ered 100 care packets containing hats,gloves, socks, and oral care items to TheAtlanta Day Shelter for Women andChildren and The Covenant House. TheAlliance won a $750 national Allianceaward for our participation in thisnational project, dubbed “We Cover YouFrom Head to Toe.”

• We were proud to attend the January 9legislative opening day at the Capitol todistribute 900 dental kits. These werethe same kits your Alliance assembledlast fall. Thanks to members JeanHarrington, Helaine Sugarman, Dr.Janine Bethea, Molly Bickford, NancyFerguson, Doug Goldman, DawnHutchinson, and Dr. Becky Weinman fortheir help.

• We know Alliance members helpedstatewide on the February 3 Give Kids aSmile Day. One event we definitelyknow about was when HelaineSugarman and Pam Pafford traveled tothe Gainesville pediatric dental office ofDr. Ryan Vaughn to participate in theirGDA Northern District Council on

Dental Health GKAS project. The duohelped Dr. Vaughn, Alliance memberJulie Vaughn, and their staff while theytreated children referred by GainesvillePublic schools’ nurses and counselors.

• We also know that Alliance membershelped statewide all during Children’sDental Health Month. For instance,Helaine Sugarman visited CentennialElementary School in Atlanta (a TitleOne Atlanta Public School where themajority of students receive breakfastand lunch assistance) to read Ready, Set,Brush to 85 kindergartners and distrib-ute a goody bag containing toothbrush,toothpaste, and Silly Putty to each child.The Alliance mailed nine more Ready,Set, Brush books to librarians at otherAtlanta Public School Title One facili-ties. A Dental Health Education team ofJanet Ferguson, Jean Harrington, andJane Vedder presented WandaWondersmile puppet shows for 600+kids ages three to five in Central District!

• The Alliance loves our volunteers! Jeanand Dr. Ronnie Weathers hosted aValentine Brunch and Social onFebruary 13 at their home for our boardmembers and activity volunteers. Wehad a wonderful time.

• The Alliance had a great turnout onMarch 28 at the Capitol for the last GDALAW Day. Thanks to Alliance attendeesDr. Janine Bethea, Molly Bickford, FranBrown, Shari Carter, Tammy Fussell, JeanHarrington, Janelle Kauffman, GigiKudyba, Helaine Sugarman, DebbieTorbush, and Julie Vaughn. We were ableto visit our legislator’s offices and thankthem for their support of the GDA’sMandatory Participation and VolunteerLicensure bills.

Is Your Spouse Part of the Alliance? Why Not?Helaine Sugarman,Alliance President

Calendar ofGDA Events

MAY

May 3-6 (Thu-Sun): Ga. Academy ofDental Practice Meeting, Ponte Vedra.

May 7-9 (Mon-Wed): ADA WashingtonLeadership Conference, Chicago.

May 8 (Tues): DCH Medicaid Fair,Classic Center in Athens.

May 10 (Thurs): GHSU Senior AwardsLuncheon.

May 11 (Fri): GHSU College of DentalMedicine Hooding Ceremony.

May 18-19 (Fri-Sat): GDA Presidents’Elect Conference, Banning Mills.

May 19 (Sat): Special Olympics DentalScreening, Emory Campus, Atlanta.

May 21 (Mon): Northern DistrictExecutive Council, GDA Office, Atlanta.

May 26-June 2: GDA President’s Cruiseto Canada / New England.

May 28 (Mon): GDA Office Closed forMemorial Day Holiday.

JUNE

June 16 (Sat): GDA Board of TrusteesMeeting, GDA Office, Atlanta.

June 16 (Sat): Fisher Foundation BoardMeeting, GDA Office, Atlanta.

JULY

July 4 (Wed): GDA Office Closed for JulyFourth Holiday.

July 19-22 (Thu-Sun): GDA AnnualMeeting, Amelia Island, Florida.

AUGUST

Aug 11 (Sat): GDA Board of TrusteesMeeting, GDA Office, Atlanta.

Aug 16 (Thu): Northern District CEMeeting, Villa Christina, Atlanta.

Aug 25 (Sat): Northern District Gala forSmiles, Druid Hills Golf Club, Atlanta.

Aug 25 (Sat): Special Olympics DentalScreenings, Warner Robins.



Hundreds of dental volunteers providedfree dental care to Georgia’s less fortunatechildren on February 3, the GeorgiaDental Association’s 10th Annual GiveKids A Smile (GKAS) Day. This is one ofthe signature events of the AmericanDental Association carried on by thestates, and we are proud that so manyGDA members volunteered their time andtalents on this day to provide over$193,000 in free dental care to Georgia’schildren.

Through the Council on DentalHealth, five of seven GDA districts hostedevents. In addition to the district events, anumber of private practice offices also par-ticipated to provide services to children intheir communities. Services offered variedby event, but most provided at least oralhygiene instruction, exams, cleanings, andsealants and / or fluoride varnishes.Several events also provided restorativework and extractions.

A big thank you goes out to all theGDA members, Alliance members, dentalstaff members, and community volunteerswho helped to make the 10th annualGKAS Day a resounding success inGeorgia. Your contributions and servicemade an enormous difference in the livesof the children you served!

This article lists district sponsored and pri-vate dental office events reported byMarch 12. If you do not see your event list-ed, please contact Courtney Layfield at theGDA office ([email protected]) so thatwe may recognize your efforts in a futureGDA Action. The next issue will also fea-ture highlights from the other events heldduring February for Children’s DentalHealth Month.

EASTERN DISTRICT

Location: Georgia Health SciencesUniversity / College of Allied HealthSciences and Dental MedicinePediatric Clinic (Augusta) Coordinator: Dr. John SpratlingChildren Cared For: 62Value of Care: $20,146Volunteers: Four private practice dentists,three faculty members, four dental assis-tants, and four GHSU residents. Thanks todentist volunteers Drs. David Brantley,Carole Hanes (GHSU Faculty), AndyChandler, Sky Jones, Amber Perry, RoyRockman (GHSU Faculty), and TaraSchafer (GHSU Faculty).

Location: Healthy Smiles Children’sDentistry (Athens)Coordinator: Dr. Jennifer WellsChildren Cared For: 58Value of Care: $20,538Volunteers: Drs. Jayni Bradley, RhondaMobley, Bill Newell, Ross Russell,Jennifer Wells, and Erik Wells; dentalhygienists Kathy Kennon, Leigh Lord,Karen Patton, Jackie Vaughn; dental assis-

tants Leigh Bagwell, Melissa Eberhardt,Sheryl Folse, Crystal Hudson, AlanMobley, Lauren Oliver, and Leisa Weaver;and front office employees SherryArrowood and Tammy Burt.

Location: North Georgia PediatricDentistry (Braselton)Coordinator: Dr. Chris HalperChildren Cared For: 20Value of Care: $10,000Volunteers: Dr. Chris Halper and theNGPD team: McKenzie Grewett (highschool senior), Amber Halper, dental assis-tant Kacie Heard, dental hygienist CamillaLee, Mary Catherine Segars, and SabrinaSeabolt.

NORTHERN DISTRICT

Location: Advanced Dental Associates(Cumming)Coordinator: Dr. Robert JoinerChildren Cared For: 54Value of Care: $21,074Volunteers: Drs. Scott Henderson, RobertJoiner, and Deborah Porres; five dentalhygienists; and four dental assistants.

Ten Years of Give Kids A Smile Day:Reaching Thousands of Georgia ChildrenByron Colley, DMD, ChairmanGDA Council on Dental Health

Dr. Alice Booth at the SoutheasternDistrict GKAS event.

Southeastern District’s Dr. Felix Maherlending a GKAS hand..



Location: Auburn Dental CenterFamily and Cosmetic Dentistry(Auburn)Coordinator: Dr. William HerrChildren Cared For: 14Value of Care: $4,133Volunteers: Dr. William Herr, one dentalhygienist, and two dental assistants.

Location: Kid’s Dentistry of NorthGeorgia (Gainesville)Coordinator: Dr. Ryan VaughnChildren Cared For: 200Value of Care: $30,000Volunteers: Drs. Ryan Vaughn, DarleneDavis, Sean Cochran, Brad Cox, ThomasField, Heather McGee, Cindy Green,Ryan Wood, Abbey Lee, Evis Babo, andJason Croft; Lanier Technical Collegedental hygiene and assisting students; mul-tiple dental staff members; and Alliancemembers Helaine Sugarman, PamPafford, and Julie Vaughn.

Location: O’Rourke Family andCosmetic Dentistry (Cumming)Coordinator: Dr. Stephanie O’RourkeChildren Cared For: 11Value of Care: $4,463

Volunteers: Drs. Stephanie O’Rourke andSean O’Rourke, three dental hygienists,two dental assistants, 11 dental assistingand hygiene students, and one schoolnurse.

NORTHWESTERN DISTRICT

Location: West Georgia TechnicalCollege (Douglasville)Coordinator: Dr. Denise HallChildren Cared For: 56Value of Care: $14,255Volunteers: Drs. Jason Boutwell, BruceCamp, Denise Hall, Kay Kalantari, GeorgeMason, and Donna Thomas Moses; ninedental hygienists; three dental assistants;28 dental hygiene students; and foursupport staff.

Council on Dental Health Chair Dr.Byron Colley coordinating events on thebig day.

Dr. Chris Halper and his team inBraselton donated care for 20 children.

GKASContinued on page 12



SOUTHEASTERN DISTRICT

Location: Armstrong Atlantic StateUniversity Hygiene Clinic (Savannah)Coordinator: Dr. Stephanie SkinnerChildren Cared For: 150Value of Care: $44,601Volunteers: Drs. Alice Booth, ByronColley, Chris Comer, Cara DeLeon, BenDuval, Will Faulk, Bracey Holland, FelixMaher, Celestino Perez, Lou Reisman,Matt Rosenthal, Stephanie Skinner, andJames Vaughter; one GHSU dental stu-dent (Ashley Smith); 17 dental hygienistsand dental assistants; and 49 dentalhygiene students.

SOUTHWESTERN DISTRICT

Location: Wiregrass TechnicalCollege (Valdosta)Coordinator: Dr. Carly ThomasChildren Cared For: 29Value of Care: $7,449Volunteers: Drs. Greg Morris, MarkRetterbush, Charles Stewart, JoshSullivan, Scott Summers, and CarlyThomas; six dental hygienists; two dentalassistants; and 36 dental hygiene and den-tal assisting students.

OTHER GKAS EVENTS

• Volunteers from The Pierre FauchardAcademy, Georgia Section, treated 54children at an event in NortheastGeorgia with services valued in excess of$16,500. Special thanks to Drs. JanineBethea, Shirley Fisher, Narisa Goode,Annette Rainge, Karyn Stockwell, MikeVernon (GDA President), RebeccaWeinman, Richard Weinman, and MarkShurett. GHSU dental student BradfordHuffman and dental assistants RobertFisher Jr. and Bailey Fisher also volun-teered. Special thanks to Dr. MarkShurett and Help a Child Smile fordonating mobile units and HACS staff atthis event.

• United Way of Forsyth County part-nered with Forsyth Dental Partners (Dr.Melissa Durand) and CummingDental Care (Dr. Clay Skognes).Volunteers at the events treated morethan 100 children.

• Ingleside Dental Associates in Macon(Dr. Jenn Robertson) visited localpreschools and church daycares to con-duct dental screenings and dentalhygiene education for 350 children.

GKASContinued from page 11

The PFA Georgia Section held a GKAS event in Northeast Georgia and reached 54children with the help of nine dentists and Help A Child Smile of Conyers.

Dr. Ryan and Julie Vaughn hosted aNorthern District GKAS event in theirGainesville pediatric dental office.

Dental hygiene student Caroline Willoughbyprovided dental education at WestGeorgia Technical College.

Dr. Bill Newell of Athens with dentalhygienist Tina Carlton obtained goodresults for their patient.

Kysia Davis and Dr. Cara DeLeon ofSavannah take a break from volunteering.



Northwestern District volunteers at West Georgia TechnicalCollege cared for 56 children.

Dental hygienists Jill Broach and Heather Martin from Dr.Larry Miller’s office in Monroe.

Dr. Erik Wells and Dr. Jennifer Wells hosted anEastern District GKAS event in their general dentaloffice in Athens.

Alliance President Helaine Sugarman, Alliancemember Pam Pafford, and front office coordinator forKid’s Dentistry of North Georgia Glenda Phagan onGive Kids A Smile Day.

Drs. Scott Summers, Carly Thomas, Greg Morris, Josh Sullivan, and allthe great Southwestern District volunteers greeted patients with smiles.

Thanks to the dental hygiene and dental assisting students from Wiregrass Technical College who took part in GDA Give Kids ASmile Day activities.



In Georgia, low income families may beeligible to receive dental care throughMedicaid and PeachCare for Kids®(PeachCare). Dental practices that partici-pate in these programs provide a valuablepublic health-related service to their com-munities. To ensure that providers con-form to program requirements, feder-al and Georgia law require auditsknown as utilization reviews. Theseaudits typically are conducted by theGeorgia Department of CommunityHealth (DCH)’s Division of MedicalAssistance or its representatives. As withtax audits, accreditation inspections, andother similar evaluations, these utilizationreviews can be extremely stressful and dis-tracting for the dental practice beingreviewed. However, a working familiaritywith the process should reduce some ofthe stress and possibly even enhance thelikelihood of a satisfactory outcome.

The DCH’s Division of MedicalAssistance administers the Medicaid andPeachCare programs. Dentists provideMedicaid and PeachCare services throughcontracts with the Department or its third-party administrators. This arrangement islike many other types of business con-tracts. The dentist agrees to perform cer-tain services in return for compensation.As a part of the business contract, the den-tist also agrees to follow certain record-keeping procedures and to meet otherrequirements. This includes an agreementto comply with the applicable providermanuals furnished by the Department.

The provider manuals are importantdocuments. They form a part of the termsand conditions of the business contract.Often, the Department relies upon theprovider manuals as the primary basis foradverse determinations in a utilizationreview. The Department may accuse thedental practice of failing to comply withspecified record-keeping requirements in

the applicable provider manual, anddemand that the dental practice repay theDepartment large sums of money becauseof these alleged “failures.”

The Department may conduct a uti-lization review either itself or through athird-party auditor. In many instances, theDepartment identifies a provider for a uti-lization review based on discrepancies instatistics, referrals from third parties, andvarious computer-generated reports. Anydentist who provides Medicaid servic-es probably can expect to be the sub-ject of a utilization review at some

point. However, being selected for areview does not necessarily mean thatone has done something wrong or thatthe Department in fact is entitled to areimbursement.

As a general practice, dentists andtheir staffers should be familiar with allprogram requirements. Staff should betrained on program requirements thor-oughly and regularly. Regular self-auditsshould be conducted to identify areas inwhich one’s staff may require additionaltraining. If any problems cannot beresolved, the practice should seek assis-

An Introduction To The Medicaid Audit Process:The Dreaded Claim for RecoupmentJ. Pargen Robertson Jr.Adam P. FordOwen, Gleaton, Egan, Jones, & Sweeney, LLP



tance from the Department or the third-party administrator. Problems andrequests for assistance should be docu-mented in writing.

How a Utilization Review BeginsThe utilization review typically begins withthe Department or its third-party auditorobtaining and reviewing a selection of apractice’s records. By participating in theprogram, a dentist agrees to provide theDepartment with access to the records ofits Medicaid and PeachCare patients. Atthe beginning of a utilization review,typically the practice will receive a writtenrequest for records or a notice stating thatDepartment personnel will be coming foran on-site visit to copy records themselves.

The Department’s request for recordsmay be large and involve many recordsover a long period of time. The requestmay include patient charts, x-rays, reportsto the Department, billing records, and

other documents that practices arerequired to maintain.

Dental practices should expect therequest for records or the on-site visit totake place on very short notice. Dentalpractices also should expect the requestfor records or the on-site visit to take placeduring regular office hours when the prac-tice probably already has scheduledappointments. While a request for recordsor an on-site visit may be disruptive andinconvenient, the process will go moresmoothly if the practice’s staff cooperatesas much as possible. Those interactingwith the audit team should be courteousand respectful, and should provide theaudit team with complete copies of therequested records. A positive attitude inone’s dealings with the audit team can go along way in the right direction, but a nega-tive attitude can go twice as far in thewrong direction.

It usually is a good idea for staffers tomake written notes of all of the records theDepartment copies and to avoid giving

them original records. If Department per-sonnel do insist on taking original records,the practice should require a writtenreceipt identifying the specific recordstaken.

Once DCH Has YourRecords, Reviews StartOnce the Department obtains the recordsor copies, it will conduct the utilizationreview. This process may take weeks oreven months. Department personnel willexamine the records to ensure that servic-es were performed according to theprovider manual and other applicablerequirements. To give just a few examples,they will examine the records to ensurethat services were provided by properly

MEDICAID AUDITContinued on page 16



licensed staff, billed properly with correctcodes, and reimbursed in the correctamount. Another dentist may review therecords to ensure that diagnoses are cor-rect and that treatments were medicallynecessary, supported by documentation,and met professional standards of care.

How DCH NotifiesDentists Post-ReviewAfter the process is complete, theDepartment will serve notice of its conclu-sions. Because of the expansive scope ofmost utilization reviews in terms of thenumbers of patients and the span of timecovered in the evaluation, the Departmentalmost always will identify at least a fewperceived transgressions.

Based on its findings it is not unusualfor the Department to require overpay-

ment, sometimes in the tens of thousandsof dollars (or more). An overpaymentrecovery could involve direct payments,recoupment from future Medicaid com-pensation, withholding of future Medicaidcompensation, or rate adjustments. TheDepartment may also require a “correctiveaction plan” listing the perceived trans-gressions identified by the audit, the stepsto be taken to correct the problem, and thedate by which the dental practice intendsto complete those steps.

If the Department finds egregiousdiscrepancies, it may take an adverseaction such as suspending or terminatingthe dentist’s Medicaid contract, or inextreme cases such as fraud, contactinglaw enforcement.

Regarding the Appeals ProcessAn appeal usually begins with a request foran administrative review. In the requestfor an administrative review, the dental

practice will explain the legal basis forquestioning the decision of theDepartment. The Department will con-duct the administrative review internallywith its own personnel and will determinewhether the review and its conclusionswere correct.

After the administrative review con-cludes, the dental practice may elect fur-ther to appeal the decision. This next stepin the process depends on the specificMedicaid program at issue, but generally itwill involve requesting a hearing whichwill be held before either theCommissioner of the Department ofCommunity Health or an AdministrativeLaw Judge with the Georgia Office ofState Administrative Hearings. After that,the decision may be appealed further tothe Superior Court of the county in whichthe dentist resides.

In many instances, it is advisable thatthe dental practice hire a lawyer withexpertise and experience handlingMedicaid utilization reviews. Often a

MEDICAID AUDITContinued from page 15



lawyer can assist the dental practice inidentifying errors in the Department’smethodology and analysis for the purposeof seeking administrative review or toappeal the Department’s demand forrecoupment. Requests for administrativereview or appeal must meet deadlinesspecified under the regulations, and thelawyer will need time to prepare therequest for administrative review or peti-tion for appeal, so time is of the essence.Analysis takes time, especially in casesinvolving a lot of patient records and largedollar amounts.

Conclusion: Be Informed,Assert Your RightsThe Medicaid audit process serves animportant function by seeking to ensurethat patients receive proper care and thatpublic money is well spent. Nevertheless,the process often is stressful, distracting,and frustrating, and even the most consci-entious auditors sometimes make mis-takes. Dentists who provide services

through Medicaid and PeachCare performan important community public health-related service, and they should not letadministrative red tape deter them fromasserting their rights. Preparation andknowledge about the process can go a longway to protect one’s business and to helpensure that the dental practice properly iscompensated for the services it already hasprovided.

Mr. Robertson, a partner in Owen,Gleaton, Egan, Jones, & Sweeney, LLP ofAtlanta, focuses on employment litigationand counseling, governmental law,healthcare law, public assembly facility /hospitality industry law, corporateformation and governance, and draftingand reviewing contracts. Mr. Ford focuseson professional liability, health law,governmental law, employment, premisesliability, and business counseling andlitigation. The attorneys may be contactedvia the firm’s web site http://og-law.com.

GeorgiaMedicaidNewsMedicaid Fair on May 8The Department of Community Health

and HP Enterprise Services invite

Medicaid offices to participate in the

Georgia Medicaid Fair. The date is

Tuesday, May 8, at The Classic Center in

Athens. The fair will examine the state’s

Medicaid Redesign, 5010 and ICD-10

initiatives, and Health Information

Exchanges. There will be sessions on

billing,claims,the CMOs,waiver programs,

member eligibility, dental services,

provider enrollment, and more. To

register and view an agenda, visit

www.seeuthere.com/hp/GPW2012.

Questions? Contact HP Enterprise

Services at [email protected].

Program for SealantApplicationsDentaQuest’s Preventistry Program for

sealant applications rolled out on

September 1, 2011. This is a voluntary

program intended to supplement a

dental office’s practices with regard to

sealants applications for DentaQuest

members. Any offices with questions

regarding the program should contact

Kim Tenor at DentaQuest at

[email protected].

DentaQuest to Launch Provider SiteDentaQuest will launch a new provider

web portal on May 21, 2012. The

company hopes the site will improve

dental offices’ ability to submit

claims and pre-authorizations with

attachments; view the status of claims

more quickly; and communicate with

DentaQuest via secure messaging.

DentaQuest will host webinars May

15-17 to demonstrate the new provider

web portal. Look for notification from

DentaQuest to arrive soon.



Dentists Availablefor Locum Tenens

Dentist will fill in for illness, vacation, orcontinuing education. Licensed, insured,DEA #, call (404) 786-0229 or [email protected].

Dentist Available Daily (DAD): Dentistavailable during vacations, emergencies,and CE courses. Leave your practice inwell-trained hands. I am licensed, insured,and have a DEA registration number so Ican write prescriptions. Call Dr. RichardPatrick at (770) 993-8838.

DENTIST: Need Part Time Fill In?Vacation, Illness, Maternity? GENERALDENTIST SOLD LONG ESTAB-LISHED PRACTICE. GA & DEALICENSED. (Available Expanded AtlantaArea.) Cell: (404) 219-4097. Home: (404)842-1196. Jesse Hader, DDS.

Dentist available during emergencies,vacation, CDE courses. I have a currentlicense, DEA certificate, and insurance.Contact me at (706) 291-2254 or cell (706)802-7760. I hope I can be of service to you.Patrick A. Parrino, DDS, MAGD.

Positions Available

We have an outstanding full timeopportunity in our successful, well-respected, quality-oriented privatepediatric dental practice for the rightcandidate. We are seeking a special, moti-vated, personable individual to join in oursuccess. General dentists would require aminimum of at least 2 years experience inpediatric dentistry. We are a boomingpractice with tremendous growth andearning potential. We offer in office seda-tion. We offer excellent compensation andbenefits. For more information, pleasecontact Amanda Moseley at [email protected] or (678) 352-1090 / (678)429-9931.

Full time associate dentist wanted for amulti-dentist, fee for service, high techcosmetic restorative general practice inMidtown Atlanta. We are a dental teamdedicated to helping patients get healthyaesthetic dentitions through the use of thelatest dental technology and quality dentallabs. Our office is a Premier PreferredProvider of Invisalign. CEREC and allceramic restorations are the dominantrestoration produced in our practice. Weare completely digital and approachingpaperless. All doctor operatorys areequipped with the latest ADEC equip-ment, W&H electric hand-pieces, digitalx-rays, LED lights, computers withCAESY patient educational systems in all10 operatories. We use Cone Beam tech-nology to help diagnose and treatmentplan dental implant surgeries. The incom-ing new dentist associate will be taughthow to use the CEREC CAD / CAM com-puter by a certified CEREC trainer alongwith how to incorporate digital extra-oralphotography when presenting treatmentplans. This is an excellent opportunity for afull time dentist to experience the clinicalintegration of the latest technology in den-tistry. One of the dentists working a fulltime schedule is moving to Florida andsomeone is needed to take over his patientload which averages 30-40 fee-for-servicenew patients per month. We do not partic-ipate in any PPO or HMO dental plans.Interested parties email Sheila Miranda;[email protected] or call her at (404)671-2890.

Busy Pediatric Practice seekingAssociate Dentist: Pediatric Dentist orGeneral Dentist that specializes in chil-dren. We are seeking a dentist with superi-or clinical skills and a chair side mannerthat makes every patient feel comfortable.Contact Cheryl Glaze [email protected], call (678) 851-5912or fax resume to (678) 479-7007.

How GDA members canplace classified ads

AD FORM: Submit all ads on a GDA ClassifiedAdvertisement Form. To obtain a form,call Skip Jones at (800) 432-4357 or (404)636-7553, or email [email protected].(Note: The GDA may accept or reject anyad for any reason and in its sole discretion.)

AD DEADLINE: Ads and ad check payments are due by thefirst of the month before the publicationmonth (i.e., Dec. 1 for January).

AD RATES: ADA member dentists pay $75.00 per60-word ad per month. There is a 25 centsper-word charge for each word over 60.Non-dentist-owned companies (real estatefirms, etc.) pay $195 per 60-word ad permonth (additional word charges as above).Non-member dentists may notplace ads.

LATE FEE:Ads for which full prepayment is notreceived by the first day of the ad’spublication month (i.e.; Nov. 1 for aNovember ad) will incur a $25 late fee inaddition to the ad rate.

FORMS OF PAYMENT: Submit a check or money order with the adform. (Make checks payable to GDA.)Credit cards are not accepted as payment.

WEB SITE PLACEMENT: Prepaid ads will appear on the GDA Website www.gadental.org for the month thead appears in print. Non-prepaid ads willNOT be placed online.

CLASSIFIEDSContinued on page 28

classifiedads



Dynamic Prosthodontic office inGeorgia is ready to take the next levelto multi-specialty. We are a brand newfacility, centrally located in Discover Mills/ Sugarloaf corridor. Practice is paperlessand digitally equipped. We are looking fora Prosthodontist and an Endodontist tojoin our team. Please email your CV [email protected].

Georgia-Atlanta: Children’s Dental Zoneis looking for an enthusiastic pediatric den-tist. This is a great opportunity for a full orpart time candidate looking to join a solo,state-of-the-art practice. Our team is ener-getic, passionate, and focused on excellentpatient care. Located in a growing, upscalesuburb of Atlanta, our office sets a playfulyet relaxing environment. We offer topcompensation and the possibility of part-nership for right candidate. If you areinterested in this incredible opportunitycontact Andrea Franklin at (770) 777-1222or [email protected].

Georgia-Cartersville, Hiram, and EastPoint—Opportunity available for a gener-al dentist in an established family practice.We are a multi-specialty group providingstate-of-the-art offices. Excellent incentivepackages. Requirements: 1 year of experi-ence and active Georgia license. Emailresume to [email protected].

Dentist Jobs: Aspen Dental offerstremendous earning potential and a prac-tice support model that empowers dentiststo achieve goals. We eliminate obstaclesfor dentists to own their own practice. Tolearn more about our compelling proposi-tion and to apply, please call (877) 332-9154 or visit www.AspenDentalJobs.com.EOE.

Fast growing Dental Practice in theCumming, GA, area looking for anAssociate Dentist to join our team in aPT / FT position. We practice general den-tistry with a wide variety of procedures.We have a great office team and are look-ing for a Dentist to join our loving andcompassionate staff. Please fax resume to(770) 889-6687.

ATLANTA PERIO—#5241: Associateneeded for high tech perio practice. Allphases of perio performed. For informa-tion, call Dr. Earl Douglas, (770) 664-1982or email [email protected].

Practices/Office Space Available

Kennesaw—The Village At Town Park:Prime dental specialist space, custom buildout, 1,576-8,579 square feet available.Signage on Chastain Road. Medical envi-ronment with general dentist, plastic sur-geon and physical therapy. Call MichelleBoyd at (770) 231-0471 or Lee Eastwoodat (770) 390-9970.

Savannah: Successful, turnkey ORALAND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERYpractice. Doctor retiring. Two surgicalsuites. Great staff. Electric hand pieces.Plumbed for dry air pneumatic handpieces. Excellent location in modern pro-fessional building. $300K+ 3 1/2 days /week. Great place to live and play. Pricedto sell at $190K. Contact Dean Cox @(678) 584-4855.

CLASSIFIEDSContinued from page 27



FLOWERY BRANCH / HOSCHTON /BRASELTON, GA: 20,000 square footdental office building for lease in the #4most economically developing area in thecountry! Now Leasing and Interior BuildOut Can Begin Immediately! Great leaserates & TI allowance available. Lookingfor PERIO, ENDO & ORAL SURGEON.In a highly visible area where NO special-ists are located at this time! Be the first inthe area for a promising long term careerlocation. Whether you want 1,500 or 5,000square feet, space will be tailored to eachindividual’s needs. Perfect location for anew practice startup or a 2nd satellite loca-tion! Close to the newly approved satellitelocation for Northeast Georgia MedicalCenter. Demographics are off the chartsand schools are unbelievable … literallyone of the most sought after locationsaround! Priority will be given on a firstcome / first serve basis. Please email:[email protected] for more information or call (678) 612-2277.




Available: Montezuma, GA – Next toPerry, GA. Dental office only; no patients.Three equipped ops with living spaceupstairs. Office can be reopened for busi-ness. Dental equipment can be sold sepa-rately. Nicely equipped oral surgery opwith hall drill. Charming small town, prior-ity will be given on a first come, first servebasis. Contact Dr. Moretz at (478) 957-6395.

West Point: Prime fee for service practice.Consistent gross $750K+ 3 1/2 days / week.Attractive building in high traffic area nearWest Point Lake. Four very nicelyequipped ops. Area experiencing excellentgrowth but still has a charming small townatmosphere. Boating, fishing, golf,Callaway Gardens, Auburn, Columbus,Lagrange nearby. Dr. retiring; will stay asneeded for nice transfer of patients. Callp.m. (334) 644-3865.

Available: 1700 sq. ft. 2 yr. old office (nopatients!) available for SPECIALISTSONLY. State of the art facility. 3 equippedoperatories with room for 2 or 3 more.Tastefully done. We are moving down theroad and will gladly refer you specialtycare. Non-negotiable price $200K includesKodak Pan 8000C which can be upgradedfor Ceph. X-ray heads can be includedwith additional amount. All you have topurchase is hand pieces and instrumentswith a sterilizer. Office has lab, sterilizationroom, and needs to be seen by seriouslyinterested SPECIALISTS only. Rentwould be $4,750 per month that includeswater and trash. All inquires [email protected]. Can discuss financ-ing option. Get in fast before otherSpecialists come in! Two more GPs sched-uled to open this year, so a great referralsource within one mile. Across fromMARTA station, so parking is never anissue and patients love the convenience.

GREAT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNI-TY in beautiful north Georgia. Ten yearold 10,000 sq ft high image glass buildingwell located for public awareness alongwith dental practice in this same locationfor 39 years. State Agency also renting withthe building; some vacant space availablefor rent to dental specialist, physicians, orother professional businesses. Close tohospital. Motivated cross-trained staff.Friendly patients who appreciate what youdo for them. Modern equipment.Computers in all operatories. Ideal for soloor group practice. Growing communitywith excellent school system. Low crimerate. Tons of family / sportsman outdoorrecreation. Call soon to arrange a conven-ient time to meet us and see our facility.(706) 745-6848.





POWDER SPRINGS AREA Greatopportunity west of Atlanta in a growingarea. There is plenty of room in this 2000sq ft space with 5 equipped operatories.The practice is located on a busy road andis loaded with technology. Practice collects$330K annually. For more informationcall (678) 482-7305, [email protected] or visitwww.southeasttransitions.com.

NORTH EAST GEORGIA Excellentopportunity for sale! Practice has consis-tently collected over $600K the last threeyears. Free standing building that is alsofor sale houses 4 operatories loaded withtechnology including CEREC. The prac-tice has a strong hygiene department andlots of patients! All FFS / PPO. Seller ismoving out of state. For more informationcall (678) 482-7305, [email protected] or visitwww.southeasttransitions.com.

STOCKBRIDGE DON’T WAIT!Beautiful, five operatory, bread-and-buttergeneral dentistry practice for sale. Thispractice is loaded with technology and hasplenty of room. Gross collections for 2011was $590K. For more information call(678) 482-7305, email [email protected] or visit www.southeast-transitions.com.

Available: BUCKHEAD: Beautiful,prime location, 4 operatories. DECATUR:Grossing $1.8 million, multi-doctor.GWINNETT: Grossing $550,000, 4 opera-tories. GWINNETT: Grossing $210,000, 4operatories, great merger. TUCKER:Grossing $350,000, 5 operatories. MERG-ERS: Buckhead, Duluth, Mid-Town,Peachtree City. Contact RichaneSwedenburg, New South DentalTransitions: (770) 630-0436, [email protected]. Check new listings:www.newsouthdental.com.

Available: SAVANNAH AREA #8779—Gross Collections $1.05M; 4 days; 5 opera-tories; 2660 sq. ft. office space. ATLANTAPERIO #5241—Gross Collections$1.32M, 3 days, 4 ops; 2400 sq. ft. officespace. NORTH PAULDING COUNTY#8799—Gross Collections $653K, 4.5days, 6 ops, 3600 sq. ft. office space. NWGA #8816—Gross Collections $1.09M; 4days; 5 ops; 2450 sq. ft. office space.COLUMBUS AREA #8824—GrossCollections $310K; 4 days, 6 ops; 3000 sq.ft. office space. NORCROSS OFFICESPACE #8834—1750 sq. ft. office spaceand dental equipment for lease. Two fullyequipped and 2 unequipped operatories.$3500 a month. For information, call Dr.Earl Douglas, (770) 664-1982 or [email protected].




Several media outlets have recentlydiscussed a study that associates yearly ormore frequent dental x-rays to anincreased risk of developing a non-cancerousmeningioma brain tumor. Dentists mayreceive questions from patients about thisissue. The GDA offers the following pointsyou can use to help answer patient questions.

• The American Dental Association as wellas the media noted that the results of thisstudy rely on the individuals’ memoriesof having dental X-rays taken years earlier,not a review of the patients’ dental ormedical records. Results of studies thatuse this type of design method can beunreliable.

• The study acknowledges that some sub-jects received dental X-rays decades agowhen radiation exposure was greater

because of the use of old X-ray technologyand slower speed film.

• Because of the advent of digital X-raysand improved speed of X-ray film, theamount of radiation that dental patientsare exposed to today is significantlylower.

• Dental X-rays are valuable becausemany oral diseases cannot be detectedon the basis of a visual and physicalexamination alone. Such radiographsprovide important diagnostic informationabout a patient’s oral health such asearly-stage cavities, gum diseases,infections, and even some types of tumors.

• According to the ADA, how often dentalX-rays should be taken depends on thepatient’s oral health condition, age, risk

for disease, and any signs and symptomsof oral disease that the patient may beexperiencing. The ADA has publishedrecommendations to help dentistsensure that radiation exposure is as lowas reasonably achievable. Visit www.ada.orgfor full information.

• The ADA and GDA encourage patientsto talk to their dentists if they havequestions about their dental treatment.

Questions? Call Melana McClatcheyat the GDA office at (404) 636-7553 orvisit www.gadental.org for links to additionalresources.

GDA Membership Alert: X-ray Media Coverage


Suite 200, Building 17, 7000 Peachtree Dunwoody RoadAtlanta, Georgia 30328-1655

www.gadental.org

ACTIONInside This Issue

• Surviving a Dental Medicaid Audit

• Celebrating 10 Years of Give Kids A Smile Day

DATED MATERIALPLEASE DELIVER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE


gda action april 2012

Documents

gda dental recovery

dental care alliance

projects10 gda

executive directordelaine

member commentary

peachtree dunwoody rd

executive directornelda

national practice transitions