gda action july 2009

1859 2009

ACTIONTHE JOURNAL OF THE GEORGIA DENTAL ASSOCIATION JULY 2009

C e l e b r a t i n g 1 5 0 Y e a r s o f S e r v i c e & A d v o c a c y

ACTIONTHE JOURNAL OF THE GEORGIA DENTAL ASSOCIATION JULY 2009

C e l e b r a t i n g 1 5 0 Y e a r s o f S e r v i c e & A d v o c a c y

1859 2009

Kent H. Percy, DDS141st President of the

Georgia Dental Association

Kent H. Percy, DDS141st President of the

Georgia Dental Association

GDAction July 2009 using.qxd 7/13/09 8:44 PM

GDAction July 2009 final.pdf 1GDAction July 2009 final.pdf 1 7/17/2009 1:02:51 PM7/17/2009 1:02:51 PM

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Center for TMJ Therapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

The Doctor’s Safety Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

GDA Dental Recovery Network . . . . . . . . . . .25

Georgia Dental Insurance Services . . . . . . . .32

Great Expressions Dental Centers . . . . . . . .11

Hungeling & Sons PC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Law Office of Stuart J. Oberman . . . . . . . . .28

McDonald Harbor Consulting . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Medical Protective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Paragon Dental Practice Transitions . . . . . .30

Professional Debt Recovery Services . . . . . .25

Professional Practice Management . . . . . . .29

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TransFirst Health Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

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

2008-2009 Georgia Dental Association Officers Mark S. Ritz, DDS, PresidentKent H. Percy, DDS, President ElectJohn F. Harrington Jr., DDS, Vice PresidentJames B. Hall III, DDS, MS, Secretary/TreasurerJonathan S. Dubin, DMD, Editor

GDA/GDIS/PDRS Executive Office Staff Members

Martha S. Phillips, Executive DirectorLisa Chandler, Director of Member Services

Nelda H. Greene, MBA, Associate Executive Director

Delaine Hall, Director of Communications

Skip Jones, Director of Operations (PDRS)

Barbara Kaul, Property and Casualty Accounts Manager

Courtney Layfield, Director of Administrative Services

Victoria LeMaire, Medical Accounts Manager

Melana Kopman McClatchey, General Counsel

Denis Mucha, Director of Operations (GDIS)

George Stewart, Operations Manager (PDRS)

Phyllis Willich, Administrative Assistant

Pamela K. 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 2009 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.

10 Georgia Supreme Court DecisionAffects Dentists, Informed Consent

18 GDA Recognizes InauguralCommunity Service Award Honorees

20 GDA Endorsed LifeLock Offers Tips on Protecting Your Identity

22 Recent Alliance Events EncourageNetworking, Dental Health

23 History Spotlight: Interesting Facts on GDA Past Presidents

4 Parting Shots

5 Editorial

6 News and Views

26 Event Calendar

27 Classifieds

Dr. Kent H. Percy, a general dentist inMarietta, Georgia, in the NorthwesternDistrict, will be sworn in as the 141st GDApresident on August 2, 2009, during theGDA Annual Meeting. In the presidentialfeature on page 12, Dr. Percy discusses theeconomic downturn and its effect onGeorgia dentists, the new dental schoolbuilding in Augusta, access to care issues,and more.

other features sections

on the cover

Member Publication American Association of Dental Editors

ACTION

V O L U M E 2 9 , N U M B E R 7 • J U L Y 2 0 0 9

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 ACTIONJULY 2009



We live in tenuous times and our profession ison a high wire with the winds of universalhealthcare and governmental control pickingup. The economic tailspin has damageddentistry’s priority on the public’s radar.Unemployment edges toward double digitsand it hurts us all. Who pays for dental care isheaped upon who pays for Medicaid. Not verylong ago, dentistry was the most respectedprofession and we the most trusted profes-sionals. Time goes by, things have changed,and some of that trust has eroded. Themajority still trusts and respects us, but theminority is growing larger and our luster isnot as bright. When many incorrectly believethat we are opposed to salon and mall bleach-ing merely because of loss of revenue, ourimage is tarnished that much more.

I get really tired of reading negativearticles on dentistry in magazines andnewspapers or watching a news segment ontelevision denigrating to dentistry. Whilemany of the segments are fair, too many ofthose segments are negative or ignorantlyportray dentistry as expensive or worse yetdentists as over-treating or fraudulent. It isactually not the “news” story itself that raisesthe hair on the back of my neck, but rather theviewer or reader comments about the topic.The overwhelming majority of the commentsthat I typically come across spew vitriol ourway. Is it press like this that leads to patientssuch as one last week who told me that shewas going to Costa Rica for porcelain veneers?(I had to ask myself if the bonus was gettingthe Costa Rican vacation or getting theveneers while she is there?)

What we have here is an exquisite oppor-tunity. If we allow the media to sully ourimage, to report only negatives, to insinuatefalsehoods, then we will continue to loseground in the public’s eye. Our destiny hasalways been in our own hands. Instead ofallowing the government to decide how

dentistry should be practiced we need to bebold to right this ship and correct our image.We must educate the public much like weeducate our legislators during LAW Days. Apublic awareness campaign is essential.Call it marketing if you want, but we must beaudacious enough to use the media to benefitus and the citizens of Georgia. We are theGeorgia Dental Association, and collectivelywe can mount a campaign properly and involume enough to be heard throughout thestate. We must ensure our citizens areeducated before we can be confident theywill choose a dentist for their oral health careneeds.

We fear raising dues because manymembers of our organization don’t realizethe benefits, tangible or intrinsic, withinorganized dentistry. So we look for ways to dothis without much investment in dollars. Theinvestment must come in some other tangibleform. We have a Public Relations Committeestocked with great minds and caring colleaguescharged with creating ideas to educate thepublic and promote our care and our caring.They are crafting fertile plans but those planswon’t amount to anything if we aren’t willingto step forward for the betterment of dentistryand the betterment of ourselves and thepublic. Now is the time. The winds arenot dying down. The wire isn’t getting anybroader. Be ready, and be willing, becauseyour action will be required for theadvancement of your profession.

5GDA ACTIONJULY 2009

Are You Ready to Control the Course?

Jonathan S. Dubin, DMD

editorialperspective

xx




ADA New Dentist Conference report

membersin the news

We were grateful and humbled to havebeen selected to represent the GDA atthe 23rd Annual ADA New DentistConference in Miami, Florida, in April.We and the other 366 attendees enjoyed acombination of leadership programming,CE, and networking opportunities.

The first day consisted of classesfocusing on getting and staying involvedwith organized dentistry or understandingyour individual leadership style. Immediatelyfollowing these classes was an opportunityfor us to be introduced to our ADA leaders,and ask them questions about current hot

topics. This segment of the conferencewas a highlight because our ADA leadersfielded questions and responded to commentson topics such as universal healthcare,mid-level provider proposals, and the 90-daydelay of the Federal Trade Commission’sRed Flag Rules. This town hall meetingalso provided an opportunity for networkingwith new dentist leaders to exchange ideasand discuss what other state and localassociations have successfully implemented.The networking included an array of sug-gestions ranging from reaching out to militarydentists to advanced communication with

new dentists using podcasts, Facebook.com,and Youtube.com accounts.

The following two days offered CEclasses with breaks for networking withother attendees. The conference was veryinformative with fresh ideas from allover the country and offered a uniqueopportunity to interact with our ADAleaders, form new relationships, andestablish contacts with other new dentistleaders. The meeting was an outstandingexperience!

Dr. Kara Moore and Dr. Jason Young

MCG dental student places first in national research competition

Medical College of Georgia School ofDentistry senior student Alpesh Patelrecently placed first in the AmericanAssociation for Dental Research NationalStudent Research Group DENTSPLY /Caulk Basic Science ResearchCompetition. Only seven students nation-wide are selected to participate annually.

He found that blue curing light, usedto harden dental fillings, activates signalingpathways that can cause cancer cells to die.

Alpesh, who has primarily been work-ing with Dr. Jill Lewis, associate professorof oral biology in the School of Dentistry,found that oral cancer cell growth wasreduced in mice treated with blue curinglight compared to untreated mice. Now,he’s studying which proteins cause thisresponse in hopes of improving treatmentfor oral cancer.

Today’s treatment generally includessurgery, radiation, and chemotherapies.“Oral cancer survivors often suffer signifi-cant morbidity due to impaired speech,swallowing, taste, or facial disfigurementfollowing treatment,” Alpesh says. “Nosubstantial advances have been made inoral cancer treatment for years, but using ablue curing light to shrink or destroy oralcancer cells could be a very effective andless-invasive treatment alternative.”

After graduation, Alpesh plans to spe-cialize in orthodontics and is eager to con-tinue researching during his residency.

The American Association for DentalResearch National Student ResearchGroup is a student-run organization thatsupports student research. (www.mcg.edu)

MCG senior dental student Alpesh Patelrecently placed first in the AmericanAssociation for Dental ResearchNational Student Research GroupDENTSPLY / Caulk Basic ScienceResearch Competition.




Central District hosts new dentist event

The Central District recently held itsfirst annual New Dentist LeadershipImplementation Barbecue. The event washosted by district member Dr. Ched Smahawith sponsorship from Dentsply. DistrictVice President Dr. Kara Moore reportsthat Greg Earls from Patterson Dentalgraciously volunteered to be the residentchef and cook the hog! The district wel-comed 17 new dentists (defined by theADA as a dentist in practice for 10 or feweryears) and also gladly welcomed many newGDA Alliance spouses. In all, the eventhad 30 attendees.

Attendees at the Central District New Dentist Barbecue included Dr. and Mrs. LanceCollier, Dr. Ulysses Marable, Dr. Edwin “Buck” Hargett, Dr. Julie Addis, Dr. Vin Bhasin,Drs. Amy and Mike Loden, Dr. Amy Lee, Dr. Mike Crossley, Dr. Amber Lawson, Dr. KaraMoore, Dr. Chastity Brown, Dr. Margret Moore and Mr. Corey Moore, Dr. Ched Smaha,and Mrs. Buck Hargett.




Simulation helps students learn dental implant procedures

A realistic computer game will soon be used to help dental stu-dents worldwide learn and reinforce dental implant procedures.

The Virtual Dental Implant Training Simulation Program isdesigned to help students in diagnostics, decision making, andtreatment protocols. It was designed by Medical College ofGeorgia School of Dentistry faculty and students andBreakAway, Ltd., a developer of game-based technology fortraining, experimentation, and decision-making analysis.

“There’s a lot of enthusiasm in the global dental and medicalcommunities to use virtual reality and simulation as a tool to con-vey and reinforce information and ensure competency levels,” saysDr. Roman Cibirka, MCG vice president for instruction andenrollment management and the program’s project director. Hepresented the game and its 18-month development process recent-ly at the fifth annual Games for Health Conference in Boston.

“The program was an opportunity to align the defined need toenhance the depth and penetration of implant therapy knowledgein undergraduate dental education with my vision of using gamingto reach the millennial student,” Dr. Cibirka says.

The implant simulation game uses multiple patients and clin-ical scenarios that can be randomly selected, letting students inter-act with virtual patients by asking about their medical history,examining them, and arriving at a diagnosis. Like humans, the vir-tual patients have different personalities, and students must tailortreatment based on the mental, physical, and emotional needs ofthe individual.

If the virtual patient is a candidate for implant therapy, thesimulation then ventures into a virtual clinical treatment area,where students decide the type, location, and orientation of theimplants, type and location of anesthesia, and tools for surgery.

“It’s realistic. If the student doesn’t place anesthesia in theright spot, the patient screams,” Dr. Cibirka says.

As effective as the learning tool is, it is intended to supple-ment—not replace—actual clinical training.

“It’s anytime, anywhere education; a classroom without walls,”Dr. Cibirka says. “I think it really fortifies the entire educationalexperience and capitalizes on the needs of this generation.”

To ensure the game reaches the millennial generation, Dr.Cibirka brought students into the design process. Sarah Padolsky,a second-year MCG dental student, served as the student projectmanager. Student reviews have been overwhelmingly positive andadded great value to the final product, says Dr. Cibirka, noting healso worked with a team of faculty subject-matter experts to ensureeducational accuracy.

The program was funded as part of a $6.2 million contractbetween MCG and Nobel Biocare, a leading manufacturer ofimplants and equipment, which also established the School ofDentistry as a Nobel Biocare Center for Excellence.

The program is now being evaluated for functionality andinstructional usefulness by more than 20 dental schools in theNobel Biocare University Partnership Program. This summer itwill be launched at 25 universities worldwide, potentially reaching15,000 dental students, Dr. Cibirka says.

In most instances, the program will be used during the thirdand fourth years of dental education, depending on the curricula ofeach institution. Dr. Cibirka hopes it will be part of MCG’s dentalcurriculum soon.

“We want the students that we graduate to be the best dentiststhey can be because they have learned better and feel more confi-dent in the techniques they’ve learned, and this is another tool todo so,” Dr. Cibirka says. (www.mcg.edu)

Dr. Roman Cibirka, MCG vice president for instruction andenrollment management and project director for the VirtualDental Implant Training Simulation Program.

The GDA extends sympathy to the family and colleagues ofthe following individuals. For full obituaries on these memberdentists, visit www.gadental.org or call the GDA office.

In Memoriam

Wister Lawrence Ritchie Jr., DDS, who died June 11,2009, at the age of 77. Dr. Ritchie was a member of the GDAthrough the Central District. He was a 1955 EmoryUniversity School of Dentistry graduate and general practi-tioner. He was an ADA Life Member.

Russell Carlton Snow Jr., DDS, who died April 29, 2009, atthe age of 88. Dr. Snow was a member of the GDA throughthe Northwestern District. He was a 1955 Emory UniversitySchool of Dentistry graduate and oral and maxillofacial sur-geon. He was an ADA Life Member.



The Special Care Dentistry Association (SCDA)has announced its 2009-2010 Board ofDirectors. Kudos to Kevin T. Hendler, DDS,of the Ina T. Allen Dental Center at EmoryHealthcare, who was named as President-elect.The SCDA is an international organization oforal health professionals and other individualsdedicated to providing service to and promotingthe oral health of patients with special needs.For more information, visit www.SCDAonline.org.


Hendler namedSCDA president elect

Dr. Kevin Hendler.




Georgia Supreme Court Decision Affects How Dentists Obtain Informed Consent

On June 8, 2009, the Supreme Court ofGeorgia decided a case of significance toall healthcare providers in this state relat-ing to a duty to obtain informed consentbefore performing healthcare procedures.The Court held that healthcare profession-als are required to inform patients of therisks and alternatives to proposed treat-ment only in situations specifically coveredby statute or their own Board regulations.In doing so, the Court reversed a pair ofdecisions from the Court of Appeals ofGeorgia in which it decided on a case-by-case basis whether the healthcare profes-sional being sued was required to informpatients of a specific risk for a procedurethat had resulted in harm to the patient.The lower appeals court had held in 2000that a duty to obtain informed consentexisted in a lawsuit brought against a den-tist and more recently found in 2008 that itapplies to a chiropractor.

In the 1970s and 1980s, it was clearthat Georgia courts could not find thatdentists should inform patients of risks andalternatives to a specific treatment, unlessthe Georgia Code or the dental regulationsrequired such information to be discussed.In 1988, the legislature passed the MedicalConsent Law, listing certain situations inwhich a practitioner was required toexplain the risks and alternatives to treat-ment to a patient prior to treatment—O.C.G.A. §31-9-6.1. That Code Section,titled “Consent to certain surgical or diag-nostic procedures; disclosure of informa-tion to person from whom consent isrequired,” requires consent for certain sur-gical or diagnostic invasive procedures,which are performed under certain typesof anesthesia. However, the passage of thatstatute did not change the general state ofaffairs: dentists were still required only tohave this discussion of risks and alterna-tives and obtain “informed consent” in sit-uations covered by the Georgia Code orregulations set out by the Dental Board.

This clear status of the law was dis-turbed in 2000 when the Georgia Court of

Appeals issued a decision holding thatdentists were obligated to inform patientsof risks and alternatives prior to perform-ing root canals under local anesthetic, a sit-uation that was not covered by any existingdental board regulation or law. Ketchup v.Howard, 247 Ga. App. 54, 543 S.E.2d 371(2000). The patient claimed to have suf-fered permanent dental neuropathy afterhis dentist, Dr. Howard, injected an anes-thetic agent into his mouth during a rootcanal. The Court held for the first timethat Georgia “will recognize the commonlaw doctrine of informed consent”—mean-ing, that the Court could recognize a legalobligation to discuss risks and alternativesand obtain informed consent in situationsthat were not set forth in the Georgia Codeor dental regulations. The Court recog-nized that the Medical Consent Statute inthe Code did not cover the root canal pro-cedure at issue. Nonetheless, it found thatDr. Howard had an obligation to informKetchup that permanent neuropathy was arisk of the procedure (Ketchup, 247 Ga.App. at 55, 59, 543 S.E. 2d at 392). TheCourt also decided that it would be unfairto hold Dr. Howard liable under the newlegal requirement but that this was thestandard dentists would be held to in thefuture (Id. at 64).

The danger posed by the decision wasthat a dentist could be held liable for anytreatment the Court or jury found toinvolve a risk significant enough to warranta discussion of alternatives and risks priorto the treatment—but there was no way toknow before a lawsuit was filed which pro-cedures might involve such risk. Dentists,and other healthcare professionals, nolonger knew that they had met their legalrequirements of information to the patienteven when they had followed the GeorgiaCode and their profession’s regulations.

The case recently decided by the GeorgiaSupreme Court’s decision re-clarified thestate of the law. The case, known asBlotner v. Doreika, Georgia Supreme

Court Slip Opinion No. S08G2016,*

involved a similar situation. Doreikaclaimed that his chiropractor, Dr. Blotner,had not informed him of the risks or alter-natives to a neck adjustment. Disclosingany risks and alternatives to neck adjust-ments is not required by the MedicalConsent Statute or anywhere else in theGeorgia Code. Dr. Blotner also was notrequired to have such a discussion underthe Rules and Regulations for the practiceof chiropractic. In May 2007, Dr. Blotnerreceived a jury verdict in his favor follow-ing a trial of the case. The patient appealedto the Georgia Court of Appeals, whichrendered a split decision of the entireCourt. Over the objection of five of theirbrethren, seven judges on the GeorgiaCourt of Appeals decided that Dr. Blotnerwas required to obtain informed consentfor the neck adjustment. When petition-ing the Georgia Supreme Court to hearand decide the issue, counsel for Dr.Blotner observed that this second decisionmade clear that the Court of Appeals willcontinue to impose liability under the judi-cially created “informed consent” doctrinewhenever and wherever it deems appro-priate, regardless of the clearly set forthlimitations in the Georgia Code.

The Supreme Court overturned thedecision in Ketchup where the Court ofAppeals asserted its right to decide whenand where informed consent is required. Itheld that Georgia does not recognize acommon law duty to inform patients of thematerial risk of a proposed treatment orprocedure. The Legislature of Georgia hasdefined clearly those situations and proce-dures for which informed consent must beobtained and these statutory provisionsmust be strictly construed. The high courthighlighted the principle of Georgia lawthat the Legislature has the constitutionalauthority to enact such duties, and it istherefore impermissible for the courts tocreate and impose duties of disclosure.Furthermore, the opinion emphasizes that

Milton B. Satcher and Melissa P. ReadingOwen, Gleaton, Egan, Jones & Sweeney, LLP




the General Assembly has vested authori-ty in particular Boards to oversee health-care professionals and that these Boardsmay adopt rules and regulations on theissue of informed consent.

After the decision on June 8, the lawof Georgia is once again clear that dentistsmust look to the laws enacted by theGeneral Assembly, including the MedicalConsent Law enacted in 1988, and thedental regulations for direction as to whenand how they must obtain informed con-sent from a patient.

*The opinion is available at the GeorgiaSupreme Court’s web site, www.gasupreme.us,by clicking on Opinions and Summaries,2009 Opinions, and selecting June 8.

This article is for informational purposesonly and is not intended to provide legaladvice. Dentists must consult with theirprivate attorneys for such advice.

Milton B. Satcher isa partner of Owen,Gleaton, Egan, Jones& Sweeney, LLP. Hiscivil litigation practiceincludes experience inprofessional liability,general personal injuryliability, products

liability, and insurance coverage matters.Mr. Satcher began his practice in Georgiain 1985 and principally has beeninvolved in the representation ofhealthcare providers and defense of awide variety of general liability casessince 1988. He is a member of theDefense Research Institute and theGeorgia Defense Lawyers Association andhas been active in the State Bar and theAtlanta Bar Association in which heserved as President of the Atlanta Councilof Younger Lawyers in 1995. He may bereached at [email protected].

Melissa P. Readingworks with the Owen,Gleaton, Egan, Jones& Sweeney, LLP,professional liabilityand products liabilitygroups. Ms. Readingreceived her J.D.,with honors, from

the Emory University School of Law in2004, where she served as notes andcomments editor for the EmoryInternational Law Journal. Following lawschool Ms. Reading served as a law clerk toHon. G. Ernest Tidwell, United StatesDistrict Court, Northern District ofGeorgia. She is a member of the State Barof Georgia and the Georgia Association ofWomen Lawyers. She may be reached [email protected].




Kent Percy, DDS, Looks Forward to Service as GDA President

Dr. Kent H. Percy, a general dentist inMarietta, Georgia, in the NorthwesternDistrict, will be sworn in as the 141st GDApresident on August 2, 2009, during theGDA Annual Meeting. In this presidentialfeature, Dr. Percy discusses the economicdownturn and its effect on Georgia den-tists, the new dental school building inAugusta, access to care issues, and more.

Personal BackgroundGDA Action: Where were you bornand where did you grow up?

Kent H. Percy, DDS: I was born in NewOrleans and grew up in Baton Rouge. Welived two blocks from the Louisiana State

University (L.S.U.) campus, and the wholeuniversity was our playground. Four daysafter my 15th birthday, I was riding withmy parents in a heavy rainstorm when ourcar was struck head-on by another vehicle.I was the only survivor. My four siblingsand I wouldn’t have gone to an orphanage,but we certainly might have been raisedapart. However, an aunt and uncle wholived in Baton Rouge and who already hadtwo children took us all into their home.After I graduated from high school, I wasaccepted into L.S.U. for my college studies.

GDA Action: Did you always knowyou wanted to become a dentist?

Dr. Percy: When I started L.S.U., Iplanned to become an engineer. Both myfather and the uncle with whom my familygrew up were civil engineers. I did well inmath and had worked with my father’s sur-veying crews and in his office. However, atL.S.U. some friends in dental school and inthe pre-dental curriculum convinced methat dentistry would be a great profession.After three fabulous years at L.S.U., I wasaccepted to dental school at LoyolaUniversity in New Orleans.

GDA Action: You practiced den-tistry in the military for a long time.What did you enjoy most aboutyour military practice? Is joiningthe military still a good option for adentist just graduating from dentalschool?

Dr. Percy: When I graduated fromLoyola Dental School, the Vietnam Warwas raging. I had joined the Army’spre-commission program and aftergraduation was assigned to Ft. Lee,Virginia. Eight months later, I was on myway to Vietnam where I served with the4th Infantry Division in the CentralHighlands (the mountains of Vietnam) andin the Tri-Border area. I had always wantedto see Europe, so I applied for and wasgranted an Inter Theater Transfer toHeidelberg, Germany. After spending fouryears there, the first of a total of nine yearsin Germany, I knew I wanted to stay onactive duty.

The military is not for everybody;there are frequent moves and you mayhave to go to war. However, there aregreat opportunities for specialty programs.I graduated from a two-year GeneralDentistry Residency (GDR) at MadiganArmy Medical Center, Washington. Youalso make wonderful friendships withpeople from all over the U.S. and otherparts of the world. My favorite military jobwas the four years I spent as Director ofthe two-year GDR Program at Ft. Knox,

(L to r) Percy family members Marisa, Kent, Mary, Kent, Walker, Clinton, Karen, andCadence.




Kentucky. I believe serving in the militaryfor even a few years is a great way to begina dental career even if it is not where youplan to spend your whole professional life.

GDA Action: Talk about yourpractice in Marietta and your staff.

Dr. Percy: When I retired from themilitary in 1996, I opened a generaldentistry practice in Marietta. My wife,Mary, was my first receptionist and TerriWilliams, my assistant, was the onlyother employee. We had three patientsscheduled when we first opened thepractice. However, we were located in thewest Cobb area of Marietta which wasgrowing rapidly. After about a year, Marywent back to her job as a flight attendantwith Delta Air Lines and I hired otheremployees, including a new receptionistand hygienist. Currently Donna Loftis ismy receptionist, Pam McPherson is myassistant, and Margo Higdon and AshleyLuethi share the hygienist position. Maryand Terri also still occasionally work inthe office.

GDA Action: Tell us about yourspouse Mary and your family, andthe hobbies you enjoy.

Dr. Percy: Mary and I had our first datein Mainz, Germany. I was stationed inHanau, Germany, and Mary was there on aDelta flight. We met through my cousin,who was her best friend. Mary started withDelta two weeks after graduating from theUniversity of Memphis and has beenemployed there for 39 great years. Ourmarriage was the second for both of us.Mary has two girls, Elizabeth and Anne,who were her first husband’s from his firstmarriage that she adopted. I have twoboys, Kent and Clinton. Kent is a graduateof the University of Texas and got his MBAat Emory University. He works for a com-pany that helps businesses trying to avoidbankruptcy. Clinton graduated fromL.S.U. and is a mechanical engineer. Heand his wife Karen have two children,Cadence who is three and Walker who isone and a half. Mary got a head startthough; she has nine grandchildren.

Mary and I both love to travel, havedone quite a lot, and hope to do even more

in the future. I’m a cradle Episcopalianand have been involved in many aspects ofthe church from being an acolyte to SeniorWarden. Currently Mary and I attend St.James in Marietta. We were married there,and I have served on the vestry and Maryhas been on the Board of the EpiscopalChurch Women. Like most people weenjoy getting together with family andfriends. We have a 20-year tradition of hav-ing a family reunion on the Fourth of Julyholiday and many of us take part in thePeachtree Road Race. My sons and I haveclimbed several of the Colorado RockyMountain peaks together. For the lastthree years, we have had a family ski vaca-tion in Colorado. One of my goals is to skiwith my grandchildren. I last played soccerwith an over-50 league in 2008, but hopeto participate again after I complete myyear as GDA President. I also enjoy gar-dening, reading, bird watching, andresearching genealogy.

Organized DentistryInvolvementGDA Action: Were you active inorganized dentistry in dental school?

Dr. Percy: I was a student member of theADA, but ASDA didn’t even exist. Theonly organized activities that I wasinvolved in were service projects of mydental fraternity, Delta Sigma Delta.

GDA Action: How did you becomeinvolved in organized dentistryafter graduation?

Dr. Percy: In the Army, there still werenot many opportunities to be part oforganized dentistry. I joined the Armychapter of the Academy of GeneralDentistry in 1974 and later served as adelegate to five national conventions andwas president of the Army chapter from1985-87.

After opening my dental practice inMarietta, I became a member of theGeorgia Dental Association and HinmanDental Society. My involvement withthese two organizations led to otheropportunities to participate in organizeddentistry. For instance, I am a past Chairfor the Georgia Section of the American

College of Dentists. Besides becomingthe GDA President on August 2, I’m amember of Georgia’s ADA Delegation anda member of the ADA Council on ADASessions where I recently was chosen to beProgram Chairman for the 2011 ADAMeeting in Las Vegas.

I also want to mention that Mary is aPast President of the Alliance of the GDAand currently is co-chair for the NationalConference of the Alliance of the ADA. Sowe both stay involved.

GDA Action: Would you like tospeak about a mentor who helpedyou in your career?

Dr. Percy: My dental career has beeninfluenced by many people both in themilitary and in civilian life. However, theperson who influenced me most since Ibegan private practice was JohnFreihaut. John was an amazing personwho accomplished so much in everyaspect of dental politics. His death wasnot only a tragic loss for all who knewhim, but also for the dental profession atall levels.

Mary and Kent caring for a patient in Dr.Percy’s Marietta, Georgia, office.

PERCYContinued on page 14




Topical IssuesGDA Action: The recent economicslowdown has triggered a numberof cascade effects. What brightspots do you see on the horizon fordentistry?

Dr. Percy: Our country, and indeed thewhole world, is suffering through the worsteconomic downturn since the 1930sdepression. This financial crisis and theresulting loss of jobs, homes, and purchasingpower has had a devastating effect onmany Americans. Some of our leadingeconomists believe that we may have beenthrough the worst and while the effects ofthis recession are still being felt, theybelieve that the economy should improveby the fourth quarter of 2009. Others seemto think it will be 2010 or even laterbefore the economy will be significantlyimproved.

My major concern involves the hugecredit card debt of many Americans thathas only been partially addressed. Also,our government is getting into ownershippositions with some major banks and theU.S. automobile industry. This results inother struggling sectors of our economylooking to the federal government forbail-out financing. It seems to me that thefederal government and our leaders areobligating huge amounts of money andhave grandiose plans for our country with-out considering the lesson we should havelearned from the greed of the bankingindustry and those citizens who purchasedhomes beyond their means.

This recession has certainly had anegative effect on many dental practicesand our patients. However, at this time, jobsecurity is certainly better in our profes-sion than many others.

GDA Action: Dentists are renewingtheir membership in organizeddentistry this year in solid numbersdespite the economic crunch. Whydo you believe that an investmentin the GDA is a good idea?

Dr. Percy: Membership in organizeddentistry is always important, and it is evenmore important when times are bad.During times such as this, the GDA helpsprovide support for members. Politicaladvocacy has always been an area thatmembers value highly, and the economichardships we are experiencing makeadvocacy even more vital. Governmentsstriving to save money may try to passlegislation that will adversely affect dentalpatients and the professionals who providetheir care. Our tripartite system continuesto provide support and avenues forexpression of concerns at the national,state, and local levels. Each of thesesections is able to provide differentservices at their levels that would not beavailable otherwise.

GDA Action: The Federal governmentrecently reauthorized and expandedthe State Children’s Health InsuranceProgram (SCHIP). The re-authorizationrequires the provision of dentalservices. Will that legislation have

an impact on Georgia’s program?Can you discuss the current stateof Georgia’s SCHIP program aswell as dental Medicaid?

Dr. Percy: The recent legislation thatreauthorized and expanded SCHIPincreased the level that the federalgovernment would partially fund from 200percent to 300 percent of the povertylevel. It also made it mandatory for statesto have dental care as part of any healthcare plan.

Georgia funds its SCHIP program,known as PeachCare, at 235% of thepoverty level. Currently our Medicaid andPeachCare programs are run by threeCare Management Organizations (CMOs).The CMOs administering these programsin Georgia have restricted the number ofdentists who may participate. The CMOadministrators also believe too muchtreatment is being provided for theamount of funds they allocate for dentalcare and have told some dentists anddental groups that they no longer will beallowed to participate. One CMO recentlysaid it would decrease payments for dentalcare in urban areas by 25% and in ruralareas by 15%.

The current state of the economy andits effect on tax collections is anothermajor factor. The Governor recentlyannounced that most state agencies willhave their funding reduced by 25 percentfor June 2009, the last month of thecurrent budget year. Many of our citizensare no longer gainfully employed or theirtake home pay has been reduced. Theeffect of this is to make even morechildren eligible for PeachCare and dentalMedicaid programs.

These and other factors will certainlyhave a negative impact on our Medicaidand PeachCare programs. We still don’tknow exactly how this will affect the dentalcomponents of the programs, but it is veryunlikely to be positive.

GDA Action: Several states areexploring changing the compositionof the dental team, either by intro-ducing new members (dentaltherapists) or expanding the functionsof current members (advanceddental hygiene practitioners). What

Mary and Kent in Boston,Massachusetts, for the Lieutenant’s Ballof the Ancient and Honorable ArtilleryCompany of Massachusetts. Kent is thecompany’s dental officer.

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is your opinion on the argument thatexpanding functions and introducingnew team members could alleviateaccess to care issues?

Dr. Percy: Access to care and the cost ofdental treatment are issues that are beingused to justify expansion of duties or rolesthat dental auxiliaries may play in thedelivery of dental care. Several years ago,we had the introduction of the DentalHealth Aide Therapist (DHAT) in remotetribal areas of Alaska. These DHATs werehigh school graduates, who had to be ableto read at the eighth grade level, and weretaught dentistry in an 18-month programin New Zealand. They are now allowed toremove caries, place restorations, extractteeth, and perform pulpotomies.

More recently, the Minnesota DentalHygienists’ Association actively lobbied forthe creation of an Advanced Dental

Hygiene Practitioner in that state. Theprogram they originally pushed forwould not be taught at a dental school,but rather in a dental hygiene school. Thisprogram would be for dental hygienistswho had been in practice five or moreyears who then would take a two-yearmaster’s program. Graduates would beallowed to perform many of the dutiesof a general dentist and practice inde-pendently of a licensed dentist. TheMinnesota Dental Association proposedhaving a new category of caregiver whowould be educated in a dental schooland would practice under the directsupervision of a licensed dentist. Aftermonths of debate, Minnesota’s legislatureauthorized the creation of a dentaltherapist, a bachelor’s degree-levelprovider with the ability to practice inunderserved locations and perform arange of procedures, including restorations

and primary extractions. Other states,such as Maine and Connecticut, arealso considering establishing mid-levelprovider programs.

In my opinion, new categories of caregivers who will be less educated andpracticing independently of a dentist willbe detrimental to the oral health of theirpatients. Some people in the health carefield believe having a two-tiered dentalcare system is not necessarily a bad thing.However, many poor or handicappedpeople who may well need the most expertcare are the ones most likely to sufferfrom these proposed types of care.

One of the major impediments todental care is cost. These new cate-gories of care givers, if they are using thesame quality materials and equipment,will not be able to greatly reduce the costof care.

Dentistry in America enjoys aworldwide reputation as the bestavailable. This is in large part due to therigorous educational process in whichall U.S. dental students participate. Thesenew categories of dental providers willnot have the same levels of knowledge orskills as graduating dentists.

We may not be able to control whatother states do concerning mid-levelproviders, but we can do something inGeorgia. I would urge each of you to learnmore about these proposed programs andinform your legislators about the effectyou believe they will have on dentistryin Georgia.

GDA Action: The state Board ofRegents recently secured $27million in general obligation bondsin the Fiscal Year 2010 budgetto benefit the Medical Collegeof Georgia School of Dentistry’sbuilding initiative. This bondmoney appears to be the last pieceneeded for the school to breakground in late 2009. What impactwill a new dental school have forGeorgia’s citizens?

Kent’s office staff members (back row, l to r) Donna Loftis, Mary Percy, Dr. KentPercy, and Terri Williams. (Front row, l to r) Pam McPherson, Ashley Luethi, andMargo Higdon.

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Dr. Percy: The new dental school atMCG will have a very positive impacton our state. It will incorporate newtechnologies and facilities that willenhance the learning environment and inturn benefit patients and communitiesstatewide as dentists graduate. The new,larger facility is also expected to leadto an increase in the number of students ineach class; initially, it will be 80 withthe capability to increase to 100 atsome time in the future. Currently, overtwo-thirds of dentists who are grantedlicenses in Georgia are not MCG graduates.Georgia’s population is growing faster thanmost other states and this will increaseour citizens’ need for dental care. All

members of the profession should beproud of the dental school and its newfacility.

GDA Action: The MCG dentalschool has fared very well underthe leadership of Dr. Dan Rahn.Do you believe his leaving thepresident’s post at MCG will affectthe dental school’s future plans?

Dr. Percy: The new dental school thatwill be constructed at MCG is in large partdue to the efforts of Dr. Dan Rahn. DeanDrisko and others in the dental communi-ty obviously have been its biggest propo-nents, but they and the dental studentsstand to benefit the most. Dr. Rahn’s sup-port was crucial. As senior vice chancellorfor health and medical programs for theUniversity System of Georgia, he could

have supported building pro-grams more beneficial to themedical school. Instead he madethe proposed dental school hisprimary building project andhelped gain support from theGeorgia legislature. His recentresignation is a loss to the wholestate, but part of his legacy will bethe new dental school.

GDA Action: The Obamaadministration has fasttracked health care reformthat may include some typeof universal healthcarecoverage. Do you believethat dental benefits shouldbe included in universalhealthcare?

Dr. Percy: I believe PresidentObama’s plans for universal healthcarewill initially be only for medicalcare since it will be such anexpensive undertaking. However,future plans will likely includedentistry.

The new expanded SCHIPprogram, which the ADA supports,will increase the number ofchildren eligible for dental careunder a government-subsidizedprogram. This move to expand

the SCHIP program may make it easierfor the federal government to includemore people, children and adults, in othersubsidized national health programs.Inclusion of benefits such as dentistry ina government-funded program will appealto many consumers since the plan willcost nothing for some people and only aminimal amount for others. The costof a government-subsidized plan will, ofcourse, be paid by our taxes, but to somethat is preferable to taking money directlyout of their wallets or bank accounts.

Other countries with mandated,government subsidized programs have hadproblems with quality of treatment, longwaiting periods for certain procedures, andnot being able to offer some types ofcare. If a U.S. government plan followsthat pattern we as consumers and thepatients we treat will all suffer.

There are many reasons dentistry maywant to remain independent of any type ofnationalized dental care, and a big one isthe cost to every tax payer. Basic medicalcoverage will have an astronomical pricetag. It may already be too late to preventdentistry’s inclusion in a universalhealthcare plan. It surely will be too late tostop these programs if people wait untilthey are about to be implemented todiscuss concerns about quality, rationingof health care, and cost. Don’t make themistake of believing that only dentistswill be affected. All dental professionalsincluding dental hygienists, dentalassistants, front desk personnel, andlab technicians may find the quality oftheir professions drastically reduced. Weall need to get seriously involved or we willonly have ourselves to blame.

Presidential YearGDA Action: Do you have a themefor your year?

Dr. Percy: The theme for my year asGDA President is: “Dentistry at theCrossroads—Be Part of The Solution.”While there have always been challengesfor our profession, during the last fewyears they have intensified. There willcertainly be changes in how dentistry ispracticed over the next five to ten years;however, we want these changes to result

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Kent, Clinton’s dog Shiloh, and Kent during the ascentof Mount Bierstadt, Colorado. The trio summitted at3:15 and started down at 3:30 p.m…then the funbegan and did not end until seven hours later.




in better care and increased access for thepublic, not decrease the quality of patientcare or increase risk.

GDA Action: Do you have a goalthat you want to accomplishduring your year?

Dr. Percy: I would like to increase thenumber of GDA members who take anactive part in the issues dentistry is facingat the end of the first decade of the 21stcentury. Individual dentists and theprofession will be faced with difficultdecisions now and in the future. As aprofession we must take more interest inthe forces striving to change dentistry.Otherwise, we cede these decisions toothers who will probably make verydifferent choices.

One of the best ways to influencelegislation affecting dentistry in Georgia isto be a participant in a LAW Day. If wecould significantly increase the numbersof dentists who take part in LAW Day, itwould not only help dentists build abetter relationship with their senators

and representatives, but strategicallydemonstrate to all legislators how GeorgiaDental Association dentists value politicalactivity.

GDA Action: Please share detailsabout your president’s trip.

Dr. Percy: We start our tour in Paris, oneof the world’s great cities, and travel to theLoire River. The chateaux we will visitthere are some of the most beautifuldwellings on earth. Next we go toBrittany’s impressive coasts and experienceits maritime economy. There is also a thriv-ing Celtic culture complete with legendsof Camelot. The citadel of Mont St.Michael begins our stay in Normandy. Wewill be in Normandy on the U.S. MemorialDay and visit many of the D-Day sites. In1066, the Normans were the last people toconquer England. Finally, we visit Reimsin the Champagne District site of thecoronation of 26 French Kings. We willalso tour champagne caves and taste theirfamous product.

GDA Action: Finally, looking furtherahead to 2010, tell us about yourAnnual Meeting.

Dr. Percy: We will be going home toAmelia Island, Florida, where we have hadso many great meetings. The Ritz-Carltonis a fabulous hotel and having most of theattendees at one place enhances the expe-rience. Dr. Jack Bickford is my meetingchairman, and he has assembled a terrificgroup of individuals to make this anoutstanding meeting: Dr. Bill Argo, Dr.Janine Bethea-Freihaut, AlliancePresident Linda Broderick, Dr. JimCassidy, Dr. Jay Cranford, Dr. BrentDepta, Dr. Jonathan Dubin, Dr. DavidFagundes, Dr. Shirley Fisher, Dr. Ty Ivey,Dr. Mike Loden, Dr. Stuart Loos, Dr. JayMcCaslin, Dr. Donna Thomas Moses, Dr.Robert Moss, Dr. Eddie Paris, Dr. JimReynierson, Dr. Bill Schroeder, Dr. TroySchulman, Dr. Chris Shim, Dr. JeffSingleton, Dr. Karyn Stockwell, Dr. JimmyTalbot, and Dr. Doug Torbush. We lookforward to seeing everyone July 22-25, 2010.

Col. Percy’s (right) military retirementceremony at Fort McPherson, Georgia.After inspecting the troops, Col. Percyreturned to the reviewing stand wherehe was awarded the Legion of Merit.




GDA Recognizes Inaugural Community Service Award Honorees

In 2008, the Awards Committee proposed,and the House of Delegates approved, thecreation of a GDA Community ServiceAward. This award is intended to recog-nize a GDA member dentist who distin-guishes him or herself by extraordinaryservice to the quality of life and health ofpersons in their local, state, national, orinternational community.

“Our intent is to honor dentists whoseindividual volunteer commitments reflectwell on the Association and profession atlarge,” said Awards Committee ChairmanDr. Billy Jamerson. “We think that theindividuals who will be named asCommunity Service honorees help raisethe profile of all dentists.”

Awards Committee members solicitednominations for this honor from the dis-tricts in fall 2008, and in January 2009 theHouse of Delegates voted Bruce Carter,DMD, of Northern District and LawrenceMcCurdy, DDS, of Central District as theinaugural Community Service Award win-ners.

“Our committee was pleased to recog-nize Dr. Carter and Dr. McCurdy for theirservice,” said Dr. Jamerson. “They areboth doing wonderful things in their com-munities.”

Bruce Carter, DMD, and BrighterSmiles for Brighter FuturesDr. Bruce Carter started the BrighterSmiles for Brighter Futures program in2001 to raise funds for breast cancerresearch. Shortly after starting the pro-gram, Dr. Carter set a goal of improvingbreast cancer diagnosis in his community.

“The first two years of the program,we raised $105,000 for the Gwinnett Relayfor Life, “said Dr. Carter. “Then, my goalbecame to do something on the local level.To that end, Brighter Smiles for BrighterFutures partnered with the GwinnettMedical Center to upgrade their mam-mography equipment and renovate theCenter’s mammography center.”

The program initially involved just Dr.Carter’s Lawrenceville general dentaloffice. He donated professional toothwhitening services to patients in exchange

for the patient making a $250 tax-deductible donation to the GwinnettMedical Center Foundation. In the pro-gram’s second year, Dr. Carter began toenlist more volunteer dentists who agreedto donate whitening services. Today, thereare 65 dentists who donate whitening serv-ices as part of the program. Patients paythe $250 donation, plus a minimal kit fee.The dental office makes no profit fromproviding the whitening service.

“The program is in its seventh yearand our dentists and patients have raisedapproximately $730,000,” said Dr. Carter.“This is all about the volunteers.”

The volunteers’ efforts have made adifference in many areas at GwinnettMedical Center. In 2004 and 2005, theprogram raised $257,000 to upgrade mam-mography machines with digital technolo-gy thus improving the speed and efficiencyof diagnostic services. In 2006, the pro-gram raised $180,000 to upgrade theCenter’s Care-a-Van mobile mammogra-phy unit with digital technology. In 2007,volunteers raised $115,000 to completethe new mammography center at theCenter’s Duluth location. And in 2008, theprogram raised $78,000 for the purchaseof a breast ultrasound machine. The checkwas presented to the Foundation in 2009.

Dr. Carter has enlisted GDA memberDr. Tina Heil to co-chair the next fundrais-ing program, which will run from October2009 to January 2010. Monies raised willgo toward the purchase of still neededbreast ultrasound machines, or otherequipment depending on the needs ofGwinnett Medical Center.

“Dr. Carter has made a tremendousdifference for the women in our communi-ty by leading the Brighter Smiles forBrighter Futures campaign,” said Dr. Heil.“Because he has spread his enthusiasm toso many dentists we are making a muchbigger impact than any one of us could doalone. I am certain that the diagnosticequipment we have helped purchase isalready saving lives in our community andwill continue for years to come.”

For more information on volunteer-ing, contact Dr. Bruce Carter at (770) 995-7616 or [email protected] visit www.brightersmiles.org.

Lawrence McCurdy, DDS, and the Macon Volunteer ClinicThe Macon Volunteer Clinic opened itsdoors in February 2003 to provide a med-ical home for the working, uninsured resi-dents of Bibb County in Central District.

Brighter Smiles for Brighter Futures volunteer dentists (l to r) Dr. Paul Korb, Dr. BillWilliams, Dr. Clayton Davis, Dr. Lawrence Evans, Dr. Kathy Huber, Dr. Bruce Carter,and Dr. Slaid Lail with a check for $78,000 the program presented to the GwinnettMedical Center. The Center used funds from this year’s fundraising campaign to pur-chase a much-needed breast ultrasound machine.




Retired oral surgeon Dr. LawrenceMcCurdy was instrumental in foundingthe dental section of the clinic in 2004.

“My plan was to retire at age 60 anddo volunteer work,” said Dr. McCurdy. “Ifelt a need to give back to the communityand profession I have enjoyed for so manyyears. When I retired in 2002, it was theperfect opportunity to become involvedwith the Macon clinic.”

Upon retirement, Dr. McCurdybegan the process of helping to set up thedental component. He donated all of hisequipment to the clinic, and soliciteddonations from other dentists.

“We did win a Peyton AndersonFoundation grant to purchase initial sup-plies,” said Dr. McCurdy. “And we werefortunate to have the room to devote to adental component in the building donatedby Coliseum Health System.”

The mission of the Macon VolunteerClinic is to assist working adults residing inBibb County who have no governmentassistance or any private insurance andwho have incomes at or below 200 percentof the Federal Poverty Level. Each patientmust undergo a screening process to certi-fy their residency, employment, andincome level in order to be accepted as apatient. The dental component of the clin-ic is unusual in that it does not acceptpatients directly from the community.Once an individual is accepted as a med-ical patient, that person may be referred tothe dental side if their condition requiresdental attention.

“Our basic services include examinations,x-rays, extractions, and pain control. Thereare approximately 20 volunteer dentists inthe Macon area who see our patients withintheir practices for restorative care,” saidDr. McCurdy. “We have a lot of great supportfrom our community of dentists. Dentalhygiene students from Central GeorgiaTechnical College rotate through to providecleanings as needed. We also have threedental assistants who volunteer their timewhen the dental clinic is open on Mondays.”

Since the clinic opened, volunteershave served approximately 1,750 patientswith medical care, dental care, prescriptionmedication, laboratory analysis, x-rays, eyeexams, and cancer screenings free ofcharge. Once a patient is accepted at theclinic, their care is provided at no cost.

“The money goes quickly,” saidDr. McCurdy. “The clinic is always inneed of financial donations to assist

with the purchase of suppliesand other costs.” Individualsinterested in donating may visitwww.maconvolunteerclinic.comor call (478) 755-1110 for details.

“I was very pleased to helpnominate Dr. McCurdy for thishonor,” said Dr. Bill Argo, a PastPresident of the Central District.“He is known in middle Georgiafor his high degree of integrityand ethical practice. He iscertainly well-deserving of thisrecognition.”

GDA Community Service Award Criteria(1.) Requirements: In order to be considered for the GDA Community Service Award,

a candidate shall:

a. Contribute significantly to enriching the quality of life and improving the health of those served.

b. Demonstrate outstanding leadership and humanitarian volunteer accomplishments.

c. Serve as an inspiration to the dental profession.

d. Show through their scope of volunteer work altruism in regard to personal or organizational gain or profit.

e. Establish a legacy that is of continuing value and benefit to others.

d. Demonstrate integrity, honesty of purpose, and adherence to the Code of Ethics of the ADA.

f. Be a member in good standing of the Georgia Dental Association and have maintained that membership for at least 10 continuous years.

(2.) Recommendations:

a. Recommendations for the GDA Community Service Award may be made by any member of a component society for another member of the same component society. Self-recommendations will not be recognized.

b. Recommendations must be accompanied by a completed nomination form, which provides details on the volunteer activities of the member, including specific actionsand leadership skills demonstrated, and methods used to improve the quality of lifeand health of persons within the member’s community, the population group(s) served,and the long term impact of these activities. The form may be accompanied by supporting materials such as photos or newspaper clippings.

c. Recommendations must also be accompanied by a current curriculum vitae and atleast two letters of support from appropriate individuals, who are not the nominator,attesting to the dentist’s qualifications.

d. A component society may submit a maximum of (1) candidate for this award in a givenyear. The component society’s Awards Committee is not required to nominate a candi-date in any given year.

(3.) Nominations:

a. The GDA Awards Committee shall review all component nominations, and may nominate a maximum of two (2) members in a given year who have satisfied the award requirements. The GDA Awards Committee is not required to nominate a candidate in any given year.

b. Those members selected for designation as GDA Community Service Award honorees shall be so notified and presented with a suitable award in a ceremony at a component or state meeting.

(L to r) Dr. Lawrence McCurdy and Macon VolunteerClinic dental assistant volunteers Jean Chafin andMicki Bailey.




Identity Theft Protection Tips from LifeLockThe GDA has a new endorsed company—LifeLock, the industry leader in the fieldof identity theft protection. Stop by theirbooth at the GDA Annual Meeting thisJuly, and look for more information to fol-low in GDA Action about the servicesLifeLock can offer exclusively to GDAmembers. Meanwhile, LifeLock offers youthese valuable tips on protecting youridentity:

• Assume they already have it. You’vealready given your personal informationto all of your employers and health careproviders and the list goes on. More than90,000 Americans are notified daily thattheir information has been lost orstolen. Protect your credit today byplacing a fraud alert with the threemajor credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax,and TransUnion.

• Alert yourself. Set a fraud alert with thethree major credit bureaus. These “redflags” are designed to alert you to any-one—including yourself—that is open-ing new lines of credit or makingchanges to existing lines of credit in yourname. Be alert to the fact that thesefraud alerts will expire after 90 days. Seta reminder to yourself to renew.

• Check financial statements promptly.Always review your monthly banking,brokerage, and credit-card statementsfor accuracy. If you own a home, checkwith your mortgage holder on a regularbasis to ensure your home equity line-of-credit has not had any fraudulent activi-ty. Report problems immediately.

• Watch your credit. Order copies of yourcredit report every year from each of thethree major credit reporting agencies.They are: Equifax, 800-997-2493;TransUnion, 800-888-4213; andExperian, 888-397-3742. Report errorspromptly and in writing. To order yourannual free credit report, go towww.annualcreditreport.com.

• Be stingy with information. Never dis-close your Social Security number, birthdate, or mother’s maiden name unlessyou initiated the transaction. On paperdocuments, don’t include such dataunless required to do so on an officialapplication for employment, financing,or insurance. (Ask employers, schools,and financial institutions to offer alterna-tives.) Never put such information onpersonal Web pages or publicly postedrésumés or directories.

• Just say no. Consider “opting out” ofinformation-sharing at your financialinstitutions. (Check your company’sfinancial privacy notice, which is mailedannually and usually posted on companyWeb sites, to find out how.) Also opt outof pre-approved credit offers by callingthe Credit Reporting Industry Pre-Screening Opt-Out Number at 1-888-5-OPTOUT (888-567-8688).

• Travel light. Don’t carry identificationthat contains sensitive data like yourSocial Security number unless absolutelynecessary.

• Lock it up. Safeguard your driver’slicense and other government identifica-tion at all times. Lock desks, cabinets,and safes containing such information inyour office and home.

• Shred and destroy. Before throwing outfiles containing Social Security numbers,account numbers, and birth dates, shredthem with a cross-cut shredder. DestroyCDs or floppy disks containing sensitivedata by shredding, cutting, or breakingthem. Use hard-drive shredding softwareor remove and destroy your hard drivebefore discarding a computer. Just delet-ing files isn’t enough.

• Guard mail. Consider using a lockedmailbox or slot to receive mail at home.Deposit mail in postal mailboxes or inthe post office to discourage mail theft.

• Keep your eye on the prize. Try not to letwaiters, sales clerks, or gas-station atten-dants disappear from view with yourcredit or debit card, to avoid “skim-ming.” Crooks can use a handheld cardreader to copy the information from yourcard’s magnetic strip.

• Beware of strange ATMs. Avoid usingprivate or strange-looking automatedteller machines, because they may berigged to skim data off your card’s mag-netic strip. Six- or seven-character PINs(personal identification numbers) areharder to crack than shorter ones, butyou may not be able to use them atmachines abroad.

• No surfing allowed. Watch out for“shoulder surfers” when using payphones or public Internet access; useyour free hand to shield the keypad.Don’t use cordless phones to conductsensitive financial or medical business,because eavesdroppers on other phonesand those using eavesdropping equip-ment may be able to overhear your con-versations.

• Build a wall. Install firewalls and virus-detection software on your home com-puters to discourage hackers.

• Log off. Quit your browser and log offafter using public Internet-access com-puters in libraries, Internet cafes, andthe like. Don’t pay bills, bank, or conductother financial transactions on publiccomputers. If you have a high-speedInternet connection at home, unplug thecomputer’s cable or phone line when youare not using it to discourage hackers.

• Deal only with reputable Web sites.Check privacy and security policies ofWeb sites before making purchases,trading stocks, or banking online. Aprofessional-looking Web site is noguarantee of security. Don’t respond tounsolicited e-mail requests for personalinformation.




• Hide yourself. Be cautious of the infor-mation you post on online social net-works.

• Shop smart. When shopping onlinecheck to make sure the site you are on issecure before entering any paymentinformation.

• Get complicated. Consider password-protecting all your bank and brokerageaccounts. Create passwords at least eightcharacters long.

• Check your workplace. Ask how youremployer safeguards employee records.Request that Social Security numbersnot be used as employee ID numbers.

• Get involved. If you are interested inasking Congress to pass stronger finan-

cial privacy protections, visit www.con-sumersunion.org and click on“Campaigns.”

• Stay alert. Watch out for scams via email,text message, or phone calls. “Phishing,”“smishing,” and “vishing” are often usedby criminals to trick you into giving outpersonal information. Even if a messageseems legitimate, always contact theinstitution yourself using a phone num-ber or Web address you know to be valid.

• Do more. If your personal informationis breached by a company, do not rely oncredit monitoring services as a solution.These services only alert you onceyou already have a problem and donothing to keep a thief from using yourinformation.

• Remember your children. Call the majorcredit bureaus—Experian, Equifax, andTransUnion—and check quarterly fora credit report for your child. Youwant to be certain that no credit reportexists. Check with the Social SecurityAdministration on an annual basis toensure that your child does not have awork history. And, most importantly,avoid giving out their personal infor-mation as much as possible, always askwhat the information is needed for, andfind out how it will be safeguarded.




alliance

Recent Alliance Events Encourage Networking,Dental Health

Debbie Torbush, National Alliance District III Trustee, reportsthat the Alliance of the Georgia Dental Association recently heldtwo events involving historic Georgia. Alliance member HelaineSugarman arranged a wonderful luncheon on May 6 at the SwanCoach House for metro Atlanta members. The Swan CoachHouse, designed by architect Philip Trammell Shutze in the 1920sfor the Inman Family is currently part of the Atlanta HistoryCenter, and was a perfect site for the Alliance group to celebratethe year’s activities.

Jean Harrington and Janet Ferguson hosted a Central DistrictAlliance Day in historic Milledgeville on May 20. The day startedat the home of Dr. Jay and Jean Harrington, with refreshments anda Dipper Dan (smokeless tobacco) display, followed by lunch atSylvia’s. Attendees were then fortunate to take a trolley tour ofMilledgeville, with a stop at the historic home of Jay Harrington’sfamily—the Fraley-Lawrence-Harrington House, c.1894. Jay’smother, Mrs. Nell Harrington, greeted the group and escortedthem through her home, and in true Southern tradition providedrefreshments. The group then toured the former Governor’sMansion that had recently undergone an almost $10 million reno-vation in order to bring it up to its splendor of the mid-1800s.Hopefully, other Alliance districts will consider similar events.

Past Georgia Alliance President Shari Carter reports that theAADA / Alliance of the Georgia Dental Association and theGFWC / GAFWC / Stone Mountain Woman’s Club recentlypresented a dental health program to the entire student body,

teachers, and staff—235 individuals—at Tallulah Falls School. Thisis an independent boarding and day school serving students ingrades 6-12. The program, entitled “Smile Appeal: How to Get andKeep a Winning Smile,” covered basic home care, healthy diet,halitosis, mouth guards, bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa, oralpiercing, methamphetamine use and oral health, wisdom teeth,and smokeless tobacco. The presenters gave teachers and staffcopies of the AADA cookbook Dishing Up Smiles. Teachers, staff,and students also received dental health kits containing a tooth-brush, toothpaste, floss, and sugar free gum in a plastic zipperedtravel pouch.

The presenters also brought the “Dipper Dan” life-size mod-els to demonstrate the dangers of smokeless tobacco, as well asposters for the classrooms and brochures.

Alliance member Eilene Barrett reports using the DipperDan smokeless tobacco education model along with a video andeducational materials to reach over 1,000 kids at four schools inWhite County. Alliance members Helaine Sugarman and FranBrown share that they visited East Lake Elementary School whereHelaine’s daughter is a teacher. They showed a Dudley theDinosaur video, did a tooth brushing demonstration, and handedout goody bags containing toothbrushes and DHE activity pages.All teachers and staff (60) were given Dishing Up Smiles cook-books. The duo also took the opportunity to present the schoolwith a new Sesame Street pop-up book commemorating the ADA’s150th anniversary.

(L to r): A recent Metro Atlanta GDA Alliance gathering had anoutstanding turnout, thanks in large part to event coordinatorHelaine Sugarman.

(L to r): Milledgeville Alliance event attendees were AlliancePresident Sherry Kendrick, Meldra Harris Panchelli, JanetFerguson, Jean Harrington, Molly Bickford, Wendy Cassidy,Debbie Torbush, and Rose Marie Dougherty.




History Spotlight:Interesting Facts on GDA Past Presidents

1859The initial organizational meeting of theGeorgia State Dental Society, whichbecame the Georgia Dental Association in1932, was held in Macon. Dr. DanielChase of Augusta was elected the firstpresident of the Society. After the out-break of the Civil War, Dr. Chase, likemany of Georgia’s dentists a New Englandnative, left the state in 1861. He laterwrote, “I could not sympathize with thesecession movement” and “when the ropebegan to be adorning the necks of someother Northern doctors in Augusta I con-cluded it was time for me to getNorthward.”

1869Dr. W.H. Burr was elected as the firstPresident of the re-organized GeorgiaState Dental Society. The native of NewJersey graduated from the JeffersonMedical College, then located in Madison,Georgia, in 1844, and practiced dental sur-gery in Madison for 50 years.

1874Dr. Arthur Ford served as President dur-ing this year. He was educated in Londonand New York, but eventually became anassistant to a Dr. Harker in Augusta.Unlike some of his fellow Georgia dentists,

he did not leave the state upon the com-mencement of the Civil War. He joinedthe Confederate State Army in 1861, serv-ing for 15 months before being woundedand becoming paralyzed on his right side.He regained the use of his hand after thewar and resumed the practice of dentistry.

1876Dr. George McElhaney became the firstSociety president to be born in Georgia.He was a native of Ellerslie in HarrisCounty. Previous presidents had beenborn in Canada, Scotland, and a variety ofnortheastern states.

1894President Newton Williams, a native ofLowndes County, Georgia, was the firstperson to receive a dental diploma fromthe state of Tennessee (University ofTennessee).

1899, 1907, 1920President Clarence Rosser later went on toserve as Dean of the Southern DentalCollege of Atlanta, as well as chair of pros-thetics at the school. President WilliamCrenshaw, who served in 1907, later servedas Dean of the Atlanta Dental College.President Sheppard Foster (1920) wouldalso later take that path, serving asDean of the Southern Dental College, andPresident of the Atlanta-Southern DentalCollege.

1901, 1902, 1906President Henry Lowrance, a chartermember of the Georgia State DentalSociety, in addition to his duties asPresident served as Society Treasurer from1871 until 1906. Dr. Herbert Johnson whosucceeded him as President likewise held

In 2009, the GDA journal will examine various aspects of the GDA’s 150-year history. Since this month’s journal features a profile of thenext GDA President Dr. Kent Percy, this article provides some facts on past GDA presidents. Do you want to read more about GDAhistory in general? Visit www.gadental.org to purchase the newly published GDA history book Sesquicentennial for only $25!

HISTORYContinued on page 24



multiple offices, serving as Society Editorfor 20 years, as did 1906 PresidentStephen McKee, who was RecordingSecretary from 1891-1903.

1886President T.C. Gibson was elected as aState Senator in 1888 from the EighteenthDistrict (Glascock County), the firstSociety President to hold a state govern-ment elected office.

1912, 1927Crack shot President Richard Mason wasthe Georgia State Rifle Champion in theyear 1906. President Frank Wilson, whoheld office in 1927, was also the winner ofseveral national and international rifleshooting trophies.

1925Vienna, Georgia, native President SamuelRambo had previously practiced dentistryin Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for 21 years, and

was even selected as a commissioner fromthe Brazilian government to the World’sFair in Chicago. He returned to Georgia in1900, setting up practice in Marietta.

1927President Frank Wilson graduated fromthe Baltimore College of Dental Surgeryin 1891 with the highest average in the 51-year history of that noted institution.

1941President Semon Eisenberg was givencredit for originating the idea for theEugene Talmadge Memorial Bridge inSavannah, and was given the honor of driv-ing the first car across the bridge when itopened in 1954. A plaque on the bridgenotes his accomplishments.

1942His GDA biography claims that PresidentCaesar Augustus Yarbrough was the firstdentist to use an x-ray machine in the cityof Macon. His daughter, Gustie Pinholster,was executive secretary for the GeorgiaDental Association for 24 years.

1945-46President William Garrett was installed asPresident of the American Dental Associationin 1966. He was preceded as ADAPresident by Society / GDA presidentDr. Shep Foster in 1923, and succeededas ADA President by GDA PresidentDr. Howard Jones in 2001. Former GDAPresident Dr. Thomas Hinman servedas President of the National DentalAssociation in 1915.

1966President Dr. Frank Lamons died of aheart attack in December, after becomingpresident in October. President ElectHunter Rackley was sworn in as Presidentin January 1967 to serve Dr. Lamons’unexpired term, after which he served hisown term, becoming the first two-termPresident since Dr. William Garrett servedtwo terms during World War II.

1971Dr. Robert Repass chaired the Governor’sAdvisory Committee on Dentistry whichmade the final recommendation to includedental education as part of the Medical

HISTORYContinued from page 23




College of Georgia, and was on the searchcommittee that secured the services of theMCG School of Dentistry’s first Dean, Dr.Jud Hickey.

1976Dr. Arch McEwen joined a small group ofnative Canadians who have served as GDAPresident—Dr. F.Y. Clark was elected in1870 and Dr. Thomas Hinman was electedin 1918.

1983Dr. Charlie Norwood, the GDA 1983President, sold his Augusta dental practicein 1993 and went on to be elected to theU.S. Congress. He died in 2007 during hisseventh term in office.

1978Dr. Gerald Mitchell was installed as theonly Honorary GDA President. Dr.Mitchell served two terms as GDASecretary in the 1920s, but due to politicalconflicts within the Association over thedental clinic at Emory’s dental school was

never put into the chairs leading to thepresidency, as was traditionally done withretiring secretaries.

1988Dr. Bruce Buchanan who served as 1988President was noted for his love ofsports, in particular for participating inand winning his age group in several IronMan triathlons. He wrote a nutrition andexercise column for several years in Action.

2000Dr. Marie Schweinebraten became thefirst female president in the Georgia DentalAssociation’s history. The Pennsylvanianative is currently a candidate for ADAPresident Elect.

2004Dr. Ed Green became the first AfricanAmerican president in GDA history. TheAlbany native is currently Chairman of theBoard of Directors for GDA subsidiaryProfessional Debt Recovery Services.





classified ads

DENTAL RELATEDSERVICESX-RAY SAFETY CERTIFICATION fordental assistants. Complies 100% with Georgialaw. This six-hour course has certified over athousand x-ray machine operators. Send$139.99 per registrant with name(s) to: Dr.Rick Waters, 385 Pinewood Circle, Athens,GA 30606. Visit www.acteva.com/go/laserfor next day delivery, credit card payment, orthe NEW! online version. Call (706) 255-4499for more information.

DENTISTS AVAILABLEFOR FILL IN WORK /LOCUM TENENSDentist Available Daily (DAD): Dentist availableduring vacations, emergencies and CE courses.Leave your practice in well-trained hands. I amlicensed, insured, and have a DEA registrationnumber so I can write prescriptions. Call Dr.Richard Patrick at (770) 993-8838.

Locum tenens: Filling the hole and bridgingthe gap. So you can be out, I will be in. Ihave a Georgia license, DEA number, andinsurance. Benefit from 37 years of generalpractice experience. Call B. Reighard, DDS at(404) 786-0229 or (912) 634-6304.

DENTIST SEEKING FT / PT EMPLOYMENTDentist Seeking Part-time Position: I amin my 50s and in good health. I sold my high-end downtown practice of 30 years and wish towork 2-3 days a week for the next 10+ years ina similar setting. Need to work 7 miles fromdowntown, preferably north or east. Pleasecontact GDA mailbox # 11B at fax number(678) 405-3986.

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE / LEASEFor Sale: New Pelton Crane CenterIsland Console Unit with X-ray pass thruand sink. Drawers and upper cabinet pass-thru. Beautiful “Monterey Stone” laminatewith Gibraltar “Quarry Melange” solid surfacecounter top. For more information please callDr. Kathy Huber for more information at(678) 226-4466.

For Sale: IV and implant equipment. 1NGenuity oxygen BP, respirator monitor. 1Nobel Biocare implant Osseoset 200. 1 NobelBiocare implant contra angle. 1 TeleflexMedical adult nasal canula. Baxter HealthcareContinu Flow solution set. Male leur lockadapter. Wayne Maris D.D.S., 171 PerryHouse Rd, Fitzgerald, Georgia, 229-423-9237.All equipment almost brand new and can be seen.

POSITIONS AVAILABLESeeking part time dentist in Marietta. Pleasecall (404) 272-7568 or fax CV to (770) 984-9256.

Part-time / Full time Motivated Associateneeded in a well-established, busy familydental practice, located West of Atlanta. Largepatient base will keep you busy from theday you start, supported by a dedicated teamof staff. Excellent compensation package.New graduates welcome to apply! Bring asmile of professionalism and quality ofdentistry and start today! Send resume / CV [email protected].

Associate Dentist: Established practice seek-ing Dentist interested in potential partner-ship. Experience with oral surgery / implants aplus. Warner Robins area. Contact Susan [email protected] or (770) 968-4602.

Dentist needed for pediatric dental officein Snellville. Must love working with children.Excellent salary and benefits to the rightperson! New graduates welcome to apply! Pleaseemail resume to [email protected].

FT / PT Motivated Associates neededimmediately for one of our rapidly growingwell-established Atlanta area practices. Newgraduates welcome to apply! We offer excellentincome potential with knowledgeable staffmembers dedicated to quality dentistryand patient care. Please send cv / resume [email protected].

How GDA members canplace classified ads

AD FORM:Submit all ads on a GDA ClassifiedAdvertisement Form. To obtain a form,call Lisa Chandler at (800) 432-4357or (404) 636-7553, or [email protected]. (Note: TheGDA may accept or reject any ad for anyreason 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. CLASSIFIEDS

Continued on page 28




Seeking managing dentist in Atlanta –Management experience required. Offeringexcellent guaranteed salary and benefits,including 100% paid health, disability, mal-practice, 401(K) and paid vacation/holidays.General Dentists and Pediatric Dentists areencouraged to apply. Email resume [email protected] or fax (719) 584-7696. Questions call 877-367-0960.

Mid America Health, Inc. specializes in pro-fessional dental staffing and government con-tracting. We are currently staffing dentistpositions within local county jails insouthern Georgia and northern Florida.These positions are 1-2 days per week andprovide low stress, flexible work environment.An experienced dental assistant and newequipment is provided with these positions. Ifyou are interested in this opportunity wewould be happy to discuss our opportunitieswith you. Please contact Cassandra Wuenschfor further details: (888) 309-8239 x4354 or viaemail at [email protected]. You mayalso inquire via our web site at www.mahweb.com.

East Metro Atlanta—Associate Dentist.Established dynamic practice offers a uniqueopportunity for motivated professionals. Noempty chairs…No insurance claim prob-lems…With career high income potential.New graduates welcome…No debt and no ini-tial practice setup. Contact Tina Titshaw [email protected] or call (678) 413-8130 or fax resume to (770) 760-1375.

PRACTICES / SPACE / LOTSFOR SALE / LEASE / SHARE2500 +/- s.f. space available for a GP orspecialist in A class professional center off ofI-85 and Clairmont road in Atlanta. Also den-tal space available in Hiram, GA. Upscale cen-ter has other health professionals and generaldentist. Ideal for Orthodontist / Pediatric den-tist. Intersection of Hwy 278 & 120. Please call(770) 590-4884 (o), or (678) 640-5466 (c).

Dental Practice / Office Condo, Jonesboro,GA. Southern Regional Hospital area. Attractiveoffice space, 1100 sq. ft., 3 operatoriesplumbed / 2 equipped, large lab, and privateoffice with shower. Pay yourself rent. Moveright in. Buy practice or real estate only. Closeto interstate and short walk to public trans-portation. Contact Dean Cox (678) 584-4477.

Douglasville, Georgia. Lease Space. Idealspace for Specialty or established GeneralPractice. Stand alone, brand new build. Buildinside to suit. Great location and very busyarea. Next to established General Practice.Call for more details (770) 757-9606.

Newnan, Georgia dental suite for lease.Highly visible location in attractive office /medical / retail center. High growth areabetween Peachtree City and Newnan nearThomas Crossroads. Great demographics!Space is 2,000 SF and offers 5 operatorypositions. Available 4th quarter, 2009.Taylor Josey, agent, (770) 652-7469 [email protected].

GAINESVILLE, GA: This FFS and PPO practicegrossed $430K in 2008. Computerized officehas 4 ops, 3 equipped. This practice wouldbe a great merge candidate. Seller is flexiblewith transition plans. For more informationplease contact Michelle at (678) 482-7305 oremail [email protected].

CLASSIFIEDSContinued from page 27




FORT STEWART AREA, TATTNALL,CO. GA: Gross $360K in 2008. 3 equippedops with room for 2 more (1600 Sq Ft.).Established practice accepts PPO,Medicaid, & HMO. Seller owns real-estateand would lease or sell the building. For moreinformation call (678) 482-7305 or [email protected].

DEKALB CO., GA: Practice collected $1.2million last year. 8 ops; computerized. 2,900Sq Ft. FFS / PPO some DMO / Medicaid /Peachcare. Very busy practice – Seller cannotkeep up and has other projects. Will stay aslong as needed to ensure a smooth transitionand phase completely out. For moreinformation call (678) 482-7305 or [email protected].

Cobb County—Million dollar practice locatedin upscale office building convenient to I-75 &I-285, 6 treatment rooms, fully computerized,long-term staff, quality patient base 90% FFS.Seller will work 2-3 days to provide support &production. Contact Dr. Steve Katz ParagonDental Transitions at (706) 258-2909 [email protected].

Premium space (2900 sq. ft.) available fora dental office in Roswell, GA, within amedical facility. Located on 910 HolcombBridge Rd. with great traffic exposure. Willcustomize according to your needs. Flexibleterms. Contact Dr. Maurice Zadeh w / TriarcProperties (770) 722-1723. Serious Inquiresonly, Please!

3,500SF Medical Office available inNorth Georgia. 6 exam rooms and 2 officeswith 720SF on second floor. Great for dentistor individually owned medical practice.Surrounded by other professional medicaloffices. Located adjacent to Lanier ParkHospital and minutes from NEGA MedicalCenter in Gainesville. For further details con-tact Brian Hughs at The Simpson Company(770) 532-9911.

PRACTICES FOR SALE: For more infor-mation, call Dr. Earl Douglas, ADS South,(770) 664-1982: ATLANTA #8557: Gross$770,141; 4 days 3 operatories; 1,131 sq. ft.office space. CARROLL COUNTY #8428:Gross $609,663; 4 days 4 operatories; 2,000 sq.ft. office space. Additional plumbed butunequipped operatory. DULUTH OFFICESPACE & EQUIPMENT FOR SALE#8393: Five (open-bay) operatory office witha Planmeca pan / ceph. Equipment willinclude 4 chairs, 5 delivery units, 10 comput-ers and misc. office equipment. LILBURN#8516: Gross $1.07 Million; 5 days 8 operato-ries; 3,000 sq. ft. office space. RIVERDALE#8517: Gross $836,285; 4 days 8 operatories;4,030 sq. ft. office space. Two additionalplumbed but unequipped operatories.SOUTHEASTERN GEORGIA #8172:Gross $796,640; 4 days 5 operatories; 1,732 sq.ft. office space. ASSOCIATE POSITIONSAVAILABLE, contact Vikki Howard (910)523-1949.



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

www.gadental.org

ACTIONInside This Issue

• Georgia Court Decision Affects How Dentists Obtain Informed Consent

• GDA Recognizes InauguralCommunity Service Award Honorees

DATED MATERIALPLEASE DELIVER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE



gda action july 2009

Documents

georgia dental associationkent

dental aesthetics

r s o f s e r

southern craft dental

c y1859

d v o c

c yactionthe journal

dds141st president