AARP New Mexico needs volunteers to help with the New Mexico Mission of Mercy, a large-scale dental clinic in which dental services are provided at no cost for individuals who cannot afford dental care. The event is set for Oct. 15 and 16 at Expo New Mexico in Albuquerque. “Sometimes in the discussion about health care people forget that oral disease can be just as debilitating as any other illness and is just as expensive to treat, especially for low income populations or people that don’t have insurance,” said Shanna Lapsley, AARP New Mexico State Associate Director for Multi-Cultural Outreach. “The New Mexico Mission of Mercy is a unique opportunity for people to take preventative steps toward good oral health or get a problem fixed that maybe they’ve put off because they couldn’t afford to get it addressed,” Lapsley said. Organizers are estimating that 1,500 people will take advantage of this free service over the two-day period and that’s where the volunteers come in. “At AARP we have Create the Good®, where we encourage people to volunteer in their own communities and make the lives of others a little better,” said Beth Velasquez, AARP New Mexico Communications Director. “The Mission of Mercy is an excellent opportunity to do just that.” “We’re seeking volunteers that can help direct people, assist with filling out forms and other general tasks that will keep the operation moving along. It doesn’t matter if you have just a couple of hours to give or want to spend the entire day working at the clinic, we’d appreciate whatever help people are willing to give,” Velasquez said. Patients will be treated on a first-come, first-serve basis. Each patient will undergo an oral cancer screening and a dental evaluation. As dentists and dental hygienists become available, patients will be guided to areas of the dental clinic where they will undergo dental treatments such as cleanings, fillings, root canals, extractions, and preparation of partial dentures and prefabricated crowns. Participants will also be given information on how to properly care for teeth and be asked to complete an exit interview on their experience. Bilingual volunteers will also be available to assist non-English speaking patients.

The New Mexican - Ana Maria Trujillo - Dental care is out of reach for a lot of people, but Gabriel Roybal, a local dentist, and his wife, Teresa Roybal, who specializes in business, recently opened Northside Dental to offer free or low-cost dental care to people in the community. "The options are grim when someone is really struggling to put food on the table or pay their rent," Teresa Roybal explained. "They are not going to spend $1,000 on a root canal." The couple paid for the clinic themselves and have spent the last 10 months getting everything set up at the facility, 806 Calle Mejia. The equipment alone set them back about $500,000, but it is well worth it, they said. "It's a project of faith," Teresa Roybal said. "We believe in making an investment in the community." The couple recently launched a campaign to promote the new clinic, which will be staffed by about six dentists and a few hygienists, who are all volunteering. The Roybals are no strangers to helping people. For many years, Gabriel Roybal has been providing free dental care through Villa Therese Catholic Clinic, La Familia Medical Center and United Way of Santa Fe. The couple noted that those interactions with patients are generally extractions and other extreme, last-resort procedures. At Northside Dental, Gabriel Roybal is going to focus more on prevention. "The earlier we intervene, the sooner we can get these people and they don't have to deal with the nightmares" that occur after many years of dental neglect, Gabriel Roybal said. "It's heartbreaking to see beautiful young men and women — because they don't have the resources — where the only option they have is pulling their teeth," Teresa Roybal said. "They don't have the options down the road to replace those teeth." Katherine Freeman, the CEO of United Way of Santa Fe, is grateful for all the work the Roybals have done for The Santa Fe Children's Project over the last three years. She said the Roybals came to her three years ago to ask what they could do to help. "It's one of the most generous offerings that we've had, and it came as such a total surprise," Freeman said. The Roybals recruited other health practitioners, including chiropractor Bobby Perea, to provide free care to United Way families involved in the Santa Fe Children's Project. "Dental care is one of the key health issues with our kids, and finding affordable care is almost impossible for these families," Freeman said. "It's just a gift of generosity almost not imaginable." Freeman noted that Northside Dental is "just another demonstration of their generosity and compassion and willingness to give back to the community." Gabriel Roybal and his volunteer team will continue to work with United Way families at Northside Dental. The Roybals give back to the community because they wouldn't feel right if they didn't. They run a successful, high-end dental practice on St. Michael's Drive that is a fee-for-service practice, which Gabriel Roybal said is rare. "To be able to do that and not give back to the community doesn't seem fair," he said. He also expressed gratitude to his patients, who have helped make Northside Dental a reality. "We're lucky to have this patient base who can afford (care), but that is a very small crowd who has the resources to pay $50,000, $70,000, $80,000 in one mouth to fix their problems." "You reach a point in your life where you fulfill a lot of your own personal goals and business goals, and I think you learn a lesson as you get older that the greater reward is just outright helping people," Teresa Roybal said. "It's great to achieve success in business, but it doesn't feel right to achieve business success and not really give back." They also help because it's much "easier to just take care of people than it is to go through the loops and hoops and rigmarole of Medicaid and Medicare and the government programs," Gabriel Roybal said. "We just adopt (patients) and take care of them, and they come here and we see them. Everybody wins. They're a pleasure to take care of." Northside Dental opened its doors three months ago and patients are trickling in. The clinic features state-of-the-art technology, including digital radiology, laser technology and computerized records. "It's one of the best things that the staff and doctors do because it's such a rewarding experience," Teresa Roybal said. "People are very grateful to have this opportunity." "It feels great to be able to help people," Gabriel Roybal said. "Very often people will come in and they've gone through so much grief and aggravation their whole life, they're in tears. They're so grateful for the care that you've given them and it's priceless. I can't think of anything more pleasurable."

ADA News - Craig Palmer - The New Mexico Dental Association and its state public affairs consultant won awards for statewide grassroots training to educate members on the Brighter Smiles for New Mexico and for Give Kids a Smile activities. link to full article

Eyewitness News 4 - Dr. Larry Lubar, DDS joins Stuart and Nicole to discuss the upcoming New Mexico Mission of Mercy, a two-day free dental clinic for the working poor. link to video

Albuquerque Journal - Lloyd Jojola - Ralph Montoya practiced dentistry in the Albuquerque area for some 35 years, and one thing remembered about him is that he always looked forward to going to work. "To him, it was a privilege," said Gilbert Montoya, his oldest son. "He loved what he did." What he loved was caring for people — his patients. "He went out of his way to make sure that people were happy with his work, and I think his patients appreciated that," said Maria Preciado, Montoya's daughter. "I still get, to this day, people who remember my dad and the care that he gave them and how generous he was and compassionate. "It makes me very proud." Wagon Mound-native and World War II veteran Ralph "Doc" Thomas Montoya died Monday. He was 90. Funeral Mass was celebrated Thursday at Immaculate Conception Church. He was buried at Santa Fe National Cemetery. "The 'legend' — I've never been able to verify this but this is the only thing that would make sense as to why he went into dentistry — is that he had developed a toothache," Gilbert Montoya said. "The dentist removed his tooth, and the light went on: Any man who can provide this kind of pain relief to a human being; this is what I want to do." Montoya was 4 when he went to live with his grandmother. She basically raised him, and his circumstances and upbringing shaped him. "I think one of the greatest attributes that he gave us all was his work ethic," Preciado said. "He was just a phenomenal, persistent, dedicated worker — as a dentist, at home and as a father. He worked so hard for all of us. I think that era of that generation — he grew up during the Depression — that's what you did. You worked to provide." Montoya attended St. Michael's school in Santa Fe. And as a boxer and runner, the athletic, and "mischievous," Montoya earned his keep working as a janitor and selling candy, Gilbert Montoya said. He graduated at an early age and attended New Mexico State University. But with second World War arriving, he enlisted, and was ultimately trained as a front gunner in a B-24 Liberator. He flew some 14 missions in the Pacific Theater. Montoya graduated from Creighton Dental School in 1949, and as part of the Air Force, he served at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson and then was assigned to Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada. Montoya returned to New Mexico in 1953 and began more than three decades in dentistry by practicing with another dentist in Albuquerque's North Valley. He opened his first practice on Menaul, then moved to locations on San Mateo and finally Wyoming before retiring. "The gift he had was he truly did the best he could for every one of his patients, and he was beloved because of that," Gilbert Montoya said. "If something didn't go exactly right, his patients didn't blame him because they felt he was doing the best he could for them." At home, with family, Preciado believes Montoya's greatest joy was his grandchildren. "My kids still remember. He would come by every Friday and play with them, feed them, just that interaction," she said. "So much joy on both parts." Montoya helped establish the dental care unit at the New Mexico Veterans Center at Truth or Consequences after retiring, and served in other capacities, including as a volunteer AARP delegate and with the state Health Commission. He was a Knights of Columbus member, helped get Queen of Heaven Church built and was involved in organizations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Elks, Optimist Club and Boy Scouts over the years. "He never met a cookie, piece of candy, or slice of pie that he didn't like — and he was a dentist!" his son-in-law Lupe Preciado wrote. "It could very well be that his last meal was a couple of Girl Scout cookies he had purchased from his granddaughter, Gabriella. This would explain the great big smile in his heart as he passed." His survivors include his children, Ralph Gilbert Montoya and his granddaughter, Glynis Kate Montoya; Michael Anthony Montoya and his wife, Christine Montoya, and his grandson, Rudolfo Tomas Montoya; Joseph Ronald Montoya; and Maria Dolores Preciado and her husband, Lupe H. Preciado, and his grandchildren Gabriella Maria Preciado and Joaquin Merced Preciado.

Santa Fe New Mexican -- Dr. Robert L Wartell --As a dentist who has cared deeply about dental public health since the 1960s, I must reply to the March 14 My View by Dolores E. Roybal titled "State's access to dental care lacking." The main thrust of her solution for New Mexicans is to create what she calls a "mid-level dental provider." She does not specify what this means. However, in other states that have allowed mid-level dental providers, they are people without the eight years of education after high school that are required to become a dentist. But they are allowed by law to do extractions and fillings, among other things. They would be able to do these things after about 18 months or two years of training after high school. Proponents of mid-level care will show statistics that the care is the same as that of dentists. And that mid-level providers only do "simple" procedures. In fact, there are few simple procedures in dental care. Except for tooth cleaning and sealants, dentists provide surgical procedures. Cutting into a tooth, extraction of a tooth, and even scaling and root planing are surgery. These procedures are invasive. They require injections deep into tissues and can damage nerves and blood vessels and cause severe and even fatal body reactions. What about examinations of the teeth, gums, and oral tissues? It takes many years to learn to evaluate all of these tissues properly. It is impossible for a non-dentist to find diseases that they have never learned about, or to connect what is found in the mouth with systemic diseases and conditions. Oral cancer can kill, and it takes a dentist to find and diagnose it while it is still treatable. This is something that a technician is not trained or able to do. As in all endeavors, things go wrong. A shallow cavity turns out to be deeper than expected, and the tooth needs to have the nerve immediately removed. A tooth with a large cavity turns out to have cracks through it, and needs a crown, not the filling that was planned. An injection can result in bleeding deep within tissues, or even shock that can lead to death. Who would want to be in the dental chair of a mid-level provider when these things happen, without a dentist nearby? Imagine having a "simple" extraction, with uncontrolled bleeding resulting, and there is no dentist nearby to deal with the complications. The non-dentist has not been trained for and is not able to deal with this emergency. Ethically, how can we consign rural and poor people to a lower level of care? Don't all New Mexicans deserve to be treated equally? New Mexico has a board of dental health care whose mission is protecting patients from substandard care by substandard dentists. Mid-level providers, with little knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and most phases of dentistry, will, by definition, provide care below that of dentists. Who wants to have dental care that is not up the standard of that provided by licensed dentists? How will the board of dental health care be able to license non-dentists for dental treatment, and yet still be able to tell fully-trained dentists that they are not good enough to treat New Mexicans? Does this make sense to you? It doesn't to me. I am limited to 600 words. On nmDentalAccess.org you can read more of this essay, and read my ideas about solving the access problem. I welcome comments. Robert L Wartell, DDS, lives in Santa Fe.

The GROW Foundation would like to spread the word about th new SFCC Health & Science. There is an opportunity for the dental community to have a room/ facility named after them or their loved ones. If anyone is interested, contact Jean Marquardt, the head of SFCC GROW foundation. See side menu "SFCC Building" for more information.

Santa Fe New Mexican - Dr. Jessica Brewster - Regarding "State's access to dental care lacking," the March 14 My view from Dolores E. Roybal, the executive director of the Con Alma Health Foundation: The New Mexico Dental Association agrees that Pew Foundation's recent "A" grade for kids' access to dental care in New Mexico can be misleading. There is still much we must do to improve dental care for New Mexicans, children and adults alike. The New Mexico Dental Association is promoting five key points of the "Brighter Smiles for New Mexico" campaign: Legislation to ensure every child visits a dentist before his or her first day of school Increased support for dental education and easier access to dental care across the state Removing the state's gross receipts tax on dental services to increase access and ensure quality care regardless of social or economic status A patient bill of rights that simplifies dental-insurance benefits Investment in Medicaid rates and reduced administrative hurdles to involve more providers and encourage patients to access dental care before serious problems develop. In addition, the New Mexico Dental Association and the New Mexico Dental Hygiene Association have established a "Liaison Committee" that has been working on the access to care problem for two years. The committee strongly feels it is wrong to place definitive dental procedures in the hands of a technically, but not professionally trained individual. The committee believes that expanding scope of practice for existing dental professionals and auxiliaries and creation of a new community dental health care coordinator will accomplish more for getting patients to the dentist than any mid-level provider. This will maintain quality of dental care with all services available to patients, not just a short laundry list of care. The right thing to do is also to make New Mexico a place where it's not so difficult to start and successfully run a dental practice. The committee supports legislation that would create increased loan forgiveness and tax credits for dentists and hygienists serving underserved populations, limited stipends for dentists or hygienists who establish practices in underserved areas, and partnerships with state or local governments to use existing facilities for dental care. This, along with the NMDA's Brighter Smiles Campaign is the way to attract dentists to New Mexico and get patients into those offices. Our member dentists also constantly donate dental care to try and make up for the systemic lack of quality services. For example: New Mexico Donated Dental Services provides dental care to people with disabilities and elderly poor. However, our modest administrative budget — with an 8-to-1 return on investment — was recently cut by the legislature; On Oct. 15 and 16, NMDA is bringing Mission of Mercy, two days of free donated dental care to New Mexico. Children and adults will be able to receive free dental care; February was National Children's Dental Health Month and dentists across the state hosted events for children to receive free dental care. NMDA, does not believe charity is a viable solution to larger problems. We need a solid infrastructure that provides prevention, education and early intervention — a dental 'home' — for all New Mexicans. While Con Alma/Kellogg should be praised for its concern about the oral health of the underserved in New Mexico, we invite them to join with the dental community in finding a solution. It's our responsibility to ensure all New Mexicans have access to quality dental care and a bright smile. Jessica Brewster, DDS, is dental director at La Familia Medical Center in Santa Fe.

Albuquerque Journal--Editorial-- Open wide. Let's see those pearlies! More New Mexico low-income kids receive dental care — despite a shortage of dentists — than the national average. That's right. Here's something New Mexico excels at — and the Pew Center awarded us an A. But we could have been at the bottom of the 50 states, where we languish all too often in national rankings, if the state had not made it a priority to see that needy kids have access to an array of health services. In 2007, 48 percent of New Mexico Medicaid-enrolled youths received dental services, compared to 38 percent nationwide. Medicaid covers about 322,000 New Mexico youths 18 and under. State Health Secretary Alfredo Vigil gave a lot of the credit to the state's system of nonprofit federally funded community health centers, which operate 40 dental clinics. The Pew report also gave props to New Mexico because 77 percent of residents live in communities with fluoridated water (nationally it's 75 percent), dentists who treat Medicaid patients are reimbursed at a rate slightly better than the national average, and New Mexico is one of 35 states that pay for preventive dental care for Medicaid patients. And that makes for a lot of happy smiles!

Albuquerque Journal-- Olivier Uyttebrouck--New Mexico does a better job than most states of providing dental care to low-income kids, despite a shortage of dentists, according to a new report by the Pew Center on the States. New Mexico does particularly well providing dental care for children enrolled in Medicaid, the report said. Pew found that nearly half — 48 percent — of New Mexico Medicaid-enrolled youths received dental services in 2007, the most recent year for which national data were available. The figure nationwide was 38 percent. Medicaid, the government-funded health insurance program for the poor, covers about 322,000 New Mexico youths 18 and under. But the state faces a major challenge recruiting new dentists, the report found. "New Mexico ranks 49th among states in its numbers of dentists per capita, and, in part because it lacks a dental school, it does not have a robust pipeline for recruiting new dentists," the report's authors wrote. The report, "The Cost of Delay," warns that an estimated 17 million low-income children in the country, or about one in five, receive no dental care. State Health Secretary Alfredo Vigil said New Mexico worked for decades to expand its array of health programs for Medicaid patients, who comprise more than a quarter of the state's population. In particular, Vigil credited New Mexico's system of community health centers, which operate 40 dental clinics around the state. "If you took the community health center dental clinics out of the picture, the whole Pew report would have been about the disastrous situation in New Mexico," Vigil said. The nonprofit centers are federally qualified to receive higher reimbursement rates for treating Medicaid patients, Vigil said. "That's so they can exist in tiny villages all over the state and also serve low-income communities in urban areas like Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces and Roswell," he said. New Mexico is one of six states awarded an "A" by the Pew report because the state performed well on several benchmarks considered measures of good dental care: • Fluoridated water supplies: 77 percent of New Mexicans live in communities with fluoridated water supplies. Nationally, 75 percent have fluoridated water. • Medicaid reimbursement for dental care: New Mexico reimburses dentists for treating Medicaid patients at a rate slightly better than the national average of 60.5 percent of dentists' usual retail fees. • New Mexico is one of 35 states that pays for preventive dental care for Medicaid patients.

Annual Event Helps Kids See Dentist - ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Dr. Gaylina Reachi, one of several dentists across New Mexico participating in the Give Kids a Smile event on Friday, talks about the event that gives kids free dental care and education. To watch news clip go to http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/health/annual-event-helps-kids-see-dentist

February 4, 2010—Las Cruces Sun News—Local member dentists of the New Mexico Dental Association will provide free dental screenings to first-grade students throughout the month of February in celebration of National Children’s Dental Health Month. Dentist will provide free screenings to more than 2,400 first-graders in the Las Cruces Public Schools and Gadsden independent School District. Dentists will collaborate with school nurses to provide the screenings and oral hygiene instructions. “Each student will take home a screening evaluation that informs the parents of any obvious carious lesions and the need to see the dentist every six months,” said Dr. Joy Trigo, chairperson for National Children’s Dental Health Month in Las Cruces. “The students will also be provided with a new toothbrush to encourage dental hygiene.”

February 3, 2010—Valencia County News—The New Mexico Dental Association’s (NMDA) Belen are member dentist, Linda Hixon, will promote oral health care and provide free dental care to kids during “Give Kids a Smile Day” on Friday, Feb. 5. Beginning at 9am, Hixon, along with the office’s assistants and hygienists, will provide free dental care to those children deemed at risk by the school nurse. The dental team will be offering teeth cleanings and education to children who attend. “Give Kids a Smile Day is an important event,” said Hixon. “Teaching children good dental hygiene prevents future problems. Since dental problems are a leading cause of absenteeism among children, it is crucial to take time and help children who otherwise don’t have access to care. “ Dozens of NMDA dentist from around the state have organized activities, presentations and extended office hours for this year’s national “Give Kids a Smile Day.” The first event was held in 2003 by the American Dental Association. It was designed to provide children with free dental education and preventative care for tooth decay and other disorder. February is also Children’s Dental Health Month. The NMDA is currently working with state lawmakers to raise awareness and suggest solutions to improve access to oral health care.

January 27, 2010--Farmington Daily Times--Alysa Landry--A tray of intimidating silver balanced near Sandra Antonson's hand Tuesday as the first-year dental hygiene student leaned over one of her first clients. Antonosn, a first-year student in San Juan College's Dental Hygiene program is one of only 12 students accepted per year. Students spend the first semester of the program in the classroom, where they practice on mannequins and fellow students, said Julius Manz, director of the program. During the second semester, which started this month, students begin work on "live" patients. The task was relatively easy for Antonson, whose second patient was her husband, Ryan Antonson. "I can see it both ways," she said of Ryan's position in the dental chair. "It's nerve-wriacking to work on him, but he's doing a lot better now that we've numbed his gums." Ryan who visited the clinic in the college’s Health and Human Performance Center, got a deep cleaning Tuesday. Although his gums were numb, he smiled and joked with his wife during the procedure. The atmosphere was decidedly less cheery at Lisa Jenning's station. Her patient was State Police Lt. Gary Ross, who needed X-rays and a cleaning. "This is my second day to have actually patients." Jennings said. "It's scary." Ross, a first-time patient the clinic who was dressed in uniform, assured Jennings he did not carry a Taser. The clinic, open Tuesday through Thursday every week, caters to any patients who need cleanings or other preventive work. Students in the two-year program practice on customers' mouths, charging a fraction of what they would pay elsewhere. Manz, one of three dentists to work with students in the program, also offers some in-depth work. Usually, however, the clinic provides diagnoses and refers patients to dentist or orthodontists in the community. "Students do the preventive stuff," Manz said. "The goal is to train dental hygienists, but we can provide a full diagnosis." The two-year program is competitive, with only 24 seats available, Manz said. Every year, more than 50 students apply, but only 12 are accepted. Before graduating from the program, students must demonstrate aptitude in handling many different types of patients, from screaming children to difficult oral conditions, Manz said. Students who really want to be dental hygienists don’t' miss a beat, however. Antonson, who applied for the program because it offered a career that let her choose her hours, said she enjoys looking in other people’s mouths. “Mouths don’t bother me,” she said while looking up from her husband’s procedure. “I get to see a lot of interesting things.” The dental students also host an annual Give Kids A Smile Day. Children ages 5 to 12 can receive free dental or orthodontist work Feb. 5 at the clinic. Dental students and community dentists will see about 50 children that day, and they are expected to complete about $50,000 in free work.

December 12, 2009--Albuquerque Journal--Richard Metcalf-- If a toothache is killing you as you read this, there's hope even though it's Saturday. Even if you haven't seen a dentist in years. Emergency Dental Care USA has opened at the southwest corner of Comanche and Juan Tabo NE for the express purpose of treating walk-in patients with dental emergencies. It will be open 365 days a year from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. "Think of us as 'Toothaches R Us,'" quipped company founder Mike Obeng, a practicing dentist from Omaha, Neb. Fashioned after an urgent care clinic, the Albuquerque dental office is the eighth to open for the 13-year-old company, with a ninth soon to follow in Omaha. The staff includes dentists David Bundy, Joan Fox and Melissa Ivers. A fourth dentist is expected to be added. About 60 percent of its patients pay out of pocket, while the remainder use insurance coverage, typically with a copay, Obeng said. If a patient doesn't have the necessary cash, he added, "We are able to accommodate just about everyone who walks in here with a financing plan that's doable." Emergency Dental does more than just toothaches, but it doesn't have a hygienist on staff or do regular check ups. Because many of its emergency patients have "deferred maintenance" issues with their teeth, the office will sometimes do follow-up work. But for long-term care, patients will be referred elsewhere. "It's a unique concept," said Kevin Bobb, a commercial real estate broker at Grubb & Ellis New Mexico who helped Obeng find a location for the dental office. "He recognizes that there are a lot of tourists coming through here to Santa Fe and the ski areas. If just 1 percent of them have an emergency, that's a business opportunity." Obeng said he came up with the idea for Emergency Dental Care USA when he inserted the line "Emergencies Welcome" in a yellow page ad for his family practice in Omaha. "I would get 2-3 calls every weekend," he said. "What I kept hearing was, 'You must've been the 20th or 30th dentist we called.' I thought why not set up practice just for emergencies." The Albuquerque office is at 10820 Comanche NE, behind the Garcia's Kitchen restaurant.

September 4, 2009--New Mexico Business Weekly--Steve Ginsberg--Nobody likes to visit a dentist, unless you’re Kevin Bobb. As Grubb & Ellis New Mexico’s senior associate specializing in health services, Bobb has closed 11 sale and lease dentistry deals so far in 2009, with three more that could close before Dec. 31. Bobb has courted dentists for a decade and says 2009 is among his best years, with transactions up 12 percent over 2008, despite agonizingly slow times for most commercial brokers in the office, industrial and retail fields. Bobb’s business has a bright smile because New Mexico, which is underserved by dentists, ranks 49th nationally in per capita dentists to population. With the recession raging in other states, especially in the Rust Belt where some dental practices have failed, the Land of Enchantment has become the land of opportunity for purveyors of root canals and braces. New Mexico does not yet have a dental school churning out new dentists, although state officials are working on that issue. The state averages just one dentist for every 2,400 residents. In Albuquerque, there are 1,700 residents per dentist, while the national average is 1,000 people per dentist. Many of Bobb’s 2009 deals have come in Rio Rancho and the Westside. “When you look at Rio Rancho, there were 78,000 people, and they had just 18 dentists. Look at one building in the Northeast Heights, 6800 Montgomery NE. There are 23 dentists in that one building,” Bobb observes. “Rio Rancho is rushing to catch up, but when you look to the future, there are 170,000 people in southwest Albuquerque and only seven dentists.” Santa Fe, with 145 dentists, is not nearly as underserved. Among Bobb’s completed deals in 2009 was Dr. Casey Allman’s lease for his new general dentistry practice at 5740 Night Whisper NW. Allman is leasing 2,400 square feet and, after opening in May, has 260 patients. Allman, 32, graduated from the University of Nevada Las Vegas’ dental school. He chose the Duke City after considering his home state of Utah, as well as Idaho and Nevada. “In comparison to Utah, there is a relative shortage of dentists in New Mexico, so I saw a need here,” Allman said. “My location on the border of Rio Rancho next to the new Presbyterian Hospital has good visibility. I have a big sign along Unser and this has helped. My toothbrush recycling program has caught on.” Allman gives anyone who walks into his office, whether a patient or not, a new toothbrush in exchange for his or her old one. Other recent deals include Dr. Jacob Chartier, opening a new orthodontic practice at 4320 Ridgecrest, Suite E, in Rio Rancho with 2,665 square feet of office space. Dr. Hong Morrison has acquired 2,100 square feet at 2401 Cabezon Blvd. at Colores de Cabezon in Rio Rancho. Dr. Diane Hughes has relocated her practice from New York City to open a new orthodontic practice at Colores de Cabezon in Rio Rancho in 2,200 square feet that she acquired. Despite an abundance of office condos for sale, Bobb said there have been few acquisitions by dentists at bargain prices. Dentists aren’t looking for less expensive space, but for premier buildings that have adequate parking and visibility. The cost of setting up a practice here is about $300 a square foot, and that’s before one counts the investment in expensive equipment. Dentists in Manhattan pay upward of $950 a square foot to open, while those in California can spend as much as $550 per square foot. More dentists are likely to come to New Mexico in the near future, notes Mark Moores, executive director of the New Mexico Dental Association. The state Legislature underwrote a program to help college-bound New Mexico residents with their tuition to out-of-state dental colleges with the mandate that they practice in New Mexico. A dental residency program was established at the University of New Mexico for 10 students. Meanwhile, a feasibility study sponsored by Gov. Bill Richardson to establish a full dentistry school in the state is underway, Moores added. “More dentists are coming here because it’s a great place to practice and for quality of life issues. The Legislature is pushing to attract more dentists in the future,” Moores said.

September 3, 2009--Dental Economics--The New Mexico Dental Association has announced its 2009-2010 officers. Among the group is Dr. Wendy Churchill of Anthony, N.M., who will serve as the second woman vice president in NMDA's 100-year history. Dr. Churchill is in line to become the second NMDA woman president, following Dr. Gail Willow of Silver City, N.M., who served in 2005-2006. "Dr. Churchill provides services to children and low-income families in rural New Mexico," said Mark Moores, NMDA Executive Director. "Her commitment to serving the community is a shining example of NMDA's Brighter Smiles for New Mexico campaign." Dr. Churchill attended the University of Kansas and dental hygiene school at Johnson County Community College. She earned her dental degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She practices dentistry at La Clinica de Familia Dental Center in Anthony, N.M. Dr. Churchill's husband, Chris, is an astronomer at New Mexico State University. NMDA's 2009-2010 officers also include: *Dr. Robert Gherardi of Albuquerque, N.M., President; *Dr. Robert Manzanares of Espanola, N.M., President-Elect; *Dr. Henry Espinosa of Albuquerque, N.M., Secretary-Treasurer; *Dr. Dale Goad of Carrizozo, N.M., Past President

New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Committee--Background: The New Mexico Legislature passed a law in 2004 requiring the Board of Dental Health Care to develop new rules for all non-dentist owners employing or contracting for dental services. The law went into effect on March 6, 2005. A committee including dentists and dental hygienists developed the regulations. Who needs a non-dentist owner license? 1) Individual who owns a dental practice that is not licensed as a dentist or dental hygienist in New Mexico. 2) Corporate entity not owned by a majority interest of a New Mexico licensed dentist or dental hygienist. Entities that may function as a non-dentist owner without a NM license: 1) Government agencies providing dental services within affiliated facilities. 2) Government agencies engaged in providing public health measures to prevent dental disease. 3) Spouses of a deceased licensed dentist or dental hygienists for a period of one year following the death of the licensee. 4) Accredited school of dentistry, dental hygiene or dental assisting providing dental services solely in an education setting only. 5) Federally qualified health centers, as designated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, providing dental services. 6) Nonprofit community-based entities and organizations that use public funds to provide dental and dental hygiene services for an indigent person. 7) Hospitals licensed by the Department of Health. Purpose of Licensure? It is the purpose of the New Mexico Dental Health Care Act [Chapter 61, article 5A NMSA 1978] to insure that the public is adequately protected from the practice of dentistry and dental hygiene by unqualified persons and from unprofessional conduct by persons licensed to practice dentistry and dental hygienists. Licensure Deadline: All non-dentist owners shall be licensed in the State of New Mexico no later than January 1, 2010. To Get a License: Potential licensees can fill out an application and pay the licensure fee at: Toney Anaya Building, 2550 Cerrillos Rd, Santa Fe, NM. They also must contact Professional Background Information Service (PBIS) at (602) 861-5867 to initiate a Level II background report on the individual that is the non-dentist owner or by the president of the parent corporation. The non-dentist owner application is available on the Dental Board’s website: www.rld.state.nm.us/dental or can be sent directly by calling the Board office at (505) 476-4680. Completed application must be signed and notarized by the individual that is the non-dentist owner or by the president of the parent corporation; applications are valid for one year from the date of receipt. Penalties for No License: A person that functions or attempts to function as a non-dentist owner or who is an officer of a corporate entity that functions or attempts to function as a non-dentist owner in New Mexico without first complying with the provisions of the Dental Health Care Act [61-5A-1 to 6-5A-29 NMSA 1978] is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of the Criminal Sentencing Act [Chapter 31, Article 18 NMSA 1978] to imprisonment for a definite period not to exceed one year and, in the discretion of the sentencing court, to a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both. Each occurrence of functioning as a non-dentist owner without complying with the Dental Health Care Act shall be a separate violation. For more information contact Anita Villegas, Board Administrator, 505-476-4825

July, 27, 2009--Albuquerque Journal--The New Mexico Dental Association (NMDA) has awarded Larry Lubar, DDS, the NMDA Medal of Distinction. Lubar received the highest honor for his exceptional lifetime achievement. Contributions to the profession and service to organized dentistry. Only three other dentists have received this award in the past 100 years--it is the highest honor the NMDA can award a member. He has practiced general dentistry in New Mexico for nearly 45 years and is a graduate of the Marquette Dental School, a fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry and the International College of Dentistry.

July 27, 2009--Albuquerque Journal--The New Mexico Dental Association (NMDA) has awarded Kirk Graham, DDS, the NMDA Medal of Distinction. Graham received NMDA's highest honor for his exceptional lifetime achievement, contributions to the profession and service to organized dentistry. Only four other dentists have received this award in the past 100 years--it is the highest honor the NMDA can award a member. He opened his private dental practice in 1965 and now works as the dental Director for Presbyterian Medical Services' Farmington Community Health Center. Graham is a graduate of the Baylor University College of Dentistry.

July 27, 2009--Albuquerque Journal--The New Mexico Dental Association (NMDA) has elected new officers for 2009-2010. They are Robert Gherardi, DDS - Albuquerque, President; Robert Manzanares, DDS - Espanola, President Elect; Wendy Churchill, DDS - Anthony, Vice President; Henry Espinosa, DDS - Albuquerque, Secretary/Treasurer; and Dale Goad, DDS - Carrizozo, Past President.

March 26, 2009--Lincoln County News-- New Mexico Dental Association (NMDA) members appeared in Santa Fe to promote NMDA’s legislative agenda at the Roundhouse. Members participated in NMDA’s “Legislative Day,” which featured a continuing education course called “Dentistry and the Law.” Over 30 NMDA member dentists received instruction on the New Mexico legislative process, pending bills pertaining to dentistry and grassroots training. Members then visited to the Roundhouse where policy makers introduced them to Lt. Governor Diane Denish and the New Mexico State Senate. The dentists also visited their respective members and inquired about the status of bills pertaining to NMDA. The organization’s “Brighter Smiles for New Mexico” public education campaign has bills pending on the following dental health issues:  The importance of children visiting the dentist prior to starting school;  Expanding dental educational opportunities for New Mexicans to improve access to care;  Removal of the state’s gross receipt tax (GRT) for dental and medical services;  Simplifying dental insurance benefits for all New Mexicans; and  Investing in Medicaid dental benefit rates for patients. Three out of four dentists in New Mexico belong to the NMDA, a comprehensive voice of dental care and the premiere dental association in the state.

SANTE FE (Feb. 27) New Mexico Dental Association (NMDA) members appeared in Santa Fe to promote NMDA’s legislative agenda at the Roundhouse. Members participated in NMDA’s “Legislative Day,” which featured a continuing education course called “Dentistry and the Law.” Over 30 NMDA member dentists received instruction on the New Mexico legislative process, pending bills pertaining to dentistry and grassroots training. Members then visited to the Roundhouse where policy makers introduced them to Lt. Governor Diane Denish and the New Mexico State Senate. The dentists also visited their respective members and inquired about the status of bills pertaining to NMDA. The organization’s “Brighter Smiles for New Mexico” public education campaign has bills pending on the following dental health issues:  The importance of children visiting the dentist prior to starting school;  Expanding dental educational opportunities for New Mexicans to improve access to care;  Removal of the state’s gross receipt tax (GRT) for dental and medical services;  Simplifying dental insurance benefits for all New Mexicans; and  Investing in Medicaid dental benefit rates for patients. Three out of four dentists in New Mexico belong to the NMDA, a comprehensive voice of dental care and the premiere dental association in the state.

February 9, 2009--Daily Lobo, Albuquerque, NM--Tricia Remark--For 20 children from local elementary schools, a healthy smile is no longer out of reach. Dr. Charles Tatlock, dentist and associate professor at UNM, hosted Give Kids a Smile day on Friday at a dental clinic in the Northeast Heights. The annual event provides free dental care to 20 children between 5 and 14 who have severe dental problems. Tatlock and several resident dentistry students perform X-rays, teeth cleanings, cavity fillings, caps and other work that may need to be done. Maria Pineiro, a fourth grader from Cochiti Elementary, came to Tatlock's office for the first time Friday. Although she was scared, Pineiro said she would feel better at school and be happier after the visit. But she wasn't excited about a day off from class. Pineiro wanted to get back to school. "I want to learn more," she said. "When I grow up, I want to be a doctor." Tatlock said Cochiti Elementary's school nurse picked the children with help from UNM nursing students. To be selected, students had to have obvious dental problems and no insurance coverage. Tatlock said all of the treatment is paid for by a grant from the Department of Health and the American Dental Association. "Based on previous years, (the Department of Health) has provided $15 (thousand) to $20 thousand of free care to these kids, because many of them come with such high needs," he said. Nancy Benton, school nurse at Cochiti Elementary, said the free yearly clinics will help children like Pineiro achieve their dreams and career goals. "Socially, if you have (bad) teeth, you won't get a job," Benton said. Give Kids a Smile day started six years ago, and Benton has helped to select children for it since then. Benton said she works with other school nurses from Garfield, Valley, Griegos, La Luz and Duranes elementary schools to find kids for the program. Some of the students have been going to the event for years, she said. "(This program) is amazing," she said. "The kids are much more confident. It makes a big difference in their lives." Give Kids a Smile day is part of the Brighter Smiles for New Mexico initiative, which encourages dentists all over the country to host free clinics like Tatlock's. UNM students from the pre-dental society came to observe the clinic. The seven UNM resident dentists who do the free dental work have completed dental school. Their year of residency helps them gain experience and become more specialized, Tatlock said. He said the dental care provided Friday may not be the only time these students get to visit the dental clinic for free. Children who need it also receive follow-up appointments. "Intercepting dental disease in children has really big dividends down the line for them," Tatlock said.

February 2, 2009--The Deming Headlight, Deming, NM--Kevin Buey--Charlie Wildcat was on hand to help youngsters from thinking about sitting in a dentist's chair. Sixty-seven students, from Columbus, Bell, Bataan, Torres and Chaparral elementary schools, had free dental checkups Friday at Divine Smiles Dentistry, the office of Dr. Richard Argant, located at 100 E. Pine St. The students are in Deming Schools' Migrants program. For some, it was their first dental appointment. Helping Charlie occupy the children were students from Deming High School's Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, who were painting faces and coloring with the elementary school youngsters, some as young as 5-years-old. The New Mexico Dental Association promoted the statewide Give Kids a Smile Day. Dr. Argant and his staff donated their time to participate, with supplies donated by Henry Sullivan and Schein, a dental supply company. "We purchase a lot of supplies from them," said Sandra Esparza, Argant's bookkeeper, who said the doctor and his staff "wanted to raise the community's awareness of this program, so we are able to make this a more prosperous program next year." Youngsters sitting in Argant's lobby played charades and other games, bounced a balloon from one to the other and used crayons to color pages from coloring books as they waited to see the dentist.

February 9, 2009--The Taos News--Rick Romancito--There were miles of smiles Friday (Feb. 6) at the Northern New Mexico Center for Cosmetic Dentistry run by Dr. Kellie Harris as area school children took advantage of free dental exams and check-ups as part of the annual “Give Kids a Smile Day” event. And The Taos News Media Center video camera was there. Harris, along with dozens of volunteers and staff, welcomed kids into their chairs for free preventative procedures that included sealants, x-rays, exams and cleanings. This was the seventh year the center has participated in the national event. About 100 children were expected to take part that day. “Every dentist chooses to do whatever they can for the community and, I don’t know, it’s just a wonderful thing,” Harris said in the video. The Taos High School Interact Club, which is an offshoot of the local Rotary Club, also was on-hand to help dentists and hygenists work with the young clients. Harris noted that “in these economic times ... This year, it’s just nice, because so many people are hurting and we don’t want our children to go without dental care. There’s just no reason in today’s world for our kids to go without.”

February 7, 2009--Las Cruces Sun News and Farmington Daily News--G. Jeff Golden--9-year-old Aisha Sanchez, of Aztec, was wearing a child-sized cardboard tooth with black and yellow plush bees sticking to it Friday during an educational portion of "Give Kids a Smile Day" at San Juan College. Other children brushed off the bugs, which represented sugar, with a two-foot toothbrush. The activity taught children the proper brushing technique, with emphasis on scrubbing both the fronts and backs of their teeth. Educating children about dental health only was a prelude to the main event. Local dentists and San Juan College dental hygiene students pro-vided 50 children, ages 5 to 12, with free dental care. Jessica Garza, Aisha's mother, couldn't remember receiving such in-depth hygiene instruction when she was younger. Aisha had visited a dentist before, but never for free. "This is pretty neat," Garza said, while watching her daughter in the sugar bug-infested tooth. The number of volunteers that turned out for the event matched the number of patients seen. Staff from 10 local dentist's offices and 24 college dental hygiene students donated their time to assist the economically disadvantaged children. For the most part, the youngsters didn't know what kind of work they'd need done until they were sitting in a dentist's chair. The volunteers took X-ray photographs and performed initial inspections to determine what to do with each child. "We'll be doing fillings, extractions, crowns, whatever they need done," said Dr. Gene Hilton, of Desert Hills Dental Group. "And almost all of them get a cleaning and fluoride treatment." A pair of local orthodontists also is providing two chosen children with a free pair of braces, and covering all the expenses of follow-up appointments. The children aren't the only ones who benefited from the event. It was a fun networking opportunity for the county dentists, Hilton said, and the college students get unique hands-on experience. The students usually work with one or two patients a day, but they served a full and frenzied office Friday. The volunteers worked straight from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., stopping only for a brief lunch provided by Subway. "This is like the only time for me that I get to work with kids, so this is a fun day out of the year," said Brittany Thatcher, a second-year dental hygiene student. Give Kids A Smile Day is a national event started by the American Dental Association in 2003. The local Northwest Dental District Society and the San Juan College Dental Hygiene program have participated since the program's inception. The San Juan United Way assisted with scheduling. In previous years, local volunteers have completed more than $50,000 worth of dental work in a single day. The outpouring of support makes the local event one of the most successful in New Mexico every year. "Everyone knows how expensive dental work is, so whenever you give back to the community, provide them with a service, especially for little kids, it's really important," said first-year dental hygiene student Jennifer Kirks.

February 2, 2006--The Deming Headlight, Deming, NM--Today, children from around the state will receive free dental screenings and learn the importance of oral health care. The New Mexico Dental Association will promote the importance of oral health care during Give Kids a Smile Day from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at events and exams scheduled across New Mexico. In Deming, Dr. Richard Argant and his team will be administering free dental services for kids in the area. A total of 57 children have registered to receive the complimentary services. Dr. Argant and his staff have teamed up with the Deming Public School Migrant Program to identify kids and also with Deming High School to provide transportation to the event. Those being seen will receive free oral hygiene products and education, preventative care, sealants and other services as time permits. Dozens of NMDA dentists around the state have organized a variety of activities, presentations and extended office hours for this year's national Give Kids a Smile Day. Give Kids a Smile Day was first held in 2003 by the American Dental Association and designed to provide children with free dental education and preventative care for tooth decay and other disorders. Several dental offices, like in Deming, have partnered with local schools to provide transportation, and many will be giving away free toothbrushes, toothpaste and other oral health care tools to the kids they will see throughout the day. "The New Mexico Dental Association is proud to support Give Kids a Smile Day and pleased that so many of our members are donating their time and talents to help kids in need," said Mark Moores, NMDA executive director. "But a one-day volunteer event isn't a cure all. Our state needs to do more. That is why dental visits for all children are a component of our overall Brighter Smiles for New Mexico legislative campaign this year." February is also Children's Dental Health Month. The NMDA is currently working with state lawmakers to raise awareness and suggest solutions to improve access to oral health care. To learn more, visit www.nmdental.org.

February 5, 2009--The Daily Times, Farmington, NM--G. Jeff Gordon--A trip to the dentist's office might actually become an experience some Four Corners children look forward to, if only for a day. The Northwest Dental District Society and the San Juan College Dental Hygiene program are teaming up Friday for another round of the annual "Give Kids A Smile Day." Local dentists and dental hygiene students will perform cleanings, fillings, X-rays, fluoride treatments, sealants, crowns and extractions for economically disadvantaged children between the ages of 5 and 12. The work will be done for free from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the San Juan College campus. The event is not exclusive to Farmington residents; the dentists will see children from Aztec, Kirtland and Bloomfield as well. Give Kids A Smile Day is a national event started by the American Dental Association in 2003. Local dentists have participated since the program's inception. Dr. Gene Hilton, of Desert Hills Dental, is the event chairman. He said the local dental society targets children with obvious dental and financial needs. Organizers anticipate being able to serve about 50 children Friday. Potential patients must schedule an appointment. Walk-ins will not be accepted. Give Kids A Smile Day encompasses the entire community. School nurses and employees at the Farmington Boys and Girls Club are referring children to the program. The United Way is assisting with scheduling, Subway is providing free lunch for the volunteers and about 10 local dentists are donating their time, Hilton said. United Way spokeswoman Linda Mickey said about 20 appointment slots still are available. In previous years, county dentists have completed more than $50,000 worth of dental work in one day. The local outpouring of support makes the San Juan County event one of the most successful in New Mexico every year. "It's one of the largest in the state. The dentists there are very, very active," said AJ Carian, a public relations agent who works with the New Mexico Dental Association. In addition to providing dental care, Give Kids A Smile Day also educates the children about hygiene and instills lifelong habits. It also provides handson education for the San Juan College students. "That's an important part of Give Kids A Smile Day," Carian said. GET FREE CARE To schedule an appointment for your child, contact the San Juan County United Way at (505) 326-1195.

February 4, 2009--Las Cruces Sun-News--The New Mexico Dental Association's (NMDA) community of member dentists will promote the importance of oral health care during Give Kids a Smile Day Friday at events and exams scheduled across New Mexico. Pediatric dentist Dr. Joy Trigo is coordinating much of the activities for the NMDA Southwest District Dental Society, which includes Las Cruces and Anthony. Participating dentists here, however, won't limit their donated dental services to Give Kids a Smile Day. They hope to reach over 3,500 kids throughout the month of February in support of Children's Dental Health Month. More than 20 dentists in the Las Cruces and Anthony area will be conducting free screenings and dental care presentations to first graders at local elementary schools over the next few weeks. Dozens of NMDA dentists from around the state have organized a variety of activities, presentations and extended office hours for this year's national Give Kids a Smile Day. Give Kids a Smile Day was first held in 2003 by the American Dental Association and designed to provide children with free dental education and preventative care for tooth decay and other disorders. Many dentists will be giving away free toothbrushes, toothpaste and other oral health care products to the kids they will see throughout the day. "The New Mexico Dental Association is proud to support Give Kids a Smile Day, and pleased that so many of our members are donating their time and talents to help kids in need," said Mark Moores, NMDA executive director. "But a one-day volunteer event isn't a cure all. Our state needs to do more. That is why dental visits for all children are a component of our overall Brighter Smiles for New Mexico legislative campaign this year." The NMDA is currently working with state lawmakers to raise awareness and suggest solutions to improve access to oral health.

CHICAGO, Jan. 28, 2009 – The ADA Foundation (ADAF) is accepting applications for its Hillenbrand Fellowship Program that provides an award to one dentist, helping prepare the person to assume a management and leadership role at a health-related organization. The foundation’s 12-month Hillenbrand Fellowship carries a $75,000 stipend to help cover living expenses in Chicago and will run from September 2009 through August 2010 at ADA’s Chicago headquarters. Hillenbrand Fellowship offered every other year The goal of the fellowship is to provide experiential learning for a dentist that has demonstrated strong leadership potential and desires to make a career transition from dental practice into management and leadership in organized dentistry, a health-related organization, education, the dental industry or research. The ADAF offers the fellowship every other year and includes an intensive orientation to all ADA agencies and departments; an orientation to other oral health organizations and federal and state government agencies; academic courses through the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University; and the completion of a project of interest to both the fellow and the ADA. Applications must be submitted by February 28, 2009 For consideration as a candidate, dentists must submit a completed Hillenbrand Fellowship application to the ADA Foundation by February 28, 2009. Hillenbrand Fellowship candidates are required to: be a member in good standing of the American Dental Association; be a graduate of a dental school accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation; have held the degree D.D.S or D.M.D. for at least five years at the beginning of the Fellowship; be prepared to work from the Chicago office on a daily basis for the duration of the Fellowship and travel within the United States as required by the program. Evaluation Criteria Fellowship applicants will be evaluated on criteria including: demonstration of strong leadership potential; desire and commitment to serve the profession or public in a leadership role; desire to have management and leadership in a health-related organization as a career goal; demonstrated enthusiasm for dentistry as a profession; demonstrated appreciation for the role that health-related organizations play in the advancement of the health of the public and the vitality of the profession; understanding of current oral health care problems, issues and concerns; written and interpersonal communication skills. For more about the program and application materials, visit http://www.ada.org/ada/adaf/grants/index.asp#hillenbrand . To ask questions about the Hillenbrand Fellowship, contact Ms. Jane Jasek at jasekj@ada.org or 312-440-4639.

The commission currently publishes, in its accredited lists of programs, the year of the next site visit for each program it accredits. In addition, the Commission posts its spring and fall announcements on the Accreditation Announcements area of ada.org for those programs being site visited January through June or July through December. Developing programs submitting applications for initial accreditation may be scheduled for site visits after the posting on ada.org; thus, the specific dates of these site visits will not be available for publication. These programs will be listed in the Accreditation Announcements with a special notation that the developing programs have submitted applications for initial accreditation and may or may not be scheduled for site visits. Parties interested in these specific dates (should they be established) are welcomed/encouraged to contact the Commission office. The United States Department of Education (USDE) procedures now also require accrediting agencies to provide an opportunity for third-party comment, either in writing or at a public hearing (at the accrediting agencies’ discretion) with respect to institutions or programs scheduled for review. All comments must relate to accreditation standards for the discipline and required accreditation policies. In order to comply with the department’s requirement on the use of third-party comment regarding program’s qualifications for accreditation or pre-accreditation, the following procedures have been developed. WHO CAN SUBMIT COMMENTS: Third-party comments relative to the Commission’s accredited programs may include comments submitted by interested parties such as faculty, students, program administrators, Commission consultants, specialty and dental-related organizations, patients, and/or consumers. HOW COMMENTS CAN BE SOLICITED: The Commission will request written comments from interested parties in the spring and fall Accreditation Announcements on ada.org. In fairness to the accredited programs, all comments relative to programs being visited will be due in the Commission office no later than 60 days prior to each program’s site visit to allow time for the program to respond. Therefore, programs being site-visited in January through June will be listed in the fall posting of the previous year and programs scheduled for a site visit from July through December will be listed in the spring posting of the current year. Any unresolved issues related to the program’s compliance with the accreditation standards will be reviewed by the site visit team while on-site. These programs scheduled for review are responsible for soliciting third-party comments from students and patients by publishing an announcement at least 90 days prior to their site visit. The notice should indicate the deadline of 60 days for standards for the particular program or policies and procedures used in the Commission’s accreditation process. The announcement may include language to indicate that a copy of the appropriate accreditation standards and/or the Commission’s policy on third-party comments may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, or by calling 1/800-621-8099, extension 4653. TYPES OF COMMENTS CONSIDERED: All comments submitted must pertain only to the standards relative to the particular program being reviewed or policies and procedures used in the accreditation process. Comments will be screened by Commission staff for relevancy. For comments not relevant to these issues, the individual will be notified that the comment is not related to accreditation and, where appropriate, referred to the appropriate agency. For those individuals who are interested in submitting comments, requests can be made to the Commission office for receiving standards and/or the Commission’s Evaluation Policies and Procedures (EPP). MANAGEMENT OF COMMENTS: All relevant comments will be referred to the program at least 50 days prior to the site visit for review and response. A written response from the program should be provided to the Commission office and the site visit team 15 days prior to the site visit. Adjustments may be necessary in the site visit schedule to allow discussion of comments with proper personnel. INSTITUTION: Dona Ana Community College PROGRAM(S) TO BE REVIEWED: Dental Hygiene SITE VISIT DATE: April 8-9, 2009

December 19, 2008--Albuquerque Journal--Letters to the Editor-- THE NEW MEXICO Dental Association (NMDA) would like to thank the Journal for focusing on oral health on the Health page. Both articles were very important — describing the link between oral and overall health and detailing the needless rise of tooth decay among preschoolers. The NMDA strongly supports educating New Mexicans of all ages about prevention and about dentistry as a whole. One article cited a recent study that provides evidence that tooth decay in primary (baby) teeth has increased among children age 2 to 5 years. The American Dental Association recommends that children see a dentist no later than their first birthday, yet only three out of five children have seen a dentist before kindergarten. As part of its current focus, the NMDA is championing legislation that would recommend visits to the dentist for every child before his or her first day of school. ... Other “Brighter Smiles for New Mexico” initiatives include: • A patient bill of rights that includes simplifying dental insurance benefits for all New Mexicans • An increase in dental Medicaid reimbursements and reduction in administrative barriers, better dental health care and increased access for all New Mexicans • Expanded funding for education programs to increase opportunities for students interested in dentistry, with the goal of having the graduates practice in New Mexico • Removal of the state's gross receipts tax on dental/medical services to increase access to affordable care. ... DALE GOAD, DDS President, N.M. Dental Association Albuquerque

December 17, 2008--Mark Moores, NMDA Executive Director-- Two years ago NMDA along with other health care groups promoted legislation to establish the Rural Health Care Practitioner Tax Credit. Dentists who provide care in rural, underserved areas may be eligible for an income tax credit of as much as $5,000 for their service during the 2008 calendar year. Hygienists are eligible for up to $3,000. Health care providers must apply each year and document their eligibility. Updated Program Overview and Program Application for the Rural Health Care Practitioner Tax Credit Program can be found on the NM Department of Health Website which is linked below. The Department of Health will begin accepting applications from eligible professionals for their service during the 2008 calendar year beginning January 1, 2009. Program materials can be accessed at the following locations: • Program Overview: http://tinyurl.com/5p4eql • Eligible Locations: http://tinyurl.com/3mbnpb • Program Application: http://tinyurl.com/6o583h • Please review to see if you are eligible and submit your application after the New Year.

November 10, 2008--Albuquerque, N.M.-- “BRIGHTER SMILES FOR NEW MEXICO” CAMPAIGN IS THE FOCUS OF ASSOCIATION’S NEW WEB SITE AND EFFORTS IN ITS 100TH YEAR-- The New Mexico Dental Association (NMDA) has redesigned its official Web site, www.nmdental.org, to better communicate its services and legislative efforts to both its members and the public. The impetus for revamping the NMDA Web site was to provide information on “Brighter Smiles for New Mexico,” the association’s current statewide initiative to improve dental care access. “New Mexico dentists are dedicated health care professionals who always try to be as accessible as possible,” said Mark Moores, executive director of NMDA. “This site will be a great new dental tool for our membership and the communities we serve.” The focus of the “Brighter Smiles for New Mexico” campaign is a five-point legislative package that the NMDA is urging the Legislature to consider in the 2009 sixty-day session that will help create successful dental health programs for all New Mexicans. The five-point legislative package includes the following: 1. Recommended visits to the dentist for every child before they start school to promote the importance of committing to proper dental health care at an early age. 2. A patient bill of rights that includes simplifying dental insurance benefits for all New Mexicans. 3. An increase in dental Medicaid reimbursements and reduction in administrative barriers, resulting in better dental health care and increased access to oral health care for the poor. 4. Expanded funding for dental education programs to increase educational opportunities for New Mexico students interested in dentistry with the goal of having the graduates practice in the state. 5. Removal of state’s gross receipts tax on dental/medical services to increase access to affordable dental/medical care and eliminate barriers to quality care for the underprivileged. Another useful new feature of www.nmdental.org is having links to a member dentist’s own practice or office Web site. The links are available when the public searches for a dentist with the “Find A Dentist” function located on the home page. Also, as most New Mexico dentists strive to “go green” in both their work and home lives, NMDA hopes the site will help to alleviate the need for as many paper mailings as an association with over 600 members may need to stay in touch. For 100 years, New Mexico dentists have joined together to network, discuss new procedures and practices, and to educate the public about the importance of dental health as part of the association. “Now more and more dentists are using the Internet to communicate with other dental professionals as well as with the families currently under their care,” said Dr. Robert Wartell of Santa Fe, chair of the NMDA’s Internet Committee, the site’s managing body. “www.nmdental.org will allow us to better reach each other, and our current or prospective patients.” About the New Mexico Dental Association Three out of four dentists in New Mexico belong to the NMDA, a comprehensive voice of dental health care in New Mexico and the premiere dental association in the state. Formed in 1908, four years before New Mexico’s official statehood, the NMDA is one of the oldest professional organizations in the southwest. The NMDA’s purpose is to promote oral and general health care in New Mexico, advance the art and science of dentistry, represent interests of members of the dental profession and foster an awareness of the obligation and responsibility of the dental profession to society. For more information, visit www.nmdental.org.

The New Mexico Dental Association (NMDA) would like to thank New Mexicans for saying yes to the Bond C question on Tuesday’s ballot. Bond C authorized the issuance of general obligation bonds for health care facility improvements throughout the state. Included in the bond was $7 million in funding to plan, design, construct, equip and furnish facilities for dental residency programs statewide. Currently, the University of New Mexico (UNM) Health Sciences Center Division of Dental Services offers a one year postdoctoral Advanced Education General Dentistry Residency opportunity. Students gain real-world clinical experience, oftentimes treating special needs populations or those with limited access to professional oral health care. The NMDA is committed to improving access to dental care for all New Mexicans as well as access to those New Mexicans choosing dentistry as a profession. In addition to the needed capital improvements to the facilities, this funding will literally lay the groundwork to parallel UNM’s BA/MD curriculum with a similar BA/DDS program for pre-dental college students to earn a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree. The NMDA supports efforts that aim to enhance dental education, increase student enrollment, and ultimately place more practicing dentists throughout the state. As a profession, dentistry has a long legacy in New Mexico. The NMDA is gearing up to celebrate its 100th Anniversary this year; however, some reports suggest our state still ranks relatively low in the number of per capita dentists. Investment in dental infrastructure and instruction is critical to creating and keeping new dentists, as well as growing existing practices and public health centers. Similarly, oral health is critical to the overall well-being of our communities. Thanks again to those voters who joined with their dentist in voting for Bond C during this important election. It was a vote for a healthy future and brighter smiles for New Mexico.

July 06, 2008--Albuquerque Journal--D'Val Westphal---It's not as universally painful as high prices at the pump. And it's not as high-profile as universal health care coverage. But the painfully high cost of dental care, and the even higher cost of not getting it, will be front and center during the next session of the New Mexico Legislature. At least, that's the plan of the New Mexico Dental Association. The group's “Five Points to a Brighter Smile” legislative package covers prevention, education, cost and patient rights. If you've got dental insurance or are blessed with healthy teeth and gums and think it doesn't affect you, think again. Because it takes dental care to promote dental health. Not all patients have a dentist in their area. Dental care is expensive. Not all caregivers are created equal under dental insurance policies. And dental problems can turn into medical emergencies, run up life-changing debt and have a negative effect on everything from an individual's productivity to a hospital's bottom line. The association's package starts by tackling dental care early. It proposes legislation that ensures every child visits a dentist before they start school to ward off problems early and start a practice of good oral hygiene. The plan does include an opt-out provision for parents who can't/don't want to take their kid to the dentist. Step two aims to get more dentists and dental hygienists practicing in New Mexico, especially in underserved, rural areas. It would increase educational grants, encourage dental schools to recruit students from rural New Mexico, could require more recipients to practice in rural areas and provide incentives to do so and would encourage dentists to fully utilize hygienists in their practices. Dr. Thomas Schripsema says the state needs “more incentives to bring people in and stay.” Those could include state or community partnerships that help dentists set up shop or defray equipment costs and loan forgiveness for buying or establishing a practice. Step three would remove the state's gross-receipts tax on dental and medical care to help bring the cost to patients down. Mark Moores, the association's executive director, says surrounding states don't charge sales tax on those services and HMOs here are already exempted. Schripsema says the removal could be phased in to mitigate the $14.7 million impact on the state's general fund. Step four would establish a patients' bill of rights simplifying dental insurance benefits for all New Mexicans by dropping the tiered approach that restricts which providers patients can see. It would allow patients to see the dentist of their choosing, require provider networks to include dentists near the insured, provide the full, allowable benefit no matter which dentist a patient chooses, and clearly explain what's not covered. Step five would increase the Medicaid reimbursement for preventive dental care so treatment is given before small problems become major health and financial crises. The NMDA will be on a road show of sorts in the coming months, promoting the importance of dental care and the legislative agenda. Both Moores and Schripsema agree the effects of little or no dental care can be seen every day. A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control says tooth decay in baby teeth is up among children under age 5. Untreated oral disease complicates medical conditions like heart disease and diabetes, not to mention endangering proper nutrition. And many New Mexicans go without or practice “dental tourism,” heading south of the border where prices are lower. I've known several people that have had work done in Juarez simply because they couldn't afford it here. One practice distributes a flier with the distance from Texas and New Mexico cities to its office, and says vans will pick patients up at the El Paso airport, take them to their hotels and then ferry them across the international bridge. It lists services complete with what it would cost in the United States vs. in Juarez, with a set of porcelain dentures running $1,600 to $1,800 here vs. $399.50 there. You can see why what for some would be a choice of where to have dental work done could for others be the ability to finally have it done because they can actually afford it. But Moore cautions that getting care where the educational standards and licensing are different, there's no malpractice insurance and little to no recourse if something goes wrong mean buyers have to beware. One man I know had a terrible experience, with an infection that ended up spreading and eating away his upper palate. But a woman I know had a great experience, with 24 porcelain crowns that would have run $25,000 in the United States put in for just $5,250. Now granted, the door to the office she went to was unlocked when she showed up and remained locked the entire time she was there. Patients were told this has been done since a band of thieves targeted the office and robbed patients from across the border. Schripsema says in his 25 years of dentistry he's seen too many “moderate problems go catastrophic” because of substandard, out-of-the-country care and he worries patients “are not going to get the kind of care they need.” Ensuring they do requires a hard look at availability and affordability. The association's '09 legislative proposals won't bring dental care to every New Mexican. But they promise to put it in closer reach of many.

More patients may be at risk of oral cancer than previously believed, warn Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. The three companies are collaborating on an Oral Cancer Awareness Week campaign. Recent research has highlighted concerns about the disease. A study published last year in the New England Journal of Medicine found a link between oral cancer and human papiloma virus (HPV) , which can be sexually transmitted. "The fact that we are seeing more cases of oral cancer in women and younger people who do not smoke or drink, [means] it’s crucial for patients to ask their dentist for an oral cancer exam during regular check-ups," said Jed Jacobson, D.D.S., M.S., M.P.H., senior vice president and chief science officer at Delta Dental in the press release." Copyright © 2008 DrBicuspid.com

January 2, 2008--Albuquerque Journal--Editorial--With no dental school of its own, New Mexico has come up with a creative way of fighting tooth decay: regular visits to out-of-state dental schools. Each year, 40 New Mexico students receive state stipends of $21,000 to attend dental school in Colorado, Oregon and other states. This is far more economical than building and staffing a school here, and it has provided a steady source of dentists. But New Mexico’s population is booming and recently topped 2 million. From a dentist’s point of view, that’s roughly 64 million teeth—quite a mouthful for the state’s short-staffed dental offices. To increase the supply, the New Mexico Dental Association is proposing several remedies to the Legislature. First, the association would like to increase the number of stipends by 20, to allow 60 dental students to attend school each year. That makes sense, as does an association proposal to create a loan program that would help dentists establish practices in underserved rural areas. A portion of the loan would be canceled each year the dentist maintained the rural practice. The Legislature probably will have more trouble with a third proposal, which would eliminate the gross receipts tax. Neighboring states don’t tax dental care, the association points out—but New Mexico’s state and local governments would lose $14.7 million in revenue if the tax were suspended. While number three is doubtful, the association’s loan and stipend proposals merit serious legislative consideration.

December 28, 2007--New Mexico Business Weekly--- The New Mexico Dental Association will be launching a dental health care public education campaign in 2008 with an accompanying legislative package it said is designed to improve dental health care in the state. The NMDA said in a news release the "Brighter Smiles for New Mexico" campaign will educate citizens and elected officials about the importance of preventive dental health care and promote access to quality oral health care for all New Mexicans. The campaign's accompanying legislative package will feature five legislative pieces: n Legislation to ensure every child visits a dentist before they start school -- to promote the importance of dental health care; n Promoting dental education and greater access by supporting increased dental educational opportunities through expanded funding; n Removal of the state's gross receipts tax on dental/medical services, which the NMDA says will increase access to affordable dental/medical care and eliminate barriers to quality care for the underprivileged; n A patient bill of rights that includes simplifying dental insurance benefits; and n Investing in Medicaid dental benefit rates for patients to prevent disease, avoid costly and expensive future treatment and encourage improved access to full dental care. The campaign will include statewide speaking tours conducted by the Brighter Smiles for New Mexico dental health committee, a new Web site and legislative functions such as the national "Give Kids a Smile Day" event.

December 1, 2007--Albuquerque Journal--Olivier Uyttebrouck--- More financial aid for New Mexico students attending out-of-state dental schools and loans to help set up rural clinics are among the goals of the New Mexico Dental Association. The association will also ask lawmakers to eliminate a 7 percent grossreceipts tax on dental services, executive director Mark Moores said. "New Mexicans' health care dollar is reduced by 7 percent," Moores said of the tax. He and others held a news conference Friday to discuss the group's agenda for the upcoming legislative session. The tax generates about $14.7 million a year in state and local revenue, the group estimates. Other states in the region do not tax dental services, Moores said. The association plans to ask legislators to provide annual stipends for an additional 20 students attending out-of-state dental schools. New Mexico now provides annual stipends of $21,000 each for 40 students attending dental schools in Colorado, Oregon and elsewhere. The state pays the stipends directly to schools, allowing New Mexico students to pay in-state tuition rates at those schools. There are no dental schools in New Mexico. The association also plans to urge lawmakers to create a loan program that would help dentists establish practices in rural areas. A portion of the loan would be canceled each year the dentist continues practice in the area. Such measures are required to encourage dentists to practice in New Mexico's rural areas, said Albuquerque dentist Dr. Thomas Schripsema. The dentists are often compelled to practice in urban areas because they must pay off school loans of $200,000 or more, he said. "The debt that students come out with is a real disincentive to set up practice in rural areas," Schripsema said. He had no estimate on how much money the group will seek to create the loan program.

A growing number of UK, American, and Japanese citizens are including expensive dental procedures in their vacation plans this year. According to Ireland-based RevaHealth.com, a medical tourism search site, nearly a million consumers go abroad every year to have their teeth treated. According to Reva, consumers save as much as 63 percent on dental procedures performed in Mexico, Hungary, Thailand, and other countries with much lower costs of living and favorable exchange rates. Dental tourism is part of the larger medical tourism trend that is sweeping developed nations as medical costs continue to skyrocket and waiting lists get longer and longer. From hip replacements and bypass surgeries to breast implants and tooth implants, hospitals in Thailand, India, Mexico, and the former Eastern Bloc offer cheaper, timely, and according to advocates, high-quality medical care. Patients who are willing to travel halfway around the world for an exotic vacation-cum-medical procedure can potentially save a bundle. According to Reva, medical tourism is a $20 billion industry and growing steadily, with 500,000 Americans alone last year seeking medical treatment outside the U.S. Although there are no hard numbers, dental tourism seems to be going along for the ride. According to Reva, over 40,000 Americans went to Mexico for dental treatment last year, saving an estimated 75 percent compared to typical fees in the U.S.. "U.S. dental fees are getting higher and higher and that's why dental tourism has grown in the past three or four years," says Helga Vanhorn, who runs a medical tourism service in Nevada with her husband. Most of her clients have little or no insurance, and with a $1000 crown costing only $300 in Hungary, the lure is tempting. How much can patients save? Reva's site sports a "Dental saving calculator." Simply check the procedures you want (such as implants, whitening, dentures), click a button, and the calculator shows you how much you'd spend in the U.S.--and how much you'd supposedly save going to Costa Rica, Mexico, and other countries. Is dental tourism taking a big chunk out of American dentists' bottom line? "There's no indication of that whatsoever," says Dr. Edmond Hewlett, Consumer Advisor for the ADA, but he admits that dental tourism is seemingly on the rise. What about patient safety? Again, there are no hard numbers, but the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry expressed doubts about overseas dental care in a November 2006 press release. "Dentists...are seeing a surge in cases of botched treatment: patients coming back to the UK with badly fitted crowns and mismatched veneers, and worst of all, nerves removed for no apparent reason," says the release. Gayle Mathe, Manager of Policy Development at the California Dental Association, considers the lack of follow-up care to be a key disadvantage of dental tourism. As the ADA's Hewlett points out, dental tourists are often seeking complex work. Patients should confirm the credentials of any overseas dentist before taking the trip, and carefully evaluate the host country's safety/hygiene regulations and legal safeguards. Copyright © 2008 DrBicuspid.com