President’s Letter

By:  Dr. Madison Mack

Springtime is a season of new beginnings and refocus, but as we set our goals for the rest of the year, we find ourselves in a dilemma of time. The year 2024 will provide us with 52 weeks, 365 days, 8,760 hours, or 526,600 minutes to use as we see fit. Time is our most valuable currency. We have the same number of hours per week, and how we choose to use that time reflects what is important to us. So what is important to you?

Outside of work we have priorities and obligations in our lives, and finding a work life balance can be challenging. None of us are able to control time; however, we are able to control how we spend our time. In other words, if life is a balancing act, what is worthy of your “YES”, and what deserves a “NO”? You will make time for the things you deem worthy.

I came across this quote by Margaret J. Wheatley recently, “There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.” This resonated with me in many aspects of my life and sent me down a path of contemplation. I began to question “what do I care about?” and “how do I choose to spend my time?” I took pen to paper, and these were a few items that were at the top of my list:

• I want to empower myself and others around me to live a healthy and balanced lifestyle
• I want to prioritize quality time with my family
• I want to further my skills as a dentist to provide my patients with the best care possible
• I want to better myself as a community leader and practice owner

… so how do I achieve these things?

In our office the first thing you see when you walk through the staff door is our office motto. The sign reads, “We are not in the teeth business fixing people, we are in the people business fixing teeth.”

What does that mean?

Throughout the work day we all see numerous patients, and if we are not careful, the person we are treating can simply become a name on the schedule or an exam to check off. However, WE are the only dentist they will be seeing that day. Each time I walk into an exam room, I try to remind myself that the person in the chair is the most important thing to me at that time. Yes, they have teeth, and that is why they are seeking our expertise, but the teeth are just a part of the person and their story. Patients want to be listened to and heard! Let’s remember to be present. Patients truly do not know if you are a good dentist- it’s hard for them to adequately evaluate your dentistry. So how do they judge their experience?

• Did they like you, your office staff, and the environment?
• Did they feel heard and understood?
• Did it hurt?
• Do they like the way it looks?
• Was it as efficient as possible?

When we remember to treat the person and not just their teeth, the outcome is always most favorable.

When it comes to bettering oneself as a dentist, provider, business owner, and leader, I believe the key is to surround yourself with people you admire in hopes of becoming more like them. When I was originally asked to be a part of the ETDS board, I will be honest, I was a little overwhelmed. What did I have to offer this group of amazing leaders/dentists/specialists, and how could I make an impact on my community by saying YES? I decided that to be more like those I looked up to, I needed to surround myself with leaders like them! To make an impact on my community, I wanted to bring CE to our area that interested you, challenged you, and changed you. I would consider myself a bit of a CE junkie, but there is a big difference between attending CE and being engaged in CE. As a board, we have collaborated to bring new topics and concepts to improve our skills, knowledge, and hopefully entice our membership to participate in as many meetings in person as possible. If you VALUE what we are providing, then you will PRIORITIZE being a part of our community of learners.

Meetings have hopefully provided you with more than just learning about dentistry. I know that after our recent lecture with Dr.Uche, I changed the way that I think about many aspects of my patients’ health, as well as my own. Small changes that I have made in my life can potentially inspire those around me to implement the same changes.

I hope that ETDS has also given you a chance to get to know those in your community through fun socials, such as the Christmas party. My ultimate goal is that together, as a dental community, we can improve the community around us and serve as many people as possible. We are all so blessed, and I am a firm believer in giving back to bless others. Life sometimes gives us opportunities to volunteer and serve….SAY YES! You will not regret it.

As you contemplate how to spend your precious time, I encourage you to spend some of that time with us! As your president, I challenge you to be a part of discovering what WE care about as a community together. Get involved, come to our quarterly ETDS meetings, and stay plugged in. Find a mentor or be a mentor. Most importantly- LET’S ROOT FOR EACH OTHER!!

Expanding Availability of Health Insurance Options Through MEWAs

By: Dr. Mark Camp

In 2023, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 290, amending the Insurance Code to expand access to Multiple Employer Welfare Agreements (MEWA). This means that TDA, through TDA Perks, will be able to offer additional healthcare insurance options to members. While TDA Perks has been providing individual and group health insurance for over 20 Years, MEWAs offer a new option for members. Whether it’s for yourself, your family, or your practice, MEWAs provide an additional layer of flexibility and choice.

Currently, the Texas Department of Insurance is developing the required MEWA rules. TDA’s Perks staff and advocacy team are actively involved to ensure smooth and efficient rule development. TDA Perks will update everyone once more news is available. The passage of HB 290 presents an exciting opportunity for TDA Perks to add a valuable choice to its existing healthcare options for TDA members, their families, and staff.

Regenerative Bone Grafting Mini Series

Dr. Kayleigh Temple & Dr. Aly Kennedy

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