Hello Dentist Colleagues,             

The crazy weather changes of March are settling down. Hope all is well with everyone. I will focus on the fun Bowling Night, the generous efforts at the FDA Mission of Mercy, April's meeting with Dr. Wilkerson, and finally our End-of-Year Party in May.

                Our Annual Bowling Event at Maple Lanes was another spirited success! Teams from many offices cajoled and reunited friendships in between bowling shots ( click here to view photos). This was a gre

Coastal Jaw Knockouts!

at opportunity for specialist and general dentist offices to interact in a relaxed, non-rushed atmosphere of sport. Most lunches between specialists and general dentists average only an hour. Bowling offered a wonderful opportunity for doctors and team members, as well as family

	The Great Brittens!

members, to see each other and build friendships. I want, first, to apologize to all our Orthodontists who could not attend because of an important Orthodontic Conference. We will work harder next year to schedule a different night so all of you can attend. Now, I want to thank doctors and team members, as well as significant others, from Drs. Menendez, Bindeman, Jackson, Britten, Doerner, Forbes, Kostakis, as well as Coastal Jaw Surgery and Endodontic Associates. We all had fun seeing each other, the competitions were exciting, and the service was commendable. Here's to next year knocking down more pins!

                On March 9 and 10, hundreds of Florida dentists and affiliate staff members drove to the Lee Civic Center in Fort Myers to volunteer for Florida Mission of Mercy. The patients sat outside the Civic Center for many hours in sub

-50 degree cold in order to be in line for the free dental procedures. Thanks go out to Oscar Menendez, Michael Pikos, Pat Lepeak, Bob Churney and others for organizing the volunteer effort. Personally, I saw Drs. Bindeman, Kontos, Lieberman, Pitts, Kochenour, Wunderlich, Pamela and Michael Adams, but I am sure there were others volunteering, click here to view pictures. Estimates for the amount of free dentistry delivered reached $1.5 million! All of us of the UPCDA are proud of our doctors and staff who sacrificed valuable time to give to a great philanthropic cause! In addition, I want to thank doctors who donated money and supplies, because we expended a lot of restorative, surgery, endo, pedo, dental hygiene and diagnostic supplies to get the job done. Bravo to all! Next year's FDA Mission of Mercy is March 111 in Orlando. I challenge UPCDA to send a larger roster to serve the needy in Orlando!

                On April 18 at Bon Appetit Restaurant, Dr. DeWitt Wilkerson will speak on Integrative Dental Medicine Dentistry's Next Frontier. He has researched and treated sleep apnea and general health issues extensively in recent years, and he presents fascinating material. The UPCDA encourages our dentists to register dental hygienists, as they will learn information to open new areas of dental health treatment. Dr. Wilkerson is a major component of the Dawson Academy in St. Petersburg. Come on out and learn what is becoming a critical health issue, one that dental teams can play a role in managing.

                Finally, on May 11, mark your calendars for a special UPCDA End-of-Year Party. I'm not telling what the surprise is, just DON'T MISS IT!