Welcome back everyone! It's been a surreal summer, and I hope you and your families are safe and healthy. Although this year is going to look different, your board has been hard at work for you. We are delighted to announce a new and exciting initiative by collaborating with both Upper Pinellas and Hillsborough County Dental Associations! In order to best serve the needs of our members, we have developed an Affiliate Collaboration Virtual Seminar Series. The new initiative is allowing all members of the three affiliate dental associations to access virtual CE of all three affiliates. That's triple the amount of CE for the price of one! We are going to do our best to host safe and socially distanced CE in person, but for those of you who do not feel comfortable attending a meeting or your schedule doesn't allow for it, you will have access to all 15 meetings virtually. Sometimes you've got to make lemonade out of lemons! We are hoping that this initiative is a huge success and that we can continue this collaboration in the coming years.

This year, the PCDA has implemented an easy, secure, online payment portal for members to conveniently pay their annual membership dues! If you haven't already done so, please pay your annual dues by clicking here. We appreciate and value your membership!

Unfortunately, our Presidential Party planned for September has been postponed. As we navigate through the pandemic, we are hopeful to plan a big bash when we can guarantee everyone's safety! I would like to take the opportunity to introduce your 2020-2021 board members. Your newest board member, Ronak Shukla, DMD, Council Chair at-Large!

I am honored to be your president for this year! I am at your service and available to you to keep the organization running strong. Please reach out to me with concerns or suggestions to serve you the best way possible.

Whether it's via Zoom or in-person, we are very excited to see you at our meetings.

Stay safe and be well.

PCDA President    

The Pinellas, Upper Pinellas and Hillsborough County Dental Associations teamed up to provide additional added value and benefit to your membership! This year, due to ever-changing circumstances, each one of our affiliates will live-stream their lectures in addition to the regularly scheduled in-person general membership meeting. Members in all three affiliates will have access to 15 virtual CE webinars! Pre-registration is required prior to each virtual meeting.

Post webinar, a CEU Certificate will be emailed to you by your affiliate and the WCDDA will upload the course attendance into CE Broker for you.

Patrick Jacobwith, JD is the CEO of Sunset Technologies, a multi-state organization based in Minnesota. He has 25 years of experience in healthcare to share, as well as a licensed attorney and a Certified HIPAA Professional. He

believes in excellent service and building healthy and productive relationships.

Topic & Speaker: HIPAA Update, Patrick Jacobwith, JD

Program Description: In this presentation, we will identify and discuss how HIPAA has and is currently changing the regulatory landscape. We will examine and evaluate the four parts necessary to protect your client’s Personal Health Information. We will review and compose a list of the common vulnerabilities and non-compliance and how your practice can anticipate these concerns. In conclusion, we will provide practical and applicable steps to integrate into your practice to protect yourself.

When: Wednesday, October 7th, 6:00pm Social – 7:00pm Business & Lecture

Where: The Club at TI, 4000 Treasure Island Causeway

Final RSVP needs to be received by October 5, 2020. RSVP your attendance and any dietary restrictions you may have to smilepinellas@gmail.com. Team members are invited to attend for a fee of $45 to cover the cost of dinner (in-person only). Be sure to include their name when RSVPing. You may pay for their dinner here.

Message from the Club at TI: The Club requires masks while in the building until seated and in addition in the restrooms etc. We have certification from Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association in sterilization and sanitations. We do not have exposed silverware or traditional set ups like we used to. Our club is cleaned top to bottom everyday.

Whether it is political debates, riots, or mask mandates, it is difficult to deny there is a looming negative energy in the air. Depression, isolation, and segregation are all themes of the current state of the world. Despite so much focus on what we are not able to do, there have been many positives in the dental realm that have come from life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hear me out!

The mandatory shutdown became a rare opportunity for office improvements. Whereas the average work week leaves little time for spring cleaning and large-scale projects, the pandemic lockdowns gave the gift of time for both small- and large-scale projects to take off. At our office, we were able to do a full deep cleaning (SRP style) – leaving no nook, cranny, overhead beam, lighting fixture, plant, etc. unturned. Some offices finally had a chance to make long-awaited switches from analog/paper charts to digital, new office manuals were created, and we were truly able to assess our practices.

No one could have predicted that, given the green light to reopen, our redesigned offices now had a big problem- a shortage of PPE. Supplies deemed necessary to keep ourselves, our staff, and our patients safe- face masks, shields, gowns, gloves, thermometers, air purifiers, and hand sanitizer were in short supply. The pandemic gave the gift of community unity. Our communities showed resilience and partnership in a profound and inspirational way. Offices reached out to each other; sharing ideas, thoughts, and even PPE. Innovative patient created 3D face shield frameworks and other hand crafted masks were shared. This connection was not only visible with the dental community but also our family and friends.

These shutdowns affected our patient populations in a variety of ways that have trickled down to our practices. The pandemic gave the gift of lifestyle change to our patients. Many people are now working from home, limiting travel costs, and spending more time with family. With the available time, people are tangibly more creative - picking up new projects around the house or finishing old ones, having zoom happy hours, or checking in on family/friends! Patients have genuinely looked forward to coming to the dental office, because it is their “going out” time. One patient recently told me she has roughly saved $2000 a month since the start of the pandemic! She has been able to put her savings towards dental treatment and house remodeling.

In a trying time as today, the world has really come together for the common good and surprising opportunities. I, for one, truly appreciate that. In the words of the Dalai Lama, “Choose to be optimistic, it feels better”.

The PCDA would like to welcome new member, Dr. Lynne Cataldo to the association - Welcome, Dr. Cataldo!

Registration for the 2021 Dentists' Day on the Hill (DDOH) is now open! DDOH will take place on Tuesday, March 16 with a legislative briefing on Monday, March 15 at 6:00 p.m. at the Hotel Duval.

Legislative Briefing - NEW LOCATION and DINNER!

The legislative briefing will begin at 6:00 p.m. with dinner and entertainment to immediately follow at Hotel Duval. Please be sure to RSVP to both if you plan on attending the briefing ​AND the dinner.

A room block has been reserved at the Hotel Duval. To book your room, please call 850.224.6000 and mention ​the "Florida Dentists' Day on the Hill," or click here and select March 15-16 as the dates of your stay. Rooms are $219 a night and are limited - reserve yours today! 

Questions? Contact Alexandra Abboud at aabboud@floridadental.org or call the Governmental Affairs Office at 850.224.1089

Volunteer to rescue low income uninsured adults from pain and peril of advanced dental decay, broken teeth, inflammation and more!

Join the Community Dental Clinic in our mission to provide urgent dental care for the many adults in Pinellas County who have acute needs, but no resources or insurance to seek help.

We are truly a community clinic supported by the community for the community, helping thousands of unemployed, underemployed, disabled, veterans and seniors regain their oral health, their overall health, and their quality of life through exams, extractions, fillings, and deep cleanings.

We are open Monday - Friday, 8 - 5, and would really appreciate your help any time (especially midweek!)

We offer PPE, sovereign immunity, CEUs, and a compassionate working environment.

Call Pamela at 727-216-6155 ore email pamela@communitydentalclinic.net to schedule.

1008 Woodlawn Street, Clearwater, FL 33756 | www.communitydentalclinic.net

On a mission to provide the low income uninsured adults of Pinellas County access to urgent dental care for improved health and quality of life.