IDA UPDATE
Indiana Dental Association | August 2022
In This Issue

  • Dr. Domenick Zero Awarded ADA Ross Award
  • Take Our Survey on Medicaid Participation
  • CDC Updates COVID-19 Guidance for General Public
  • IDHA Invites IDA Members and Hygienists to Conference
  • Upcoming OSHA/BLS Opportunities
  • Join Our Conference to Help Guide New Dentist Strategy
  • Meet Your Future Colleagues at Welcome to the Profession Event
Upcoming Events

E-Learning Series: How to Deal With Insurance Companies to Increase Reimbursements
Thursday, September 1, noon

Welcome to the Profession Event
Friday, September 16, 6-9 p.m.
Punch Bowl Social, Indianapolis

Fall 2022 Board of Trustees Meeting
Saturday, September 17, 8 a.m.
IDA Central Office

OSHA/BLS Recertification
Various dates and in-person locations

SAVE THE DATE
2023 Midwest Dental Assembly
May 19-21, Indianapolis
Dr. Domenick Zero Awarded ADA Ross Award
IDA member and IUSD professor Dr. Domenick Zero has been awarded the ADA's 2022 Norton M. Ross Award for Excellence in Clinical Research for his work in studying the fundamental aspects of caries formation and clinical intervention strategies to prevent them. Above, IDA member and ADA 7th District Trustee Dr. Chad Leighty presents Dr. Zero with the award.

In his research, Dr. Zero has examined dietary and microbial virulence factors; saliva's role in protecting against caries; caries risk assessment; new clinical methods for early caries detection and assessment of caries activity; fluoride's mechanism of action, including its oral pharmacokinetics; and the clinical efficacy of topical fluorides.
Take Our Survey on Medicaid Participation
The FSSA Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning is in the process of evaluating Medicaid reimbursements rates for their health coverage programs. The IDA is working with FSSA and our strategic partners to ensure dentistry is represented in these discussions. To aid in these conversations, we would like to hear your input!

Please take a moment to complete this brief two-minute survey on your experience with Medicaid (or lack thereof). This data will help us identify issues in the current programs as we work to ensure fair and reasonable dental Medicaid reimbursement rates.
CDC Updates COVID-19 Guidance for General Public
Last week the CDC updated its guidelines for people exposed to and infected with COVID-19. These guidelines are for the general public and not specific to health care settings, but we have included a brief overview below in case your patients have comments or questions about the guidelines.

  • Those exposed to COVID-19 should wear a high-quality mask for 10 days and get tested on day five instead of immediately quarantining.
  • For those infected with COVID-19: If after five days you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication, and your symptoms are improving, or you never had symptoms, you may end isolation.
  • Those infected should wear a high-quality mask through day 10.
  • Screening testing of asymptomatic people without known exposures will no longer be recommended in most community settings.

See the link below to read the full updated guidelines.
IDHA Invites IDA Members and Hygienists to Conference
The Indiana Dental Hygienists’ Association is cordially inviting all IDA members and their staff to its 76th Annual Conference, Nov. 11-12 at the Grand Wayne Convention Center in Fort Wayne. It is not necessary to be an IDHA member or hygienist to attend.

The theme of the conference is “Be the Change,” and CE opportunities include full certification in nitrous oxide and laser usage and sessions on cultural competencies, TMJ, sleep, and myofunctional therapy.
Upcoming OSHA/BLS Opportunities
IDA is pleased to offer multiple OSHA/BLS opportunities for members and their teams. The following classes are all in person and fulfill federal requirements for OSHA/BLS continuing education.

Each class offers OSHA in the morning and BLS in the afternoon. Attendees can choose to attend either or both sessions.
Richmond
Friday, September 9, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Forest Hills Country Club

Kokomo
Friday, September 16, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Courtyard by Marriott

Bloomington
Friday, September 23, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Bloomington Country Club

South Bend
Friday, September 30, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Ramada by Wyndham
Fort Wayne
Wednesday, October 5, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Courtyard Downtown

Indianapolis
Friday, October 7, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Hillcrest Country Club

Lafayette
Friday, October 21, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
DoubleTree by Hilton Lafayette East
Join Our Conference to Help Guide New Dentist Strategy
The IDA is revitalizing its New Dentist Subcommittee and is inviting all new dentists (out of school ten years or less) to a 45 minute New Dentist Priorities Call Out for three specific purposes:

  1. Connect and reconnect to the IDA New Dentist Community
  2. Help set the IDA priorities that are most important to new dentists
  3. Invite new dentists to work on those priorities. 

We are going to have a little fun, utilizing some polls for efficiency, and you can help set the future direction for the IDA. We are making a promise of 45 minutes of your time and get you back to family and your evening.

Each person who registers and attends will receive an IDA Prescription Guide and a chance at three special drawings of Amazon and Starbucks gift cards and an ADA Chairside Instructor: Visual Guide to Case Presentations.
Meet Your Future Colleagues at Welcome to the Profession Event
Meet your future dental colleagues at the IDA's "Welcome to the Profession" event on Friday, September 16, at Punch Bowl Social in Downtown Indianapolis. All IDA members are invited to attend.

The event will allow dentists and IUSD Class of 2026 students to meet and enjoy a fun, casual setting that includes games, billiards, private karaoke, bowling and more. There will be plenty of food, refreshments and, of course, punch.

DATE: Friday, September 16

TIME: 6–9 p.m.

LOCATION: Punch Bowl Social, 120 South Meridian Street (located on the first level of Circle Center Mall)

COST: $35 per person