January | 2021
The Monthly Incisor
President's Message
Happy New Year!!! Undoubtedly, this year is going to be better than last year!! Lots of exciting things on the horizon. As many of you know, the vaccines are rolling out, and we are committed to getting you information as soon as we receive it. We have been calling hospitals and health departments, learning of when more vaccines are available. Many of you have already received the first dose! Congratulations! For those of you who have not, it can be very frustrating when appointments fill up almost immediately. Please understand, we don't have some magical ticket to get into the program. We rely very heavily on the work on the ground that we have been doing in addition to tips from other health care providers. When we do have info, we will send it. When we send it, you need to act quickly in order to have the best chance of getting scheduled. If any of you need help with this, I am happy to help. I have personally made it my mission to get us what we need as soon as I can. My email is Kristie.johnson@gmail.com. I can coach you from there. We all must stay positive and diligent in helping our great dental community have access to the vaccine as health care providers. There is light at the end of the tunnel!

Moving forward, we are going to continue with the excellent program Dr. Lowry has put together for us this year. We are very much looking forward to having our very own, Dr. Kimberley Daxon, dazzle us with her extensive knowledge in dentures. Next Meeting Wednesday, Jan 13th. 6pm social, 7pm lecture. Virtual and in person. Please be sure to register.

I would like to continue to remind all of you that even though times are tough, they are much tougher on the less fortunate. Please consider donating your time or resources to volunteerism. The St. Pete free clinic is my volunteer clinic favorite!! Please consider volunteering one day this year. It's an incredible experience and especially with more and more of us being vaccinated. I feel it is our moral responsibility to do so. Even if you are a specialist that might not be able to do direct chair-side volunteering, there are many avenues to help. Please reach out to me if you need help finding volunteer options. 

Looking forward to an amazing year! Stay strong, we will get through this. We are stronger together. See you all Wednesday!! 

Kristie Johnson, DMD
President of PCDA   

COVID Vaccine Resources:


PCDA General Membership Meeting
January 13, 2021
Amazing Dentures…How Sweet the Sound with Dr. Kimberley Daxon
Dr. Daxon is a native of Fort Pierce, Florida and attended John Carroll High School. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Stetson University in 1989 where she met her future husband, Patrick. Dr. Daxon graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry in Chapel Hill in 1993. Following graduation, she served a one-year general practice residency at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and a two-year Prosthodontic residency at Harvard School of Dental Medicine and the Veterans Administration.
Prior to starting Daxon Dentistry, Dr. Daxon joined Dr. Peter Dawson’s practice in 1998. She is a Prosthodontist specializing in complex occlusal disorders and complete dentures. She is a senior faculty member at The Dawson Academy in St. Petersburg. She also serves as the Resident Expert in Removable Prosthodontics for The Dawson Academy.  She holds awards from the International College of Dentists and the Academy of Oral Medicine. Dr. Daxon is a member of the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists, the Florida Academy of Dental Practice Administration, the American Dental Association, the Florida Dental Association, the American College of Prosthodontists, the Florida Prosthodontic Association, the West Coast Dental Association and the Pinellas County Dental Association.

Dr. Daxon is an active participant in the Advanced Dental Implant Study Club.  She enjoys donating her time and services through the Red Tent Initiative, a local program designed to help women get back on their feet after being in jail for nonviolent crimes.  Her husband, Patrick, is Vice President of the Financial Planning Department at Raymond James. They enjoy spending time with their three girls, Claire, Grace, and Lilly. Her interests include cooking, gardening, water-skiing, biking and fishing.
Program Details

When: Wednesday, January 13, 6:00pm Social – 7:00pm Business & Lecture

Where: The Club at TI, 400 Treasure Island Causeway, Treasure Island

Topic & Speaker: Amazing Dentures...How Sweet the Sound, Dr. Kimberley Daxon

Program Description: Rehabilitating the edentulous patient with complete dentures can be a daunting task for most.

There are two common reasons for this feeling:
  1. The predictability of comfort, esthetics and/or function is not as easily achieved as it is with the fixed restorative cases.
  2. Dental school education, unfortunately, has fallen short of teaching sound removable prosthodontic principles.

Whether it be conventional complete dentures, immediate dentures, or a setup try-in for an implant-supported prosthesis, understanding where the teeth need to be esthetically, functionally, and phonetically is paramount for success. Through case examples, we will explore key diagnostic and treatment planning considerations so that fabricating complete dentures is more predictable and fun!

RSVP: Final RSVP needs to be received by January 11, 2021.

Submit your RSVP any dietary restrictions to smilepinellas@gmail.com.
Affiliate Collaboration Virtual Seminar Series
The Pinellas, Upper Pinellas and Hillsborough County Dental Associations have 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.
Upcoming Virtual Seminars
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Amazing Dentures…How Sweet the Sound with Dr. Kimberley Daxon

Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Sleep Apnea, Dr. David Federici

Tuesday, January 26, 2021
When Microsurgery in Endodontics is Indicated for Best Outcome, Dr. Raed Kasem

Wednesday, March 10, 2021
How Laws and the Board of Dentistry Affects Your License, Casey Stoutamire

Tuesday, March 23, 2021
Pathology – Amazing Biopsy Findings. Don’t Let it Go Unchecked, Dr. Rob Ruffalo, Ruffalo Hooper & Associates, MD PA

Wednesday, April 21, 2021
Oral Pathology, Dr. Donald Cohen

Pre-registration is required for the virtual lectures.

Hybrid Screw-Cementable Implant Restorations
Deliver the clinical benefits of screw-retained restorations in less time
Written by, Jonathan Esquivel, DDS
Restoring teeth with dental implants requires delicate planning, proper clinical execution, and extensive follow-up. Implant-supported restorations can either be cement-retained or screw-retained. When cement is used, any excess cement allowed to remain in the peri-implant tissues can be a cause of failure for dental implants. Research has indicated that the incidence of peri-implant disease among implants with excess cement is approximately 80%. With natural teeth, the orientation of the connective tissue fibers is perpendicular and they have insertions, but with an implant, they run in a parallel orientation around the implant components. This lack of a seal and the anatomical form of abutments makes it easier for excess cement to flow into deeper areas and cause damage. Although proper cement selection, improved abutment designs, and updated placement techniques have reduced the potential for excess cement, the use of screw-retained implant restorations is preferable to eliminate the possibility of cement-induced peri-implant disease. Continue reading.

Article submitted by Dr. Devin Gaptur
Are You Interested in Sharing Your Expertise?
If you are interested in presenting or speaking to provide CE to your PCDA colleagues at future meetings - please let us know! Submit your resume or speaking portfolio to smilepinellas@gmail.com by April 30th of each year.
Do You Volunteer?
Do you volunteer your time and skills or donate dentistry in your office or away from the office? The Florida Dental Association has offered a Pro-Bono reporting tool to the Pinellas County Dental Association. The form is brief, and concise, and the amount of hours donated can be used as a powerful tool when speaking to legislators. PCDA will include the link in each issue of the newsletter.

The PCDA would also like to recognize members who support the community by volunteering. Please let us know if you and/or someone you know volunteers!
Calling All New Dentist Colleagues!
Do you know of a new dentist in the area? Encourage them to join the PCDA! New dentist member dues are discounted for the first year!
PCDA Membership Dues
2020-2021 PCDA Member Dues are due.

If you've already made a payment, thank you for your continued membership! If you have not yet submitted payment, please use the link below to pay.

Questions? Contact smilepinellas@gmail.com
Virtual Dentists' Day on the Hill
Registration for the 2021 Virtual Dentists' Day on the Hill (DDOH) is now open! DDOH will still take place on Tuesday, March 16.

Register to be a part of this virtual advocacy day, where you will hear directly from legislative leaders on their support of the FDA's legislative agenda.

Once you’re registered, you’ll receive information directly from an FDA team member on what you need to know and how you’ll be able to join the virtual DDOH. If you already registered for DDOH, you’ll receive an email reconfirming your registration for the virtual day instead of in person.

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

Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Amazing Dentures…How Sweet the Sound with Dr. Kimberley Daxon
The Club at Treasure Island

Wednesday, March 3, 2021
TBD
The Club at Treasure Island

Wednesday, April 7, 2021
TBD
The Club at Treasure Island

May 2021
End of the Year Celebration

Would it make your life easier to receive text notifications from PCDA? We encourage you to subscribe and text the word PCDA to 33222.
Other Important Dates

Dentists' Day on the Hill *Virtual
March 16, 2021

Florida Dental Convention
June 24-26, 2021
Orlando

WCDDA Summer Meeting
August 6-8, 2021
Naples

America's Dental Meeting
October 11-15, 2021
Las Vegas


Volunteer Opportunities - St. Pete FREE Clinic
Dear Colleagues:

I hope you and your families are well and resuming your practices given the “new normal” as we recover from the COVID-19 slow down. The last several months have certainly been somewhat stressful and somewhat restful as we have endured significant financial concerns, practice limitations, and variations in protocols for infection control and patient management. I am confident that the future will allow us to better care for our patients and safeguard our staff members even though we would have appreciated a bit less abruptness.

The St. Pete Free Clinic has resumed its patient treatment, and many of these patients have been unable to obtain care for oral infections and pain relief. There is an urgent need for our dental association to step up. Our commitment to our community will hopefully be shared and displayed by ALL of us. I would like to request that upon receiving this letter, that you give Claudia Rosas a call at the Free Clinic in order to offer help with treating patients. Attached is a link to the google sheet where you can sign up to volunteer. Please follow the instructions that will be on the google sheet. The brand new clinic facility has begun its operation, and I have already had the opportunity to be there and begin the post COVID – 19 functions. They have made important changes in protocols to become compliant with the CDC/OSHA/ADA guidelines. I would welcome a call should you have any questions regarding PPE supplies and patient care. Claudia can be reached at the following number 727-485-8795 ext. 328 or you may e-mail her at claudia.rosas@stpetersburgfreeclinic.org

I want to thank each of you for being willing to participate in sharing in the care of our St. Petersburg community that cannot afford dental treatment. As our emergency room physicians have borne the brunt of the pandemic, our opportunity to provide help to patients with dental emergencies is here, and our involvement will allow a reduction in emergency room visits due to dental concerns. Please ask your office coordinator to call Claudia upon receiving this letter to confirm a date to help. If we all participate and commit one day volunteering at the clinic, our work will be light and the community will be served well. Thanks in advance for being part of this great effort.

Sincerely,

John H. Thee, DMD
727-347-3777
Executive Board & Committees 2020-2021

Kristie Johnson, DMD
President and Delegate

Brent Mayer, DMD
President-Elect and Delegate

Deborah Lowry, DMD
Vice President and Alternate Delegate

Devin Gapstur, DMD
Secretary and Alternate Delegate

Ronak Shukla, DMD
Council Chair-At-Large and Alternate Delegate

Kenneth Grundset, DDS
Executive Treasurer

Charles Ford, DMD
Ethics Chairman

Luis Martinez, DMD, PA
Peer Review Chairman

Gregory Langston, DMD
Delegate

Rita Hurst, DMD
Editor

Gabriele Spinuso, DDS
Immediate Past President and Alternate Delegate