TDA news
The Encouraging
Results of Mentoring
TEXAS DENTAL ASSOCIATION
M
by Dr. William H. Gerlach
Texas Dental Association Board of Directors, Northeast Division Vice President
entoring is perhaps the greatest legacy a dentist can
provide a younger colleague. Multiple examples
exist within the TDA, all aimed at making our
Association relevant, timely and responsive. The
TDA has the Committee on New Dentists, we award
the New Dentist of the Year at our Annual Session, and we have
found creative ways to integrate young dentists and dental students into the TDA House of Delegates. Of course, we must
include their critical involvement with the Texas Mission of
Mercy program! However, as a direct result of mentoring, our
very own Texas A&M Baylor College of Dentistry has students
so engaged in the future of their profession, that they have taken
advocacy to a new level.
Fall 2014 found a group of D3’s and D4’s (junior and senior dental students) ramping up an idea to shed light on political issues
affecting dentistry. Not knowing how many students would
attend, they were astonished when dozens of dental students
attended a “political table clinic” where five pertinent issues
were explained and discussed.
Expanding on last year’s success, they decided to hold the event
once again. On Friday evening, September 30, 2015, they had
55 students in attendance. Their five chosen topics were 1) the
ethics of licensure using live patient exams, 2) student debt,
12 NORTH TEXAS DENTISTRY | www.northtexasdentistry.com
3) anesthesia delivered by dental hygienists, 4) mid-level
providers, and 5) the importance of donating to dental Political
Action Committees such as DENPAC.
The event was chaired by Laura Albarracin, and the topics were
timely and pertinent. Baylor’s student advocacy group is called
the Legislative Liaison Committee, and their Chairperson is
Stephanie Ganter, a dynamic D4.
Ethics of live patient exams. Regarding dental licensure
utilizing live patients rather than a “portfolio exam”, their general consensus was unfavorable of continuing live patient
exams. Although no decisions have been made, this is consistent
with early discussions within the ADA House of Delegates.
According to Ms. Ganter, they are trained for four years to put
the patient first, and then they are incentivized via licensure to
think of the patient as a “lesion” rather than a person. Where
are the ethics in that?
Student debt. Student debt was a broadly discussed topic.
The average graduating senior dental student has $247,227 (1)
worth of student debt, a burden which limits their options upon
graduating. While practice expectations vary, many graduating
dentists forfeit their original plan of practice ownership and
management. Why? Debt and economic reality limit the option