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Oct 25, 2023

What if Dentistry Was Disorganized?

This editorial from 1931, written at the front end of the Great Depression, gives us much to contemplate.1 After all, as members of the dental profession, we continue to have a public to serve emerging from the Covid-19 Pandemic. We are entrusted by society with the right to self-regulate.

Oct 25, 2023

Pain, Pills and New Perceptions

The beauty of dentistry and medicine, in general, is the ever-present evolution and growth of evidence-based practices guided by novel understanding. The advancement of knowledge allows our “practice” of the healing arts, to be refined continuously to better serve our patients and customize treatment modalities for maximized efficacy in rendering patient care.

PPP Loans; TDA Testifies; Workplace Vaccine Facts

Jan 11, 2021
New PPP Loans Information; Repeal of EIDL Advance Deduction

Via the American Dental Association:

Treasury/SBA announced on Saturday that small lenders will start being able to accept applications for new PPP loan borrowers starting today (Monday, 1/11).  Larger lenders will be able to start accepting applications likely later next week. Second draw loan applications will begin to be accepted by small lenders starting January 13; and again larger lenders will be able to accept second draw loan applications soon after.

The following one pagers were released Saturday:
Top Line Overview of First Draw Loans
Top Line Overview of Second Draw Loans

Applications are available here:  
PPP Borrower Application Form
PPP Second Draw Borrower Application Form

ADA is still waiting on the easier forgiveness applications, but will make sure to send them to you as soon as they are available.

Additionally, more PPP information is available at the following article, “Date Set for Limited PPP reopening,” Journal of Accountancy:

Lastly, for dentists who already filed for forgiveness, SBA also released good news today.  SBA will remit EIDL grant amount back to the lenders and the lenders will give it back to the PPP borrower. 

ADA plans on providing additional resources, including a possible webinar on these resources, over the course of the next week.


TDA Testifies Again in Ongoing Fight to get Dentists and Dental Teams

TDA testified again at DSHS for Texas dentists & dental teams to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. We won’t stop fighting for dentists and their teams to get vaccinated, and we will keep giving updates as soon as possible. There’s no new information yet on vaccine distribution, but we will update our members ASAP when there is.

On Friday, January 8, TDA testified again on behalf of Texas dentists and dental teams at the Department of State Health Services’ (DSHS) Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response meeting. TDA already submitted written testimony for the Task Force’s December meeting. While there is no new information to share about when dentists and dental teams can be vaccinated, TDA continues advocating hard for you—and will let members know as soon as there is new information.

In our testimony, TDA again asked that dental health care personnel be given priority access to the COVID-19 vaccine. TDA reminded the Task Force that the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to include “health care personnel (HCP)” in Phase 1a allocation of initial COVID-19 vaccines. TDA testified that the CDC confirmed in January that dentists, dental teams, and dental students are included in its initial recommendation for health care personnel to be among those offered the first doses of COVID-19 vaccines. 

TDA’s testimony closed by reiterating that oral health care is integral to overall health. Making COVID-19 vaccines available to dental health care personnel is crucial for Texas to maintain a strong dental workforce. This helps ensure that dental care can continue being delivered safely to patients. As an integral part of Texas overall health care infrastructure, dentists and their teams provide direct patient care that is key to the state’s overall COVID-19 response.

During the meeting, Commissioner Hellerstedt acknowledged that Texas deviated significantly from the CDC’s vaccine allocation strategy. He said that Texas should be proud of having a “person-centric” vaccine approach because it focuses on the needs of Texans and is inclusive. He added that It makes more sense to focus on the needs of the population compared to focusing on employment populations. The state government’s current vaccine priority groups are categories of people that need to be vaccinated to preserve Texas’ critical health care infrastructure and assure hospital bed availability for all COVID-19 patients.

TDA’s testimony today will be shared with the state’s Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel (EVAP). Next Phase recommendations will come from the EVAP for Commissioner Hellerstedt to approve. We will update members ASAP as new information becomes available.
 


ADA Worksheets on the COVID Vaccine in the Dental Workplace

The ADA has released fact sheets on the COVID-19 vaccine in the Dental Workplace for practice owners and employee dentists, which have been updated with new information.

COVID-19 in the Dental Workplace: FAQs for Practice Owners

COVID-19 Vaccines in the Dental Workplace: FAQs for Employee Dentists