The latest buzzword in dentistry seems to be MID LEVEL PROVIDER or Community Dental Health Coordinator. I hope all of you have had a chance to read the AGD White Paper on this topic. If you have not done so, please do, as it will affect how we will practice general dentistry in the future. It is important that we know and understand how important this will be. If you think that it will not have some impact on you, or you do not have much influence in what will happen, please get involved. Write to your ADA delegation, talk to the local governmental leaders and see what we can do to improve access of care to our patients without more restrictions and intrusions. I remember when I was about to graduate from dental school, one of the instructors said to always remember that you cannot be duplicated. That is still true today. We may have other help in caring for our patients, but the training and skill required can only be done by a dentist. I have seen the decline in patient/doctor relations by third parties, in particular by insurance companies and the PPO system of delivery.

I am glad to see that the National AGD has taken a stand on this issue and I hope that we all can do our part to support them. Please comment on this on this blog site so we can have a good discussion. I only would ask that you are polite and respect others view.