Reopening: What Dental Professionals Need to Know. Speakers discuss the Commonwealth’s reopening guidelines and how dentists are implementing requirements, safety measures, and physical distancing protocols across practice settings.

The MDS made the LiveHelpNow Challenge list of top companies providing exceptional customer service for the month of May. 

The MDS has verified with the DPH and BORID that dentists are not required to submit their attestation forms to anyone, but they are required to maintain a copy and make it available upon request. The attestation form requirement applies only to community health centers that are ready to open before May 25.

In Phase 1, dental offices will be eligible to expand services to include emergent and likely to become emergent if deferred cases. In preparation for this expansion of dental treatment, the MDS, in collaboration with leaders of each of the state dental specialty organizations, has created a resource document.

The ADA has developed the Return to Work Interim Guidance Toolkit, a resource that recommends measures to take to help protect patients, staff, and dentists from COVID-19 as practices reopen and begin to provide more than emergency and urgent care.

The SBA has resumed accepting Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loan applications as of Monday, April 27, at 10:30 a.m. EDT from approved lenders on behalf of any eligible borrower. Contact your lender now!

The ADA has released Interim Mask and Face Shield Guidelines on the PPE recommended in order to practice during the COVID-19 pandemic and to minimize the risk of virus transmission.

While dentists should only be treating patients requiring emergency care, the MDS reminds practitioners that they should not treat patients who are diagnosed or suspected of having COVID-19 because OSHA categorizes dental providers as having a very high exposure risk.

Even when dental providers take precautions and screen emergency patients for COVID-19 symptoms, the CDC recommends that dental providers contact all patients who received emergency dental care 48 hours after treatment and ask patients if they are exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19.

These webinars focus on important topics pertaining to the dental profession and are designed to be viewed from the convenience of a member’s office or home. The webinars are complimentary and exclusive to MDS members. Advance registration is required.

Dr. Casey Jones, who practices in Lee, Massachusetts, visited three different schools to provide demonstrations on oral health to mark National Children's Dental Health Month.

Several factors increase the risk of developing oral cancers. Watch this Word of Mouth video to learn more.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to Massachusetts small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of COVID-19.

Legislation has been filed on Beacon Hill to require insurance companies to provide business interruption coverage in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. Contact your representatives to ask for their support!

With dental practices in Massachusetts closed to all but emergency procedures, several dental insurers are updating their policies to include coverage of teledentistry.

To help dentists adhere to BORID record-keeping requirements, the MDS has developed a Telehealth Clinical or Progress Note Template that providers can use to track remote patient visits.

How does temporarily closing your office affect your staffing decisions? The MDS offers help with a webinar and answers to frequently asked staffing questions, such as, “Do I need to pay staff during a shutdown?"

To help offset the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) available to frontline health care providers, MEMA is coordinating donations of PPE from dental offices.

Join Ellen Factor, MDS managing director of membership and dental practice, as she leads a video Q&A with two executives from Henry Schein on “Industry Issues in the Time of COVID.”

The Massachusetts DPH and BORID released a recommendation on March 18 that fully endorses the MDS’s March 15 guidance for dental offices to close to patients seeking elective and non-urgent care.

Governor Baker has extended the deadline for all professional license registrations in the state. This includes dentists, whose licenses were required to be renewed by March 31, 2020.

If you’re unsure of how to notify your patients of your temporary office closing during this public health crisis, the MDS has created a sample letter that you can personalize and post on your website or social media channels.

Self-employed workers and independent contractors are now eligible for unemployment benefits through the state’s new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, which provides up to 39 weeks of unemployment benefits.

Following the MDS’s strong recommendation that dental offices close to patients seeking elective or non-urgent care, the MDS has released interim guidelines to help dentists determine which procedures are considered emergencies and which are considered non-urgent.

Several dentists have reported receiving a call threatening them with dental license suspension if they did not immediately pay a fine by wiring money to an unnamed account, often overseas. If you receive such a call, the MDS and BORID warn you to not engage with the caller. Instead, contact BORID.

Want to speak at Yankee Dental Congress 2021? Submit your application today for the chance to offer a one-hour CE course to fellow dentists at New England's largest conference for dental professionals!

The special edition of the MDS Connection features a recap of the 2020 House of Delegates, including speeches from President Dr. Janis Moriarty, President-Elect Dr. MaryJane Hanlon, and MDS Executive Director Dr. Robert Boose, who is retiring this spring. 

The South Shore District Dental Society was honored at the MDS House of Delegates Annual Session for reaching the Morton Society lifetime giving level.

A $2,000 MDS Foundation grant to The Guild for Human Services in Concord enabled The Guild School to purchase an accessible exam chair for its dental clinic, which serves students with intellectual disabilities and complex special needs.

During the MDS Annual Session, the MDS Foundation recognized generous donors who earned placement in the Foundation Lifetime Giving levels.

If you're an MDS member and spent more than $2,500 on the Exhibit Hall Floor at Yankee Dental Congress 2020, you could receive complimentary registration for Yankee Dental Congress 2021! Rebates must be postmarked no later than March 2, 2020. 

Spend $500 at one Yankee Exhibitor on Thursday, January 30 and be entered to win a $50 gift card at the Information Booth on the Exhibit Hall Floor. Take advantage of this promotion and other member exclusive events at Yankee!

Are you attending Yankee 2020? The Yankee Dental Congress mobile app will enhance your event experience by giving you access to course information, room locations, show specials, exhibitor deals, CE credits, and more! 

Dentists must renew their licenses through BORID by March 31! To renew, you must have earned 40 CE credits between April 1, 2018 - March 31, 2020, and fulfilled the MassHealth ORP requirement. You can renew your license online.

Attend one of these popular courses on hot topics like vaping, treatment of cracked and fractured teeth, and nutrition before they sell out! Register today for courses at Yankee 2020. 

Join us at the MDS State Lounge Booth 1244 for friends, fun food, and complimentary gifts Thursday, January 30, through Saturday, February 1. Spin to win is back! Try your luck and spin to win a prize. Everyone will be a winner!

Join us on Wednesday, April 15, at 7:00 pm for the MDS Special Event Beyond the Mask to hear your peers present inspiring stories of how they've overcome adversity in their lives.

This is your chance to explore new ways to actively foster and expand your knowledge. Discounted registration for Yankee Dental Congress is only available until January 10!

Check out these new events that are exclusively for MDS members at Yankee 2020! Sign up for The Chair Yoga Experience on Thursday, January 30 at 1 pm, or the Meditation Hour on Friday, January 31 at 1 pm. Learn new ways to relax, restore, rejuvenate and heal.

The MDS is happy to announce two special events coming this spring! Jersey Boys, March 19, at the Emerson Colonial Theater in Boston, and Jerry Seinfeld, April 10, at the Hanover Theater in Worcester. Purchase tickets while they are available!

Did you know that in September, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a final rule to make 1.3 million U.S. workers newly eligible for overtime pay effective January 1, 2020? Learn more about who qualifies, and make sure you are prepared to comply with this new regulation!

By dentists for dentists, Jameson Management brings dental coaching, dental marketing, and hygiene optimization to Yankee Dental. Attend one course or all of the Jameson Management courses to learn more about what you can do for your practice to thrive in today's competitive landscape.

State Dental Society Leaders were informed that the American Dental Association (ADA) filed an antitrust class action lawsuit against Delta Dental Plans and the Delta Dental Plan Association. The lawsuit alleges that independent Delta Dental carriers across the country violated federal antitrust laws. 

MDS President Dr. Janis Moriarty and Guest Board Member Dr. Alec Eidelman testified on November 19 before the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Public Health in favor of a bill to eliminate the live patient component of dental licensing exams.

The MDS has produced a video featuring MDS President Dr. Janis Moriarty and Dr. Andrew Tonelli, who discuss potential risks posed by do-it-yourself (DIY) orthodontic products and the value of seeing a dentist. The video can be shared with patients on social media or embedded on your practice website.

The Massachusetts Senate is expected to vote Nov. 20 on legislation passed by the House that bans flavored tobacco and establishes a tax on e-cigarettes. Show your support for a permanent solution to the problem of youth e-cigarette and tobacco use. Complete a quick form to email your senator today!

The MDS hosted a webinar on Wednesday, November 13 presented by Dr. Lee Ann Brady on Bonding and Cementation. View the recording of the webinar from the convenience of your office or home. 

Join your colleagues for a service event through Habitat for Humanity! On November 23, volunteers will participate in construction tasks at a build site in Andover to help build affordable housing for a local family in need (no construction experience needed). Recruit a team from your office, or sign up as an individual.

For $599 (a discount of up to $292) an MDS member can register for Yankee 2020 along with two other colleagues or staff and receive two paid courses each (up to $99 each). Register before the November 8 deadline to get this deal!

On October 19, 2019, all Massachusetts dentists mistakenly received a message from the state's Department of Public Health (DPH) regarding MassHealth and licensure. The DPH asks that you please disregard this message. If you are a licensed dentist who was identified as non-compliant by MassHealth, you should have received a separate message indicating such by Wednesday, October 23, 2019.

Check out these new events that are exclusively for MDS members at Yankee 2020!

The Chair Yoga Experience
Thursday, January 30, at 1 pm

Meditation Hour
Friday, January 31, at 1 pm

Join your colleagues for a community service event at Rosie's Place in Boston on Saturday, October 26, at 10:00 am! Recruit a team from your office or register as an individual to get involved and serve your community.

Join us on Thursday, November 21, to learn how to create a beautiful centerpiece you can use on your Thanksgiving table or give as a special gift. Using the vibrant flowers of autumn in regal, rich colors, you will learn basic floral design skills that you can use to make arrangements all year long. The workshop will be followed by a wine and cheese reception. This event is sponsored by HR2fit.

Veradigm ePrescribe (delivered by Henry Schein One) enables dentists to electronically prescribe all medications, including controlled substances. MDS members are now eligible for a discounted members-only monthly rate and registration fee. This will help members comply with the new e-prescription regulation.

In response to Gov. Baker's declaration of a public health emergency and temporary ban on the sale of all vaping products in the state, the MDS issued a statement applauding the action as a positive step toward protecting youth from tobacco and nicotine addiction.

The Public Health Council recently approved several amendments to the ePrescribing regulation in Massachusetts, including a one-year grace period making requirements effective January 1, 2021. The MDS is currently in negotiations with a Member Savings Partner that will offer ePrescribing services. Stay tuned for more info!

The MDS has arranged several volunteer opportunities this fall for members seeking ways to give back to their communities. We encourage you to recruit a team from your office or sign up as an individual. Spots are limited for each event, so sign up soon!

The Massachusetts Dental Society was honored to receive two 2019 Dental Journalism Awards presented by the International College of Dentists-USA Section for the Society's consumer publication Word of Mouth and the Journal of the Massachusetts Dental Society.

Join us September 18 at the Boston Center for Dental Education at Trinity Dental for the upcoming Yankee Institute course Real World Occlusion. The evening includes a complimentary light dinner and attendees will earn 3 CEUs.

Through innovative website design and marketing solutions, ProSites has helped more than 7,500 dental professionals accelerate growth and attract new patients. As an MDS member, you'll get up to 70% off the initial website set-up fee!

Dental assistant licenses are due for renewal by October 31, 2019. Per BORID regulations, all dental assistants must obtain 12 CEUs during the two-year cycle, including courses in CDC guidelines and BLS for health care providers.

MDS President Dr. Janis Moriarty has announced the formation of the Delta Audit Task Force, which will work with Delta representatives to better understand the audit process and make recommendations to Delta and the MDS Board of Trustees.

Do you want to improve your leadership skills and learn how to succeed in a changing dental practice landscape? Attend the First District Leadership Academy and receive complimentary Yankee Dental Congress registration.

This coding resource from the ADA will help you ensure that you are coding accurately for fewer claims rejections and faster reimbursement. ADA members can even purchase the kit for a special reduced price.

Interested in getting more involved in your profession and volunteering your time and talents? Apply to serve on an MDS Committee! Applications for Committees must be submitted by July 31, 2019.

The Henry Schein Preferred Pricing Program helps active MDS members cut costs and reduce their overhead expenses, creating a more effective and efficient practice. Get 10% off your first Connections order as a new member of the program!

The Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) law that requires employers to provide eligible employees with up to 26 weeks of paid, job-protected family and medical leave in a single benefit year has had a statute change. The contribution withholding date is now delayed until October 1, 2019.

HR2fit is a human resources partner delivering Fortune 500 quality service to the Massachusetts dental profession. It offers a complete array of HR services, with an emphasis on excellent onsite service, scaled to fit your dental practice.

Did you know that your MDS membership includes complimentary membership for your staff? If you haven’t taken advantage of this member benefit already, encourage your staff to enroll today and share the perks of membership, including continuing education and more.

In the latest MDS Connection, read about the member who came to the aid of a WWII veteran. Also in this issue: Beacon Hill Day recap.

PureLife's mission is to make a positive difference in human and environmental health. They offer an affordable mail-back program for sharps, amalgam, medical, and X-ray waste, saving MDS members hundreds of dollars over traditional pick-up services.

While electronic records are definitely an asset, they also present challenges. This article from the Spring 2019 Journal of the Massachusetts Dental Society explains how to protect your records—and your practice.

NEW at Yankee 2020, the MDS clinician corner offers courses at NO CHARGE for MDS members! On Thursday, January 30, five MDS member dentists will be offering one-hour continuing education courses exploring a variety of topics addressing clinical dentistry and practice management.

The MDS has recently been contacted by numerous member dentists who are being audited by Delta Dental of Massachusetts and who feel that this is an inappropriate intrusion into the relationship between dentists and their patients. The MDS reviewed these members’ complaints and believes these complaints merit further investigation.

On July 1, Massachusetts employers are subject to the new state Paid Family and Medical Leave law and must begin submitting contributions on behalf of workers and covered individuals. If you missed the webinar hosted by MDS, watch the recording the learn how to be in compliance with the new law.

With the new Paid Family and Medical Leave law going into effect on July 1, you must update your state labor law posters. MDS Member Savings Program partner J.J. Keller & Associates provides federal/state employment law poster sets, as well as a poster update service.

Save Time & Money on Payroll. OnPay makes payroll easy, so dentists can focus on what they do best. Get full-service payroll and award-winning support.

TeamSmile is once again partnering with the Boston Red Sox! Dental professionals will be providing care to Boston-area children at Fenway Park on Friday, May 3. Volunteer positions have been filled, but stay tuned for more volunteer opportunities. 

Tufts Dental School held a Signing Day for graduating students, who heard from MDS Vice President Dr. Mary Jane Hanlon and Dr. Claire McCarthy, representing the MDS Membership Committee. All students signing up for MDS and ADA membership received a gift bag!

Congratulations to MDS member Dr. Kadambari "Kady" Rawal, who was selected as an ADA 10 Under 10 for her impressive outreach efforts in Boston and India, along with her extensive clinical practice work.

Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine third-year student Anisha Pandya was recently elected national speaker of the house of the American Student Dental Association (ASDA).

On March 11, the National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards adopted a resolution to recognize dental anesthesiology as a dental specialty, making it one of only 10 recognized dental specialties.

Graduating students from BU's School of Dental Medicine received gift bags at their graduation meetings last week to celebrate signing up for ADA/MDS membership. Stay tuned to MDS on Instagram to see more signing day photos.

There will be new code/benefit frequency and limitation regulatory changes for certain periodontal codes for the MassHealth and Health Safety Net dental programs that will take effect April 22. It was previously announced the changes would take effect March 22.

In this Journal article, a patient presented for treatment of a persistent white patch on his left lower lip. He said he spends a good deal of time in the sun and that his lower lip often feels “chapped.”

All dental hygienists must renew their licenses by March 31, 2019, if they haven't done so already. Be sure to fulfill all requirements before the end of the month!

A new legislative session has kicked off on Beacon Hill, and the MDS is advocating for several bills that would impact you, your dental practice, and the oral health of the Commonwealth.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. The Massachusetts Dental Society offers parents, caregivers, and teachers five ways to help children establish good oral health habits at an early age.

If you're an MDS member and spent more than $2500 on the Exhibit Hall Floor at the 2019 Yankee Dental Congress, you could attend Yankee Dental 2020 for free.

The 2019 House of Delegates has elected the following officers for the 2019-2020 term:

- President: Dr. Janis Moriarty
- President-elect: Dr. MaryJane Hanlon
- Vice President: Dr. Meredith Bailey

Congratulations to this year's 10 Under Ten Award honorees! Each of the recipients was recognized for their contributions to the profession, their community, and/or organized dentistry.

Congratulations to this year's 10 Under Ten Award honorees! Each of the recipients was recognized for their contributions to the profession, their community, and/or organized dentistry.

The U.S. Surgeon General has called the recent surge in youth vaping an “epidemic." Help educate patients on the risks associated with tobacco, vaping, and e-cigarettes with information from the MDS.

Congratulations to Revere dentist and MDS Past President Dr. Charles Silvius, recipient of the prestigious James W. Etherington Award, and all of the dental professionals honored at the Yankee Dental Congress!

With a new legislative session just around the corner, it’s time to strengthen your relationships with legislators. Contact the MDS Government Affairs team to schedule a grassroots visit at your practice.

The Henry Schein Preferred Pricing Program helps active MDS members save money and reduce their overhead expenses, creating a more effective and efficient practice. Get 10% off your first Connections order as a new member of the program!

The Journal received two awards from the International College of Dentists for the Spring 2017 Dentists & Wellness issue and the Fall 2017 editorial “Our Profession’s Image.”

The ADA discourages the use of DIY dental treatments, such as teeth straightening kits, veneers, and bruxism devices. DIY treatments can have long-term and possibly irreparable effects.

This Journal of the Massachusetts Dental Society article looks at how you can increase income and improve cash flow by purchasing a business and paying practice debt first.

CVS and the ADA have created a national campaign designed to help fill members' empty chair time. This campaign allows customers to use the ADA Find-A-Dentist tool to search for a local ADA dentist.

Now is a great time to start encouraging parents to schedule their back-to-school checkup. Ease their worries by sharing the ADA’s 8 Secrets to a Successful Back-to-School Dental Checkup.

Is your office equipped for an emergency? In this video from MDS Member Savings Partner HealthFirst, Dr. John Graham explains the ADA guidelines on medical emergency practice readiness.

ADA TV is a user-friendly, high-tech entertainment and marketing system for waiting rooms that empowers you to customize and stream content to patients while they wait.

The MDS Foundation needs your help to fulfill our mission to improve oral health in vulnerable populations across the Commonwealth. A small donation will increase access to dental care for many!

The Legislature concluded its formal session on July 31 and the compromise comprehensive oral health bill was unfortunately unable to pass before the Legislature concluded its formal session.

Results of laboratory studies and clinical trials have suggested that SDF is more effective than other fluoride agents to halt the caries process. This webinar provides an overview of the use of SDF.

If you did not answer the MassHealth ORP enrollment attestation questions correctly during licensure renewal, you must contact BORID for information on how to comply with the licensure requirements.

The ADA has recognized the MDS for our membership outreach efforts with the greatest percentage of fourth-year reduced dues payers converting to full dues membership.

In what could be the first of its kind the policy new supports: mandatory pain management CE; statutory limits on opioid dosage and duration; and dentists utilizing prescription drug monitoring programs.

Dr. Ronald Maitland's op-ed on the Medicaid dental care system was published in The Berkshire Eagle. He discusses how low-income communities are being shortchanged and how to help.

Congratulations to Tufts University School of Dental Medicine on celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. Tufts has curated an online exhibition and will host anniversary events throughout the year.

The Harvard Crimson featured Harvard School of Dental Medicine Dean, Bruce Donoff, detailing his career as chief of service for oral and maxillofacial surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital.

All dentists who received a notice from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection must renew the certification on their amalgam separator. The renewal cycle is now every two years.

The MDS Foundation has awarded grants to five deserving organizations to increase access to care in underserved areas and improve oral health outcomes for Massachusetts residents.

MDS Member Savings Program partner Smart Training and the MDS are offering member offices a sexual harassment prevention training package at a discounted rate.

As a result of damage to Puerto Rico's electrical grid, there has been a shortage of IV fluids available to dental and health care providers. The FDA expects this shortage to improve early this year.

This coding resource from the ADA will help you ensure that you are coding accurately for fewer claims rejections and faster reimbursement. ADA members can even purchase the kit for a special reduced price!

MDS member Dr. Dmitry Merzon was featured in the news for aiding a driver who rolled his vehicle on the Mass Pike. Along with other Good Samaritans, he assisted the driver and provided first aid.

MDS legal counsel Goulston & Storrs received a letter from Aspen Dental general counsel responding to our November 7, 2017 letter stating the ads will cease airing at the end of December.

The ADA released the updated "Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Evaluation of Potentially Malignant Disorders in the Oral Cavity," to help dentists appropriately evaluate patients.