2008 News Archive

The American Association of Endodontists' 21-member Board of Directors joined the American Dental Political Action Committee Capital Club at the ADA annual session in San Antonio.

San Antonio—The American Dental Association will tell the next administration and Congress that oral health is essential for a healthy America and integral to the health policy debate.

Washington—Public health officials and private sector medical organizations initiated a national campaign for the fall and winter flu season to increase vaccination rates by urging the nation's health care personnel "to set an example for the patients they serve" and protect themselves.

It's always good to know who your friends are. True friends celebrate your successes in life.

The 2008 ADA Golden Apple Awards mark the 20th annual recognition of outstanding achievement in dental society activities and excellence in leadership.

Online downloads of full-text articles from The Journal of the American Dental Association are expected to reach 3.5 million by year-end 2008, an increase of about 1 million downloads over last year's record-setting volume.

The turmoil in the stock and credit markets has caused many people to review the safety of their financial assets. That's why representatives of the Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Co. and the AXA Equitable Life Insurance Co. are providing information about the safety of the insurance underwritten by Great-West Life and guarantees provided through group annuity contracts issued by AXA Equitable Life. Both insurance companies are highly rated.

The ADA is offering disaster relief and assistance for dentists whose practices were damaged by the hurricanes and tropical storms that have battered the Gulf Coast in recent months.

The Federal Trade Commission on October 22 announced that it would delay for six months enforcement of the Red Flags Rules–which would require financial institutions and creditors to have identity theft prevention programs in place–until May 1, 2009.

St. Louis—They were just like any group of kids, happy to be off of school for the day and on a field trip. Five and 6-year-olds bounced around with the enthusiasm only new adventure can evoke. Pre-teens maintained their pre-teen edge: "I know what I'm doing here," without a trace of negativity.

The ADA Board of Trustees conferred honorary membership on Per-Ingvar Brånemark, M.D., and Yun Po Zhang, Ph.D., Oct. 21, for their dedication to the profession of dentistry.

The American Dental Association turns 150 years old next year, a milestone signaling that the Association is "relevant" and has "standing within the profession" as an advocate for dentistry and its patients.

San Antonio—The ADA House of Delegates Oct. 21 approved the 2009 Association budget—without adopting a dues increase. Dues in 2009 will remain at their current level of $498.

San Antonio—The ADA held its fifth House of Delegates mega topic discussion Oct. 17, examining the impact of social networks on day-to-day practice.

This is the final installment of a series of ADA News articles on dentists' "Top 10" concerns submitted to the ADA about dental claims. The articles include perspectives from ADA members, National Association of Dental Plans members and the Council on Dental Benefit Programs.

In its "Cavity Free Community Campaign," the South Carolina Dental Association made the case that by teaching children of all ages and caregivers how to take care of their oral health, they could foster a cavity-free environment for the entire community and help prevent dental disease.

The ADA urges all plan purchasers and third parties involved with dental benefit plans to review the ADA "Standards for Dental Benefit Plans." These standards have been developed to reflect the Association's views on all types of dental benefit plans and will be a useful benchmark in reviewing the many options that are available.

The presidential candidates should avoid the "ideological food fights" common to most campaigns and offer the American people a "game plan" for the future, Tom Brokaw told the Oct. 17 crowd at San Antonio's Alamodome.