Resort District Dental Society

Announcements
New Continuing Education Rules		NMC dental assistant program
	Disposal of used fixer and developer	Christmas Party Photos
Northland Dental Hygienists’ Society Schedule of Events and Sub List, use link on navigation bar on the left

New Continuing Education Rules

News from the MDA regarding: "News from the MDA regarding: "New Continuing Education Rules"
Effective June 15, 2004

                                      I.        Number of total credit hours unchanged:

A.   Dentists: at least 60 within each 3-year licensing period

B.   Hygienists and RDA's: at least 36

                                    II.        Clinical coursework: General dentists must now complete a minimum of 20 hours of the 60 in course programs directly related to clinical issues - could include delivery of care, materials used in the delivery of care and pharmacology.

                                   III.        Dental Specialists: same as clinical coursework above

                                  IV.        Online category: 20 of the 60 can come via the internet for dentists; 12 of the 36 for RDH and RDA.

                                   V.        Pain management requirement: Dentist are now required to complete at least one CE hour in main and symptom management during each renewal period. These may include behavior management, psychology of pain, pharmacology, behavior modification, stress management, clinical applications, drug interactions, or other related topics. (There was no mention of Oprah or Dr. Phil.)

                                  VI.        When the new rules apply: One-third of all dental licenses expire Aug 31 of each year. The new requirements begin applying to dentists, hygienists and RDA's for the three-year period starting Sept 1, 2005.

A current copy of the state of Michigan's revised CE rules is available on the MDA website, in the professional section (which requires your ADA number) by clicking this link: MI Board of Dentistry General Rules, and then selecting the Continuing Education bullet.

NMC ASSISTING PROGRAM NEEDS OUR HELP!!

The Dental Assistant program at Northwestern Michigan College operates under a limited budget. If you have dental supplies/equipment that you are no longer using please contact us and we would be happy to pick the items up. We cannot accept outdated chemicals.

Your donation will be acknowledged by the NMC Foundation and can be used for tax purposes.

Sincere thanks for considering this request.

Alison Collins - Program Director

acollins@nmc.edu

Alison Collins, CDA, MS

Program Director - Dental Assistant

Northwestern Michigan College

1701 East Front Street

Traverse City, MI 49686

231-995-1250

Expanded Functions for Registered Dental Assistant: (As of July 3, 2004)

A dentist shall not assign the following intra-oral dental procedures to a registered dental assistant unless the procedures are performed under the general supervision of a licensed dentist, as defined by part 1, R 338.11101, Section (i) "general supervision" means that a dentist has designated a patient of record upon whom services are to be performed. The dentist shall be physically present in the office at the time the procedures are being performed.

Performing pulp vitality testing
Placing and removing matrices and wedges
Applying cavity liners and bases
Placing and packing non-epinephrine retraction cords
Application of desensitizing agents
Taking an impression for orthodontic appliances, mouth guards, bite splints and bleaching trays
Dry endodontic canals with absorbent points
Acid Etching and placing adhesive prior to placement of orthodontic brackets

R 338.11101. Section (g) "Direct supervision" means that a dentist has designated a patient of record upon whom services are to be performed by an assistant, registered dental assistant, or registered dental hygienist and has described the procedures to be performed. The dentist shall examine the patient before prescribing the procedure to be performed and again upon completion of the procedure. The dentist shall be physically present in the office at the time the procedures are being performed.

Placing, condensing, and carving amalgam restorations

Taking final impression for indirect restorations

ATTENTION MEMBER DENTISTS

It has come to my attention that many local dentists dispose of their used fixer and developer at the Traverse City Wastewater Treatment facility (OMI, Inc.). This is a valuable service to dentists, but we need to be aware that the facility has a protocol that needs to be followed. Some cases have occurred where dentists have dropped off developer/fixer in the afternoon without properly checking in with the staff ("like a baby on a doorstep", according to one staff member). This causes problems for the facility and leads to program abuse. We need to follow protocol to help the facility and ensure that we have an efficient and effective program for the disposal of these chemicals.

When the fixer and developer are treated, silver is recovered. I spoke to a representative of the Eastman Kodak Company who told me that while the fixer contains the most silver, with the developer containing some as well. Our local program at OMI, Inc. has requested that only fixer be submitted for treatment.

In regards to our local program at OMI, Inc., please turn in your chemicals (fixer only) by following this protocol:

- Pour (fixer only) into a stable, leak-proof container and turn in together (this was verified with Chris Keister, Industrial Pre-treatment Coordinator at OMI, Inc.).

- Take the container and contents to the facility BEFORE 4:00PM.

- Check in with the staff at the facility. Containers need to be properly checked in and labeled with the appropriate contact information.

- DO NOT drop chemicals off without proper check-in.

Following this protocol will help the facility, which in turn helps dentistry and the environment.

Thank you for your cooperation.