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Misleading Aspects?
w it h p o s itiv e a c tio n t o t h e ir w is h e s .
w ill o f th e m e m b e r s h ip . The
g a n iz a tio n . B u t , d o w e n o w r e a lly h a v e a n o r
o v e r w h e lm in g m a jo r it y o f s ta te s a re
t o a c q u ir e w h a t is d e m a n d e d a n d o b
fa v o r
o f m e m b e rs
o f n a tio n w id e
in
a g a in s t a n o th e r a t
to r n e y ? L i p s e rv ic e is p r e s e n t, b u t t r y
in
m a jo r it y
w h o w ill t e s tif y th e
T h e a n s w e r is: w e w o u ld h a v e n o o r
r e c ip r o c ity .
ta in e d f r o m th e h e a lin g a rts te s tim o n y
g a n iz a tio n w h ic h t r u ly re p re s e n ts its
How
th e n c a n th e m a jo r ity o f d e le
o n th e s ta n d f r o m m e m b e r s o f th e le g a l
“ gras s r o o t s ” m e m b e rs ?
g a te s f a il to e n d o rs e it in p r in c ip le ?
p r o fe s s io n . A s f a r as I k n o w , i t is n o t
A R T H U R E. O LSEN , DDS
A d e le g a te b y d e le g a te a c c o u n tin g
W E S T A L L IS , W IS
o f e a c h m a n ’ s v o te w o u ld b e e x tr e m e
W h y n o t t r y t o h a v e ju s t ic e d o n e ?
ly h e lp fu l so th a t w e o r d in a r y m e m
W h y n o t m a k e it p o s s ib le f o r a d o c to r
■ N o w th a t a c o m m itt e e h a s b e e n ap
b e rs c a n v o te o u t th o s e w h o r e p r e
t o r e c o v e r c o s ts o f d e fe n s e , lo ss o f
p o in te d to s tu d y a ll m a tte rs p e r t a in
se n t o n ly th e m s e lv e s .
tim e a n d a g g r a v a tio n ? W h y n o t m a k e
p r o c e d u re s ,
JO S E P H J. H A R T , D M D
m a y I o f fe r th e fo llo w in g s u g g e s tio n .
FORT LEO N AR D W O O D , MO
in g
to
d e n ta l lic e n s in g
p o s s ib le .
i t les s p r o f ita b le f o r le g a litie s to p r o m o te s u c h a c tio n s b y a llo w in g th e d e fe n d a n t w h o w in s in su c h ca ses t o in
S e le c t te n h ig h ly r e s p e c te d , w e ll e s ta b lis h e d d e n tis ts (p e r h a p s , m e m
s titu te p ro c e e d in g s a g a in s t th e p r o s e
b e rs o f th is c o m m itt e e o r o f s ta te e x
c u to r?
a m in in g
b o a rd s )
to
u n d e rg o
sta te
L e t u s n o t a c c e p t s ta te m e n ts t o th e
M a lp r a c t ic e a c tio n s
e ffe c t th a t th is w i l l v io la t e t h e ir c o n
b o a r d e x a m in a tio n s in th e te n states ■ M any
c e n ta g e s
(a v a ila b le
d is s e rta tio n s a r e e n c o u n te re d in p u b
th ro u g h A D A s ta tis tic s ). L e t u s th e n
lic a tio n s a n d a t m e e tin g s r e la t iv e to
REUBEN F E LT M A N , DDS
see w h a t p e rc e n ta g e o f th e s e d e n tis ts ,
th e in c re a s e d in c id e n c e o f m a lp r a c
P A S S A IC , N J
w h o (th r o u g h p r e v io u s m u tu a l a g re e
tic e a n d /o r n e g lig e n c e a c tio n s a g a in s t
of
e x a m in e e s
w r it t e n
w o rd s
and
v e rb a l
s titu tio n a l rig h ts ; w e s h o u ld h a v e th e
w h ic h s e e m to r e je c t th e h ig h e s t p e r
m e n t) s h o u ld b e a llo w e d t o p r a c tic e
in d iv id u a ls , g ro u p s , a n d c o rp o r a tio n s
in a n y s ta te , a r e h y p o th e tic a lly d e
in th e p ro fe s s io n s o f th e h e a lin g a rts .
p r iv e d o f t h e ir fr e e d o m
to p r a c tic e
H a v i n g s e rv e d o n g r ie v a n c e c o m m itte e s f o r m a n y y e a rs , I
w h e r e th e y w a n t to p r a c tic e .
s a m e r ig h t.
M is le a d in g a s p e c ts ?
h a v e lis
te n e d to a n d m a d e re c o m m e n d a tio n s
m I f e e l o b lig a te d t o c o m m e n t o n th e
(p o o r
in m a n y c a s e s . W h e n th e p a tie n t w a s
a r tic le b y B a u m a n d M o r g a n in th e
d e n tis ts ), a n d n e ith e r w ill a n y o f th e s e
in th e r ig h t, th e a d v ic e t o th e p r a c t i
N ovem ber
te n h ig h ly r e s p e c te d d e n tis ts i f th e y
t io n e r w a s t o s e ttle in a m a n n e r to
f a il a n y o f th e s e b o a r d e x a m in a tio n s .
p r o p e r ly s a tis fy th e p a tie n t. W h e n th e
a n d fe e l th a t i t is w o r t h y o f in c lu s io n .
O n c e p r o v e n c o m p e te n t, th e y a re —
p a tie n t w a s in th e w r o n g , h e w a s so
H o w e v e r , c e r ta in a s p e c ts o f th e p a p e r
r a th e r — a d v o c a te s o f th e p r in c ip le s o f
a d v is e d in a m a n n e r w h ic h h e c o u ld
m a y b e m is le a d in g t o m a n y d e n tis ts .
fr e e d o m .
u n d e rs ta n d a n d th e m a tte r , u s u a lly ,
I d o n o t b e lie v e t h a t r e c ip r o c ity a d v o c a te s
a re
p o te n tia l
re je c ts
■ I
ja d a
(p a g e 10 9 1 ).
g e n e r a l, I lik e t h e ir te c h n iq u e
F o r e x a m p le , th e y
stres s th e re
q u ir e m e n t ( in t h e ir o p in io n ) o f th e su
w as d ro p p e d .
F a ir enough?
In
A . M . S P E IS E R , D D S
U n f o r t u n a t e ly , m a n y ca ses d o n o t
p in e p o s itio n f o r th e p a tie n t d u rin g
K A Y E N T A , A R IZ
r e a c h th e p r o fe s s io n a l r e la tio n s c o m
r a d io g r a p h y . T h e i r s ta te d r e a s o n is
m itte e s , b u t, in s te a d , re a c h th e o ffic e
th a t th e p r im a r y b e a m e x p o s e s f e w e r
o f a n a t to r n e y .
v it a l a re a s o f th e b o d y d u rin g e x p o
fin d m y s e lf in to ta l a m a z e m e n t
In
s o m e s u c h in c i
a n d s o m e a n g e r o v e r th e re s u lts o f
d e n ts , th e a t to r n e y c o n s u lts w it h th e
s u re i f th e p a tie n t is s u p in e . T h is is
th e lic e n s u r e /r e c ip r o c ity s u rv e y a n d
c o m m itt e e o f th e o r g a n iz e d p r o fe s
n o t n e c e s s a r ily tr u e . T h e p r im e c o n
th e a c tio n ( o r s h o u ld I s a y in a c tio n )
s io n a n d , u p o n le a rn in g th e fa c ts o f
s id e r a tio n is th e r e la tio n s h ip o f th e
o f th e H o u s e o f D e le g a t e s o n th e sam e
th e o th e r s id e , a d v is e s d is c o n tin u a n c e
h e a d to th e re s t o f th e b o d y . I t m a t
iss u e as p r e s e n te d in th e D e c e m b e r
o f th e a c tio n .
JAD A.
te rs lit t le w h e th e r th e p a tie n t is e r e c t,
M o r e o f te n , h o w e v e r , th is d o e s n o t
s u p in e , o r s u s p e n d e d b y th e h e e ls . T h e im p o r ta n t th in g is to m in im iz e
T h e f a ilu r e o f th e H o u s e to a d o p t
o c c u r a n d s u it is in s titu te d . T h e m a
th e E d w a r d C h e r k a s r e s o lu tio n c le a r
j o r i t y o f th e la t t e r cases a m o u n t to
th e v o lu m e o f tis s u e e x p o s e d to th e
ly s h o w s h o w f a r th e A m e r ic a n D e n
“ le g a l b la c k m a il” w h e r e , in f a c t , th e r e
p r im a r y b e a m .
its
is n o c a u s e f o r a c tio n , y e t th e a t to r n e y
I n a d d it io n , fig u re s 7 a n d 8 in th e
r o le as a tr u e r e p r e s e n ta tiv e o f a ll
r e a liz e d th a t to d e fe n d a n a c tio n m u c h
p a p e r w h ic h a r e a tte m p ts to p o in t o u t
ta l A s s o c ia tio n h a s s tra y e d fr o m A m e r ic a n d e n tis ts . A
c o m m itt e e t o
re c o m m e n d a tio n s
s tu d y a n d m a k e on
a ll as p e c ts
of
e x p e n s e w i l l b e in v o lv e d — th u s h o p
th e d iffe r e n c e s b e tw e e n v o lu m e s o f
in g — a n d , in to o m a n y in s ta n c e s , a
tis s u e e x p o s e d w it h r e c ta n g u la r a n d
s e ttle m e n t w i l l b e m a d e .
c ir c u la r b e a m s a r e n o t d r a w n to s c a le .
d e n ta l lic e n s in g p r o c e d u re s is a fin e
I n s itu a tio n s w h e r e a n a t to r n e y is
A s b e s t I c a n d e te r m in e f r o m m e a s
a n d n e c e s s a ry s te p . B u t w h o n e e d s a
c h a rg e d w it h m a lp r a c tic e a n d /o r n e g li
u r e m e n ts o f th e a n g le s , th e ta r g e t-to -
c o m m itte e t o r e c o m m e n d s o m e th in g
g e n c e (a n d I k n o w o f a b la ta n t o n e a t
f il m d is ta n c e in b o th th e r o u n d a n d
th a t a lr e a d y h a s b e e n d e c id e d ? T h e r e
th e p r e s e n t t im e ) , is it p o s s ib le to o b
r e c ta n g u la r b e a m s in fig u r e 7 a r e a p
is n o e x c u s e f o r in a c tio n in e n d o rs in g
t a in a n o th e r a t to r n e y to p r o s e c u te th e
p r o x im a te ly e ig h t in c h e s . I n fig u r e 8 ,
a p r in c ip le w h ic h is th e c u t-a n d -d r y
m a tte r ? C a n o n e o b ta in a n a t to r n e y
w h ic h d e p ic ts th e a u th o r s ’ te c h n iq u e ,
I
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR JADA, Vol. 86, March 1973 ■ 541
i f th e b e a m is t o b e la r g e e n o u g h to e x
c o n s id e r in tr o d u c in g a r e s o lu tio n to
A s a d e n ta l s p e a k e r w it h th o u s a n d s
p o s e a s ta n d a r d n u m b e r t w o p e ria p ic a l
th e A D A H o u s e o f D e le g a t e s a m e n d
o f h o u rs o n th e r o a d o v e r a 1 2 -y e a r
f il m , th e ta r g e t-t o -f ilm d is ta n c e m u s t
in g th e A D A P r i n c i p l e s o f E t h i c s to
p e r io d , I th a n k th e M ic h ig a n D e n t a l
b e a p p r o x im a t e ly 3 0 in c h e s .
m ake
I f th is is th e c a s e , th e p a tie n t in t h e ir d r a w in g m u s t b e a p p r o x im a t e ly
it
ch a rg e
u n e th ic a l f o r e x c e s s iv e
a
fe e s
d e n tis t fo r
to
s h a rin g
A s s o c ia tio n ’ s c o m m itte e f o r d r a w in g a t te n tio n
to
th e
h ig h c o s t o f s o m e
s p e a k e rs , a n d I j o i n w it h th e m in o p e n
p r o fe s s io n a l k n o w le d g e .
te n f e e t ta ll. T h e p o in t h e r e is th a t th e
T h e M D A is t o b e c o m m e n d e d f o r
d iv e r g e n c e o f th e b e a m is c o n tr o lle d
r e c o g n iz in g a c o n tin u in g a n d fr u s tr a t
c r itic is m
of
th e s e
s p e a k e rs .
How
e v e r , I c a ll f o r a re a s s e s s m e n t o f th e
b y ta r g e t-t o -s k in d is ta n c e . T h u s , th e
in g p r o b le m
a n d f o r d r a w in g a tte n
c u r r e n t fe e s o f ty p ic a l d e n ta l s p e a k
v o lu m e o f tis s u e e x p o s e d to th e p r i
tio n to it in th is c o n fe re n c e . I t is w e ll
e r s , a n d a n a c c e p ta n c e o f a m o r e m o d
m a r y b e a m is c o n tr o lle d b y b o th c o l-
r e c o g n iz e d th a t a f e w d e n ta l s p e a k e rs
e r a te le v e l th a n th e c o m m itt e e has
lim a t io n a n d ta r g e t-t o -s k in d is ta n c e .
h a v e ta k e n o b v io u s a d v a n ta g e s o f th e
re c o m m e n d e d .
S. J U L I A N G IBBS, DD S
p o p u la r ity o f. t h e ir s u b je c ts b y c h a rg
G O R D O N J. C H R I S T E N S E N , D D S
N A S H V ILLE , T E N N
in g e x c e s s iv e le c tu r e fe e s . H o w e v e r ,
C H A IR M A N , D E P A R T M E N T O F
i t is a ls o w e ll k n o w n th a t th e t y p ic a l,
R E H A B IL IT A T IV E D E N T IS T R Y
A u t h o r ’ s r e p l y : D r . G ib b s ’ s le t t e r c ite s
re c o g n iz e d d e n ta l a u th o r ity w h o is a c
U N IV E R S IT Y O F C O LO R A D O
c e r ta in p o rtio n s o f th e p a p e r w h ic h h e
t iv e o n th e le c tu r e c ir c u it re q u e s ts a n
fe e ls a r e o p e n to q u e s tio n .
h o n o r a r iu m
F i r s t , it is in d e e d tr u e th a t th e te c h n iq u e a d v o c a te d c a n b e c a r r ie d o u t o n a p a t ie n t w h o is “ e r e c t, s u p in e , o r sus
o n ly s lig h tly m o r e th a n
th e gross d a ily in c o m e o f th e in d iv id u a l d e n tis ts w h o lis te n t o h im . C o n fe r e n c e
p a r tic ip a n ts
a g re e d
Q u e s t i o n s v a lu e o f s t u d y
p e n d e d b y th e h e e ls .” H o w e v e r , c o n
t h a t i t is a p r iv ile g e f o r a f e llo w p r a c
v e n ie n c e in p a tie n t h a n d lin g m a k e s
tit io n e r
th e
m o s t p r a c tic a l.
k n o w le d g e , a n d b a s e d t h e ir r e c o m
p o rta n c e g iv e n to a p a p e r f r o m
F u r t h e r , D r . G ib b s suggests th a t in
m e n d a tio n s f o r a $ 1 0 0 p e r d a y h o n o r
Aug
fig u r e 8 , w h ic h d e p ic ts o u r te c h n iq u e ,
a r iu m o n th is p r e m is e . I t is in d e e d a
J o u r n a l b y b e in g r e p o r t e d in th e D e
th e t a r g e t-t o -f ilm
p r iv ile g e
c e m b e r j a d a (p a g e 1 2 5 7 ).
s u p in e
a t titu d e
d is ta n c e “ m u s t b e
to
s h a re
to
h is
speak
p ro fe s s io n a l
b e fo r e
a
d e n ta l
m I t w a s r a t h e r s tra n g e to n o te th e im
15 is s u e o f th e B r i t i s h
th e
D e n ta l
a p p r o x im a t e ly 3 0 in c h e s ” a n d , th e r e
g r o u p , b u t s h o u ld th e p o p u la r s p e a k e r
N o t o n ly w a s i t a o n e -y e a r s tu d y ,
f o r e , c o n c lu d e s a n e r r o r in s c a le in th e
b e f o r c e d to lim it h is “ s h a rin g o f p r o
b u t th e fo llo w in g fa c ts — as s ta te d b y
d r a w in g . H o w e v e r , th e ta r g e t-t o -f ilm
fe s s io n a l
th e
d is ta n c e
s h a rin g is a fin a n c ia l h a rd s h ip ? F e w
c o n c e rn e d — m a k e th e s tu d y o f q u e s
in c h e s . D is ta n c e s in th is o r d e r o f m a g
d e n ta l p r a c titio n e r s
tio n a b le v a lu e .
n itu d e a r e q u ite p r a c tic a l d u e to th e
fie d w it h th e gross d a ily in c o m e as
— T h e u ltr a v io le t- s e n s itiv e s e a la n t
e a s e in d ir e c tio n u s in g th e o p tic a l sys
su g g e s te d b y th e M D A f o r a s p e a k e r.
c la im s to r e s to re o r s e a l o f f a n a n a to m
is in d e e d
in
excess
o f 30
te m . T h e o n ly lim ita tio n in th e e ffe c
M ost
k n o w le d g e ”
r e c o g n iz e d
because
th is
w o u ld b e satis
d e n ta l
s p e a k e rs
f a l l in to o n e o f t w o c a te g o rie s — th e y
t iv e m illia m p e r a g e o f th e tu b e . A L F R E D T . B A U M , DD S
are
e it h e r
s u c c e s s fu l d e n ta l p r a c ti
tio n e rs w it h
r e la t iv e ly
heavy
o ffic e
o v e rh e a d ex p en ses , o r th e y a re d en
F e e s f o r d e n ta l s p e a k e rs
m a n u fa c tu r e r s
o f th e
p r o d u c ts
ic a lly d e fic ie n t r e g io n o f a to o th . — The 9070
m a n u fa c tu r e r o f E p o x y lit e
F is s u r e
F l u o r id e
S e a la n t
C o a tin g
and
c la im s
T o p ic a l th a t
th is
p r o d u c t is to b e u s e d f o r p r o v id in g
ta l e d u c a to r s . P a y in g th e s e s p e a k e rs
th e t o o th w it h m a x im u m flu o r id e u p
m o d e r a te
ta k e
fe e s
a c c o m p lis h e s
th e s e
a n d f ix a t io n ,
and
s e c o n d a r ily ,
g o a ls : it a llo w s th e p r a c titio n e r to p a y
m a y b e u s e d f o r fis s u r e s e a lin g w h e r e
h is o v e r h e a d w h ile
s ix m o n th s ’ r e c a ll is a v a ila b le .
h e is s p e a k in g ,
■ R e c e n t ly , th e L e a d e r s h i p B u l l e t i n
th e r e b y
o f th e A D A
c a r r ie d a r e p o r t o n th e
m o r e d a y s p e r y e a r , a n d i t a llo w s th e
p r o d u c ts
O c t 11 c o n fe re n c e o f th e M ic h ig a n
e d u c a to r to s u p p le m e n t h is in c o m e ,
p u rp o s e s a n d h a v e d iffe r e n t p h y s ic a l
in flu e n c in g
h im
to
speak
I t is q u ite o b v io u s t h a t th e s e t w o w e re
m eant
fo r
d iffe r e n t
D e n t a l A s s o c ia tio n ’ s C o m m itte e o n
w h ic h is o n e o f th e v e r y f e w w a y s h e
p r o p e r tie s . I w o u ld h a v e th o u g h t th a t
S c ie n tif ic
m a y d o so.
b o th
c lu d e d
P ro g r a m s . T h e r e p o r t in
th e
f o llo w in g
th e
in v e s tig a to r
and
re p o rte r
re c o m m e n d a
B e in g o n th e le c tu r e c ir c u it is w o r k . I t is e x h a u s tin g . I t r e q u ir e s d a y s o f
and
a n d its c o m p o
p r e p a r a tio n in r e a d in g , s lid e m a k in g ,
u c t s im ila r to th e u lt r a v io le t a c tiv a te d
n e n ts a d o p t a p o lic y lim itin g th e fe e
h a n d o u t d e v e lo p m e n t, a n d a d d itio n a l
o n e is 9 0 7 5 , n o t 9 0 7 0 .
o r h o n o r a r iu m f o r a d e n ta l s p e a k e r
h o u rs o f in v o lv e m e n t p u ttin g a w a y
I f e e l t h a t th e re a d e rs o f th e j a d a
to
expenses—
te a c h in g m a te r ia ls a n d c a tc h in g u p o n
a n d th e m a n u fa c tu r e r s a r e o w e d a n
a n d t h a t d e n ta l s c h o o ls , s tu d y c lu b s ,
th e w o r k th a t c o n tin u e d o n a t h o m e
e x p la n a tio n a n d a p o lo g y b y th e e d it
and
w h ile th e le c tu r e
tio n s : — t h a t th e
$ 1 0 0 'p e r o th e r
M D A
d a y — p lu s
d e n ta l
o r g a n iz a tio n s
in
w as
b e in g g iv e n .
M ic h ig a n b e u r g e d to a d o p t th e s a m e
The
p o lic y , a n d
f r o m h is f a m ily f o r m a n y d a y s e a c h
— t h a t th e M D A b o a r d o f tru s te e s
y e a r.
p o p u la r le c tu r e r
a ls o
is
aw ay
w o u ld h a v e k n o w le d g e o f th a t f a c t , th e
Lee
P h a r m a c e u tic a l p r o d
ors f o r p r o m u lg a tin g a s tu d y th a t has v e r y lit t le r e le v a n c e . R O B E R T S T U A R T , DDS M O U N T K IS C O , N Y
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR / JADA, Vol. 86, March 1973 ■ 545
w ill o f th e m e m b e r s h ip . The
g a n iz a tio n . B u t , d o w e n o w r e a lly h a v e a n o r
o v e r w h e lm in g m a jo r it y o f s ta te s a re
t o a c q u ir e w h a t is d e m a n d e d a n d o b
fa v o r
o f m e m b e rs
o f n a tio n w id e
in
a g a in s t a n o th e r a t
to r n e y ? L i p s e rv ic e is p r e s e n t, b u t t r y
in
m a jo r it y
w h o w ill t e s tif y th e
T h e a n s w e r is: w e w o u ld h a v e n o o r
r e c ip r o c ity .
ta in e d f r o m th e h e a lin g a rts te s tim o n y
g a n iz a tio n w h ic h t r u ly re p re s e n ts its
How
th e n c a n th e m a jo r ity o f d e le
o n th e s ta n d f r o m m e m b e r s o f th e le g a l
“ gras s r o o t s ” m e m b e rs ?
g a te s f a il to e n d o rs e it in p r in c ip le ?
p r o fe s s io n . A s f a r as I k n o w , i t is n o t
A R T H U R E. O LSEN , DDS
A d e le g a te b y d e le g a te a c c o u n tin g
W E S T A L L IS , W IS
o f e a c h m a n ’ s v o te w o u ld b e e x tr e m e
W h y n o t t r y t o h a v e ju s t ic e d o n e ?
ly h e lp fu l so th a t w e o r d in a r y m e m
W h y n o t m a k e it p o s s ib le f o r a d o c to r
■ N o w th a t a c o m m itt e e h a s b e e n ap
b e rs c a n v o te o u t th o s e w h o r e p r e
t o r e c o v e r c o s ts o f d e fe n s e , lo ss o f
p o in te d to s tu d y a ll m a tte rs p e r t a in
se n t o n ly th e m s e lv e s .
tim e a n d a g g r a v a tio n ? W h y n o t m a k e
p r o c e d u re s ,
JO S E P H J. H A R T , D M D
m a y I o f fe r th e fo llo w in g s u g g e s tio n .
FORT LEO N AR D W O O D , MO
in g
to
d e n ta l lic e n s in g
p o s s ib le .
i t les s p r o f ita b le f o r le g a litie s to p r o m o te s u c h a c tio n s b y a llo w in g th e d e fe n d a n t w h o w in s in su c h ca ses t o in
S e le c t te n h ig h ly r e s p e c te d , w e ll e s ta b lis h e d d e n tis ts (p e r h a p s , m e m
s titu te p ro c e e d in g s a g a in s t th e p r o s e
b e rs o f th is c o m m itt e e o r o f s ta te e x
c u to r?
a m in in g
b o a rd s )
to
u n d e rg o
sta te
L e t u s n o t a c c e p t s ta te m e n ts t o th e
M a lp r a c t ic e a c tio n s
e ffe c t th a t th is w i l l v io la t e t h e ir c o n
b o a r d e x a m in a tio n s in th e te n states ■ M any
c e n ta g e s
(a v a ila b le
d is s e rta tio n s a r e e n c o u n te re d in p u b
th ro u g h A D A s ta tis tic s ). L e t u s th e n
lic a tio n s a n d a t m e e tin g s r e la t iv e to
REUBEN F E LT M A N , DDS
see w h a t p e rc e n ta g e o f th e s e d e n tis ts ,
th e in c re a s e d in c id e n c e o f m a lp r a c
P A S S A IC , N J
w h o (th r o u g h p r e v io u s m u tu a l a g re e
tic e a n d /o r n e g lig e n c e a c tio n s a g a in s t
of
e x a m in e e s
w r it t e n
w o rd s
and
v e rb a l
s titu tio n a l rig h ts ; w e s h o u ld h a v e th e
w h ic h s e e m to r e je c t th e h ig h e s t p e r
m e n t) s h o u ld b e a llo w e d t o p r a c tic e
in d iv id u a ls , g ro u p s , a n d c o rp o r a tio n s
in a n y s ta te , a r e h y p o th e tic a lly d e
in th e p ro fe s s io n s o f th e h e a lin g a rts .
p r iv e d o f t h e ir fr e e d o m
to p r a c tic e
H a v i n g s e rv e d o n g r ie v a n c e c o m m itte e s f o r m a n y y e a rs , I
w h e r e th e y w a n t to p r a c tic e .
s a m e r ig h t.
M is le a d in g a s p e c ts ?
h a v e lis
te n e d to a n d m a d e re c o m m e n d a tio n s
m I f e e l o b lig a te d t o c o m m e n t o n th e
(p o o r
in m a n y c a s e s . W h e n th e p a tie n t w a s
a r tic le b y B a u m a n d M o r g a n in th e
d e n tis ts ), a n d n e ith e r w ill a n y o f th e s e
in th e r ig h t, th e a d v ic e t o th e p r a c t i
N ovem ber
te n h ig h ly r e s p e c te d d e n tis ts i f th e y
t io n e r w a s t o s e ttle in a m a n n e r to
f a il a n y o f th e s e b o a r d e x a m in a tio n s .
p r o p e r ly s a tis fy th e p a tie n t. W h e n th e
a n d fe e l th a t i t is w o r t h y o f in c lu s io n .
O n c e p r o v e n c o m p e te n t, th e y a re —
p a tie n t w a s in th e w r o n g , h e w a s so
H o w e v e r , c e r ta in a s p e c ts o f th e p a p e r
r a th e r — a d v o c a te s o f th e p r in c ip le s o f
a d v is e d in a m a n n e r w h ic h h e c o u ld
m a y b e m is le a d in g t o m a n y d e n tis ts .
fr e e d o m .
u n d e rs ta n d a n d th e m a tte r , u s u a lly ,
I d o n o t b e lie v e t h a t r e c ip r o c ity a d v o c a te s
a re
p o te n tia l
re je c ts
■ I
ja d a
(p a g e 10 9 1 ).
g e n e r a l, I lik e t h e ir te c h n iq u e
F o r e x a m p le , th e y
stres s th e re
q u ir e m e n t ( in t h e ir o p in io n ) o f th e su
w as d ro p p e d .
F a ir enough?
In
A . M . S P E IS E R , D D S
U n f o r t u n a t e ly , m a n y ca ses d o n o t
p in e p o s itio n f o r th e p a tie n t d u rin g
K A Y E N T A , A R IZ
r e a c h th e p r o fe s s io n a l r e la tio n s c o m
r a d io g r a p h y . T h e i r s ta te d r e a s o n is
m itte e s , b u t, in s te a d , re a c h th e o ffic e
th a t th e p r im a r y b e a m e x p o s e s f e w e r
o f a n a t to r n e y .
v it a l a re a s o f th e b o d y d u rin g e x p o
fin d m y s e lf in to ta l a m a z e m e n t
In
s o m e s u c h in c i
a n d s o m e a n g e r o v e r th e re s u lts o f
d e n ts , th e a t to r n e y c o n s u lts w it h th e
s u re i f th e p a tie n t is s u p in e . T h is is
th e lic e n s u r e /r e c ip r o c ity s u rv e y a n d
c o m m itt e e o f th e o r g a n iz e d p r o fe s
n o t n e c e s s a r ily tr u e . T h e p r im e c o n
th e a c tio n ( o r s h o u ld I s a y in a c tio n )
s io n a n d , u p o n le a rn in g th e fa c ts o f
s id e r a tio n is th e r e la tio n s h ip o f th e
o f th e H o u s e o f D e le g a t e s o n th e sam e
th e o th e r s id e , a d v is e s d is c o n tin u a n c e
h e a d to th e re s t o f th e b o d y . I t m a t
iss u e as p r e s e n te d in th e D e c e m b e r
o f th e a c tio n .
JAD A.
te rs lit t le w h e th e r th e p a tie n t is e r e c t,
M o r e o f te n , h o w e v e r , th is d o e s n o t
s u p in e , o r s u s p e n d e d b y th e h e e ls . T h e im p o r ta n t th in g is to m in im iz e
T h e f a ilu r e o f th e H o u s e to a d o p t
o c c u r a n d s u it is in s titu te d . T h e m a
th e E d w a r d C h e r k a s r e s o lu tio n c le a r
j o r i t y o f th e la t t e r cases a m o u n t to
th e v o lu m e o f tis s u e e x p o s e d to th e
ly s h o w s h o w f a r th e A m e r ic a n D e n
“ le g a l b la c k m a il” w h e r e , in f a c t , th e r e
p r im a r y b e a m .
its
is n o c a u s e f o r a c tio n , y e t th e a t to r n e y
I n a d d it io n , fig u re s 7 a n d 8 in th e
r o le as a tr u e r e p r e s e n ta tiv e o f a ll
r e a liz e d th a t to d e fe n d a n a c tio n m u c h
p a p e r w h ic h a r e a tte m p ts to p o in t o u t
ta l A s s o c ia tio n h a s s tra y e d fr o m A m e r ic a n d e n tis ts . A
c o m m itt e e t o
re c o m m e n d a tio n s
s tu d y a n d m a k e on
a ll as p e c ts
of
e x p e n s e w i l l b e in v o lv e d — th u s h o p
th e d iffe r e n c e s b e tw e e n v o lu m e s o f
in g — a n d , in to o m a n y in s ta n c e s , a
tis s u e e x p o s e d w it h r e c ta n g u la r a n d
s e ttle m e n t w i l l b e m a d e .
c ir c u la r b e a m s a r e n o t d r a w n to s c a le .
d e n ta l lic e n s in g p r o c e d u re s is a fin e
I n s itu a tio n s w h e r e a n a t to r n e y is
A s b e s t I c a n d e te r m in e f r o m m e a s
a n d n e c e s s a ry s te p . B u t w h o n e e d s a
c h a rg e d w it h m a lp r a c tic e a n d /o r n e g li
u r e m e n ts o f th e a n g le s , th e ta r g e t-to -
c o m m itte e t o r e c o m m e n d s o m e th in g
g e n c e (a n d I k n o w o f a b la ta n t o n e a t
f il m d is ta n c e in b o th th e r o u n d a n d
th a t a lr e a d y h a s b e e n d e c id e d ? T h e r e
th e p r e s e n t t im e ) , is it p o s s ib le to o b
r e c ta n g u la r b e a m s in fig u r e 7 a r e a p
is n o e x c u s e f o r in a c tio n in e n d o rs in g
t a in a n o th e r a t to r n e y to p r o s e c u te th e
p r o x im a te ly e ig h t in c h e s . I n fig u r e 8 ,
a p r in c ip le w h ic h is th e c u t-a n d -d r y
m a tte r ? C a n o n e o b ta in a n a t to r n e y
w h ic h d e p ic ts th e a u th o r s ’ te c h n iq u e ,
I
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR JADA, Vol. 86, March 1973 ■ 541
i f th e b e a m is t o b e la r g e e n o u g h to e x
c o n s id e r in tr o d u c in g a r e s o lu tio n to
A s a d e n ta l s p e a k e r w it h th o u s a n d s
p o s e a s ta n d a r d n u m b e r t w o p e ria p ic a l
th e A D A H o u s e o f D e le g a t e s a m e n d
o f h o u rs o n th e r o a d o v e r a 1 2 -y e a r
f il m , th e ta r g e t-t o -f ilm d is ta n c e m u s t
in g th e A D A P r i n c i p l e s o f E t h i c s to
p e r io d , I th a n k th e M ic h ig a n D e n t a l
b e a p p r o x im a t e ly 3 0 in c h e s .
m ake
I f th is is th e c a s e , th e p a tie n t in t h e ir d r a w in g m u s t b e a p p r o x im a t e ly
it
ch a rg e
u n e th ic a l f o r e x c e s s iv e
a
fe e s
d e n tis t fo r
to
s h a rin g
A s s o c ia tio n ’ s c o m m itte e f o r d r a w in g a t te n tio n
to
th e
h ig h c o s t o f s o m e
s p e a k e rs , a n d I j o i n w it h th e m in o p e n
p r o fe s s io n a l k n o w le d g e .
te n f e e t ta ll. T h e p o in t h e r e is th a t th e
T h e M D A is t o b e c o m m e n d e d f o r
d iv e r g e n c e o f th e b e a m is c o n tr o lle d
r e c o g n iz in g a c o n tin u in g a n d fr u s tr a t
c r itic is m
of
th e s e
s p e a k e rs .
How
e v e r , I c a ll f o r a re a s s e s s m e n t o f th e
b y ta r g e t-t o -s k in d is ta n c e . T h u s , th e
in g p r o b le m
a n d f o r d r a w in g a tte n
c u r r e n t fe e s o f ty p ic a l d e n ta l s p e a k
v o lu m e o f tis s u e e x p o s e d to th e p r i
tio n to it in th is c o n fe re n c e . I t is w e ll
e r s , a n d a n a c c e p ta n c e o f a m o r e m o d
m a r y b e a m is c o n tr o lle d b y b o th c o l-
r e c o g n iz e d th a t a f e w d e n ta l s p e a k e rs
e r a te le v e l th a n th e c o m m itt e e has
lim a t io n a n d ta r g e t-t o -s k in d is ta n c e .
h a v e ta k e n o b v io u s a d v a n ta g e s o f th e
re c o m m e n d e d .
S. J U L I A N G IBBS, DD S
p o p u la r ity o f. t h e ir s u b je c ts b y c h a rg
G O R D O N J. C H R I S T E N S E N , D D S
N A S H V ILLE , T E N N
in g e x c e s s iv e le c tu r e fe e s . H o w e v e r ,
C H A IR M A N , D E P A R T M E N T O F
i t is a ls o w e ll k n o w n th a t th e t y p ic a l,
R E H A B IL IT A T IV E D E N T IS T R Y
A u t h o r ’ s r e p l y : D r . G ib b s ’ s le t t e r c ite s
re c o g n iz e d d e n ta l a u th o r ity w h o is a c
U N IV E R S IT Y O F C O LO R A D O
c e r ta in p o rtio n s o f th e p a p e r w h ic h h e
t iv e o n th e le c tu r e c ir c u it re q u e s ts a n
fe e ls a r e o p e n to q u e s tio n .
h o n o r a r iu m
F i r s t , it is in d e e d tr u e th a t th e te c h n iq u e a d v o c a te d c a n b e c a r r ie d o u t o n a p a t ie n t w h o is “ e r e c t, s u p in e , o r sus
o n ly s lig h tly m o r e th a n
th e gross d a ily in c o m e o f th e in d iv id u a l d e n tis ts w h o lis te n t o h im . C o n fe r e n c e
p a r tic ip a n ts
a g re e d
Q u e s t i o n s v a lu e o f s t u d y
p e n d e d b y th e h e e ls .” H o w e v e r , c o n
t h a t i t is a p r iv ile g e f o r a f e llo w p r a c
v e n ie n c e in p a tie n t h a n d lin g m a k e s
tit io n e r
th e
m o s t p r a c tic a l.
k n o w le d g e , a n d b a s e d t h e ir r e c o m
p o rta n c e g iv e n to a p a p e r f r o m
F u r t h e r , D r . G ib b s suggests th a t in
m e n d a tio n s f o r a $ 1 0 0 p e r d a y h o n o r
Aug
fig u r e 8 , w h ic h d e p ic ts o u r te c h n iq u e ,
a r iu m o n th is p r e m is e . I t is in d e e d a
J o u r n a l b y b e in g r e p o r t e d in th e D e
th e t a r g e t-t o -f ilm
p r iv ile g e
c e m b e r j a d a (p a g e 1 2 5 7 ).
s u p in e
a t titu d e
d is ta n c e “ m u s t b e
to
s h a re
to
h is
speak
p ro fe s s io n a l
b e fo r e
a
d e n ta l
m I t w a s r a t h e r s tra n g e to n o te th e im
15 is s u e o f th e B r i t i s h
th e
D e n ta l
a p p r o x im a t e ly 3 0 in c h e s ” a n d , th e r e
g r o u p , b u t s h o u ld th e p o p u la r s p e a k e r
N o t o n ly w a s i t a o n e -y e a r s tu d y ,
f o r e , c o n c lu d e s a n e r r o r in s c a le in th e
b e f o r c e d to lim it h is “ s h a rin g o f p r o
b u t th e fo llo w in g fa c ts — as s ta te d b y
d r a w in g . H o w e v e r , th e ta r g e t-t o -f ilm
fe s s io n a l
th e
d is ta n c e
s h a rin g is a fin a n c ia l h a rd s h ip ? F e w
c o n c e rn e d — m a k e th e s tu d y o f q u e s
in c h e s . D is ta n c e s in th is o r d e r o f m a g
d e n ta l p r a c titio n e r s
tio n a b le v a lu e .
n itu d e a r e q u ite p r a c tic a l d u e to th e
fie d w it h th e gross d a ily in c o m e as
— T h e u ltr a v io le t- s e n s itiv e s e a la n t
e a s e in d ir e c tio n u s in g th e o p tic a l sys
su g g e s te d b y th e M D A f o r a s p e a k e r.
c la im s to r e s to re o r s e a l o f f a n a n a to m
is in d e e d
in
excess
o f 30
te m . T h e o n ly lim ita tio n in th e e ffe c
M ost
k n o w le d g e ”
r e c o g n iz e d
because
th is
w o u ld b e satis
d e n ta l
s p e a k e rs
f a l l in to o n e o f t w o c a te g o rie s — th e y
t iv e m illia m p e r a g e o f th e tu b e . A L F R E D T . B A U M , DD S
are
e it h e r
s u c c e s s fu l d e n ta l p r a c ti
tio n e rs w it h
r e la t iv e ly
heavy
o ffic e
o v e rh e a d ex p en ses , o r th e y a re d en
F e e s f o r d e n ta l s p e a k e rs
m a n u fa c tu r e r s
o f th e
p r o d u c ts
ic a lly d e fic ie n t r e g io n o f a to o th . — The 9070
m a n u fa c tu r e r o f E p o x y lit e
F is s u r e
F l u o r id e
S e a la n t
C o a tin g
and
c la im s
T o p ic a l th a t
th is
p r o d u c t is to b e u s e d f o r p r o v id in g
ta l e d u c a to r s . P a y in g th e s e s p e a k e rs
th e t o o th w it h m a x im u m flu o r id e u p
m o d e r a te
ta k e
fe e s
a c c o m p lis h e s
th e s e
a n d f ix a t io n ,
and
s e c o n d a r ily ,
g o a ls : it a llo w s th e p r a c titio n e r to p a y
m a y b e u s e d f o r fis s u r e s e a lin g w h e r e
h is o v e r h e a d w h ile
s ix m o n th s ’ r e c a ll is a v a ila b le .
h e is s p e a k in g ,
■ R e c e n t ly , th e L e a d e r s h i p B u l l e t i n
th e r e b y
o f th e A D A
c a r r ie d a r e p o r t o n th e
m o r e d a y s p e r y e a r , a n d i t a llo w s th e
p r o d u c ts
O c t 11 c o n fe re n c e o f th e M ic h ig a n
e d u c a to r to s u p p le m e n t h is in c o m e ,
p u rp o s e s a n d h a v e d iffe r e n t p h y s ic a l
in flu e n c in g
h im
to
speak
I t is q u ite o b v io u s t h a t th e s e t w o w e re
m eant
fo r
d iffe r e n t
D e n t a l A s s o c ia tio n ’ s C o m m itte e o n
w h ic h is o n e o f th e v e r y f e w w a y s h e
p r o p e r tie s . I w o u ld h a v e th o u g h t th a t
S c ie n tif ic
m a y d o so.
b o th
c lu d e d
P ro g r a m s . T h e r e p o r t in
th e
f o llo w in g
th e
in v e s tig a to r
and
re p o rte r
re c o m m e n d a
B e in g o n th e le c tu r e c ir c u it is w o r k . I t is e x h a u s tin g . I t r e q u ir e s d a y s o f
and
a n d its c o m p o
p r e p a r a tio n in r e a d in g , s lid e m a k in g ,
u c t s im ila r to th e u lt r a v io le t a c tiv a te d
n e n ts a d o p t a p o lic y lim itin g th e fe e
h a n d o u t d e v e lo p m e n t, a n d a d d itio n a l
o n e is 9 0 7 5 , n o t 9 0 7 0 .
o r h o n o r a r iu m f o r a d e n ta l s p e a k e r
h o u rs o f in v o lv e m e n t p u ttin g a w a y
I f e e l t h a t th e re a d e rs o f th e j a d a
to
expenses—
te a c h in g m a te r ia ls a n d c a tc h in g u p o n
a n d th e m a n u fa c tu r e r s a r e o w e d a n
a n d t h a t d e n ta l s c h o o ls , s tu d y c lu b s ,
th e w o r k th a t c o n tin u e d o n a t h o m e
e x p la n a tio n a n d a p o lo g y b y th e e d it
and
w h ile th e le c tu r e
tio n s : — t h a t th e
$ 1 0 0 'p e r o th e r
M D A
d a y — p lu s
d e n ta l
o r g a n iz a tio n s
in
w as
b e in g g iv e n .
M ic h ig a n b e u r g e d to a d o p t th e s a m e
The
p o lic y , a n d
f r o m h is f a m ily f o r m a n y d a y s e a c h
— t h a t th e M D A b o a r d o f tru s te e s
y e a r.
p o p u la r le c tu r e r
a ls o
is
aw ay
w o u ld h a v e k n o w le d g e o f th a t f a c t , th e
Lee
P h a r m a c e u tic a l p r o d
ors f o r p r o m u lg a tin g a s tu d y th a t has v e r y lit t le r e le v a n c e . R O B E R T S T U A R T , DDS M O U N T K IS C O , N Y
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR / JADA, Vol. 86, March 1973 ■ 545