Volume 104, Number 9 (2022)

Monthly, The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association brings news, information, and feature articles to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200+ members. No publication reaches more Michigan dentists! In this issue, the reader will find the following original content:

• Annual reports to our readers from each of our state dental schools.
• A 10-Minute EBD column on the use of Articaine local anesthetic.
• News you need, an Editorial and regular department articles, Dentistry and the Law, Staff Matters, Advocacy, Headquarters Report and component news.

This issue also includes one article reprinted with permission.

• Student A by ADA Trustee Brett Kessler has been reprinted from the Journal of the Indiana Dental Association. His commentary discusses the pervasive misunderstanding surrounding addiction to alcohol and drugs, emphasizing the need to view it as a disease rather than a moral failing. Dr. Kessler shares a personal story of “Student A” and how they struggled with alcoholism and addiction during dental school due to academic pressure. Their descent into addiction, isolation, and a DUI arrest led them to seek help through their dental school's Well-Being Program, which saved their life. The commentary stresses the importance of recognizing addiction as a treatable condition, promoting professional diversion programs, and the ethical obligation of colleagues to report impaired practitioners.