Volume 107, Number 9 (2025)

Each month, The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association provides news, information, and features about Michigan dentistry to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200+ members. It stands as the primary publication reaching Michigan dentists.

The September issue marks the return to a hybrid publishing schedule, with print issues published bimonthly in January, March, May, July, September, and November, and online-only digital issues in February, April, June, August, October, and December. This return to print follows a suspension in May due to association-wide financial issues, with the MDA Board of Trustees approving changes in the 2025 budget to allow for resumption of printing in June. Digital versions will also be available online even in months when print issues are published.

This issue includes:

• A cover feature on Practice Analytics: Your New Best Friend, detailing how dentists can use analytics to achieve their goals and ensure a healthy, profitable practice. The article emphasizes that while financial success is a necessary component, analytics can be tailored to individual practice goals, such as doubling practice size or maintaining profitability while reducing workdays. It outlines key metrics to track, including active patients, collection numbers, the ratio between doctor and hygiene collections, collection per active patient per year, profit, and various overhead expenses.
• A feature on Practice Acquisition: 6 Ways MDA-Endorsed Companies Can Smooth the Way, highlighting how MDA-endorsed vendors can assist members with practice valuations, acquisition loans, transitioning insurance credentials, establishing safe financial procedures, dental gas services, and staffing needs.
• The Dean's Report from Detroit Mercy Dental, by Dean Mert N. Aksu, DDS, JD, MHSA, Cert. DPH, discusses how dental schools safeguard the future of oral health by preparing students as clinicians, leaders, and public health advocates. It covers the importance of community water fluoridation and HPV vaccination, monitoring Medicaid dental program changes, meeting workforce needs through education, educating culturally competent providers, community-based dental education, mobile and school-based programs, community outreach, student-run clinics, and advancing research and innovation. The report also addresses the impact of proposed federal student loan program changes on future dental students and the responsible integration of AI into dental education.
• The Dean's Report from the U-M School of Dentistry, by Dean Jacques Nör, DDS, MS, PhD, celebrates the school's 150-year tradition of excellence and its future plans. It notes the MDA's role in establishing the school in 1875 and highlights the legacy of its first dean, Dr. Jonathan Taft. The report also covers the current DDS class demographics, faculty achievements in research (such as enhancing fluoride efficacy and pain management studies), and the school's commitment to advancing dentistry through education, patient care, and scientific research.

Regular Departments:

• New Dentist Column: "What New and Associate Dentists Need to Know about AI," discusses how artificial intelligence is transforming dentistry, from radiographic analysis and treatment planning to administrative tasks. It advises new dentists to view AI as augmentative, not authoritative, and to be aware of data privacy and security.
• MDA Services: This section includes the feature "Practice Acquisition: 6 Ways MDA-Endorsed Companies Can Smooth the Way". It also highlights that the MDA is a resource for members regarding various benefits and questions, including human resources, licensure, dental benefits, HIPAA/OSHA, and legal issues.
• Dentistry and the Law: "We Forgot to Renew Our Employment Agreement — Now What?" addresses the implications when an employment agreement terminates without renewal, noting that it often becomes an oral agreement with the same terms, and discusses the impact on provisions like non-compete clauses.
• Staff Matters: "Can I Google Someone Before I Decide to Hire Them?" advises caution when using Google searches for job applicants due to potential discrimination based on protected classifications. It recommends conducting such searches after an initial screening interview and obtaining a signed release from the applicant.
• MDA Insurance: This section features information on Understanding Open Enrollment and How MDA Insurance Can Help, providing key dates for 2026 health insurance plans and detailing the advantages of working with MDA Insurance for personalized plan comparisons and support. It also promotes Underutilized Auto and Home Insurance Member Discounts, encouraging members to get quotes to control rising insurance costs.