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HOT News! The End of the Year Is Approaching Quickly!
And so is the time to renew your membership dues for 2008. This year, for the first time, we will be sending e-invoices for dues to make the renewal process faster and easier. Look for your first e-invoice at the beginning of October. If you prefer the paper invoice, don’t worry—you will still receive it beginning in November if you have yet to renew.
And don’t forget…you can win just for renewing online and updating your profile!
When you renew online, make sure your profile is up-to-date under the My AGD tab and check the box verifying that your information is correct. When you renew online and check or update your profile, you’ll automatically be entered in a drawing to win a gift card for office supplies, a GPS receiver, or a laptop computer!
Look for more details to come with your invoice. If you have any questions about membership renewal, contact the Membership Services Center at 888.AGD.DENT (888.243.3368), ext. 5300, or membership@agd.org.
AGD Connects with Students at the ASDA Annual Session!
On Aug. 30, 2007, the AGD hosted the breakout session “Shaping Your Future Today: Finding Your Passion in General Dentistry” to a packed room. Kenton Ross, DMD, FAGD, a former national president of the American Student Dental Association (ASDA), presented on behalf of the AGD, with additional commentary from AGD Vice President David Halpern, DMD, FAGD. Attendees received a free copy of the new student transition manual You’ve Graduated, Now What?, which was produced by the AGD and Dentist’s Advantage, as well as free AGD water bottles and beach mats. Feedback from the ASDA following the meeting revealed positive remarks and high evaluation scores from session attendees. Later in the evening, the AGD hosted a table at the Exhibits Fair, fielding questions about the breakout session, talking about AGD membership, and stamping raffle cards.
AGD’s Red Alert in REDBOOK
 The AGD’s message about the effects of soda on tooth enamel continues to be a hit with major media outlets. In the October 2007 issue of REDBOOK magazine, AGD spokesperson, Laura Murcko, DMD, was featured in a column called, "REDBOOK Handbook: Advice, Answers, and Health News You Can Use." The article included tips for consumers, such as sipping through a straw so that harmful acids have less contact with teeth. The complete column can be found on page 119. REDBOOK reaches nearly 2.5 million readers each month. The column was linked to a study, “ Commercial soft drinks: pH and in vitro dissolution of enamel,” which was published in the March/April 2007 issue of General Dentistry, the AGD’s clinical peer-reviewed journal.
Voice Your Opinion: "How do you Talk to your Patients About the AGD?"
The AGD wants to ensure that AGD members are receiving timely issues and topics that touch our members. Share with us your thoughts and comments regarding your communication with your patients about the AGD and how this affects your business!
We'll be posting a new survey online each month to get regular feedback from all AGD members. Take the Survey now!
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Take Action to Protect Dental Coverage in SCHIP Legislation!  At press time, it is believed that the dental coverage provision will be included in the final State Children’s Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP) conference bill, and this is all because of grassroots constituent pressure from the dental community, including Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) members! Keep up the pressure because nothing is final in Washington, D.C., until the bill is actually passed, and we need to ensure that we get “veto proof” margins in each congressional chamber!
Dental Guarantee in SCHIP Very Possible! SCHIP compromise might be in trouble, but there is hope for dental coverage inclusion! Leaders from both congressional chambers are struggling to bridge the differences between the SCHIP reauthorization bill passed by the House and the version passed by the Senate. However, both chambers agree that not sending a single bill that reflects compromise between the two chambers to the president before the program expires on Sept. 30, 2007, would indicate failure.
General Dentists’ Eyes, Ears, and Voices for Sept. 26, 2007
From across the country, legislative and regulatory issues are affecting general dentists, as well as the entire dental team. Find out if you will be affected by any new or proposed laws! |
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