{ from the editor } by Douglas Wyckoff, DDS • Editor


A Future Without MDA I


f you listen in on enough conversations among leadership, you’ll hear concern about member numbers. That’s because over the past few years, market share has decreased. There are many hypotheses about why this is occurring.


Some wonder if benefits are changing enough to keep up with what new dentists want and expect.


Some think members are more comfortable disassociating with the more traditional idea of belonging to a professional organiza- tion (especially when ever-increasing online groups provide community — without hav- ing to pay dues or travel to a meeting).


Some say it’s a communication problem: dentists just aren’t informed of everything we do and if they were, they would understand the value of belonging. With all the ways there are to deliver information these days, we just need to break through the noise.


Some chalk it up to the evolution in practice types with more today than ever before: private, education, military, dental service organizations, safety net clinics and group practices. Do you really benefit from MDA’s work on your behalf in all these settings?


Those questions and ponderings just scratch the surface of the ones that have and con- tinue to be posed. It is right to always ask questions and seek answers.


I personally wonder if it’s not one large problem all these other questions fall under, and it is this: While the work of our dental associations (like MDA and ADA) over the years have created positive impacts on our practices, we forget this steady work — ad- mittedly, sometimes taking months and years to bear fruit — and thus assume our practice environment will always be protected, even if dental organizations aren’t there to advocate for us.


6 focus | FALL 2023 | ISSUE 3


We currently have a majority of dentists as members and hustle day in and out to recruit and retain those, but what happens if we fall to a 50 percent range? The adage of “ignore something and it will go away” cannot be truer than in this scenario. While it’s hard to imagine the MDA and ADA ever really “going away” — and maybe just sounds like hyperbole — what happens to our ability to influence and advocate to affect positive change and protect the dental profession if membership no longer represents a majority.


That brings me to the current issue you are holding. Take some time to read it and about all your dental organizations are trying to do to improve your profession, or at least protect it from burdensome regulations and policies that interfere with you having a great dental team and providing the best patient care.


There is an extensive update about work- force initiatives. These efforts that MDA is involved in and often leading are to ensure a strong dental team and an improved pipeline of Missourians who want to choose the dental profession as a career and stay because


of the opportunities to provide meaningful care in their communities as a valued dental team member.


There is an update on the MDA EFDA program, including the Basic Skills Exam In-Person Review and MDA Training Center coming soon. EFDA’s are integral team mem- bers. This long-standing, successful program was originally developed and advocated for by the MDA and continues to help dental team members upskill for increased practice efficiency.


There is an article focused on Medicaid and busting myths that may be barriers to become a provider. The reimbursement rates for this program have never been better and are due in large part to MDA’s continual advocacy. MDA also has been an integral part of helping establish the Dental Medicaid Facilitator who is available to answer your questions and help you with enrollment, billing and more — because we knew doctors needed less red tape and assistance cutting through when they encountered it.


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