FOCUS | ISSUE 3 | 2010
ing and adjusting permanent crowns and bridges. Likewise, a large percentage of tasks associated with removable dentures were delegated to auxiliary staff. Examples include fi nal RPD impressions (48.4 percent) and adjusting RPDs (36.7 percent).
Of particular interest is the fact that many practices delegated critical steps in the construction of fi xed and removable pros- theses. These include fi nal impressions for crowns and partial and full dentures and the cementation and adjustment of permanent crowns and bridges. This suggests that properly trained and supervised auxiliaries can provide these services effectively and at lower cost to the practice. Of course, this is conjecture, and more detailed studies are needed to assess the impact of delegation on the cost and quality of care.
FINDINGS
• Production: Using three different measures of output (gross billings, visits and value-added), a total of 12 Cobb- Douglas production function specifi ca- tions (excluding and including—sepa- rately—three measures of delegation as an input) were estimated. All estimated coeffi cients were positive and statisti- cally signifi cant at conventional levels of signifi cance. In addition, the sum of the estimated input coeffi cients with and without the delegation exceeded the value of one (and the difference was statistically signifi cant) indicating increasing returns to scale. With respect to delegation, the estimates from the Cobb-Douglas regressions indicated that delegation in general, as well as delegation of specifi c procedures/activi- ties to dental hygienists and assistants, has an important effect on gross bill- ings, patient visits and value-added.
• Effi ciency: Similarly, delegating specifi c procedures/activities to dental hygien- ists and assistants has an important effect on the clinical (technical) ef- fi ciency of a general dental practice based on gross billings. For example, the effi ciency scores of those with a simple delegation index of 80 percent were on average 14.62 percent higher than those with a simple delegation index of 0 percent.
• Income: One of the most powerful effects of delegation seems to be on practice net income. The average dif- ference in net income was more than $100,000.
EFDA grant progress continues Several Restorative courses scheduled for summer, fall
Progress continues on the Missouri EFDA Grant, a joint effort of MDA and the UMKC School of Den- tistry, to update the curriculum to online modules and increase the distribution of course availability. We are pleased to announce the opening of sev- eral courses this summer and fall for Placement of Restorative Materials and look forward to opening Orthodontic EFDA courses later this summer.
We encourage dentists and assistants to learn more about the EFDA program and how it can benefi t your practice; as well, we encourage MDA dentists to learn
about becoming an EFDA Trainer and or/host clinical courses in your area. To learn more visit
www.moefda.org or contact Mandy Lewis at the MDA.
All Placement of Restorative Materials courses are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Registration forms and additional information can be found at
www.moefda.org.
Friday August 6, 2010 • Hannibal Dental Group • 2727 St. Mary’s Ave, Hannibal • Registration Deadline: June 25, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010 • Offi ce of Dr. Joseph Shea • 3555 Sunset Offi ce Dr, Ste 200, St. Louis • Registration Deadline: July 12, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010 • Offi ce of Dr. George Bailey • 255 Eastlawn Ave, St. Robert • Registration Deadline: August 9, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010 • Kaelin Dental Group • 7 Doctors’ Park, Cape Girardeau • Registration Deadline: September 6, 2010
Note! The deadline dates listed with each course allow the assistant a full six weeks to study the online coursework. However, assistants may register at any time preceding the clinical session date, with the understanding it will lessen your remaining study time to the period left prior to the clinical session.
Dr. Andy Elliott, Kentucky to run for ADA President-Elect Dr. O. Andy Elliott, Martin, Ky., has announced he will run for ADA President-Elect
His declaration will be made formal at the 2010 ADA Annual Session in Orlando this fall, after which he will spend the next year campaigning. Dr. Elliott is the immediate past fi rst vice president of the ADA and comes from the Sixth District, of which Missouri is part, along with West Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky.
At the time of his announcement, the ADA had only received one other declaration from Bob Faiella, who is the ADA First District Trustee (which includes the states of Con- necticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont).
“After thorough consideration and feedback from our district and other contacts around the U.S., I am formally announcing my candidacy,” he said. “We need a commonsense, member-directed leader at the helm, and I can be that person.”
Campaign donations can be sent to the Kentucky Dental Association offi ce at 1920 Nelson Miller Parkway, Louisville KY 40223-2164. Checks can be made to O. Andy Elliottt for President-Elect. For questions contact Dr. Elliott at
docandy5@aol.com or 606-285-9317.
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