{ from the editor } by Douglas Wyckoff, DDS • Editor
Are You Prepared? W
hat would Missourians talk about if not for the weath- er? It was just two weeks ago we were coming off 10
plus days of subzero temperatures. As much as I hate to admit it, the old timers who used to tell me I would like the winter less as I aged were correct. That span of cold, coupled with the precipitation we received, just about put many people over the edge. What we do know here in Missouri is if you wait long enough, the weather will change, and so it has. Today I am enjoying 70 plus degrees and sun. Things are starting to green up and life is starting to show itself in the vegetation outside. It will not be long, and the mowers will be busy, flowers will be blooming and we will be able to enjoy outside activities.
During that time of the Arctic blast, parts of our nation saw weather events it did not nor- mally see. Texas had snow almost through- out its entire geographical area—uncommon winter weather for them, which shut many areas down quickly. Back here in Missouri, ice, snow and extremely low temperatures caused many dental offices to shut down for a few days. Those who were able to open possibly had slower schedules because many people just were not leaving their homes.
What many had not prepared for is the fact electric companies started doing rolling blackouts by shutting off their electricity for a period to “conserve” energy to prevent a complete loss of power. For some, ice and/ or snowstorms caused their electricity to go out for a period. On a normal day, this is not such a big deal. We just sit and wait for it to come back on. It is no big deal, right? But what if the power does not come right back on? What if the power is off for several hours or days? Top that with outside temperatures that are below zero. How do you keep your office warm inside? Warm enough you do not have to worry about water pipes freezing?
6 focus | MAR/APR 2021 | ISSUE 2
The lack of electricity will completely stop your office production. What can be even worse in the winter is without heat, you’re going to have to do something to make sure things don’t freeze. Having a back-up genera- tor could be one solution to supply enough heat in your office to keep from a devastating consequence of freezing temperatures.
DENTAL PRACTICE
Emergency and Disaster Recovery Planning in the Dental Office
A free download from the ADA is “Emergency and Disaster Recovery Planning in the Dental Office.” Access it at bit. ly/3clQYbL. The ADA also has an extensive webpage on its Center for Professional Success: Managing Natural & Man- Made Disasters. Access it at bit.ly/2OrmNrE.
Another scenario I’ve had in my office that can happen any time throughout the year is lack of water. What happens in your office if the water supply is shut off? Can you operate your office without water? Many of us have suction systems dependent on a water supply for it to function. If your dental units are not self-contained with water bottles, they are subject to shut down without a water supply. Without proper suction, vacating the oral cavity of water and debris is almost impossi- ble without the old “spit in the can” method. Having a dry suction system that does not rely on water could be the ticket to get by in a time of no water supply.
I know I’ve only touched on the many issues that can shut down a dental office. Many, including myself, do not think about such until its too late and a power or water outage happens. I encourage you to sit down and develop a plan that helps you think through these scenarios. It just might cut a little stress out of your life in a difficult time. f
Dental Team Members Become an Associate Member Join for just $10 Annually
D
uring this time of year, the MDA is asking dentists to renew their
membership. But did you know the MDA also offers Associate Member- ship to dental team members? We know delivering exceptional den- tistry is truly a team effort and each individual brings value to the practice and to our association. To promote the importance and strength of the entire dental team, the MDA established this membership category. Associate Members can join for just $10 a year and access some of the same mem- bership benefits enjoyed by almost 2,500 Missouri dentists. Even if you’re already a member of a professional or- ganization for your career, joining the MDA provides additional representa- tion and support of the state’s largest dental association at an incredible value. Go online to learn more about the benefits and to access a member- ship application. MODENTAL.ORG/ ASSOCIATEMEMBER
