{ outreach in action } by Paul Roberts, Foundation & Outreach Director


What’s In Your Practice? L


et’s pay a visit to the theater of your mind. It’s a busy Tuesday morning in the dental world. As you toggle between patients, your mind is jug-


gling payroll, insurance headaches, the rising cost of doing business, the undercurrents of your team dynamics, your (hopeful) vacation plans and those top practice-management tips from your last CE that you have yet to implement. You know, just another day.


Outside your practice door, you hear the heavy thud of boots on the ground. Suddenly, a group surges into your reception area. The air gets still. All conversation freezes. It’s the Missouri Dental Avengers (MDA)! Clipboards in hand, they mean business. “Step aside. We are doing an immediate, full audit of your dental practice.” Blood drains from your face. It’s time to face the music. What will they find? What will you discover?


From the jump, this is no ordinary audit. These guys are nice and helpful. The MDA rallies your team into the conference room. A quick analysis reinforces what you already know: You are understaffed. You nearly snap your explorer in half as you moan, “It’s impossible to find and keep good people.” The Auditor hands you a chill pill and a cold cloth, then calmly explains how you can upskill your existing team through a wide range of Expanded Function Dental Assis- tant courses led by experienced trainers and offered at the centrally located, beautifully equipped MDA headquarters. “Member rates are half that of non-members,” the MDA Auditor says with a wink, and you feel a sense of hope rising inside.


Circling back to the reception area, the MDA spots your office manager crying softly in the glow of the scheduling computer next to a stack of denied insurance claims. The Audi- tor inquires about her struggles and gets an earful about “constantly changing regulations and hours on hold with cold-hearted insur-


24 focus | SUMMER 2026 | ISSUE 2


ance companies” before she asks desperately, “Am I expected to know the Dental Practice Act inside and out and keep up with every insurance change?” The Auditor gives an em- pathetic smile as he reaches into his big bag of resources and pulls out a red phone for her desk. Its speed dial is set to 800-688-1907. “Rest assured: The experienced, dedicated and pleasant team at the MDA is eager to help and will respond quickly and profes- sionally to all your questions. Their mission is your success.” Your office manager sits up straight, sips her Red Bull and says, “Let’s Friggin’ GO!”


Next stop is your private office. As you sit beneath the diploma representing your ex- pensive, hard-earned credentials, you start to unpack your own concerns about the chang- ing dental environment. “It’s scary when I stop to consider it. I want to treat people and provide for my team and family. I just can’t keep up with everything.” The MDA Auditor sees and feels your pain, then says, “You are not alone, but you can’t stay alone either. That’s the beauty of organized dentistry. We accomplish so much more by being to- gether.” The Auditor shares the importance of advocacy and describes how the excellent MDA legislative team monitors the issues so you can focus on treating patients. Feeling safer and less exposed, you make note of


Dental Day on your calendar and go online to donate to MODentPAC.


No longer suspicious, you welcome the MDA to your break room as the visit comes to a close. The Auditor looks around and is struck by the preponderance of stress balls intermixed with the family photos and baked goods. The importance of caring for the team resurfaces. The Auditor points you to modental.org for networking opportunities such as Connect4Success and to moefda.org for team training. He also reminds you of the Voluntary Wellness Program available to you, your team and their families because life is hard at times and good people deserve good resources.


As you walk the Auditor out, you feel lighter and the air feels fresher. There’s hope on the horizon. You ask for the results of the audit, and the Auditor says, “Everything you need was already here. The MDA is fully equipped to help you meet your needs and thrive. Remember, membership matters.”


Contact Paul at paul@modentalmail. org and subscribe to the weekly MDA Blog he authors at modental.org/blog.


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