CDA Essentials 2017 • Volume 3 • Issue 4

7 Volume 3 Issue 4 | CDA at W ork S omething struck me pretty hard re- cently: the realization that my job as a dentist depends on an entire network of support. By that, I mean a commu- nity beyond the dental team whose immediate members—dental assistants, dental hygienists and administrative staff—make essen- tial contributions to our practices every day. This larger dental community that I am referring to includes the people, programs and institutions that often go unrecognized by hard-working, wet-gloved dentists like myself. Allow me to express my gratitude to this sometimes under- appreciated support network. Staff and volunteers in organized dentistry conceived and developed, in part, many services that allow dentists to manage their electronic claims efficiently—and continue to support those services today. How would I process a dental claim without tools and standards like unique identifying numbers, CDAnet, the USC&LS coding system or iTRANS? CDA, with support from the provincial and territorial dental associations, is the driving force behind initiatives that allow us to collaborate on a case with a colleague, refer to a specialist, or send an electronic claim. We also owe a debt of gratitude to the software vendors and IT personnel who keep our technologically complex offices running smoothly. Can you imagine trying to run a modern dental practice without a reliable computer and practice management system? Oral health researchers are another important part of our dental community. Consider how the technologies we use in our operatories have evolved because of the research conducted within our 10 Canadian dental schools. We have moved from dark rooms to digital imaging, from chemically cured composites to light-cured nanoparticles, from blades to screw implants. And where would we be without the innovations of dental manufacturers? Our dental suppliers and sales reps keep our cabinets full and provide us with indispensable services. The Dental Industry Association of Canada (DIAC), which represents many of these companies, is a key part of the dental community. My practice also needs the support of the National Dental Examining Board (NDEB) and the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC). They ensure that dentists receive high quality training in accredited programs and are competent to practice, yet we sometimes forget that their work benefits the entire profession. There are also the dental regulators, who guide our dental pratices and serve the profession greatly. Their organization, the Canadian Dental Regulatory Authorities Federation (CDRAF), provides dentistry with a common understanding about regulatory matters that affect us all. Finally, when it comes to the insurance and investment tools that I need to conduct the business of dentistry, I feel supported by our profession’s very own CDSPI. All of these groups—our many friends in the dental community—support our profession. These interconnected relationships support our goal of helping people achieve optimal oral health. For this, I believe we can all be truly grateful. From the President RandallCroutze, bsc, dds president@cda-adc.ca Professional Gratitude: Our Network of Support