Watch Video of this story HERE.

NEW CASTLE, Pa. (WKBN) – A New Castle dentist will now start giving COVID-19 vaccine doses in his office.

Dr. Andrew Matta applied to be able to give the vaccine in February and now has been approved to start.

The shots will be available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Refresh Dental on Wilmington Road in New Castle. Walk-ins will be accepted.

He received 500 doses of the Moderna vaccine from the state of Pennsylvania. There are 10 doses in each vial, which need to be used within five hours.

He will only pull out enough to be used for those who set up an appointment or walk-in.

“I think it’s probably a good, even split between our own active patient base and the community finding us to be a place for them to get the vaccine,” Dr. Matta said.

Dr. Matta believes more access points for patients is a community service. Anyone can participate, not just his dental patients.

He has noticed they’re more willing now to get in the chair for tooth treatment.

“There was a reluctance for a period of time. Of course, as you look over the last 12-14 months, it was really a roller coaster,” Dr. Matta said.

Patients started to return in the summer, but with COVID-19 resurgences, there was apprehension in the fall and winter. The dentist and his assistants are still using face shields, gowns and all of the personal protective equipment that they incorporated a year ago.

“The tone and the temperature throughout the patient base is much more comfortable now. Many of them have been vaccinated and received that,” Dr. Matta said.

Dr. Matta has no plans to relax any protocols that have been put in place. They will remain. He believes the increase in patients scheduling appointments shows they’re feeling safer.

“It’s really the highest level of confidence we’ve seen in our patients,” Dr. Matta said.

Dr. Matta plans to do more COVID-19 vaccine clinics. You can call his office at 724-658-0862 to get more information.

Dr. Matta is one of the first dentists in Pennsylvania to offer the vaccine from his dental practice.

“I remember when I was in dental school or even before going into dental school, in my mind I could do it all,” Dr. McGuire said. “I’m still the same kid who doesn’t see a barrier of being a female versus a male. You’re a doctor. I don’t see a barrier because of age. I don’t see a barrier because I’m mixed-race compared to a Caucasian or an African-American. I don’t see any of that. The biggest thing is not having those barriers in your own head.”

Dr. McGuire, who practices at Stonecreek Dental Care in Kettering shared her thoughts as part of a Women in Dentistry (WinD) panel with three other North American Dental Group (NADG) supported female clinical leaders. The virtual event – Challenges, Opportunities, and Growth Within Leadership Roles – was held in late March and capped NADG’s celebration of Women’s History Month. WinD is an initiative started by NADG in 2019 to empower women in dentistry and advocate for equity.

Dr. McGuire was joined by Dr. Anna Warnock, of Complete Dental Care in Shadyside, OH and Dr. Mary Ann Hollis, of Grove Dental Associates in Lombard, IL as panelists. The event was moderated by Dr. Farah Kar, an orthodontist at Braces Braces in Atlanta, GA, who shared her own insights for an audience that included doctors, hygienists, and dental students. The women covered a variety of topics during their discussion from what advice they would give to young women considering careers in dentistry to how best to balance work and raising a family.

The comments from the women come amid a developing crossover in dentistry.

While the profession is still dominated by males, the number of licensed female dentists has steadily risen over the past two decades and is currently at an all-time high. Last year, 35-percent of the 201,000 dentists in the United States were female, according to the American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute (HPI). Compare that to 16-percent in 2001.

“It is amazing when you look at a timeline and you look at the last 5, 10, 15, 20 years and how suddenly there’s been such a huge change,” said Dr. Kar. “Obviously, we need more change, but it has been amazing to watch.”

And there is reason to expect that there will be more change with data revealing the majority of students in the pipeline to become dentists are women. In 2020, nearly 52-percent of pre-doctoral dental students in the U.S. were women and about 51-percent of the class of 2019 dental graduates were women, according to HPI.

As the number of female dentists increases, so too does their voice in shaping the future of dentistry and role as leaders in dental service organizations (DSO). Dr. McGuire and Dr. Warnock are both NADG partners and regional dental directors. Dr. Hollis is an NADG partner and dental director for her group in the Chicago-area. And Dr. Kar is an NADG partner. NADG’s non-clinical executive team also features two women leaders – Chief Marketing & Advertising Officer Teresa Hammond and Chief Operating Officer Kristen Kerns.

Dr. Hollis believes women approach dentistry differently than men and encourages future female dentists to not shy away from their instincts.

“I think we are very relationship oriented. I’m not saying we care more (than men) but we get more involved with our patients and we get to know them, we get to know their families, and we get to know what they want,” said Dr. Hollis. “I think sometimes people are hesitant and would think we don’t want to know. But that’s the most exciting part of dentistry for me, knowing my patients.”

Dr. Warnock says another benefit of the profession are the flexible hours that supports time away from work to raise a family.

“We do have the luxury of being in a profession where there is the ability to have balance. And when we get out of balance, more often than not it is self-inflicted,” Dr. Warnock said. “We put that pressure on ourselves. All of these things are jumbling in your head and let’s face it, as a new mom you are exhausted.”

Her advice.

“Enjoy the journey. Rest when you need it. Give yourself a break. Don’t expect too much from yourself. And take the help,” Dr. Warnock said.

Dr. Kar adds that if you wish to see improvement in the office or at home, be the change you want to see.

“It’s modeling. If you want to be a compassionate person then you need to model that,” Dr. Kar said. “If you want to be someone who is approachable and relatable, and you want your staff to be loving and caring then you need to model that.”

Watch the discussion here.

Here’s what Mr. Cooper had to say about the the company’s foundation and operating strategy:

1. NADG was built on the foundation of recognizing practices as customers. By supporting them and removing all non-clinical services such as finance and accounting, dentists can dedicate most of their focus on crafting both a better patient experience and clinical outcomes.

2. While Mr. Cooper oversees the administrative side, Andrew Matta, DMD, the DSO’s co-founder, focuses on building partners’ clinical strength. This co-leading model has been a pillar of the group’s success, as both of these areas play a role in fostering a better patient experience.

3. NADG operates on a group affiliation model instead of a single acquisition affiliation model, setting them apart from other DSOs. That means identifying and partnering with strong dental group founders and embracing their entrepreneurial spirit Mr. Cooper said, noting that NADG doesn’t do buy-outs and instead supports group founders through the next stages of their careers.

Click here to listen to the full episode.

“It’s troubling to hear that patients have that perception and are feeling that anxiety,” said Andrew Matta, co-founder and chief medical officer of the North American Dental Group and a practicing dentist in New Castle. Matta pointed to the documented connection between oral health and overall health.

“There are some studies that are showing that having proper oral health can actually decrease risks if somebody were to get coronavirus,” Matta said.

A recent study showed a majority of adults said they’re OK with skipping dental check-ups if it means reducing the risk of catching coronavirus.

A website called NextSmileDental.com, which provides resources on dentures, conducted a survey of 4,500 patients in Pennsylvania. It said 65% have delayed routine check-ups due to coronavirus fears. Some even said they would delay seeking medical treatment for a serious issue if it wasn’t causing them pain.

Dr. Jim Tauberg, president of the Pennsylvania Dental Association, said dental medicine is essential health care and patients who put it off are asking for trouble.

“Many things that occur from the dental side can be painless, can be silent problems until they actually become so severe they become more symptomatic. Now the problem is magnified and sometimes made more difficult or impossible to treat,” said Tauberg.

So, what do dentists tell patients who say they are too afraid to come in?

“What I tell them is the truth and that there have been no (covid) outbreaks in the dental community in the entire world,” said Dr. Eric Smiga of Pittsburgh Oral Surgery. “Although I can’t scientifically give them a reason for that, I can confidently look at them and say, ‘Hey, we’re safe.’ We have thousands upon thousands of patients coming through the doors in the state of Pennsylvania and we have not been seen by the Pennsylvania Department of Health as a group that can cause the coronavirus to surge.”

The precautions dentists are taking include the use of protective equipment and screening measures. The only time the bubble is compromised, according to Tauberg, is when someone is outside the bubble and gets covid.

“For example, if you had an employee who goes to a party on their own in their own private world and that’s how they get coronavirus, that’s a little tougher to deal with,” Tauberg said. “Even then, everybody’s wearing masks and gowns and disinfecting and again, it still has not been shown that any transmission to staff or patients has occurred in a dental office.”

Some dental practices are conducting coronavirus testing.

“Our practices have incorporated testing team members and patients on a regular basis,” said Matta. “So, it’s really just trying to dispel the individual’s fear and letting them know the risk of getting the virus in a dental practice is miniscule. I think you have a higher risk of getting it at the grocery store or any general public setting.”

For some patients, all the reassurances in the world are not enough and many people are simply paralyzed with fear.

“I think the fear is stopping people from doing a lot of normal, needed activities like dentistry, going to their doctors, getting their hearts checked,” said Smiga. “There is a whole group of patients and a lot of elderly patients that are just putting that off and putting themselves at risk. It’s a real problem.”

But an equally serious problem appears to be on the horizon. Dentists appear to be facing a potential onslaught of patients once the pandemic begins to ease. Smiga acknowledges that a lot of people are waiting until after the pandemic dies down to schedule an appointment.

“The interesting part in Pennsylvania is because we were shut down early in the pandemic for over two months, dentists are already facing an onslaught of patients,” Smiga said. ”We have patients who are on treatment plans who’ve yet to be treated because of their fears.”

Tauberg said many dentists are already behind because of social distancing rules that limit the number of patients who can be in an office, leaving most dental offices operating at about 75% capacity.

“You can’t do 100% capacity. It just doesn’t happen because you can’t have multiple people in the office at the same time. In fact, we hardly use our waiting room anymore,” said Tauberg. “So, whenever the time comes that more people will be coming in, I think it’ll be a sad but happy dilemma.“

Matta expressed concerns about his ability to handle a sudden overflow of patients.

“You can only see so many individuals through an office in a particular period of time,” said Matta. “So, when you have this effect of individuals who are ready for their care and their regular routine checkups, along with people who have delayed care and now are trying to get in the system, it can create even further problems.”

Paul Guggenheimer is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Paul at 724-226-7706 or pguggenheimer@triblive.com.

Article author: PAUL GUGGENHEIMER

Originally published in: TribLive

The state is asking for all hands-on deck as residents 80 and older get in line to get the shot starting Tuesday.

Medical Reserve Corp volunteers will play a key role to help with vaccinations, and Kettering dentist Dr. Anna McGuire is answering the call.

Dr. McGuire works at Stonecreek Dental. She’s cared for patients the entire pandemic by seeing those who needed emergency care when other dentists were closed.

Now she’s teaming up with health care professionals across the state to help protect her community.

“We just got the email Friday, and so as soon as I got that email it wasn’t even a second thought,” said Dr. McGuire. “I feel like I need to volunteer.”

In Clark County, Health Commissioner Charles Patterson said they already have Medical Reserve Corp members assisting them.

“In fact, we’ve had two vaccinators, a nurse and a doctor who have been helping us for the past month,” said Patterson.

Patterson said those giving the shots are nurses, doctors and medical assistants.

“All the other folks would be supporting the system, rather it’s through data, rather it’s through moving people, all important roles,” said Patterson.

Clark County Combined Health District is preparing to vaccinate residents 80 and older.

“We look forward to vaccinating over a thousand people next week,” Patterson said.

With about three times the number of workers needed to pull this off, the extra hands are more crucial than ever.

“It’s not the health department, it’s the entire community that’s responding here,” said Patterson.

The state will open vaccinations to those 75 and older on January 25, 70 and up on February 1 and 65 and older on February 8.

This leaves Dr. McGuire with the feeling to help on a personal level as well.

“I have my father and my stepmother who are both in the 70 to 75 age categories,” said Dr. McGuire. “I want to see them protected. I don’t want them to be stuck in a house or not being able to visit with us.”

The Medical Reserve Corp is open to physicians, physician assistants, nurses, pharmacists, pharmacy interns, emergency medical technicians, dentists, dental hygienists, optometrists, respiratory care professionals and veterinarians.

Requirements to register include:

• Must be 18 years or older.
• Must comply with any training requirements of the group(s) you join.
• Must ensure profile information is up to date at all times (contact numbers, professional license, etc.)
• Must complete all required fields when filling out the application.
• Must complete the short Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Orientation linked to the application.
• For more information and details on how to sign-up online visit Ohio Responds.
• Patterson said Clark County still has slots available for those 80 and older to get the vaccine next week.
• The health district will be taking calls to register people again Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• That number is 937-717-2439. You can also register online.
• Patterson said at this time, appointments are available for Wednesday And Thursday.

For more information visit the health district’s website.

Article author: Danielle Malagarie

Originally published in: Dayton 247 Now (Website)

The dental group, which says it is ‘pioneering a new culture in dentistry,’ was one of the first organizations to jump in to help the dental industry at the beginning of the pandemic by creating COVID-19 Resources for Dental Professionals.  One of their practices in New Castle, PA was the first in Pennsylvania to administer COVID-19 diagnostic and antibody tests to patients. Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the DSO was cofounded by Ken Cooper and Dr. Andrew Matta in 2008.

“Our culture is derived by the action of thousands with one unified goal, to change dentistry.” – Ken Cooper, Founding Partner & CEO

The 17 newly affiliated practices, which employ over 30 doctors, represent partnerships with six different dental groups, including:

• Aura Smile Dental with two Cleveland, Ohio area locations
• Three practices in the Pensacola, Florida area – Sorrento Dental Care, Aggie Dental Center and Bright Downtown Dental Arts
• Two Dallas, Texas area implant and orthodontic practices in Southlake and Watauga
• Snodgrass-King Dental with four Nashville, Tennessee area practices in Cool Springs, Mt. Juliet, Murfreesboro and Spring Hill
• Southeast Orthodontics with five Southeast Massachusetts practices located in Dartmouth, Lakeville, Mansfield, Nantucket and Raynham
• BWS Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in New City, New York

“We are honored to have earned the trust of these dental groups especially during a pandemic that has challenged all facets of the dental industry and business operations. We are committed to providing the administrative services these practice teams need so that they can focus on what matters most, the delivery of best-in-class oral health care to every patient at every visit.” – Ken Cooper, CEO & Co-founder

NADG also welcomed the following principals from these new groups into servant leadership roles at NADG as Group Founders, lending their clinical expertise to other supported doctors at affiliated practices:

• Dr. Douglas Voiers at Aura Smile Dental
• Dr. Christopher Campus at Sorrento Dental Care, Aggie Dental Center and Bright Downtown Dental Arts
• Dr. David Snodgrass and Dr. John King at Snodgrass-King Dental
• Dr. Brian Gaudreault at Southeast Orthodontics
• Dr. Bart Silverman at BWS Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

“Relieving administrative burdens to allow these excellent groups to focus on clinical care is important, but we are equally honored to help these group founders expand their vision in their respective markets,” Cooper said. “NADG is the leading affiliation and support platform for emerging group founders and we are grateful for the opportunity to support these incredible entrepreneurs and visionaries.”

North American Dental Group is a doctor-led organization committed to deliver best-in-class dental care to every patient, every visit. Practices are owned by the Professional Dental Alliance (PDA), a group of dentists affiliated with NADG. The PDA enables doctor collaboration through its Dental Advisory Board (DAB), an internal board of dentists charged with guiding clinical activities and creating standards to ensure best-in-class patient care while advancing the profession. The DAB has 11 committees ranging from Clinical Excellence to Doctor Development and Training, to Diversity & Inclusion. Committees work to establish clinical practices, standards of care, quality supplies selection, doctor training and development, and culture. It is a hospital approach to dentistry with a focus on collaboration.

The group’s key markets are:

• Atlanta, GA
• Chicago, IL
• Cleveland, OH
• Pittsburgh, PA
• Toledo, OH
• New York City, NY

More about NADG:

• Watch or listen to our recent podcast interview with Ken Cooper and Dr. Andrew Matta of North American Dental Group as we discuss their recent partners’ meeting, Imagine, and a whole lot more – HERE
• NADG CEO Ken Cooper Named One Of The Nation’s Highest Rated CEOs During The Pandemic
• DSO Begins Administering COVID-19 Diagnostic & Antibody Tests To Patients At Affiliated Dental Offices
• North American Dental Group’s New Aggressive Measures In Response To Coronavirus – Guide to Essential vs Non-Essential Dental Procedures & More
• M&A and Practice Valuations Post-COVID-19 Webinar
• The Group Dentistry Now Show: The Voice of the DSO Industry – Episode 5
• North American Dental Group To Be Acquired By Jacobs Holding
• TF Dental Sold to North American Dental Group

Article author: GROUPDENTISTRYNOW

Originally published in: GROUPDENTISTRYNOW

And if you find yourself a little unnerved going to the dentist during the pandemic, don’t be.

“Being in a dental office is probably one of the safest places you could be,” Dr. Christopher Campus said. “Because of the amount of all the barriers that we have on all the equipment that are replaced after each patient. We change out all the disposables that we use after each patient.”

Having personal protective equipment is one thing; obtaining them is another.

“Just going through the struggles of just our everyday clinical supplies, and knowing how difficult it was to get those was a challenge in itself,” Campus said. “We might have received a box of 160 N95 masks, and I’m telling the sales rep, I don’t know when we’re going to have more of these.”

On top of the limited amount of supplies available, Campus still had to contend with the operational aspects of running his three dental practices in Pensacola.

Enter, the North American Dental Group.

Since 2008, the North American Dental Group has provided non-clinical administrative support for its affiliated practices including human resources, information technology, marketing, payroll and accounting services.

“The main attraction, for me, was to partner with somebody that could provide those services at a remote location to free up some of the people in the front desk,” Campus said. “This will allow a better patient experience. When the patients come in, and you have three people in the front office talking on the phone, dealing with insurance companies, the patient will feel like they’re not getting the attention they deserve.”

Campus’s three dental practices, Sorrento Dental Care, Aggie Dental Center and Bright Downtown Dental Arts, recently joined the ranks of the North American Dental Group’s growing network of 240 dental practices across 15 states.

Article author: Kalyn Wolfe

Originally published in: Pensacola News Journal

Click here to view the video.

Article author: Managing Editor Stan Goff

Originally published in: Dental Products Report

Article author: Kelli Dugan

Originally published in: WPXI-TV – Pittsburgh