Dentists Quitting ADA Due to Political Differences

September 23, 2008 By Julie Frey 17 Comments

ADA and dentists' opinions In this survey, we asked dentists if political disagreements or other differences of opinion had caused them to quite the ADA or their local dental association. One quarter of dentists (26%) report that they have quit the ADA or another organization.

General dentists were twice as likely as specialists to have quite the ADA (28% as compared to 14%). However, two thirds of both groups say they are card-carrying members of the ADA.

“I have thought of quitting several times over the past 35 years," wrote one dentist. "The arrogance of ADA leadership is often hard for me to live with. All of the time and money spent on the ADA headquarters building in Chicago, and yet no meaningful results in the area of universal licensure, is beyond outrageous."

What else did dentists have to say? Here's a sampling…

“The best money you can invest in OUR profession. Non-members get nearly all the benefits without having to pay, I consider part of my dues a hand-out to those poor souls. Hopefully their electric company, phone company and dental suppliers are providing them something for nothing too.” (Tennessee dentist)
“The ADA is a self-serving, Old School, good-old boys-network that has done NOTHING to educate the public of modern advances in dentistry, which is why I quit many years ago.” (North Carolina dentist)
“It's a lot of money for just a magazine subscription.” (Virginia dentist)
“Without ADA advocacy efforts, dentistry would be in the same sad shape as medicine.” (Ohio dentist)
“In California you are pretty much forced to join to get the insurance benefits. Otherwise I would quit.” (California dentist)
“Why would anyone not be a member? The ADA is the voice of dentistry in all political arenas. We can do more collectively than we can individually.” (Kentucky dentist)
“I quit my local society. They wanted to use our dues for booze, and only supported hygiene scholarships in their county, and not mine.” (General dentist)

Read more: One in Four Dentists Reject ADA Membership

Filed Under: Dental Surveys Tagged With: ADA

About Julie Frey

Julie Frey is the Editor of TheWealthyDentist.com blog. She has dedicated her career to Internet marketing and communications, working side-by-side with dental marketing guru Jim Du Molin since 2006. She has a degree in Linguistics from Stanford University, has a passion for language and writing, and lives in San Francisco. Julie Frey+

Dale Burke

I have not yet dropped my membership, but am seriously considering it. I, along with the other Alaskan Dentists, are appalled at the ADA’s lack of support and their abandonment of us during the Dental Heath Aid Tech issue in our state. (In this program, individuals with only a High School Diploma, were sent to New Zealand for a two year program for training. When they returned, they were place in Native Corp Clinics and allowed to administer anesthetic, provide restorations, including preps, perform extractions and open endo access, all without supervison!! ). What kind of a major can of worms have they allowed to be opened in our nation by their ( ADA) actions? What a slap in the face to every dentist in our nation, who spent from 4 to 6 years for their dental degree, and now all of a sudden, we find out we could have done in in two years? The ADA has lost touch with reality!
John Mosher

The ADA is worthless. They exist only to protect the ADA. I recently had 2 dentist who were telling people I was not accepting one of the major insurance carriers in my area . The ADA and the state organization washed their hands of it. And why isn’t the ADA doing something about Delta now that they are going to determine what we can charge for non-covered services. Just a total waste of money. We were told 20 years ago that there would be universal licensure but it has not happened. I dropped them last year .
http://www.aquasept.com John Dykstra

I agree. The ADA should be up to their eyeballs in leadership advocation for the best dentistry for the patient and the best association services for their members. They should be infection risk management advocates for their patients and provide quality oversight inspection with their members. Blood banks have a more effective professional organization and a procedures inspection process. Dentistry has none. Protective garb and procedures are for the benefit of the care provider and have nothing to do with the patient. If the water in dental chairs were sampled and tested at 4:00 p.m. every day every office would be closed by the health department unless they were using sterilizable irrigation delivery systems.
The owner of my company describes dentists as trained monkeys. He’s right. Neither dentists or their associates want to be inconvenienced by practicing the best in sterile techniques and infection control. It slows down production.
The only way to get an inspection in a dental office is to get an ex employee to call OSAHA.
http://www.thevisibledentist.com/ The Visible Dentist

ADA ENTERS WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS

I find it odd that the ADA now offers SEO services through one of its business enterprises, ADA Intelligent Dental Marketing.

This — IMO — tarnishes the role of being the consumer advocate and establishes the ADA as just another corporation for profit enterprise operating under the cloak of a “non profit” entity.

Does this mean that the ADA’s vast “knowledge and experience” are but carefully veiled advertisements for those interests which stand to benefit financially — at the consumer’s — and possibly the dentist’s — expense?

After seeing the ADA access my website looking for SEO copy writers, I attempted to contact their ADA/SEO company to ask about their services and get some prices.

I received a call from one of the reps at the American Dental Association’s business venture partnership.

It seems that although the partnership (actually a 50/50 ownership buyout alliance) is several years old, the company has yet to optimize any websites and it couldn’t offer me any examples of their work, nor any client testimonials.

The fella I spoke with was keen to point out that they only recently decided to move into SEO and website promotion. They sell other stuff too — like brochures, direct mail, logo design, pay-per-click campaigns, etc.

GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS…

I asked about their prices — they have two SEO packages — standard, $350/mo and premium $550/mo. You also have to pay them a $250 setup fee and another $300 for keyword analysis.

The rep also said they offer no guarantee whatsoever — which means if they didn’t deliver as promised, you’d still have to continue paying for the life of your contract — and I assume continue getting nothing in return.

He stated that no company could guarantee positioning results — at all — and that to offer a money back guarantee identified such operations as “fly by nights” and crooks.

I asked a hypothetical question: “if you were to contract me to build a fence, and I didn’t build it, would you feel obligated to pay me anyway for services not rendered?” He didn’t answer.

The guy said he’d send me a book on how to market websites and their company would be interested in me sending them some clients. Oh sure, that sounds like a good idea — I really want to send dentists to an outfit that charges the heck out of ‘em and doesn’t have to accept responsibility for anything they do (not).

SUMMARY

From my viewpoint, I see the ADA’s role (supposedly) as an organization tasked with improving dentistry standards and helping to ensure the public gets quality dental care and to inform them of leading edge treatments, etc.

To partake in the actual ownership of a profit sharing enterprise such as website promotion and search engine optimization (SEO), tells me — “Mr. Dental Patient” — that the ADA lusts for profit and is far from being the unbiased, neutral consumer advocate.

Further — since the ADA would now be directly responsible for building websites, writing website content and deciding who should get ranked in the search engines (and which dentist would not) the ADA would ultimately be in a position of absolute control — to dictate what the public would see and read — on the dentist’s website.

Besides what appears to be the ADA’s wildest dream come true (almost), their SEO and website division leaves much to be desired, in my opinion and experience.

What’s next — Big Pharma’s entry into website development and SEO?

John Barremore
Houston, TX
http://dentistidentity.com Bill Mitchell

I agree with the gentleman above. We at http://dentistidentity.com build dental websites and provide seo services. Many of our clients are members of the ADA and asked us to see what their membership got them as far as content to place on their website. We got nowhere with call after call. This should be looked into as it seems as though there is a conflict of interest.
http://n/a Bob Ingforapples

It’s become quite clear that the guys and gals at the Top are just like soiled diapers…that need to be changed and for the same reason !!! Sad state of affairs.
Darrell Pruitt

The topic of ADA/IDM is currently featured on the PennWell forum.
http://community.pennwelldentalgroup.com/forum/topics/intelligent-dental-marketing

They’re taking a beating. D. Kellus Pruitt
Gerald Levin DDS

I’ve got a million things to do but I had to post a comment on my opinion of the ADA. Poor excuse for an organization. I strongly dislike the ADA for one primary reason. Lack of support for national reciprocity. I wish every dentist would revoke their membership until the ADA made it possible for every dentist to practice wherever they choose to live. Dont tell me I can practice in Indiana but I’m not qualified elsewhere. That is utter nonsense. I’d pay three times the dues if we had national reciprocity. The freedom to practice anywhere within the U.S which is what most dentists want. Until they act on this and get this approved I will be a strong vocal opponent of the ADA.
Darrell Pruitt

Why the long face, Jim Du Molin?

It has been more than a day since I submitted my comment about Intelligent Dental Marketing and CEO Trajan King here on The Wealthy Dentist – Jim Du Molin’s blog. Jim still has not posted my activated comment – which warns that if one does not want to embarrass the Utah advertisement company and its CEO, one should not click on the links I provided any more than absolutely necessary. Otherwise Google will assume that they are popular articles, and any superfluous clicks will only increase their page rank when one searches either “Trajan King” or “Intelligent Dental Marketing.”

Is Jim Du Molin not paying attention to his blog, or does he carefully police what he thinks Wealthy Dentists should read? Both are examples of inconsiderate good ol’ boy mistakes.

I bet Du Molin has not posted my comment because he is still away on vacation. Surely someone as savvy as Jim doesn’t assume that he can control his own blog’s brand. SEO novices like that are easily defined these days using modern communication tools. Just look what happened to Trajan King, Jim Du Molin. D. Kellus Pruitt
http://www.thewealthydentist.com Jim Du Molin

Mr. Pruitt,

We never received your original blog comment. It has not been deleted, and it is not on the queue of comments waiting for approval.

We don’t “police” our blog comments, except in the case of spam or offensive material. We regularly review and publish whatever our readers have to say. The Wealthy Dentist does give its employees vacation time, so you are right in thinking that a comment you posted on Christmas Day would not have been immediately reviewed. I’m confused as to the blantant hostility in your comment. It is generally not a good way to win friends to your point of view and influence people.

You are more than welcome to repost your previous comment. If it is pertinent to the topic and meets our standards (see above), it will be posted.

– Jim Du Molin… just call me Mr. Friendly.
Darrell Pruitt

OK, Mr. Friendly. Now what?
Darrell Pruitt

Jim, I’m trying to give conversation a chance on your blog, but the stuff I submit that I want you to post sometimes doesn’t appear for some reason, yet when I send something like the previous post which simply asks why, that one somehow shows up – leaving readers with only parts of our conversation. I think it’s sort of a crap shoot whether this one will show or not. Nevertheless, I’ll plow on.

If I work hard on a comment, casual disregard for my efforts infuriates me – as it should anyone. Censorship is an insult that I publicly jump on in entertaining ways. What gives anyone the right to limit someone else’s voice in the marketplace? It would be wise to know that it makes no difference if one runs a blog or not. Before one deprives another of voice, one should be ready to defend the decision publicly. That is transparency. That is accountability. My sour attitude is a result of bumping heads with traditionalists who attempt to control conversations – as if they still could.

Let’s start over. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and soften my approach because I think you just might have potential. Dentistry needs frank conversations – hair and all. Your article which started this thread concerned dentists quitting the ADA in increasing numbers. Here is my opinion. Since our nation’s lawmakers traditionally consider the ADA as representing the interests of all practicing dentists – not just ADA members – abandonment would give the career bureaucrats in the organization more power at a time when we are obligated to reclaim representation for our patients’ welfare. We must change the ADA from within by forcing transparency from the bottom up on the malfeasance that is obvious to so many of us.

If we expect accountability, we must be prepared to stand up and name names of those who would give away control of our practices to insurance and government “for the common good.” Practicing dentists like me have never had such opportunity to be heard by leaders who until recently were protected from the market by layers of traditional bureaucracy. It is my opinion that modern, uncensored conversations on the Internet will cause changes that will lead to higher quality and less expensive dental care by eliminating parasites in the industry. If we leave the current collection of silent good ol’ boys alone it will only help the entrenched and harm our patients.

Look what happened to the AMA. I think less than 25 percent of physicians belong to the AMA. Now physicians lost the rights to negotiate, their practices are micromanaged by stakeholders for greed, and they are no longer encouraging their children to follow in their paths.

There are a few things that have occurred in the last couple of years which really anger me. Let me give you an example of flagrant malfeasance by the ADA: In July 2007, Dr. Robert Ahlstrom, representing the ADA and by default, all US dentists, gave HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt 11 weak rationalizations why HIPAA is wonderful for dentists. It was exactly what Leavitt, healthcare IT stakeholders and insurance companies wanted to hear. (see “Dr. Robert H. Ahlstrom’s controversial HIPAA testimony.”)
http://community.pennwelldentalgroup.com/forum/topics/dr-robert-h-ahlstroms

Dr. Ahlstrom knows about the article, and has had plenty of opportunity to defend his testimony before government officials. Yet he won’t stand up for himself. That is a regretful lack of courage, Dr. Robert Ahlstrom. D. Kellus Pruitt
Darrell Pruitt

Thanks for posting my comment, Jim. Now we’re sailing on an even keel. More and more your readers will demand their voices even on what you call your blog, like it or not.

So what are we to do with leaders like Dr. Robert H. Ahlstrom, who will tell government officials what practicing dentists need, but refuse to speak to practicing dentists?

I say we hold their butts accountable. D. Kellus Pruitt
Griffin T. Murphey DDS

I am a dentist in private practice 34 years and I am a dinosaur by breeding and by choice as I am the 10th dentist in my family. I want a square deal for my patients and for my eight years of college and the time I gave my country in the Navy. I took my boards in Texas and they were tough boards. For those who support “universal licensure” I ask: “Why did you not take your boards when you were young, where you wanted to practice?” I don’t support that, and I think a lot of dentists know that itinerant dentists sometimes NEED to leave their former practices; that’s why they want to relocate. I don’t support doing the insurance companies’ work by going digital. If they want it let them pay for it. I have a couple of websites and I have written long replies to some of the people who send in these dumb inquiries, and do you know how many actually come in? Zero. I had one guy who read my website and he came in and said, “I looked at your website and I chose you because I wanted my teeth FIXED, not a bunch of fol-de-rol!” You know what – he was a good cash patient. I want my ADA to protect my turf. If that is a good old boy network, then that is not what is happening today. I suspect basically the people who have gotten to the top don’t want waves now that they are there. So they try to placate the Federal Government, and the insurance companies. Now they want to give my profession away to a high school graduate and some dentists actually support this. Is the ADA protecting my turf anymore – not necessarily. Have there been payoffs for pronouncements that benefit insurers? We wonder, don’t we? I see some dentists today crowning everything and throwing in a bunch of unnecessary “cosmetic” work that destroys tooth structure and compromises dental health BECAUSE THEY CAN’T EARN A LIVING DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR THE PATIENT. Most of this problem is driven by the insurance companies. To me that is the tragedy of dentistry today. I once would have said I would never consider leaving organized dentistry but today, it is a possibility if they go much further over the cliff. I think today the ADA is torn between antique fascist capitalists (but honest conservative dentists) like me and all of these other factions run by profiteers. So neither side is happy.
Pingback: Welcome to Cosmetic Dentistry Houston Cosmetic Dentistry Houston Cosmetic Dentistry Houston
http://www.pearldistrictdental.com Eli

ADA is out of touch and does not work to represent the interest of its member denstits.
1) Lobbying to standardize or increase limits for dental insurance ($1500 annual maximum for the last 30 years???????????)
2) What are the industrial hazards of mercury fillings not to the patients, but to dentists and their teams.
3) 2010 Health Reform Bill dropped maximum FSA benefit to $2,500 per year – where was the ADA on this?
I can go on and on….
princess

The modern day dentist is a trained monkey. Why else would ‘intelligent’ humans continue to place amalgam fillings and perform root canals? So sad, but they know it is the truth. What is the phrase “first do no harm” doing in the ADA.circle? Funny as I know whatever I say will go unheard for the most part, but it feels good to vent, anyway. Kudos to the real physicians who are morally conscientious scientists and not average monkeys with a framed diploma on their walls. There is absolutely no respect in some of our convictions for those dentists who have lost the respect of a growing circle. Retain some dignity and resign from your nauseating position, please.