North Texas Dentistry Volume 7 Issue 2 NTD 2017 ISSUE 2 DE | Page 13

licensees, not the unlicensed practice of dentistry. We know of no state agency willing or able to enforce the law against the unlicensed practice of dentistry in order to protect Texas citizens and patients. It is imperative for patients to have full disclosure on who actually owns or maintains a dental prac- tice and benefits from it financially. organized dentistry In short, we hope to see an organization develop that preserves the traditional values of the profession which stresses the doctor-patient relationship and ethics in the pro- vision of care. We hope to provide the opportunity for the resurgence of the idea that the dental profession belongs to dental professionals. 3 If you’re a dental practitioner, you can: l Educate your colleagues and students about business model 2 choices and how they affect their livelihood. l Send CDOT information and share your personal experiences at [email protected]. Write an article or guest post, or volunteer to help. Become a member and let your voice be heard. Make a difference. So what can you do? l Commit to becoming educated about the issues critical to our profession and to our patients by visiting the website to sign up for our emails. l Make your Texas Representative and Senator aware of your concerns. They do want to hear from you, so let us know how we can help you. It is always best to meet in person with your legislators, but just remember that during the legislative session (140 days every two years), they are usually busier than durin g an off year. Calling, emailing, or writing your legislator is also effective. l Support CDOT in our efforts by signing up for our free email alerts and joining the dialog on our Facebook page. Founded in 2015, Concerned Dentists of Texas (CDOT) is a group of dentists who seek to preserve the integrity of the individual professional in meeting his or her duty to their patient. A dentist has a primary ethical and legal obligation to their patient above all other interests. For this reason, Texas has a longstanding law requiring that a dental practice be owned, operated or main- tained by a dentist. STAY TUNED for the first-ever lecture with an expert dental panel, followed by a Q & A session. Bring your questions, possible solutions, and concerns. Dallas, September 14 – 16 (simultaneously with the Southwest Dental Conference) This will be the first time this group of bloggers, dental professionals, and others unite to educate you on our future! www.concerneddentistsoftexas.com www.northtexasdentistry.com | NORTH TEXAS DENTISTRY 13