Dental World®		SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1999
	PIERRE FAUCHARD ACADEMY

	President’s Message What Will the Future Bring?
	What will the next century hold for our profession and the Pierre Fauchard Academy—where will we go in the next millenium? What will the practice of dentistry be like 50 years from now? What will the Academy be doing? These are all good questions, of course, but none of us knows the answers. Most of us recognize how far technology has come in the practice of dentistry since we graduated from dental school in the late 1940s and ’50s. Again, we have a vague idea of what dentistry was like during the first half of this century. If our life and profession progress with as much advancement during the next century as they have in this century, the end result is almost inconceivable for us to comprehend. How can things get any better for esthetic dentistry than porcelain veneers and the bonding technique in general? But I am sure it will. This holds true for all phases of dentistry. The insurance industry or third-party payment is a major force outside of our profession that has a tremendous effect upon our practice—our fees and the reimbursement of our fees. However, dental insurance has made dentistry more affordable for millions of people. Organized medicine has sanctioned the foundation of a union to level the playing field with HMOs and PPOs and so on. Will dentistry follow? Probably so, although the merits of this remain to be seen. One alarming effect here is the erosion of the patient-doctor relationship; this is sacred and should remain so. But as we all know, money talks and patients opt for a cheaper treatment plan regardless of the treating doctor. Patients will not change too much; they will still hurt, still have their fears. However, some diseases may have a drastic effect on how we treat patients. The advent of AIDS has left an indelible mark on the way we practice. Ethics is an area of great concern. The longer you live, the more you are aware of the fact that in this world, right is not always right, and wrong is not always wrong. The gray area seems to get wider: actions are taken under the guise of advertising that lessen our professionalism. Having lived through both worlds, I would say that “advertising” has had a deleterious effect on the profession.		This is the etiology of some of our ethical dilemmas. Can ethics be taught or is this something that is ingrained in you from birth? On the end of each tooth is a human being—one of God’s creatures. It is our ethical responsibility as professionals to be fair and kind, and to render the best treatment that our talents allow. Sometimes I think that if we all were kind and fair with our patients, we would not need peer review and ethics committees! During the next century, I see the Academy continuing to grow. Our diversity and internationality will increase. Regardless of the language we speak, we all have a common goal: to relieve pain and to improve our patients’ oral health. Each Fellow should always be aware of his or her responsibility to the Academy. Remember: you will get out of the Academy only what you put into it. The Foundation of the Pierre Fauchard Academy should experience tremendous growth. This will enable the Foundation to be an effective force in awarding grants for worthwhile projects. If our Fellows respond to the Foundation and if our investments are prudent ones, there is no limit to future growth. It is mind-boggling to think about the funds that will be available in just 50 years for research, humanitarian grants, and other projects. We will continue to be the leader among foundations within our profession. Someone once said that the past is history, the present is the moment, and the future is imagination. For the Fellows of the Academy, the moment should be precious. Today is something that will be gone tomorrow and lost forever. Do what you do, do it well, and be true to yourself and your patients. If we (the profession) do this, dentistry will continue well into the 21st century as the most respected profession. Good luck! See you in Hawaii at the President’s Luncheon.
			Dr. James E. Long President

	Central Office
	Pierre Fauchard Academy, Dr. Richard A. Kozal, Secretary/Treasurer P.O. Box 80330 Las Vegas, NV 89180-0330	Telephone: Toll Free : Fax: E-mail:	(702) 651-5013 (800) 232-0099 (702) 651-5537 PFAJDK@aol.com

	Vernetti to receive PFA Gold Medal
	Fellow James P. Vernetti has been nominated and selected by the Academy’s Board to receive the 1999 Pierre Fauchard Academy’s highest U.S. Award, the Gold Medal. The event will take place at the Awards Luncheon in Honolulu during the ADA Annual Session; the Luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. in the Sheraton Waikiki on 9 October 1999. Dr. James Vernetti of Coronado, California, is a lecturer, teacher, author, and community leader who represents the best example of a professional man. He graduated from the University of Southern California and practiced in Coronado for nearly 40 years starting in 1937; he took time off from his practice to serve in the Army and retired at the rank of Lt. Colonel. During his four decades in practice, he was an associate professor at Loma Linda University. After retirement from practice, he became a full professor at the University of Texas Dental School. Dr. Vernetti’s list of honors is extensive. The PFA California, Southern Section presented him with their 1983 Outstanding Member Award. He is a Life Member and was our 1994 essayist for the George Hollenbach Memorial Lecture. He was 1975 President of ACD and received their 1993 Geis Award. A Fellow in ICD, he is the subject of one of their Dental Leaders Video series. He was President and Secretary of ADI in the early 1980s and received their Hillenbrand Award in 1989. He was the Founder and Charter President of AGD’s San Diego Chapter, which honored him by naming its annual Dentist of the Year Award after him. He served as President of the Academy of Gold Foil Operators in 1958 and received their Distinguished Member Award in 1988. He is a Charter Member of the Academy of Operative Dentistry and received their 1988 Award of Excellence. Dr. Vernetti was President of the San Diego County Dental Society (1950–51) and received their 1975 Outstanding Member Award. He was honored with the 1995 ADA International Humanitarian Recognition.		James P. Vernetti He also served as President of Thousand Smiles Foundation and is currently their Executive Secretary. They presented him with their Outstanding President’s Award in 1997. In his community, Jim Vernetti has been active with the Boy Scouts of America, receiving their Silver Beaver Award in 1960. He is past President of the Coronado Rotary Club (1959–60) and Charter President of the Oak Hills Rotary Club (1977–78) with 46 years of perfect attendance. He received the 1977 Rotarian of the Year Award. Active in his hometown, Coronado established Jim Vernetti Day in 1975. The Chamber of Commerce presented him with its 1986 Distinguished Citizen Award, and he was Grand Marshal for the 1992 Fourth of July Parade in Coronado. The National Recreation Council presented him with its 1958 National Recreation Award. San Diego’s Channel 10 gave him its 1997 Community Leadership Award. And in 1998 he received the Blue Cross Ageless Hero Award. These are only the highlights of an outstanding career of service and dedication spanning more than half a century. The Pierre Fauchard Academy is proud to be included in Dr. Vernetti’s extensive list of accomplishments, which reflects but the tip of the iceberg for such a professional humanitarian.

	PFA Award Winners Announced			4
	Dr. Francisco Miranda B. to receive Elmer Best Award Dr. Francisco Raul Miranda Baena of Mexico has been selected to receive PFA’s highest award, the Elmer Best Memorial Award, on Wednesday, 27 October, at the French Embassy during the FDI Congress in Mexico City. . Dr. Francisco R. Miranda B Dr. Miranda retired from practice in 1993, but has authored the Historia de la Asociacion Mexicana de Cirugía Bucal y Maxillo-Facial, a book about the organization he founded and was past President of. He also has served as past President of the Mexico Section for ICD and is a Life Member of PFA. Dr. Miranda’s talent covers a broad range. He has taught in high school and in medical school and he has published 28 articles. He has received some 33 awards for his service, including the 1999 medal and diploma “Dr. Margarita Chorne y Salazar” from the hands of Mexico’s President Dr. Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leon last 7 April for his moral qualities, professional abilities, and service to humanity in elevating the dental profession in Mexico. Dr. David Whiston to receive PFA President’s Award Past ADA President David A. Whiston will accept the PFA President’s Award at our Annual Awards Luncheon in Hawaii on Saturday, 9 October, at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel during the annual ADA Session. Dr. Whiston is a graduate of the West Virginia University School of Dentistry and completed graduate studies at the University of Texas and the University of Pennsylvania. He is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon practicing in Arlington, Virginia. He is past Chief of Dentistry at Northern Virginia Doctors Hospital and at Fairfax Hospital. Dr. Whiston has served as President of the Northern Virginia Dental Society, the Virginia Dental Association, and the Virginia, Greater Washington, and Middle Atlantic Societies of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. He is a member of the National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped and of the National Museum of Dentistry. For the ADA, Dr. Whiston has served as the Association’s spokesman for legislative and regulatory issues before the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate Committees. He has been liaison to the American Hospital Association, to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, and currently to the American Medical Association.		Dr. Whiston is past President of the West Virginia Alumni Association, National Capital Chapter. He received the West Virginia University School of Dentistry Distinguished Alumnus Award and is a member of the Academy of Distinguished Alumni of West Virginia University. PFA Dental Trade & Industry Award to 3M Dr. Frederick Palensky, Division Vice President for 3M Dental Products, will accept the PFA Dental Trade & Industry Award at the annual Awards Luncheon on 9 October at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel’s Honolulu Room. Dr. Palensky received his undergraduate degree in chemistry from Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, Iowa, and his Ph.D. degree in organic chemistry from Purdue University. 3M Vice President Frederick Palensky The 3M Dental Products Division is one of some 40 businesses that make up 3M, a multinational organization operating in 60 countries. The Dental Products Division is part of the Pharmaceuticals, Dental, and Personal Care Markets Group within 3M’s Life Sciences Sector. The Dental Products Division was initiated in 1964. Over the years, 3M has been a leader in dental abrasives, adhesives, and ceramics, with over 700 products used by dentists throughout the world. The division headquarters and R&D facilities are located in St. Paul, Minnesota; its manufacturing plant is in Irvine, California. Some of 3M’s dental products include Sof-Lex, Concise, Silar, Silux, P-10, ScotchBond dental adhesive, P-50, Vitrebond, Z100 Restorative, and Imprint. In 1991, 3M was the founding industrial partner with the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in establishing the Minnesota Dental Research Center for Biomaterials and Biomechanics in their Department of Oral Science. 3M has also made contributions to support the ADA practice management program. They have also taken a leadership role in Oral Health America. In 1994, 3M provided funding to establish the I. Leon Dugon 3M Preventive Dentistry Unit at the Shanghai Children’s Medical Center in China. The PFA International Board is proud to honor 3M’s worldwide commitment to the dental profession with our International Dental Trade & Industry Award.

	From the Office of Congressman Charles Norwood Dr. Charlie Norwood (R-Ga.), a PFA Fellow from Georgia, provided us with an update on dental interest bills in the U.S. Congress. Dr. Norwood writes that there have been seven major health care bills introduced in Congress this year. Five of them are patient protection bills and two are about the availability of insurance. Dr. Norwood has sponsored one of each. The Republican leadership in the House will not be bullied by President Clinton, notes Congressman Norwood; thus, Republicans are seeking bipartisan support for their health care legislation. These bills come from the Commerce Committee; Committee Chairman Tom Bliley (R-Va.) has asked Dr. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and Dr. Norwood to write both a managed care reform bill and an availability bill. These bills were submitted to the Committee and did get bipartisan approval. However, they must pass some tests, such as staying free from massive political changes, and address the standard of patient care and liability. If these bills are altered, thereby failing in their intended goals and ceasing to be meaningful, “I will walk away and introduce the bills we came up with myself. Although it will be more difficult to get them passed,” Dr. Norwood says, “better no bill than a bad bill.” The two bills proposed go hand in hand, politically, because they appeal to two different groups in Congress. One group strongly supports patient protections; the other group wants to increase the availability of health care insurance. Only together can they pass a bill into law. However, “the insurance companies are gearing up. They are again enlisting business groups as their stooges to		charge Capitol Hill and pressure members of Congress into not supporting patient protections.” Dr. Norwood writes, “We can win this battle if we beat back the insurance companies.” The proposed availability bill has medical savings accounts, healthmarts, tax credits for individuals, and associated health plans. Most current plans have no or limited dental coverage. Healthmarts will offer a wide range of plans from which the patient can choose. Tax credits will allow individuals to secure coverage under state-regulated plans. Associated health plans will allow small businesses to pool together under ERISA or select from at least two state-controlled plans. With a good managed care reform bill, proper standards will regulate ERISA. The Education and Workforce Committee of OSHA is holding hearings on banning certain powdered latex gloves because of allergic reactions to the powder. The ban is unnecessary since there are already powder-free latex gloves on the market. “The insurance companies are coming after me personally. In their first broadside to Congress, they took pains to drag my name through the mud. Comes with the territory.” Dr. Norwood continues, “However, I am also concerned about what the insurance companies are doing in my next campaign. My 1996 opponent, a trial lawyer, was narrowly defeated by me. This time, he has the support of the insurance companies, labor unions, and his fellow trial lawyers who contributed a quarter of a million dollars to his previous campaign against me. My 10th District is a tough one being evenly divided. I will need your prayers, your vocal support to your Congressmen for me, and a little of your personal $upport. “Let me hear from you at P.O. Box 499, Evans, GA 30809. I truly value your input.”	5

	Table of Contents- September-October 1999
	Presidents Message		Hawaii Annual Meeting
	PFA Gold Award		Foundation News - International
	Loader-Espinach International Lecture		Foundation News - United States
	PFA Award Winners		Creo en Pierre Fauchard
	Congressman Charles Norwood		Section News - International
	Hall of Fame Award		Section News - United States
	Calendar of Events		go to .Page 1....Page 2.....Page 3..