The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new infection control and mask guidance, now that the COVID-19 public health emergency ended. Standard and transmission-based precautions continue, with the CDC suggesting broader mask use.

Bring the entire family to Ward's Berry Farm on Sunday, May 7, to pick-your-own tulips, followed by snacks, kid activities, a bounce house, a farm store, and more! This event is open to all members and is sponsored by the MDS South Shore District.

The Massachusetts Dental Society's (MDS) Dentist Health and Wellness Committee is partnering with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to present "In Our Own Voice," a mental health awareness event on Thursday, March 16, from 7:00-8:00 pm.

February, National Children’s Dental Health Month, is the perfect time to promote the importance oral health to children. Take this time to share the message of good dental habits with patients and their families.

Fulfill your BORID and statutory required courses this year at the Massachusetts Dental Society. On Friday, September 8, 2023, the MDS will be hosting courses at the Southborough headquarters in basic life support, infection control, and pain management.

Need to find new talent? Take advantage of our August sale and post your next job ad with the MDS Career Center. Get a 20% discount today when use code HIRETODAY at checkout. Offer expires September 1, 2023 at 11:59 pm. Limited to one ad placement per person.

The Yankee Dental Congress 2023 is weeks away. Dental professionals from across the nation will join us in defining the future of dentistry and discovering new products and technology. 
Register now and be part of the nation's premier dental congress!

The deadline to renew your MDS membership is fast approaching. Renew by December 31 to avoid interrupting your member benefits and take advantage of the 12-month dues renewal payment program.

The Massachusetts Dental Society's (MDS) exclusive partnership with PureLife offers MDS members access to even more benefits, including group pricing of up to 40% off all dental supplies and complimentary shipping. 

On January 1, 2022, specific provisions of An Act Promoting a Resilient Health Care System That Puts Patients First went into effect. Recently, the Massachusetts legislature passed an amendment that will delay enforcement of the Patients First Act until January 1, 2025.

Joining the MDS team as Director, Government Affairs, Dan DiTullio is the member resource for all of the MDS advocacy efforts. Reach out to him at advocacy@massdental.org. Learn more about the MDS' advocacy efforts this legislative session. 

Thank you to Dr. Meredith Bailey and the MDS Board of Trustees, who finished their governance term on June 30, 2023. Your  leadership and commitment to the MDS members, organized dentistry, and the Society has created a lasting legacy.

Save the date! You won't want to miss these speakers at Yankee Dental Congress January 26-28, 2023!

Registration for Yankee Dental Congress 2024 opens October 12 at 12:00 pm! Check out the Yankee 2024 program book to see all that is in store for this year's conference.

After years of monitoring the issue and months of considering the impact of the policy, the MDS Board of Trustees has voted to oppose the creation of midlevel dental providers in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Thank you to all who attended Yankee 2022! Without you, the Yankee Dental Congress could not have been such a success. Save the date now for next year's Yankee Dental Congress, January 26-28, 2023. 

On January 1, 2022, the Massachusetts minimum wage increased to $14.25, and the MDS reminds you to update the MA Labor Law poster displayed on your office wall to include this change. We’ve made it easy for you: MDS Member Savings Program partner J.J. Keller is offering signs with easy ordering. Place your order today to ensure that you are in compliance.

Many dental practices are having great difficulty filling open positions, which is why the MDS Dental Practice and Benefits Committee produced the webinar “Tackling the Dental Assistants Shortage Challenge.” Watch the recording of the webinar now to learn different strategies for recruiting dental assistants and what the Committee is doing to help address this challenge.

Be sure to like Yankee on Facebook or Instagram if you haven't already and keep an eye out for Yankee's 12 Days of Giveaways running from December 1-12. Register to become eligible to participate and win prizes!

Join us for a day of apple picking and fun on Saturday, September 30, 2023, from 12:00 - 4:00 pm. Enjoy a fall afternoon at Honey Pot Hill Orchards, in Stow, MA, with other member dentists, dental students, family, and friends.

Join us for a day of apple picking and fun on Saturday, October 22, from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. Enjoy a fall afternoon at Tougas Farm in Northborough, MA, with other member dentists, dental students, family and friends.

The Yankee Study Club is a powerful and intimate digital learning experience reimagining the way dental professionals connect, grow, and thrive in today's new dental landscape. Register today for Session 2, and join us online on September 27 at 6:30 pm. 

The Yankee Program Committee seeks five MDS auxiliary members to each offer a one-hour continuing education course at Yankee Dental Congress, January 25-27, 2024. A variety of speaker topics addressing clinical auxiliary techniques will be accepted for review.

The Yankee 2022 Program Committee is seeking five MDS member dentists to each offer a one hour continuing education course for the MDS Member Spotlight at Yankee Dental Congress, January 27-29, 2022. A variety of speaker topics addressing clinical dentistry and practice management will be accepted for review.

Buy, sell, or lease your practice, office, equipment, services, or vacation properties with the MDS Classifieds online portal. Our portal features consolidated, searchable ad listings, a clean, easy-to-use online interface, and increased visibility for your ad. As a member benefit, MDS members receive a 50% discount on all ad placements.

By sharing his story, MDS member Dr. Eric Block hopes to create a community where like-minded dentists can share their stories, struggles, and strategies for coping with burnout and depression, and ultimately be able to reduce stress and anxiety. Dr. Block is a practicing dentist in Acton and an author, speaker, podcaster, and blogger on a mission to help the dentists of Massachusetts and across the country overcome burnout and anxiety. Join your colleagues for this event on Monday, April 26.

Join the MDS and Workshop leader Tyler Sanslow, DMD, on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, from 6:00-8:00 pm, for a workshop on attaining inclusive and equitable oral health care for the LGBTQIA2S+ community.

The MDS is now accepting applications for the Guest Board Member Program. Any member dentist interested in learning about governance and gaining leadership experience is welcome to apply by April 17, 2023.

All patient-facing dental personnel became eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine as part of Phase 1 on January 21. The MDS urges dental professionals and their and patients and families to use the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's vaccine location map to find available sites and appointment times.

The MassHealth Dental Program restored adult dental benefits effective January 1, 2021, due to the work of advocates and the legislature in Massachusetts. MassHealth members over the age of 21 are now able to access a greater number of dental services, including root canals and crowns, in addition to other important services such as preventive and partial/complete dentures, which were previously covered. 

Hit the courts with us on Saturday, July 8, from 12-2 pm at Life Time Westwood. Light refreshments and time to mingle will follow pickleball play. Register now for this member-only event.

Yankee Study Club reimagines the way dental professionals connect, grow, and thrive in today's landscape. Registration is now open for Fall 2023 sessions.

The MDS Dentist Health and Wellness Committee invites MDS members to take part in its next MDS Book Club meeting! The next book covered will be The Whisper Man by Alex North. Join your colleagues on Thursday, December 9, at 6:30 pm, to discuss the novel and socialize with colleagues.

The expiration date of all professional licenses, including dental hygienist licenses, set to expire during the Massachusetts state of emergency has been extended to June 30, 2021. Continuing education credits still need to be completed before renewing.

As announced on January 13, 2021, the MDS is partnering with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to help with the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out to dental professionals. Effective January 21, all patient-facing dental personnel are eligible for the vaccine as part of Phase 1.

Governor Baker announced in December that the state should receive approximately 300,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in December and 2 million doses by the end of March 2021, with additional doses arriving in June. We have compiled vaccine resources, such as answers to members' questions.

Dr. MaryJane Hanlon, President of the Massachusetts Dental Society, addresses the surge of COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts and the importance of keeping dental offices open and safe during the second wave of infections.

MDS member dentists can fulfill your Board of Registration in Dentistry (BORID) and statutory required courses for your biennial dental licensure at Yankee Dental Congress 2022 when you take a pain management CE course, which is free for members, or an infection control CE course.

To help MDS members and their staff better understand the COVID-19 precautions to take when traveling during the pandemic, the MDS and MDS Member Savings Partner HR2Fit have produced a resource to answer questions regarding testing, quarantining, and other issues.

If your office is utilizing PPE fee code D1999 or charging a PPE fee, you must notify patients of the new charge before their appointment. It is recommended that you do this at the time of scheduling or prior to the appointment to ensure they are not surprised by the additional charge.

The MDS wants to clarify that the recent WHO interim guidance is NOT applicable to Massachusetts. Residents in cities and towns across Massachusetts, in line with recommendations from state and local officials, remain able to safely receive routine, emergency, or likely to become emergent oral health services.

If a dental patient or staff member develops COVID-19, you must notify all patients who were treated within 48 hours after the person was in the office. Additional CDC guidance provides what to do if it has been less than or more than seven days since the diagnosis.

The House of Delegates elected a new slate of Officers for 2021-2022, including Dr. Abe Abdulwaheed as Vice President, a general dentist in Quincy and former South Shore District Trustee, at its January 27 meeting, and passed three resolutions, including one approving a full-time dental school faculty dues discount.

The MDS stands with members of our communities, including our dentists and patients, who face injustice and racism in their day-to-day lives. Leadership is needed on this issue from all walks of life, including dentistry, if we as a society are going to achieve the change that we need.

The MDS made the LiveHelpNow Challenge list of top companies providing exceptional customer service for the month of May. 

The MDS has arranged several volunteer opportunities this fall for members seeking ways to give back. Volunteering is a wonderful way to have a tangible impact on someone in need. Consider becoming a part of the MDS Cares Program and make a difference today!

Did you know that your MDS membership includes complimentary membership for your staff? If you haven’t taken advantage of this member benefit already, encourage your staff to enroll today and share the perks of membership, including continuing education and more.

Do you know an MDS member dentist who has graduated since 2012 and is making an impact on the dental profession or in their community? Nominate them for a 10 Under Ten award!