To join or not to join? That is the question. 
Yes, that is the question many non member dentists in the Austin area ask every year. Many member dentists also ask that question and most all decide it is worth the professional investment to be a member of the Capital Area Dental Society. For your consideration, I want to highlight a few of the reasons our members stay involved.
 
Information is one of the most valuable assets we can have as practicing dentists. We need to acquire information in the form of continuing education to keep our license current. We need to be informed about the many rules and regulations regarding how we practice to comply with the laws, which do change from time to time. I find the publications of the Capital Area Dental Society, the Texas Dental Association, and the American Dental Association a valuable asset to my practice. I have monthly, if not more often information about the professional and regulatory news regarding dentistry. Also, the continuing education credits to be gained at all levels of membership make my dues seem a bargain.
 
Networking is a phrase in the business community that we, as dentists, should never forget. The value of personally being acquainted with dentists at the local, state, and even the national level helps with referrals, practice growth, and patient confidence in you, as a dentist, knowing your profession. My involvement in the Capital Area Dental Society started at a society meeting where I knew one or two dentists. Over the years that network for me has expanded to the state and then the national level. This would be impossible without the meeting structure we have in organized dentistry. Again, dues dollars well spent.
 
This is an exciting time for the profession of dentistry. The leadership at all levels has taken the task of improving the public awareness of what dentistry has to offer. The Capital Area Dental Society is one of the premiere philanthropic organizations in Austin, with our fundraising efforts focused on our Gala at the beginning of the year. Money is raised by sponsors and silent auction items in the midst of a casino party. The Texas Dental Association has developed our " TDA Smiles Foundation” to address access to care, dental education, and promote dentistry by our giving back to the community at our Missions if Mercy. The ADA works in a similar way with its foundation. By stepping forward with some answers to the health care crisis in the country, dentistry gains in its perception by the public and politicians, but most of all, it is the right thing to do! All of this happens not only because of dues dollars, but also because our members step forward to help by giving of their time and talents.
 
I have always believed my membership in organized dentistry as one of the best business decisions I have made. Invest in your business, your profession, by joining us as we move forward. We welcome you!
 
Respectfully,
 
Alan B. Moore, DDS
Capital Area Past President 1988-89  
 

MISSION STATEMENT of the Capital Area Dental Society:To Serve, Represent, and Educate Our Members and the Public for the Purpose of Maintaining the Integrity and High Standards of the Dental profession.
 

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The Capital Area Dental Society was founded in 1924 with the goals of uniting dentists of the Greater Austin area encompassing five counties for the advancement of the profession and for coordinated service to the community. The Capital Area Dental Society (CADS) is the local component of a tri-partite organization consisting of The Texas Dental Association and The American Dental Association.
 
Currently, the Capital Area Dental Society has 540 members and is one of the most active and respected dental societies in the country.  We are a unique society in that all proceeds from fundraising events are donated to local charitable organizations that provide dental care to those in need.  Over the years, CADS and its members have supported the following organizations with funds and volunteer services:
 
The Theo Project
Also known as the St. David’s Community Health Foundation Dental Program, is collaboration with The Capital Area Dental Society, Austin, Del Valle, Hays County, Manor, Pflugerville, and Round Rock Independent School Districts, City of Austin, and Seton Student Health Services.  This innovative project provides free dental care to underserved children at area Title I elementary schools. This is an innovative approach because treatment is provided at the schools, thus improving access-to-care by eliminating the transportation barrier.  The Theo Project served more than 36,000 children during the 2003-2004 school year at a value of more than $1.2 million.  CADS is proud to be a key part of this program that provided $3.5 million in free dental care in 2007 alone.
 
The Jack Sansing Clinic
Established in 1991, the Jack Sansing Dental Clinic was established to meet the special needs of those in the community that are immunocompromised. The Capital Area Dental Society has provided funding each year since its inception and over $10,000 in the past five years.
 
Manos de Cristo
Manos de Cristo is a Presbyterian dental clinic that has provided dental care to the needy since 1990 in east Austin. Numerous Capital Area Dental Society members volunteered their time there since that time and CADS has provided funding annually with donations of $20,000 in the past four years. The Manos de Cristo Dental Clinic is currently the only low-fee, full-service dental clinic in Austin. As such, Manos bears the enormous responsibility of offering the best care possible to the most vulnerable among us: the children and families who lack resources to meet their needs. In 2007, the clinic provided more than 7,500 appointments and $1,125,000 in free dental services to Austin’s working poor.
 
Texas Dental Association Smiles Foundation
TDASF is a statewide effort to improve the access to dental care for underserved Texans.  Two of the main programs of the Foundation are Donated Dental Services and Texas Missions of Mercy.  Donated Dental Services is program where volunteer dentists provide comprehensive care to elderly Texans or those with permanent disabilities. The total number of case completed since 2000 is 1968 at a value of more than $5 million.  The Texas Mission of Mercy (TMOMs) are events held throughout the state in various locations where dentists, laboratories and non-dental volunteers that provide dental care to all comers over a two day period. There have by the end of 2008, there will have been 18 TMOMs completed. For the 16 so far, 12,326 patients have been treated at a value of almost $4.5 million. CADS members play major roles in all TDASF programs as volunteers and as Board members.  The Capital Area Dental Society averages more than $ 2,000 of financial support to the Smiles Foundation annually. 
 
Mobile Loaves & Fishes
Founded in 1998, Mobile Loaves & Fishes has served more than 429,305 meals and hygiene items to working poor and homeless people on or near the streets of Austin and San Antonio. They were one of the first relief groups to serve New Orleans and other areas affected by hurricane Katrina. CADS has been providing funding to help their cause for the past three years.
 
Health Fairs
The Capital Area Dental Society has a standing committee of Public Health.  There is a presence at most health fairs in our area.  Volunteers are there to answer questions about dentistry, to provide access-to-care information, performing oral cancer screenings as well as promoting better dental health through prevention education.
 
In Office Care
Most Capital Area Dental Society members provide free care to patients who have no means of paying for services in their offices each month. Many members provide more than $ 1,000 free care monthly.  This is known because The Texas Dental Association has a monthly reporting program that is sent from dental offices throughout the state. Many do not report their free services, so we know that much more treatment is provided at no charge than is documented centrally.
 
Foreign Missions
Some of our members take time out of their practices and pay the travel expenses themselves to go to foreign countries on dental/medical missions to treat people who have never seen any doctor in their lifetime. CADS provides up to $500 annually to support a member dentist with these expenses.
 
Austin Community College School of Dental Hygiene
As early as 1990, some of our members saw the need for more dental hygienists to serve the needs of the community.  A Steering Committee was formed at that time and a needs assessment survey was completed that showed there was a severe shortage of dental hygienists.  Through perseverance and the cooperation of Austin Community College, The School of Dental Hygiene is in its third year of existence.  Many CADS members played key roles in the establishment and development of the program.  Members of CADS gave in excess of $125,000 toward the establishment of the program.  Because of the hard work of many, Austin now has its own dental hygiene school that is the cornerstone of the Health Sciences Campus in East Austin.  The people of Austin are receiving treatment at the facility in their neighborhood as a result.
 
Capital Area Dental Foundation
The Capital Area Dental Society was the 2004 recipient of the Outstanding Philanthropic Organization Award presented by The Association of Professional Fundraisers for charitable efforts that benefit the community. The Capital Area Dental Society is proud of its associations with many entities in the community working to provide passionate care to those in need in our community.  So that we as CADS can achieve even more for the community in the area of dental health, the Capital Area Dental Foundation (CADF) was incorporated in 2007. In July of 2008, CADF was granted 501 (C)(3) designation by the I.R.S. making all donations fully tax deductible. Through the foundation, which is under the umbrella of CADS, services to area residents will be greatly enhanced by identifying particular areas of unmet dental needs and developing working models and attaining grants to meet those specific needs.

 

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