The Tennessee Dental Association opens its 143rd annual convention at the Chattanooga Convention Center Thursday, but a new policy adopted by the association means the TDA will leave a cavity in this city’s convention schedule.
After this week’s state conference, the TDA will no longer rotate its state meeting among Tennessee’s four largest cities.
“This is the last locational meeting of the TDA,” said Dr. Zachary Carden Jr., TDA president and retired Chattanooga dentist.
“We’re moving to Nashville for at least five years. After two years we’ll take a look back to decide whether it was a good idea.” However, Dr. Carden added he expects the state convention will remain in Nashville because of its central location to the membership.
About 100 delegates are registered for this three-day convention. Dr. Carden chose the theme, “All Aboard,” not only to reflect the city’s railroad heritage but as a play on the association’s teamwork approach to issues in its profession and support of the move to Nashville.
Dr. Steve Sawrie is general chairman of this annual session. Delegates will receive a program filled with beautiful color photographs of Chattanooga’s scenic spots that were photographed by his son, Dr. Daniel Sawrie.
Fifteen courses have been offered delegates with topics ranging from CPR to a methamphetamine overview. Each offers continuing education credits to help dentists reach the 40 CE hours required of them every two years.
Among the break-out session leaders will be three local dentists: Dr. Riley Lunn, Dr. Matt Brock and Dr. Brian Schenck.
Dr. Lunn said he has practiced dentistry for 40 years in Chattanooga, but this is his first talk at a TDA meeting here.
“My topic is identifying and helping patients with temporal mandibular disorders (aka TMJ) — ways to diagnose the disorder and treat it. There are a number of related problems, but dentists don’t get a lot of education on this topic while in school,” Dr. Lunn said.
Dr. Ronald Tankersley, president of the American Dental Association, will come to town Thursday to address delegates.
“Dr. Tankersley will most likely address the issue on everybody’s lips right now, which is access to care,” said Dr. Carden.
Other topics of discussion at the state meeting:
* Education: “We want to see dentistry go forward as it is traditionally and not be subverted by Dental Health Aide Therapists,” said Dr. Carden
“DHATS are students given two years of training out of high school who do irreversible procedures, which means they are almost on the same level as myself. We think if you want to be a dentist you should go to dental school.”
* Prevention: Dr. Carden says the TDA message is that a child find a “dental home” in the first year of life or as soon as the first teeth come in.
“When a child goes to the dentist that young, it’s almost like a play visit, and the dentist gets to be friends with the child. The child won’t grow up knowing some people consider a dental visit something they don’t want to do.”
* Intergenerational dynamics: This is professional training to help dentists relate to their patients.
“We see all age groups, and you don’t say ‘Golden Years’ to a senior adult,” quipped the TDA president.
* Introducing the Dental Angel Program: Dr. Carden said this new initiative is the brainchild of Dr. Eleanora Woods, a local dentist who practices in the Highway 58 area.
“A person can give a pint of blood and receive a certificate that is redeemable for either an extraction or cleaning. It’s in its infancy here, and the plan is to go statewide,” he said.
Dr. Zachary F. Carden Jr.
* Title: President, Tennessee Dental Association.
* Education: Graduate of Carson-Newman College, Erlanger School of Medical Technology, UT College of Dentistry; compiled 300 continuing education hours in the last five years.
* Practice: Retired after 36 years in general dentistry practice in Chattanooga.
* Professional honors: 2004 Fellow of the American College of Dentists, 2005 Fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Academy, 2008 Fellow of the International College of Dentists, won the 2002 Fellowship Award of the Tennessee Dental Association, chairman of the American College of Dentists (Tennessee section), trustee of the Chattanooga Area Dental Society to the TDA, scientific editor of “The Journal of the Tennessee Dental Association.”
* Family: He and wife Anne Fowler Carden have two children and four grandchildren. Dr. Carden is an elder in the Presbyterian church.
* Hobbies: Golf, oil painting, writing. He is a published author who writes under the pen name Zachary F. Scott.