1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:02,639 Hello. This is Cameron Cortejano with the Becker's 2 00:00:02,639 --> 00:00:04,660 Dental and DSO review podcast. 3 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:06,879 I'm told to be joined today by doctor 4 00:00:06,879 --> 00:00:07,859 Catherine Watkins. 5 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:10,000 Doctor Watkins, thank you so much for being 6 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:10,740 here today. 7 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:13,515 Oh, thank you for having me. To start 8 00:00:13,515 --> 00:00:15,434 us off, can you just introduce yourself and 9 00:00:15,434 --> 00:00:17,295 tell us a little bit about your background? 10 00:00:18,234 --> 00:00:21,355 Sure. My name is doctor Catherine Watkins. I 11 00:00:21,355 --> 00:00:24,474 was born, raised, and primarily educated in the 12 00:00:24,474 --> 00:00:25,614 state of North Carolina. 13 00:00:26,074 --> 00:00:28,730 I got my chemistry degree in 1980, 14 00:00:28,730 --> 00:00:32,189 my doctorate in dental surgery in 1984, 15 00:00:32,809 --> 00:00:33,869 and then I did 16 00:00:34,329 --> 00:00:35,549 a one year GPR 17 00:00:36,090 --> 00:00:39,289 hospital dental residency in Rochester, New York. And 18 00:00:39,289 --> 00:00:41,854 I stayed for an extra year doing, 19 00:00:43,054 --> 00:00:46,175 advanced general dental training and special care fellowship 20 00:00:46,175 --> 00:00:47,715 at Eastman Dental Center. 21 00:00:48,495 --> 00:00:50,895 And then through that, was recruited to come 22 00:00:50,895 --> 00:00:52,895 back to North Carolina, although they didn't know 23 00:00:52,895 --> 00:00:54,195 I was from North Carolina, 24 00:00:54,729 --> 00:00:57,630 to work at, what was then Charlotte Memorial 25 00:00:57,689 --> 00:00:58,750 Hospital Authority, 26 00:00:59,929 --> 00:01:02,189 to work and to set up a geriatric 27 00:01:02,729 --> 00:01:04,349 hospital outreach program, 28 00:01:04,810 --> 00:01:08,090 and ultimately rotated UNC dental students through that 29 00:01:08,090 --> 00:01:09,709 program for several years. 30 00:01:10,594 --> 00:01:12,215 I then left that position 31 00:01:12,754 --> 00:01:13,075 to, 32 00:01:13,555 --> 00:01:14,295 go and 33 00:01:14,754 --> 00:01:17,715 start to be the first cohort in a 34 00:01:17,715 --> 00:01:21,655 master's degree program in geriatric dentistry at UNC, 35 00:01:22,114 --> 00:01:24,769 and I stayed and completed my PhD in 36 00:01:24,769 --> 00:01:25,670 oral epidemiology 37 00:01:26,129 --> 00:01:28,469 and dental public health also at UNC 38 00:01:29,090 --> 00:01:29,989 Chapel Hill. 39 00:01:30,369 --> 00:01:32,310 And then by then, I was 40 00:01:33,009 --> 00:01:35,685 married and needing a job and was recruited 41 00:01:35,825 --> 00:01:37,825 to go to the University of Iowa for 42 00:01:37,825 --> 00:01:38,965 eight and a half years, 43 00:01:39,265 --> 00:01:42,165 and I worked there as an assistant professor 44 00:01:42,704 --> 00:01:46,224 in, in preventive and community dentistry and did, 45 00:01:46,864 --> 00:01:47,364 geriatric 46 00:01:47,879 --> 00:01:50,060 teaching, and they have a really fabulous 47 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:51,180 geriatric, 48 00:01:51,879 --> 00:01:54,780 mobile unit and education program for their students. 49 00:01:55,079 --> 00:01:56,359 And I did that for eight and a 50 00:01:56,359 --> 00:01:57,019 half years. 51 00:01:57,479 --> 00:01:59,500 Then I returned to North Carolina, 52 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:03,075 working first at North Carolina Baptist Hospital, Hospital, 53 00:02:03,075 --> 00:02:05,415 also doing a geriatric outreach program. 54 00:02:05,954 --> 00:02:06,694 And then, 55 00:02:07,314 --> 00:02:10,034 I had my my children were young and 56 00:02:10,034 --> 00:02:12,055 my husband became ill, and, 57 00:02:12,754 --> 00:02:15,074 I had to I left that position to 58 00:02:15,074 --> 00:02:16,935 go into private practice. 59 00:02:17,659 --> 00:02:19,419 And I worked in a large group dental 60 00:02:19,419 --> 00:02:21,580 practice in Winston Salem and have been at 61 00:02:21,580 --> 00:02:23,919 that practice since 02/2006. 62 00:02:24,699 --> 00:02:27,580 This practice was recently purchased by a dentist 63 00:02:27,580 --> 00:02:28,080 directed, 64 00:02:28,939 --> 00:02:29,439 DSO, 65 00:02:30,139 --> 00:02:33,224 Riccobini Family Dentistry, and I still work there 66 00:02:33,305 --> 00:02:35,485 full time as a wet finger dentist. 67 00:02:36,025 --> 00:02:38,025 I have been an active member of the 68 00:02:38,025 --> 00:02:40,665 American Dental Association since I joined as a 69 00:02:40,665 --> 00:02:42,444 student in 1982. 70 00:02:42,825 --> 00:02:44,585 I was active in all three of the 71 00:02:44,585 --> 00:02:47,560 state dental societies in North New York and 72 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:49,960 in Iowa and in North Carolina when I 73 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:51,580 lived there in each of those. 74 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:54,919 I think because of my background being varied 75 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:55,580 both in 76 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:56,460 academics 77 00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:57,580 and in 78 00:02:58,135 --> 00:03:01,495 in private practice. I was encouraged to run 79 00:03:01,495 --> 00:03:03,575 for the North Carolina State Dental Board of 80 00:03:03,575 --> 00:03:04,075 Examiners, 81 00:03:05,575 --> 00:03:07,814 and I really didn't know that much about 82 00:03:07,814 --> 00:03:10,455 the dental board, but a colleague encouraged me 83 00:03:10,455 --> 00:03:12,534 to run, and I have been on the 84 00:03:12,534 --> 00:03:15,159 state dental board in North Carolina. This is 85 00:03:15,159 --> 00:03:17,080 my, I'm in the middle of my eighth 86 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:17,580 year. 87 00:03:17,959 --> 00:03:19,099 Among my responsibilities 88 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:21,719 on the state dental board, I've been a 89 00:03:21,719 --> 00:03:22,939 member of the American 90 00:03:23,319 --> 00:03:25,959 Association of Dental Boards at the national level, 91 00:03:25,959 --> 00:03:26,939 and I'm currently 92 00:03:27,504 --> 00:03:29,444 the double ADB representative 93 00:03:29,905 --> 00:03:32,784 to the American Dental Association's Council on the 94 00:03:32,784 --> 00:03:33,685 Dental Education 95 00:03:33,985 --> 00:03:34,884 and Licensure 96 00:03:35,504 --> 00:03:36,004 Council. 97 00:03:36,625 --> 00:03:37,764 And, I'm, 98 00:03:38,625 --> 00:03:39,844 in starting my 99 00:03:40,189 --> 00:03:41,870 fifth I'm in the middle of my fifth 100 00:03:41,870 --> 00:03:43,729 year in that, six year 101 00:03:44,110 --> 00:03:44,610 appointment. 102 00:03:44,990 --> 00:03:47,150 I'm doing this interview because I am a 103 00:03:47,150 --> 00:03:49,550 wet finger dentist. I've been doing dentistry for 104 00:03:49,550 --> 00:03:51,650 forty one years, and I've had 105 00:03:51,949 --> 00:03:54,644 experiences in lots of different dental settings, both 106 00:03:54,644 --> 00:03:57,844 dental schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and private practice, 107 00:03:57,844 --> 00:04:00,344 and now a dentist directed DSO. 108 00:04:00,805 --> 00:04:03,284 So I'm willing to share my thoughts. These 109 00:04:03,284 --> 00:04:05,305 are only my thoughts. I'm not representing 110 00:04:05,604 --> 00:04:06,104 any 111 00:04:06,405 --> 00:04:08,400 group or anything. And, 112 00:04:09,419 --> 00:04:11,180 just wanted to let you know what my 113 00:04:11,180 --> 00:04:14,000 experience has shaped my perspective as Catherine Watkins, 114 00:04:14,060 --> 00:04:15,520 DDS MS PhD. 115 00:04:16,620 --> 00:04:18,160 Awesome. Thank you so much. 116 00:04:19,225 --> 00:04:21,625 What are some of the biggest issues that 117 00:04:21,625 --> 00:04:24,025 you're following in the dental industry this year 118 00:04:24,025 --> 00:04:24,685 so far? 119 00:04:25,705 --> 00:04:27,485 Well, I know you've had some podcasts, 120 00:04:28,504 --> 00:04:31,705 and I think the, the issue nationally of 121 00:04:31,705 --> 00:04:33,944 this compact thing is a big issue. But 122 00:04:33,944 --> 00:04:36,100 I wanna bring it up a little bit 123 00:04:36,100 --> 00:04:37,720 more because for me as 124 00:04:38,020 --> 00:04:40,020 a as a wet finger dentist, so to 125 00:04:40,020 --> 00:04:40,520 speak, 126 00:04:41,220 --> 00:04:44,100 one of the issues I'm concerned about is 127 00:04:44,100 --> 00:04:47,000 loss of patient centered continuity of care. 128 00:04:47,300 --> 00:04:50,175 I feel like sometimes we have dentists moving 129 00:04:50,175 --> 00:04:52,415 from place to place, and we have a 130 00:04:52,415 --> 00:04:55,134 problem with lack of continuity of care. And, 131 00:04:56,014 --> 00:04:59,314 without continuity of care, we sometimes have questions 132 00:04:59,375 --> 00:04:59,875 about 133 00:05:00,254 --> 00:05:03,000 we have geographic success. Your work may not 134 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:04,839 be that good because you haven't stayed around 135 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:08,199 long enough to see. I'm also interested in 136 00:05:08,199 --> 00:05:10,699 competent quality care. I think sometimes 137 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:12,839 and we see this sometimes on some of 138 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:14,759 the board complaints that I've had on the 139 00:05:14,759 --> 00:05:15,795 dental board is 140 00:05:16,355 --> 00:05:18,455 young dentists who go into practices 141 00:05:18,835 --> 00:05:19,654 are very, 142 00:05:20,835 --> 00:05:23,395 focused on trying to get their production up 143 00:05:23,395 --> 00:05:26,215 and their speed up, and sometimes the competency 144 00:05:26,355 --> 00:05:28,754 and the quality of care diminishes. And I 145 00:05:28,754 --> 00:05:30,410 think trying to, 146 00:05:31,110 --> 00:05:31,930 kind of balance 147 00:05:32,310 --> 00:05:34,569 competency and good quality care with 148 00:05:34,870 --> 00:05:35,370 productivity 149 00:05:35,750 --> 00:05:37,050 is a is a major, 150 00:05:37,670 --> 00:05:38,970 issue that I'm following. 151 00:05:40,310 --> 00:05:42,810 I also think in general, and and maybe 152 00:05:43,270 --> 00:05:43,770 this 153 00:05:44,375 --> 00:05:45,595 fight in the compacts 154 00:05:45,975 --> 00:05:47,595 is part of that, but I think 155 00:05:48,294 --> 00:05:50,935 sometimes, I think we, as a dental profession, 156 00:05:50,935 --> 00:05:53,495 we have done we have tried so hard 157 00:05:53,495 --> 00:05:53,995 to 158 00:05:54,694 --> 00:05:57,894 minimize what we do chairside. We're really a 159 00:05:57,894 --> 00:05:58,954 surgical profession. 160 00:06:00,009 --> 00:06:00,509 And 161 00:06:00,889 --> 00:06:03,290 but we try to minimize that so that 162 00:06:03,290 --> 00:06:05,370 people will are not be afraid to come 163 00:06:05,370 --> 00:06:07,370 in and to be a good dental patient. 164 00:06:07,370 --> 00:06:09,290 And I think we need to be very 165 00:06:09,290 --> 00:06:12,250 careful that our profession is not relegated down 166 00:06:12,250 --> 00:06:14,670 to the level of trade. We are a 167 00:06:15,285 --> 00:06:17,705 surgical profession with lots of responsibilities, 168 00:06:18,165 --> 00:06:19,925 and I want to make sure that that 169 00:06:19,925 --> 00:06:20,425 stays, 170 00:06:20,805 --> 00:06:21,465 high profile. 171 00:06:22,004 --> 00:06:24,165 And then the last thing, which is very 172 00:06:24,165 --> 00:06:24,665 politically 173 00:06:25,605 --> 00:06:28,965 positive, but a very difficult thing to assess 174 00:06:28,965 --> 00:06:30,985 is, access to care. 175 00:06:31,579 --> 00:06:33,519 And this has been an issue since I, 176 00:06:34,220 --> 00:06:37,259 was in my, first geriatric fellowship up in 177 00:06:37,259 --> 00:06:39,199 Rochester, New York. I was told, 178 00:06:39,500 --> 00:06:41,339 oh, we've got all the baby boomers are 179 00:06:41,339 --> 00:06:43,759 getting old, and they're gonna need good geriatric 180 00:06:43,899 --> 00:06:45,839 dentists to take care of them. But 181 00:06:46,365 --> 00:06:48,785 over the last forty one years, I have 182 00:06:49,084 --> 00:06:52,045 not seen a great growth in the access 183 00:06:52,045 --> 00:06:54,144 to care for special needs populations. 184 00:06:55,324 --> 00:06:56,845 I think we do a pretty good job 185 00:06:56,845 --> 00:06:58,524 of taking care of what I call the 186 00:06:58,524 --> 00:07:00,685 walk talk, open on command, pay as you 187 00:07:00,685 --> 00:07:01,425 leave patients. 188 00:07:01,980 --> 00:07:04,220 But if you've got anyone who fails in 189 00:07:04,220 --> 00:07:06,960 any of these areas, if they have physical 190 00:07:07,020 --> 00:07:10,620 problems, mental problems, or financial issues, I don't 191 00:07:10,620 --> 00:07:12,620 think we as a profession are very good 192 00:07:12,620 --> 00:07:14,805 at access to care. And I think it's 193 00:07:14,964 --> 00:07:16,185 kind of funny that 194 00:07:16,644 --> 00:07:19,785 both the compact that are going upstate legislators 195 00:07:20,084 --> 00:07:20,745 talk about 196 00:07:21,125 --> 00:07:22,664 the compact and the mobility 197 00:07:22,964 --> 00:07:26,004 of the practice addressing access to care, but 198 00:07:26,004 --> 00:07:27,944 I think that's I think that's, 199 00:07:28,805 --> 00:07:30,910 small minded. I don't think access access to 200 00:07:30,910 --> 00:07:32,750 care is gonna have anything to do with 201 00:07:32,750 --> 00:07:34,910 increasing the numbers of dentists in the area. 202 00:07:34,910 --> 00:07:37,310 It has everything to do with getting people 203 00:07:37,310 --> 00:07:39,389 to rural areas and getting them trained to 204 00:07:39,389 --> 00:07:42,189 take care of more compromised and special needs 205 00:07:42,189 --> 00:07:44,415 people in a productive way, in a way 206 00:07:44,415 --> 00:07:47,294 that can be financially remunerated, and we are 207 00:07:47,294 --> 00:07:49,774 not there. And I don't think being a 208 00:07:49,774 --> 00:07:51,855 member of either compact is gonna make that 209 00:07:51,855 --> 00:07:53,074 happen any better. 210 00:07:53,454 --> 00:07:53,935 So, 211 00:07:54,334 --> 00:07:55,794 those are the issues that 212 00:07:56,329 --> 00:07:58,250 I'm looking at, but I'm looking at it 213 00:07:58,250 --> 00:07:59,310 from a dentist's 214 00:07:59,689 --> 00:08:00,189 perspective 215 00:08:00,569 --> 00:08:01,050 and, 216 00:08:01,529 --> 00:08:03,769 and then we can talk about how the 217 00:08:03,769 --> 00:08:06,509 other issues affect that going forward. 218 00:08:07,449 --> 00:08:09,610 Yeah. Definitely. I think those those all make 219 00:08:09,610 --> 00:08:11,050 a lot of sense, and those are some 220 00:08:11,050 --> 00:08:11,714 great points. 221 00:08:12,754 --> 00:08:14,754 Something that I'm curious to to get your 222 00:08:14,754 --> 00:08:17,235 thoughts on are, what are you most excited 223 00:08:17,235 --> 00:08:19,714 about when it comes to dentistry right now, 224 00:08:19,714 --> 00:08:21,794 and and what are some things throughout the 225 00:08:21,794 --> 00:08:23,634 industry that are making you a little bit 226 00:08:23,634 --> 00:08:24,935 nervous or or concerned? 227 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:26,980 Well, I mean, 228 00:08:27,439 --> 00:08:29,300 when you think about the fact that 229 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:32,320 when I was in Rochester, New York at 230 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:35,540 Genesee Hospital, I was in the OR with 231 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:39,279 doctor Brandon Marks who started dental implants, and 232 00:08:39,279 --> 00:08:41,304 I got to watch him actually work 233 00:08:41,764 --> 00:08:43,544 with my mentor, Bijan Aramkore, 234 00:08:44,004 --> 00:08:46,264 in showing him how to do dental implants. 235 00:08:46,884 --> 00:08:48,644 There was no such thing as a dental 236 00:08:48,644 --> 00:08:51,304 implant education when I was in dental school, 237 00:08:51,365 --> 00:08:54,120 and now I regularly restore dental implants with 238 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:56,460 my surgeon friends who placed them. So 239 00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:58,820 I think the technology and, 240 00:08:59,399 --> 00:09:01,799 and things that the few that we do 241 00:09:01,799 --> 00:09:03,559 now and that we've done since I've been 242 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:05,720 in dentistry and that the future holds is 243 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:07,960 very exciting. I mean, we've got scanning. We've 244 00:09:07,960 --> 00:09:09,100 got three d printing. 245 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:12,334 I mean, we're doing lots of interesting things 246 00:09:12,334 --> 00:09:15,934 and maybe actually growing teeth and tooth buds 247 00:09:15,934 --> 00:09:17,235 and that type of thing. 248 00:09:18,654 --> 00:09:21,875 The practice that I'm in, they're experimenting with 249 00:09:22,254 --> 00:09:25,235 AI, especially in reading radiographs right now. 250 00:09:26,389 --> 00:09:29,110 It's about fifty fifty. I think 50% of 251 00:09:29,110 --> 00:09:31,110 the time it identifies it on the X-ray, 252 00:09:31,110 --> 00:09:33,129 and 50% of the time it doesn't. But 253 00:09:33,190 --> 00:09:35,190 I think these are exciting areas, and I 254 00:09:35,190 --> 00:09:35,690 think 255 00:09:36,149 --> 00:09:38,070 I think we shouldn't be afraid of the 256 00:09:38,070 --> 00:09:40,410 technology. We should embrace the technology. 257 00:09:41,029 --> 00:09:44,034 But in terms of embracing the technology, 258 00:09:44,654 --> 00:09:46,975 we also have to my concern is we 259 00:09:46,975 --> 00:09:48,595 have to bring up the education 260 00:09:49,214 --> 00:09:51,375 for that technology, and we have to do 261 00:09:51,375 --> 00:09:52,194 it in a 262 00:09:52,495 --> 00:09:55,475 responsible way. And I don't mean just for 263 00:09:56,100 --> 00:09:56,600 educating 264 00:09:57,220 --> 00:09:58,519 the the licensed 265 00:09:59,139 --> 00:10:01,779 practitioners, the dentist, and the dental hygienist. In 266 00:10:01,779 --> 00:10:04,659 in North Carolina, we do not license our 267 00:10:04,659 --> 00:10:05,639 dental assistants. 268 00:10:07,459 --> 00:10:10,914 But, also, we need to do professional support 269 00:10:10,914 --> 00:10:13,095 and education for our dental assistants 270 00:10:13,955 --> 00:10:16,134 and for, our lab technology. 271 00:10:17,075 --> 00:10:19,794 I mean, we're doing all this technology here, 272 00:10:19,794 --> 00:10:20,774 but we're not 273 00:10:21,190 --> 00:10:22,490 we're not embracing 274 00:10:22,950 --> 00:10:23,450 the, 275 00:10:23,830 --> 00:10:26,970 lab techs, which are integral to good quality 276 00:10:27,029 --> 00:10:27,529 care. 277 00:10:28,710 --> 00:10:30,470 A lot of people are afraid of robots 278 00:10:30,470 --> 00:10:31,769 and stuff. I mean, 279 00:10:32,310 --> 00:10:34,889 I've sat here and since COVID, 280 00:10:35,465 --> 00:10:38,105 when I did my test for my dental 281 00:10:38,105 --> 00:10:40,424 licensure, but if I took the Northeast Regional 282 00:10:40,424 --> 00:10:42,424 boards in Rochester and I took the North 283 00:10:42,424 --> 00:10:45,785 Carolina boards, and we were doing testing on 284 00:10:45,785 --> 00:10:46,684 live people. 285 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:48,940 And, of course, since COVID, 286 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:51,580 we do not do that. We have developed 287 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:55,559 really pretty impressive technology for mannequin use on 288 00:10:55,559 --> 00:10:58,440 hand skills test with the ADEX test that 289 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:01,794 I'm a examiner for. But there's no good 290 00:11:01,794 --> 00:11:05,235 substitute for anything other than having a live 291 00:11:05,235 --> 00:11:06,855 patient and and 292 00:11:07,315 --> 00:11:09,334 and having a you can do a technical 293 00:11:09,394 --> 00:11:11,794 test, but have it you have to have 294 00:11:11,794 --> 00:11:12,455 a patient 295 00:11:12,914 --> 00:11:13,414 and 296 00:11:13,990 --> 00:11:17,029 a human dentist doing dentistry. I don't think 297 00:11:17,029 --> 00:11:19,830 we're gonna get to robots actually being able 298 00:11:19,830 --> 00:11:22,649 to do dentistry in human mouths at least 299 00:11:23,110 --> 00:11:24,970 at least not, I think, for another 300 00:11:25,429 --> 00:11:27,129 hundred years or so. But, 301 00:11:27,990 --> 00:11:28,490 anyway, 302 00:11:28,870 --> 00:11:29,450 I think 303 00:11:29,784 --> 00:11:32,125 that's what I'm excited about, and then education 304 00:11:32,345 --> 00:11:34,825 I'm concerned about. And, also, you know, we've 305 00:11:34,825 --> 00:11:37,565 mentioned a little bit before, but I'm concerned 306 00:11:37,625 --> 00:11:38,585 about the, 307 00:11:39,705 --> 00:11:42,024 the fact that there's not a whole lot 308 00:11:42,024 --> 00:11:44,549 of recognition among non dentists that 309 00:11:44,950 --> 00:11:47,589 among the general population that dentistry is really 310 00:11:47,589 --> 00:11:49,129 a surgical based profession. 311 00:11:49,830 --> 00:11:50,970 We're not a trade, 312 00:11:51,509 --> 00:11:53,450 and therefore, the license 313 00:11:53,909 --> 00:11:55,909 to practice has to be held to the 314 00:11:55,909 --> 00:11:56,970 highest standard 315 00:11:57,945 --> 00:11:58,445 whatsoever, 316 00:11:58,825 --> 00:12:01,625 very similar to the the standard that we 317 00:12:01,625 --> 00:12:03,245 do for our medical surgical 318 00:12:03,625 --> 00:12:04,125 professionals. 319 00:12:05,384 --> 00:12:05,785 And, 320 00:12:06,665 --> 00:12:08,524 we all should all want 321 00:12:09,144 --> 00:12:12,024 confident practitioners, and we should all want them 322 00:12:12,024 --> 00:12:12,684 to be 323 00:12:13,169 --> 00:12:15,570 vetted at the very highest level. And I 324 00:12:15,570 --> 00:12:16,309 think that's 325 00:12:16,690 --> 00:12:19,970 my biggest concern when I'm looking at this 326 00:12:19,970 --> 00:12:21,429 compact issue and 327 00:12:22,049 --> 00:12:25,589 any other issues where my understanding is the 328 00:12:25,809 --> 00:12:29,065 the compact that they call EDH compact, the 329 00:12:29,065 --> 00:12:31,065 one that was put forth by the council 330 00:12:31,065 --> 00:12:31,884 state government. 331 00:12:32,345 --> 00:12:33,325 That was basically, 332 00:12:35,065 --> 00:12:37,644 modeled after the compact for estheticians, 333 00:12:38,825 --> 00:12:41,225 which in my opinion is a is a 334 00:12:41,225 --> 00:12:43,085 trade, not really a profession. 335 00:12:43,625 --> 00:12:44,600 But the, 336 00:12:45,860 --> 00:12:47,959 compact that was put forth by double ADB, 337 00:12:48,019 --> 00:12:49,620 and I don't know, they've got a different 338 00:12:49,620 --> 00:12:50,600 acronym, interstate 339 00:12:51,139 --> 00:12:52,759 dentist and dental hygiene, 340 00:12:54,179 --> 00:12:55,959 testing exam or compact, 341 00:12:56,834 --> 00:13:00,454 It was modeled after the expedited medical licensure 342 00:13:01,074 --> 00:13:03,894 profile, and I think that's the most appropriate 343 00:13:03,954 --> 00:13:04,934 way to do it. 344 00:13:05,315 --> 00:13:06,615 So that's 345 00:13:07,074 --> 00:13:10,454 that's what I'm excited about and concerned about. 346 00:13:11,309 --> 00:13:13,870 Definitely. Thanks so much for that. In your 347 00:13:13,870 --> 00:13:16,670 view, what will the most effective health care 348 00:13:16,670 --> 00:13:17,570 leaders need 349 00:13:17,950 --> 00:13:19,870 in order to be successful over the next 350 00:13:19,870 --> 00:13:21,470 two to three years? I know we've talked 351 00:13:21,470 --> 00:13:24,884 about the compact and robotics and AI tech. 352 00:13:25,445 --> 00:13:27,285 What do you think health care leaders kinda 353 00:13:27,285 --> 00:13:27,785 need 354 00:13:28,325 --> 00:13:30,644 to to bring success to to themselves and 355 00:13:30,644 --> 00:13:31,384 their organizations? 356 00:13:33,924 --> 00:13:35,785 Well, I don't know. I mean, 357 00:13:37,059 --> 00:13:39,000 do we want to go into more 358 00:13:39,379 --> 00:13:42,279 details about the I don't know. I mean, 359 00:13:42,820 --> 00:13:44,519 for me as a practitioner, 360 00:13:45,860 --> 00:13:48,360 patient care is what brings me joy, 361 00:13:48,820 --> 00:13:49,320 and 362 00:13:50,084 --> 00:13:50,584 that's 363 00:13:51,125 --> 00:13:53,284 what that's what I think we need to 364 00:13:53,284 --> 00:13:56,504 remember is that the dental profession is 365 00:13:57,845 --> 00:13:59,304 is a health care profession, 366 00:13:59,924 --> 00:14:01,304 and we are challenged 367 00:14:01,684 --> 00:14:02,184 to 368 00:14:02,759 --> 00:14:05,740 treat oral disease. We are challenged to restore 369 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:06,700 health. 370 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:10,120 We are challenged to restore function for people 371 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:10,620 who 372 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:13,559 need to be able to chew and to 373 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:15,240 speak. A lot of people don't even think 374 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:17,975 about how dentistry is important for your speech 375 00:14:17,975 --> 00:14:18,634 and phonetics. 376 00:14:19,575 --> 00:14:22,294 We need to everybody gets focused on their 377 00:14:22,294 --> 00:14:24,934 white smile, but also just having a smile 378 00:14:24,934 --> 00:14:26,955 and being able to function and 379 00:14:27,940 --> 00:14:30,919 giving that kind of confidence. And I think 380 00:14:31,139 --> 00:14:34,919 we need to maintain our quality patient centered 381 00:14:34,980 --> 00:14:37,220 care. The biggest thing that I'm 382 00:14:37,779 --> 00:14:40,259 the thing that I I think is gonna 383 00:14:40,259 --> 00:14:42,759 be important I mean, DSOs are 384 00:14:43,304 --> 00:14:45,225 growing and they're everywhere, and I have had 385 00:14:45,225 --> 00:14:47,065 a lot of people say, oh, well, I'm 386 00:14:47,065 --> 00:14:49,725 against DSOs. No. I practice in a DSO. 387 00:14:50,345 --> 00:14:52,924 But I practice in a dentist driven DSO, 388 00:14:52,985 --> 00:14:54,125 which means that 389 00:14:54,985 --> 00:14:57,490 the one of the owners of the practice 390 00:14:57,629 --> 00:15:00,269 has been a wet finger dentist. And if 391 00:15:00,269 --> 00:15:02,350 I have a problem as a wet finger 392 00:15:02,350 --> 00:15:05,309 dentist, I have another dentist to go to. 393 00:15:05,309 --> 00:15:07,389 I can I can sit here and say, 394 00:15:07,389 --> 00:15:08,850 no? We can't do 395 00:15:09,389 --> 00:15:10,210 what your 396 00:15:10,705 --> 00:15:13,504 production administrator is saying because it can't be 397 00:15:13,504 --> 00:15:15,284 done that way and done safely. 398 00:15:15,985 --> 00:15:18,004 I'm not so sure that all 399 00:15:19,024 --> 00:15:21,684 DSOs that are not dentist driven 400 00:15:22,065 --> 00:15:24,004 do that. We've seen some cases 401 00:15:24,464 --> 00:15:24,964 in 402 00:15:25,879 --> 00:15:29,000 in North Carolina where we have had some, 403 00:15:29,639 --> 00:15:32,360 young dentist be put into a situation where 404 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:34,620 there's not an older dentist mentor, 405 00:15:35,159 --> 00:15:38,860 and so they are expected to perform 406 00:15:39,554 --> 00:15:42,274 procedures in a shorter amount of time than 407 00:15:42,274 --> 00:15:44,595 they're capable of, and the person who suffers 408 00:15:44,595 --> 00:15:45,414 is the patient. 409 00:15:46,195 --> 00:15:49,815 And sometimes, we don't find out that that 410 00:15:50,034 --> 00:15:51,414 suffering has occurred 411 00:15:52,139 --> 00:15:55,100 until that dentist has already been moved on 412 00:15:55,100 --> 00:15:55,759 to another 413 00:15:56,379 --> 00:15:59,100 place, and then the complaint rest at the 414 00:15:59,100 --> 00:16:00,320 state dental boards. 415 00:16:00,779 --> 00:16:01,279 And 416 00:16:02,059 --> 00:16:04,700 I'm not sure, and I don't know what 417 00:16:04,860 --> 00:16:06,399 if you've had any discussions 418 00:16:06,779 --> 00:16:07,279 about 419 00:16:07,955 --> 00:16:10,294 what the function of a state board is. 420 00:16:10,835 --> 00:16:13,014 And I'm not sure they're all 421 00:16:14,034 --> 00:16:16,514 I know all state boards are they're they're 422 00:16:16,514 --> 00:16:18,995 required to protect the public. That's the main 423 00:16:18,995 --> 00:16:21,794 thing. And they have to regulate dental practice 424 00:16:21,794 --> 00:16:22,534 and licensure. 425 00:16:23,459 --> 00:16:26,500 And they need to establish that each state 426 00:16:26,500 --> 00:16:29,459 is responsible for establishing that the practitioners in 427 00:16:29,459 --> 00:16:30,679 their state are, 428 00:16:31,539 --> 00:16:32,439 fit to practice. 429 00:16:32,819 --> 00:16:33,319 And, 430 00:16:33,939 --> 00:16:36,679 and we do background checks in North Carolina, 431 00:16:37,299 --> 00:16:40,894 and we are we vet people with, both 432 00:16:40,894 --> 00:16:43,774 the double AABB clearing house and the National 433 00:16:43,774 --> 00:16:46,514 Practitioners Act. And in North Carolina, we actually 434 00:16:46,735 --> 00:16:48,834 use the FBI and do fingerprinting, 435 00:16:50,574 --> 00:16:53,079 to make sure that the licensees that we 436 00:16:53,079 --> 00:16:55,240 have in our state have a character and 437 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:55,740 fitness 438 00:16:57,319 --> 00:17:00,379 are are prepared for being a good character 439 00:17:00,439 --> 00:17:01,899 and fitness to practice 440 00:17:02,439 --> 00:17:03,419 in our state. 441 00:17:04,515 --> 00:17:06,535 And but other responsibilities 442 00:17:07,714 --> 00:17:08,434 that some 443 00:17:08,994 --> 00:17:10,755 I didn't know until I mean, the only 444 00:17:10,994 --> 00:17:13,474 when I joined the North Carolina State Dental 445 00:17:13,474 --> 00:17:13,974 Board, 446 00:17:14,275 --> 00:17:16,674 I really my only experience with the dental 447 00:17:16,674 --> 00:17:19,319 board before has been being my getting my 448 00:17:19,399 --> 00:17:21,899 license to practice and doing the test. 449 00:17:22,279 --> 00:17:24,919 But, actually, it's so much more because we 450 00:17:25,319 --> 00:17:28,220 in addition to doing the granting of licensing 451 00:17:28,279 --> 00:17:29,019 and renewals, 452 00:17:29,639 --> 00:17:30,380 we also, 453 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:31,960 have to, 454 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:32,940 adjudicate 455 00:17:33,805 --> 00:17:35,724 any cases that go on. So if a 456 00:17:35,724 --> 00:17:38,625 pay a person in the public complains about 457 00:17:39,164 --> 00:17:41,164 a procedure that's been done for them or 458 00:17:41,164 --> 00:17:43,105 against a dentist or a dental hygienist, 459 00:17:43,644 --> 00:17:46,125 then we have to investigate it and make 460 00:17:46,125 --> 00:17:47,884 sure and see if there has been any, 461 00:17:49,230 --> 00:17:51,950 problems that fell below the standard of practice 462 00:17:51,950 --> 00:17:52,929 in our state. 463 00:17:53,309 --> 00:17:53,970 And then 464 00:17:54,429 --> 00:17:56,990 we also have to enforce that state general 465 00:17:56,990 --> 00:17:59,470 practice act has happened. A lot of people 466 00:17:59,470 --> 00:18:00,609 think that 467 00:18:01,164 --> 00:18:03,644 state boards and part of the reason that 468 00:18:03,644 --> 00:18:06,525 we're having this problem with the with the 469 00:18:06,525 --> 00:18:09,884 compact is I was involved in in some 470 00:18:09,884 --> 00:18:11,884 of the early history of it, and there's 471 00:18:11,884 --> 00:18:12,865 a lot of disingenuous 472 00:18:13,325 --> 00:18:15,710 information that's out out there between the two 473 00:18:15,710 --> 00:18:16,769 compacts. And 474 00:18:17,150 --> 00:18:18,130 one of them is 475 00:18:19,549 --> 00:18:21,630 most state boards that I know of, they 476 00:18:21,630 --> 00:18:23,950 are prohibited by state law to be able 477 00:18:23,950 --> 00:18:24,690 to lobby. 478 00:18:25,070 --> 00:18:27,950 We have to stay totally ethically free and 479 00:18:27,950 --> 00:18:28,450 separate. 480 00:18:29,265 --> 00:18:29,924 Any legislative 481 00:18:30,945 --> 00:18:32,164 efforts that happen 482 00:18:33,025 --> 00:18:35,265 in most states have to happen through the 483 00:18:35,265 --> 00:18:37,684 dental society at that state level, 484 00:18:38,065 --> 00:18:40,805 and that's the reason why I have been 485 00:18:41,025 --> 00:18:41,525 so 486 00:18:42,009 --> 00:18:42,829 so concerned 487 00:18:43,130 --> 00:18:44,269 about the 488 00:18:44,970 --> 00:18:48,329 different roles that I'm I'm seeing happen between 489 00:18:48,329 --> 00:18:49,869 the American Dental Association 490 00:18:50,650 --> 00:18:52,190 that is behind the 491 00:18:52,490 --> 00:18:53,710 DDH compact 492 00:18:54,775 --> 00:18:57,835 and what's happening at some state dental society 493 00:18:57,894 --> 00:19:00,295 levels, which where they do not support that 494 00:19:00,295 --> 00:19:03,414 compact, but they instead support the one that 495 00:19:03,414 --> 00:19:05,815 the double ADB has put out. And mainly 496 00:19:05,815 --> 00:19:08,549 because the double ADB compact keeps 497 00:19:09,350 --> 00:19:11,210 the licensure and the vetting 498 00:19:11,750 --> 00:19:12,730 and the, 499 00:19:13,590 --> 00:19:16,150 re the fitness to practice at the state 500 00:19:16,150 --> 00:19:16,650 level 501 00:19:17,029 --> 00:19:18,009 and doesn't 502 00:19:18,309 --> 00:19:19,750 pull it away and put it at a 503 00:19:19,750 --> 00:19:23,369 government level that's not even adjudicated by dentists. 504 00:19:24,865 --> 00:19:27,105 I don't know if I'm not trying to 505 00:19:27,105 --> 00:19:29,285 ramble, but I I want to make 506 00:19:29,744 --> 00:19:31,204 make it clear to 507 00:19:31,585 --> 00:19:33,904 you since you're not a dental person how 508 00:19:33,904 --> 00:19:35,845 very important that role is 509 00:19:36,144 --> 00:19:36,644 because 510 00:19:37,090 --> 00:19:39,650 we have we've had people who I mean, 511 00:19:39,650 --> 00:19:41,970 dentists are people just like in every other 512 00:19:41,970 --> 00:19:44,610 profession, and we've had people who've had issues 513 00:19:44,610 --> 00:19:46,390 with substance abuse that 514 00:19:46,690 --> 00:19:47,170 and, 515 00:19:47,809 --> 00:19:49,545 other issues of criminal record, 516 00:19:50,424 --> 00:19:52,184 And we need to be able to follow 517 00:19:52,184 --> 00:19:54,744 that through. And many of those tenders, they 518 00:19:54,744 --> 00:19:55,484 go through, 519 00:19:56,025 --> 00:19:57,164 substance abuse 520 00:19:57,465 --> 00:19:59,865 treatment, and they can go back and get 521 00:19:59,865 --> 00:20:01,244 into practice, but 522 00:20:01,545 --> 00:20:03,545 they do not have a clear record. Now 523 00:20:03,545 --> 00:20:05,164 if you're in medicine 524 00:20:06,099 --> 00:20:07,940 and you want to be a member of 525 00:20:07,940 --> 00:20:11,940 of their expedited licensure process, you have to 526 00:20:11,940 --> 00:20:12,440 be 527 00:20:12,980 --> 00:20:13,480 totally 528 00:20:14,019 --> 00:20:16,579 free of any blocks on your history, and 529 00:20:16,579 --> 00:20:18,259 many of them have to have to have 530 00:20:18,259 --> 00:20:21,375 some kind of extra credentialing or crediting before 531 00:20:21,375 --> 00:20:23,794 you can get an expedited license. 532 00:20:24,255 --> 00:20:26,335 That doesn't mean you can't be licensed as 533 00:20:26,335 --> 00:20:28,174 a doctor in a state, but you have 534 00:20:28,174 --> 00:20:30,274 to go through that state's vetting process. 535 00:20:30,894 --> 00:20:32,674 And I think that's one of the biggest 536 00:20:33,490 --> 00:20:36,609 concerns that I have between the two compacts 537 00:20:36,609 --> 00:20:38,369 that are out there and the reason that 538 00:20:38,369 --> 00:20:41,730 our state in North Carolina would not support. 539 00:20:41,730 --> 00:20:44,769 In fact, Bobby Fite, who's the executive director 540 00:20:44,769 --> 00:20:47,730 of the North Carolina State Dental Board, he 541 00:20:47,730 --> 00:20:48,950 wrote a white paper 542 00:20:49,565 --> 00:20:50,625 about how 543 00:20:51,005 --> 00:20:52,785 concerned he was about the, 544 00:20:53,484 --> 00:20:56,204 DDH compact, and he was on the planning 545 00:20:56,204 --> 00:20:56,704 committee 546 00:20:57,085 --> 00:21:00,845 for that original compact. And he kept raising 547 00:21:00,845 --> 00:21:03,164 some issues with some other people, and he 548 00:21:03,164 --> 00:21:05,279 pulled off of that committee and wrote the 549 00:21:05,279 --> 00:21:07,619 white paper against that compact 550 00:21:08,559 --> 00:21:09,539 because of 551 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:12,159 the fact that if you don't have a 552 00:21:12,159 --> 00:21:14,419 license, then the states don't have any 553 00:21:14,720 --> 00:21:17,140 ability to vet and control 554 00:21:17,679 --> 00:21:18,579 all of the 555 00:21:19,244 --> 00:21:21,404 statutes that they have that are all centered 556 00:21:21,404 --> 00:21:23,744 around licensed professionals. The 557 00:21:24,204 --> 00:21:26,444 the legal idea of what a privilege is 558 00:21:26,444 --> 00:21:29,345 doesn't make any sense in at the state 559 00:21:29,484 --> 00:21:31,184 dental practice act level. 560 00:21:31,565 --> 00:21:33,029 And that way, that, 561 00:21:33,590 --> 00:21:34,730 keeps the state, 562 00:21:35,509 --> 00:21:37,369 boards from being able to regulate 563 00:21:37,910 --> 00:21:38,650 and to 564 00:21:38,950 --> 00:21:39,450 vet, 565 00:21:39,990 --> 00:21:40,490 licensees 566 00:21:40,789 --> 00:21:41,849 and to address 567 00:21:42,230 --> 00:21:44,150 the concerns of the public. If you have 568 00:21:44,150 --> 00:21:45,910 a dentist who's being a bad actor or 569 00:21:45,910 --> 00:21:48,090 a dental hygienist who's being a bad actor, 570 00:21:48,845 --> 00:21:51,484 the state boards have the ability to control 571 00:21:51,484 --> 00:21:53,644 that license. We don't know what that would 572 00:21:53,644 --> 00:21:56,445 look like in the world of the, 573 00:21:56,845 --> 00:21:59,265 DBH compact when it has a privilege. 574 00:21:59,805 --> 00:22:03,109 And trying to do that over multiple states 575 00:22:03,109 --> 00:22:04,409 without some good 576 00:22:05,190 --> 00:22:08,309 criteria and laws, it it's an open ended 577 00:22:08,309 --> 00:22:08,809 thing. 578 00:22:09,349 --> 00:22:11,269 And then just one more thing about the 579 00:22:11,269 --> 00:22:11,769 contacts. 580 00:22:12,230 --> 00:22:14,789 I don't know why nobody ever talks about 581 00:22:14,789 --> 00:22:17,144 this, but he is the dentist. I'm really 582 00:22:17,144 --> 00:22:19,464 concerned about it. It's the fact that if 583 00:22:19,464 --> 00:22:21,484 you compare the two different contacts, 584 00:22:22,024 --> 00:22:24,345 let's look at the amount of money. I 585 00:22:24,345 --> 00:22:25,085 don't understand 586 00:22:25,625 --> 00:22:27,804 why any of the states that approves 587 00:22:28,184 --> 00:22:31,269 of the, DBH contact. I think they did 588 00:22:31,269 --> 00:22:34,070 it mainly because they're very comfortable with this 589 00:22:34,070 --> 00:22:36,490 council state government, and that was the group 590 00:22:37,029 --> 00:22:38,809 who first started this thing. 591 00:22:39,349 --> 00:22:41,509 Because we in North Carolina didn't think we 592 00:22:41,509 --> 00:22:43,049 needed a compact because 593 00:22:43,430 --> 00:22:46,855 we already can get military licensees and their 594 00:22:46,855 --> 00:22:47,355 spouses, 595 00:22:48,134 --> 00:22:50,875 coverage within less than two or three days. 596 00:22:51,414 --> 00:22:53,355 And we already have, 597 00:22:53,894 --> 00:22:57,015 interstate agreements between people who are competent and 598 00:22:57,015 --> 00:22:59,259 who have practiced for five years without any 599 00:22:59,259 --> 00:23:00,799 blocks on their license. So 600 00:23:01,180 --> 00:23:02,240 we didn't feel 601 00:23:02,619 --> 00:23:04,799 there was a need to do a compact. 602 00:23:05,420 --> 00:23:05,920 But 603 00:23:06,380 --> 00:23:08,539 if you look at the details, and this 604 00:23:08,539 --> 00:23:09,680 is one of the reasons, 605 00:23:10,460 --> 00:23:12,619 Bobby White came out with the letter against 606 00:23:12,619 --> 00:23:13,775 it, The, 607 00:23:15,035 --> 00:23:15,695 the compact, 608 00:23:16,474 --> 00:23:17,695 DBH compact 609 00:23:18,075 --> 00:23:20,734 has an open ended way to assess 610 00:23:21,515 --> 00:23:24,875 dates for paying for the compact. They don't 611 00:23:24,875 --> 00:23:28,255 have any kind of vetting, digital clearing house, 612 00:23:28,555 --> 00:23:30,950 or any follow-up to any people. 613 00:23:31,490 --> 00:23:31,730 The, 614 00:23:32,690 --> 00:23:35,109 compact that was purported by the double ADB, 615 00:23:36,130 --> 00:23:37,750 they're gonna use their existing 616 00:23:38,130 --> 00:23:41,170 clearing house, and they're not asking the state 617 00:23:41,170 --> 00:23:43,250 to support any money. It would be supported 618 00:23:43,250 --> 00:23:46,454 by whoever wants to get a compact license 619 00:23:46,595 --> 00:23:47,335 just like 620 00:23:47,634 --> 00:23:50,434 right now. We don't we don't get state 621 00:23:50,434 --> 00:23:52,914 money in North Carolina for our board. It's 622 00:23:52,914 --> 00:23:54,454 all paid for by the licensees. 623 00:23:55,075 --> 00:23:56,214 And I would think 624 00:23:57,549 --> 00:23:58,049 just 625 00:23:58,430 --> 00:24:01,250 for that reason alone, I can't understand 626 00:24:01,630 --> 00:24:03,570 states passing on it because, 627 00:24:04,190 --> 00:24:06,509 of the money issue by itself. It makes 628 00:24:06,509 --> 00:24:08,830 me very nervous to see something that a 629 00:24:08,830 --> 00:24:11,150 governmental agency is coming in and saying they 630 00:24:11,150 --> 00:24:11,865 can assess 631 00:24:12,424 --> 00:24:14,684 with an open ended or open checkbook, 632 00:24:15,384 --> 00:24:17,785 for something that hasn't even been written yet. 633 00:24:17,785 --> 00:24:18,285 So 634 00:24:18,744 --> 00:24:21,565 as a dentist, I don't even see why, 635 00:24:22,265 --> 00:24:24,184 you know, people would want to do that 636 00:24:24,184 --> 00:24:25,944 if they don't even know the price that 637 00:24:25,944 --> 00:24:28,640 it's gonna be. I think it's really bizarre. 638 00:24:29,660 --> 00:24:32,779 Yeah. Definitely. Thanks for kinda explaining and walking 639 00:24:32,779 --> 00:24:35,599 through those those differences and things like that, 640 00:24:36,059 --> 00:24:37,119 about those compacts. 641 00:24:38,140 --> 00:24:39,519 Okay. Well, I just wanna 642 00:24:39,980 --> 00:24:43,235 end with just one one last thing about 643 00:24:43,235 --> 00:24:45,394 the future of ministry. I think I think 644 00:24:45,394 --> 00:24:47,394 being a dent dentistry has been a really 645 00:24:47,394 --> 00:24:49,795 good profession for me, and I take lots 646 00:24:49,795 --> 00:24:51,394 of pride and joy in it. And I 647 00:24:51,394 --> 00:24:53,335 hope that going forward 648 00:24:54,035 --> 00:24:54,934 that it stays 649 00:24:55,319 --> 00:24:57,639 to be dentist driven and that we keep 650 00:24:57,639 --> 00:24:59,339 patients and patient care, 651 00:25:00,279 --> 00:25:02,440 centered and the quality of patient care and 652 00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:05,079 not the production of dentistry, but the care 653 00:25:05,079 --> 00:25:07,880 of the patients as the forefront and center 654 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:09,240 of where we need to go in the 655 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:09,740 future. 656 00:25:10,884 --> 00:25:11,625 Yeah. Absolutely. 657 00:25:12,724 --> 00:25:14,744 One question I have for you, Cameron 658 00:25:15,285 --> 00:25:16,265 Yeah. Is 659 00:25:16,724 --> 00:25:18,505 what's the background of your dentist? 660 00:25:18,884 --> 00:25:20,984 Do you know where the your dentist graduated? 661 00:25:21,045 --> 00:25:23,365 How comfortable are you? What information do you 662 00:25:23,365 --> 00:25:25,519 need? That's that's what I want to see. 663 00:25:25,519 --> 00:25:27,519 I want to see you're asking about the 664 00:25:27,519 --> 00:25:29,359 future, and we're looking at all of these 665 00:25:29,359 --> 00:25:30,799 things. And I want to sit there and 666 00:25:30,799 --> 00:25:32,579 say, my goal would be 667 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:34,740 that we could create an environment 668 00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:35,859 where 669 00:25:36,399 --> 00:25:37,299 any patient 670 00:25:37,759 --> 00:25:38,740 would be any 671 00:25:39,325 --> 00:25:42,365 family member or anybody would be comfortable being 672 00:25:42,365 --> 00:25:45,005 able to go into any dental practice in 673 00:25:45,005 --> 00:25:48,945 any state and be confident that their practitioner 674 00:25:49,244 --> 00:25:49,984 is confident 675 00:25:50,365 --> 00:25:51,184 and caring 676 00:25:51,644 --> 00:25:52,144 and, 677 00:25:53,140 --> 00:25:56,259 and free of any moral background, turpitude, or 678 00:25:56,259 --> 00:25:58,820 substance abuse. And, I mean, I think that 679 00:25:58,820 --> 00:26:00,900 should be something that we all want. I 680 00:26:00,900 --> 00:26:02,200 think that that's what 681 00:26:02,579 --> 00:26:04,660 DSOs would want. I think that's what the 682 00:26:04,660 --> 00:26:06,500 public wants, and I think that's what you 683 00:26:06,500 --> 00:26:08,345 want. So I I tell people, I say, 684 00:26:08,345 --> 00:26:09,325 are you comfortable? 685 00:26:09,945 --> 00:26:12,105 Why are you comfortable opening your mouth in 686 00:26:12,105 --> 00:26:13,965 front of your hygienist or your dentist? 687 00:26:14,424 --> 00:26:16,825 And whatever background those people have, we want 688 00:26:16,825 --> 00:26:19,164 that to be uniform throughout the nation. 689 00:26:20,009 --> 00:26:22,009 Yeah. Absolutely. I think that makes a ton 690 00:26:22,009 --> 00:26:22,589 of sense. 691 00:26:23,049 --> 00:26:25,070 And, yeah, it's definitely something that, 692 00:26:25,769 --> 00:26:27,690 would be great to have, like you're saying, 693 00:26:27,690 --> 00:26:29,070 across the entire country. 694 00:26:29,609 --> 00:26:30,589 Right. Right. 695 00:26:31,049 --> 00:26:33,065 Well, I wanna thank you for joining us 696 00:26:33,065 --> 00:26:35,164 today, doctor Watkins, and and sharing 697 00:26:35,465 --> 00:26:38,664 your valuable expertise and insights into the dental 698 00:26:38,664 --> 00:26:39,164 industry. 699 00:26:39,945 --> 00:26:41,785 It's been a pleasure speaking with you today, 700 00:26:41,785 --> 00:26:44,105 and I look forward to connecting with you 701 00:26:44,105 --> 00:26:46,105 again in the future. Have a good one. 702 00:26:46,105 --> 00:26:48,237 I really appreciate your time today. Alright. You 703 00:26:48,237 --> 00:26:49,837 have a good one too. Bye bye.