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biting edge
We do more than build networks. We build relationships.
SM
biting edge is a quarterly publication produced by Ameritas Group, a division of Ameritas Life Insurance Corp.,
for dental professionals who take part in our Participating Provider Organization network.
Ameritas Group Home Office ■ Provider Relations ■ 800.755.8844
Hope you’re having a great summer!
• VIP showcase • jaw breakers • our heroes —
providers in action • investing in people, saving
lives • 2011 PNR directory • August is Dental
Office Manager Appreciation Month
Prsrt std
us postage
paid
permit no 26
lincoln ne
Inside • Second Quarter 2011
Ameritas Group / 475 Fallbrook Blvd. / Lincoln, NE 68521
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2011
PNR directory
Ameritas and First Ameritas Provider Network Representatives
Please detach and post for quick reference.
Regional VP - Provider Networks
Senior Provider Network Reps
Amie McGraham
Office: 602.494.1540
Toll Free: 800.455.1540
FAX: 866.494.2585
Email: [email protected]
Theresa Kuchar
Office: 512.535.2297
Toll Free: 888.841.8062
FAX: 512.590.8676
Email: [email protected]
Regional Managers - Provider Networks
April Vavra
Office: 941.426.6707
Toll Free: 800.228.7812
FAX: 941.426.6737
Email: [email protected]
Kip Koll
Office: 402.309.2529
Toll Free: 800.543.7784, ext. 82529
FAX: 888.922.7060
Email: [email protected]
Michaela Muniz (pronounced Michella)
Office: 813.343.8007
Toll Free: 888.449.4530
FAX: 813.343.8010
Email: [email protected]
Sharim Shirley
Office: 602.953.1903
Toll Free: 800.548.4058
FAX: 866.494.2585
Email: [email protected]
Patty White
Office: 845.344.3161
Toll Free: 866.774.9313
FAX: 888.821.1571
Email: [email protected]
Provider Network Representatives
Merideth Archibald
Office: 205.332.1091
Toll Free: 800.208.7311
FAX: 205.588.5223
Email: [email protected]
Jake Bendler
Office: 360.326.8100
Toll Free: 866.403.6849
FAX: 888.576.5090
Email: [email protected]
Jody Brehmer
Office: 262.432.3955
Toll free: 866.238.4940
FAX: 888.320.6789
Email: [email protected]
Terri Henderson
Office: 510.764.6624
Toll Free: 866.263.2956
FAX: 510.263.6046
Email: [email protected]
Brian Volkay
Office: 804.545.2934
Toll Free: 888.514.9956
FAX: 804.200.5599
Email: [email protected]
August is...
Dental Office Manager
Appreciation Month
How about some gift ideas for your managers?
We’re thinking high-speed Internet service,
a state-of-the-art computer, or maybe a longoverdue software, email or phone upgrade.
(Lunch is good, too!)
Doctors, think about how fast your office
manager could move your claims with electronic
claims submission, and how much more quickly
you could be paid. Or how your office manager
can verify patient benefits and view your dental,
pretreatment estimate and ortho claims through
your secure provider account via our website.
You also can sign up to receive your Explanation
of Payment statements online. Nothing beats the
speed of light! (If you’re already online, congrats!)
Plus, learn more about exclusive discounts on
computers, software, business machines and
electronic claims offered through our Provider
Rewards Program by calling Lori Reed at
800.455.1540 or emailing [email protected].
VIP showcase
Congratulations to our VIP Award winners! The quarterly VIP Awards (Very
Important Provider) recognize our PPO dentists for providing outstanding service to
their patients. Ameritas and First Ameritas PPO dental plan members cast votes for
their favorite provider. The PPO doctors who receive the most nomination points win.
Nomination ballots are mailed monthly, along with a customer feedback survey, to
plan members who had a claim submitted that month. VIP showcase winners receive a
custom VIP plaque and a beautiful gift basket. Be recognized for a job well done by the
people who matter most — your patients.
Dr. Debra Oreste
Hailing from Sunset Dental Care in Patchogue, N.Y., Dr. Oreste
has been a network provider since August 2000. Her service
philosophy is simple — make sure every patient feels comfortable
and leaves with a smile. Her wish is to make patients feel like
family while providing top-quality dental services using the
newest technologies. Her ultimate goals are procedure efficiency
and patient comfort.
By being respectful and listening to patient concerns, she is
successful at discovering the best treatment options. She’s
Dr. Debi Oreste
practiced this way for 15 years. No advertising is necessary. Most
new patients are referred by word of mouth. In addition, her
staff is compassionate and has worked at Sunset Dental for over a decade. Dr. Oreste
belongs to the American Dental Association, New York State Dental Association and
Suffolk County Dental Society. She also is an assistant clinical professor at Stony Brook
University School of Dental Medicine and a certified CEREC® trainer.
Goodman Dental Care
Dr. Pierce Goodman
Dr. Robert Brown
Goodman Dental Care in Tucson,
Ariz., joined our network in June 2006.
Dr. Goodman and Dr. Brown would like
to thank their Arizona colleagues for making
Goodman Dental Care a VIP winner: dental
assistants Abby, Alison, Jessica and Megan;
dental hygienists Meagan, Aubrey, Karen
and Imelda; office associates Amy, Joyce and
Vikkie; and everyone at Tangerine Dental
Care of Marana/Oro Valley.
Goodman Dental associates provide patients
with complete, comfortable dental care from the moment they enter the practice and
treat them with respect and understanding, all while helping preserve their smiles for a
lifetime. It’s just their way of living the Golden Rule. Equipped with the newest dental
technologies including CEREC crowns and laser treatment for periodontal procedures,
they are dedicated to their patients and their community.
Local service projects involve cleaning up local park trails, providing lawn care for
the elderly, helping the area’s food bank and primavera men’s shelter, and participating
in the Tucson Unified School District’s Grayline Dental Program and the annual
Dental/Medical Hope Fest. They are CEREC Study Club participants and belong to
the Arizona Dental Association, American Dental Association and Academy of General
Dentistry. Their website contains a weekly blog about current events and patients are
encouraged to leave comments and questions.
Dr. Chuanwen Sun
Since October 2008, Dr. Sun has been part of our provider
network, practicing with Kitt Creek Family Dentistry in Durham,
N.C. Because his patients are always No. 1, he provides dental
services six days a week.
He would not want patients to be in pain, so he makes sure they
leave his office happy and healthy. A member of the American
Dental Association, his work is his passion, and he only gets new
patients by word of mouth.
Dr. Chuanwen Sun
Many of you contribute to the wellness of your communities. You also participate in,
and lend your expertise to, national and international organizations that help others.
We’re interested in what you’re doing. Like the butterfly effect theory suggests, even
the smallest actions can have a huge impact. One good deed generates another, and so
on. When you pay it forward by donating time, supplies and funds to others, you’re
using your talents and good fortune to improve the lives of others. No matter how you
define it, helping others is heroic, and we believe it does make a difference.
Meet our heroes, the associates of Pacific Dental Services® (PDS), one of
our large group network providers. PDS is a leading dental service provider in
California, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Texas and New Mexico that supports The
Smile Generation®, which represents more than 200 dental offices. Each year, PDS
employees, business associates, friends
and family members give back to
their communities by serving those
in need. It starts with PDS’s annual
companywide service project called
Braveheart.
Last fall, PDS and Smile Generation
team members helped build a
playground in addition to providing
$80,000 worth of dental care to
Colette’s Children’s Home and the
community in Placentia, Calif. More than 180 PDS and Smile Generation team
members from various states came together for this annual Braveheart event. About
half of the team painted, moved dirt, dug holes, mixed cement and installed a brandnew jungle gym with the help of KaBOOM!®, a nonprofit organization that builds
playgrounds. The other half of the team provided free dental services to over 100
people in the community, including the women and children at the shelter. These
dental patients received numerous procedures — everything from general dentistry
and cleanings to surgery and, yes, even CEREC restorations.
A member dentist from Pasadena commented on how much they were able to
accomplish in the makeshift dental clinic set up in the alley. There were mobile x-ray
units, dental units and CEREC machines along with camping chairs and flashlights.
Stephen Thorne, CEO and founder of PDS, said this was an amazing event, adding that
the PDS/Smile Generation team can’t wait to serve again.
So what’s on deck for this year? Lots. Abroad this summer, team members will
have the chance to visit Savusavu, Fiji, for the first time and serve at Natuvu Creek
Mission. In September, they’ll be invited to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the second time.
Participants will have the opportunity to provide dental care to nearly 2,000 people in
the leper colony of Korah. In addition, team members are part of an ongoing effort to
provide clean drinking water to third-world nations through charitywater.org.
Here in the U.S., PDS offices will participate in SmileGen Serve Day, providing free
dentistry to people in need regardless of age. About 2,000 patients are expected.
And then there’s Braveheart, PDS’s annual
companywide service project mentioned earlier
in this article. PDS and The Smile Generation
Each quarter, we’d like to
team again will partner with KaBOOM! to build
feature a story about our
another playground for a deserving local nonprofit
providers in action, and
organization and provide free dentistry to that
YOU ARE INVITED!
community. Our own Nicole Wallstrom, regional
vice president of group business development,
Please allow us to tell your
is planning to participate in this year’s event.
story about helping others.
PDS also is an official sponsor of the Susan G.
No matter how big or
Komen Race for the Cure®, coordinating races in
seemingly small — all acts
Sacramento, Las Vegas, Orange County, Denver,
of kindness are welcome.
Phoenix, Dallas, Temecula and San Diego. This
CONTACT:
fall, PDS and Ameritas associates will team up to
• your provider network
participate and volunteer in regional races. And
representative
in December, PDS associates again will sponsor
• the newsletter editor at
local families during the holidays. Last year, over
[email protected]
170 offices participated and brightened the lives of
many families during the holiday season.
investing in people, saving lives
jaw breakers
Most people flossing on the same length of floss — A total of 1,470 people from
Lake Norman Elementary School and Brawley Middle School in Mooresville, N.C.,
flossed their teeth for 55 seconds on a single line of dental floss measuring 6,000 feet.
March 19, 2004
Longest human tooth extracted — The longest human tooth extracted measured
1.26 inches and was removed from Loo Hui Jing’s mouth in Singapore. April 6, 2009
Most people involved in a dental health check — The most people involved in
a dental health check across multiple locations in 24 hours was 66,322 in an event
organized by Colgate®-Palmolive® (India) Limited and the Indian Dental Association,
which involved 33 schools in five cities across India. November 29, 2010
You know... records are made to be broken (wink, wink)!
source: guinnessworldrecords.com
our
heroes
providers in action
________________________________
Share your ideas and stories with the editor at [email protected].
GR 5997 Rev. 6-11 ©2011 Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. Ameritas Group, a division of Ameritas Life
Insurance Corp. (Ameritas Life), a UNIFI company, offers group dental, eye care and hearing care products
nationwide. In New York, these products are offered through First Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. of New York
(First Ameritas), a UNIFI company. Ameritas, the bison symbol, “We’re Ameritas. We’re for people.”, First
Ameritas, First Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. of New York, “We’re First Ameritas. We’re for people.” and a
UNIFI company are registered service marks of First Ameritas, Ameritas or UNIFI Mutual Holding Company.
All other product/service/company names contained herein are property of their respective owners.
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, about 37,000 Americans will be diagnosed
with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year, causing more than 8,000 deaths. We believe
comprehensive dental exams are critical to catching these cancers early when they
are most treatable. The death rate is high because it’s usually discovered too late. So
Ameritas Group established a permanent endowment fund through the University
of Nebraska Foundation to help support the University of Nebraska Medical Center
(UNMC) College of Dentistry’s oral, head and neck cancer research. These cancers
combined increase the number of people stricken to 40,000+ each year.
“This gift is another outstanding example of Ameritas’ strong commitment to improving
education at the College of Dentistry and improving the health of people in Nebraska
and beyond,” said Dr. John Reinhardt, dean of the UNMC College of Dentistry. “This
generous support will significantly strengthen our developing oral cancer research and
educational activities.”
This endowment augments nearly 10 years of charitable support from Ameritas to
the UNMC College of Dentistry. Past gifts have provided significant resources to
help underwrite the college’s annual Dental Day for children,
rural externships for dental students across Nebraska, preclinic
lab renovations, faculty and student research, and the dental
hygiene department’s Sealant Program for schools. Most recently,
Ameritas donated to the College of Dentistry’s student-run dental
SHARING Clinic for low-income adults.
Ken VanCleave
“This is a natural partnership,” shares Ken VanCleave, LLIF,
president of the Ameritas Group Division. “We completely support
the college’s research, and have no doubt that our investment in
this program will lead to improvements in oral cancer prevention,
detection and treatment.”