Introduction

Support Your Profession!

"I am an ADA member because I believe being a member is vital to my profession."

In a recent survey of ADA federal dentist members, about 60 percent said the most important reason they joined the ADA was to support their profession, followed by supporting the ADA's advocacy goals on behalf of federal dentists.

When you become a member of the ADA, you'll see quickly that the support the ADA provides to all federal dentists goes very deep. From everything from advocacy to practice, science to CE, the ADA stands ready to support you, no matter where your service may take you. 

Whether you’re in the military, VA, U.S. Public Health Service or other federal employment, you play a vital role in the dental profession. If you are not currently a member, we encourage you to apply for Federal Dental Services (FDS) membership today!

"I am an ADA member because the ADA offers great clinical Information and practice resources."

ADA membership provides you with access to the resources to help you succeed professionally and personally, including:

• The latest scientific, clinical and professional information through The Journal of the American Dental Association, ADA News, the ADA Professional Product Review (PPR) and ADA.org, plus federal dentist publications which include Federal Dental News and the FDS E-Memo.
• Consolidate your student loans, take out a home loan or tap into other financial resources through ADA Member Advantage .
• Obtain continuing education from today’s leading experts at the ADA Annual Session and the ADA New Dentist Conference, or at a time that’s most convenient for you … with the ADA’s all new CE Online . The 2008 ADA Annual Session will be held October 16–19, 2007, in San Antonio, Texas. We’re planning a special FDS CE track this year that will feature many of your FDS colleagues in teaching roles!

"I am an ADA member because the ADA is the value of dentistry and the strongest advocate we have as federal service dentists."

Recent FDS Legislative Achievements

As the leading advocate for dentists practicing in the federal dental services, the ADA is proud of its recent achievements. Below is a comprehensive review of these key accomplishments on behalf of federal dentists over the last couple of years:

• Worked to add provisions within the National Defense Authorization Act for 2008 which substantially increases the amount of annual special pay (ASP) for federal dentists. For dental officers with less than three years of service, ASP would increase from $4,000 to $10,000 per year. For those with less than 10 years of service, ASP would increase from $6,000 to $12,000 per year; and if you have more than 10 years of service, ASP would be $15,000 per year.
• Proposed legislation to make military student loan repayments tax exempt.
• Lobbied Congress to extend the time in which Guard and Reservists coming off active duty could receive dental benefits.  The period would be extended from 90 to 180 days. 
• Strongly supported a bill (H.R. 1808) to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Augusta, Ga., as the “Charlie Norwood Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.” The bill was signed into law in November 2007.
• Achieved long-standing ADA policy by changing the rank of the senior dental officer in the Air Force to Major General.
• Expanded the eligibility of dental officers to receive additional special pay. This provision eliminated an inequity in the bonus pays for dentists undergoing residency education.
• Increased the maximum special pay bonus for reserve officers in critically short wartime specialties from $10,000 to $25,000.
• Increased the maximum stipend for the Health Professions Scholarship
• Program to $30,000 per year and the maximum grant amount for the Financial Assistance Program for residents in specialty training from $15,000 to $45,000.
• Increased the maximum amount eligible for loan repayment from $22,000 to $60,000.
• Increased the accession bonus limit from $30,000 to $200,000. At the same time, the maximum accession bonus for critically short wartime skills was increased to $400,000.
• Helped influence TRICARE to cover the cost of institutional and general anesthesia cost for children age five and under, and for those patients with developmental, physical or mental disabilities.
• Prohibited the Department of Defense from converting a number of military dental officer positions to civilian positions until the Secretary of Defense submits evidence that these conversions will not increase cost or diminish the quality of care not only for 2007, but for future years as well.
• The ADA successfully lobbied for restoration of the previously eliminated functions for the Chief of Navy Dentistry, which the ADA believes meets the intent of the Council on Government Affairs’ recommendation. Specifically, the functions of the Chief of Navy Dentistry (as restored in section 5138) are (1) to establish professional standards and policies for dental practice; (2) to initiate and recommend action pertaining to complements, strength, appointments , advancement, training assignment, and transfer of dental personnel; and (3) to serve as the advisor for the Bureau on all matters relating directly to dentistry.
• Worked with the VA to ensure that the VA treats veterans returning from war by asking that private practice dentists treat these patients when VA dentists are not available to do so in a timely manner.
• Obtained significant additional funding for military dental research in 2006—increasing the funding by $600,000 to a level of $4 million.

FDS Membership Staff
Karen Burgess, director
Chris Mitchell, marketing manager
Susana Galvan, FDS membership coordinator

Contact Information
ADA Office of FDS Membership
Telephone: 1-800-232-2083
E-mail: fdsmember@ada.org

To view a PDF file, you need Adobe Reader. Click on the logo to download.