| PCDS Members please contact Cindy@pcdentists.org for a link to the members only information until the updated page is available. |
Welcome to Pierce County Dental Society!Pierce County Dental Society is a component society for current members of the American Dental Association and Washington State Dental Association. . September President's Message - Dr. Guillermo ChaconDear members: Football is back! What a great way to help us forget that soon the leaves will fall, the rain will return, and that many of us will walk in and out of the office during the work week without any direct sunlight contact. A sport that has been referred to as both barbaric and fun, chaotic and strategic, violent and ballet-like. But whether one is a fan or a detractor of the sport, the consensus on it lies on the admiration for the intricate and fast paced execution of a plan that can only be achieved via a team effort. Isolated stars cannot shine to their fullest unless they have a team they can work with. Throughout the centuries our profession has evolved from a trade performed in barbershops by marginally skilled individuals, to a discipline that is respected worldwide, practice by doctors who understand the human body and the role we play in our patients’ overall health. Dentists like Ambrose Pare, William T. G. Morton, Horace Wells, Pierre Fauchard, C. Edmond Kellis, and many others gave us the tools and knowledge to do what we do today. But the development of this profession that we all love was only possible by the power of those who preceded us in early days of organized dentistry. Over the years, we have faced many battles that were only overcome by the strength of our numbers and our ability to work as a team. With clear objectives, careful planning, and a group of people willing to give up some of their personal time for the greater good. Visionaries who planted the seeds of the strong healthcare discipline dentistry is today. But this work is not done. This is an ever evolving, dynamic process that never ends. From insurance companies deciding for us what should and shouldn’t be covered and at what rate, to other professional groups attempting to cut corners on the level of training required to practice certain areas of our craft, to large corporations establishing a model of practice that attacks the core of what we have always known as the independent dental practitioner, to name just a few, there many others. And who knows what new battles and challenges the future will bring. But together, as a group we can prevail. But it all starts at the grassroots level. With individual joining and actively participating int their local dental organizations. I graduated from dental school in 1990 (I know, I’m old) and practiced general dentistry for a couple of years before my seven-year graduate school journey and I have been practicing oral and maxillofacial surgery since 2000. Over the past 32 years I have witnessed a sustained and worrisome decline in the level of participation of newer generations of colleagues in organized dentistry. And this is not meant to be a stab at trying to start a discussion about how we did it in “the old days”. It is simply a historical observation, since, as I told you before, I have been around for a bit. Participation in these organizations is of critical importance to be able to understand where we are as a profession and where we need to go. To establish relationships with individuals who may be your “competition”, but at the same time they are the colleagues that you are walking this path with. Establishing connections and friendships help consolidate teams that work well together and understand that the benefit of the whole is of greater importance than that of any individual participant. I want to thank all of you who have volunteered your time, talents, and treasure to support our profession outside of the dental operatory. This year we are honoring one of our own Pierce County dentists as WSDA Citizen of the Year, Dr. Burt Goodman. People like him helped paved the way so that those of us who followed didn’t have to fight the same battles he and others had to. They are the giants upon whose shoulders we stand on today. Thank you to all of you from the bottom of my heart. To those of you who are yet to take the step and commit to participating in organized dentistry, I encourage you to do it. I have gotten to meet people and formed friendships that will last a lifetime, while helping shape the future of our profession as best I can. As the saying goes: if you are not at the table, you may be on the menu. Come join forces with your colleagues, I can guarantee that you will not regret and will more than likely enjoy it. All the best, Guillermo REGISTER NOW FOR THE OCTOBER GMM!
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We are dedicated to furthering education, mutual support and better communication with the general public for the purpose of their better dental health. The Society has a Central Office to provide information on current dental issues, act as a liaison to the outside community, and serve as a support to its member dentists. Our goal is to provide this website as a resource for dentists, patients, and the community. If there is information that you feel would be helpful to other patients or dentists, please email your suggestions to cindy@pcdentists.org.
 Patient ResourcesWe provide free referrals to our Pierce County dentists for those patients who are looking for a new dental home, and we also have a download-able list of multi-lingual dental offices located in Pierce County |
The Society has a Central Office to provide information on current dental issues, act as a liaison to the outside community, and serve as a support to its member dentists. We have one full-time staff person. The Central Office provides no-cost referral and mediation services for the public. Mediation is done for member dentists only.
The Pierce County Dental Society is proud to honor the many dentists who have participated in volunteer activities over the years. Together dentists in Pierce County donated $1,000,000 in care to low-income individuals in dental need, and participated in several oral health educational activities throughout the County.
Visit MouthHealthy.org, the website created by the American Dental Association (ADA) for you and your family!
Please Donate!100% Of the proceeds stay in Pierce County to help those in dental need.  Support Pierce County Dental Foundation. |
 All proceeds for the “A Day for Smiles” goes to the Pierce County Dental Foundation Endowment fund. The fund has a goal of $1,000,000. Once the fund reaches $500,000 it will start disbursing the proceeds for oral health care for those in need, oral health education, and to support education for dental professionals. Currently the fund has over $380,000 in donations. The Foundation has supported several community events to support improved oral health such as: Pierce County Dentists Care Program, Bates Free Dental Day, Tacoma Rescue Mission Free Dental Day, Pierce County Veteran’s Resource Fair, Pierce County Dental Society Children’s Dental Health Day, and oral hygiene supplies for schools in Pierce County. 
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