One of Peak’s new team members, Dr. Carrie Mauterer of Appletree Dental, is 1 of just 10 American Dental Association (ADA) delegates elected from the state of Colorado, making her a leader in the dental industry at both the state and national levels. Established in 1859, the ADA is the nation’s largest dental association and represents more than 161,000 dentist members nationwide. The ADA’s mission is to advance the dental industry at the national, state, and local levels through advocacy and support. To achieve this, they rely on an elected Board of Trustees and a 480-member House of Delegates representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
Dr. Mauterer has held a variety of positions within the ADA organization, starting first at the local level with the Metro Denver Dental Society (MDDS) from 2010-2017. She is currently serving as the 2nd Vice President for the Colorado Dental Association (CDA). This elected position progresses to the presidency, and in 2019 she will serve as the President of the CDA. Dr. Mauterer has also represented Colorado on a national level as either a delegate or alternate delegate to the ADA House of Delegates since 2012. From over 150 members in the Colorado House of Delegates, she was elected to represent the Colorado voice nationally.
Each year, delegates travel to one district and one national convention, where they have a direct influence on issues affecting the industry. In Colorado’s region, delegates discuss questions affecting area states, such as the efficacy of Medicaid audits. At the national level, larger issues affecting dentists across the country are debated, such as governmental regulation on the industry, requirements for specialty certification, and resolutions raised by different districts. The conventions also help dentists stay up-to-date on issues within the industry, as well as networking with other professionals in the field. Says Dr. Mauterer, “I learn a lot talking to other dentists about everything from dental techniques all the way through how to balance life and family and practice. I definitely would not be the same person if I hadn’t stayed involved in the ADA at some level. It’s been very eye-opening and very valuable to me.”
Another benefit Dr. Mauterer sees in being involved with the ADA is the opportunity for dentists who work with Dental Support Organizations (DSOs) like Peak Dental Services® and those who work in private practices to meet and discuss shared problems. The two groups don’t often get opportunities to meet face-to-face, and in Dr. Mauterer’s opinion, “DSO docs and private practice docs have a lot to talk about. I would love to keep the bridge open – we’re all facing the same things every day, it would behoove us to stick together.” ADA conventions facilitate just this kind of open discussion, allowing dentists to meet and talk about issues that affect the industry as a whole.
Peak Dental Services® is proud to be active within the industry as a DSO with delegates, helping to influence and shape the dental industry for the future. Dr. Mauterer’s leadership serves as an example within our organization, inspiring other dentists to make their voices heard as the dental profession continues to grow and change.