TAKE ACTION!

The FDA’s political and legislative strength is enhanced by the participaton of its member dentists. Developing a relationship with your local legislator is invaluable when it comes to influencing legislative decisions in Tallahassee. As you continue to foster these relationships, remember that you get to spend time with them at home before their mandatory 60 days in Tallahassee starts for legislative sesson. That’s what grassroots involvement is all about.

How to Get Involved
Stay updated about the issues.
Become a Legislative Contact Dentist.
Use the Grassroots Action Center to look up and contact media and legislators.
Attend Dentists Day on the Hill.
Join the Capital Hill Club.
Invite a legislator to speak to your local dental society.
Make sure your local legislative contact dentist holds introductory meetings with your legislator.
Enlist other dentists to serve on voluntary campaign-finance committees and offer to help candidates during elections.

Strength in numbers
The FDA developed several tools with a specific purpose to encourage you to get involved. The FDA needs an occasional "show of force" through grassroots activism. Your personal involvement is necessary for the FDA to succeed in defending your rights.

Lawmakers are influenced by your presence. When you work with your colleagues statewide, your voice will be heard. Your experience and opinion in your local community, which is your lawmaker's local community, could mean the difference between success and failure.

Protecting your patients' health
Running your business on a daily basis is a difficult job. You accept these realities, though, because your hard work provides your patients with the quality of care they expect and deserve. If all of life's other elements remain the same, you can keep control and guide your practice as you see fit.

Until the government changes the rules again. Or the players change again. Bigger and more intrusive every year, the government tries to take a little here and add a few things there. In most cases it is at your patients' expense and not their benefit. Acting alone to prevent this is not an option. The rules of government are guided by politics, not by knowledge about dentistry. But as part of an association, working together with other dentists throughout the state, you have a chance to protect the health of your patients.

Information is powerful
You are the experts when it comes to understanding the impact certain legislation may have on the practice of dentistry. Legislators are not. With local grassroots efforts, you have the power to help educate your local legislators on activities taking place in Tallahassee and at home.

Protecting your patients' health
The challenges of being a dentist doesn’t stop with protecting your own personal business interest, but continues with the protection of your patient’s health. That’s why your involvement in the legislative process is so critical.

Since government is everchanging, it can be difficlult for legislators to totally comprehend the clinical aspect of their actions. With your help, you will be able to continue to effect legislative outcomes and empower legislative decisions that are sensitive to your patient’s needs.

Defending your patients' rights
In the past, our own self-regulation was the acceptable norm. That's not true any longer. Government continues to try to change the laws regulating dentistry. The FDA continues to protect your rights.

Since 1884, the Florida Dental Association has succeeded in protecting the interests of Florida dentists.
The FDA has fought to resist intrusive regulations and interference with the Florida Dental Practice Act.
The FDA was a major participant in developing and creating the Florida Board of Dentistry and proudly encourages its activism on behalf of the public's oral health.

The time is now
Become a Legislative Contact Dentist today.
Join the Capital Hill Club.
Be prepared to act when called on.
For your FDA to succeed in protecting your rights and your patients' rights, all dentists must work together!