Pennsylvania Dental Association Installs New President

HERSHEY, Pa., May 2, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA) on April 28 installed Dr. Bernie Dishler of Elkins Park (Montgomery County) as its new president at its 144th Annual Session.  Dr. Dishler replaces Dr. Dennis J. Charlton of Sandy Lake (Erie County) for the one-year position as president.

Dr. Dishler stressed the need for oral health education as a way to reduce tooth decay. He noted that PDA's Access to Oral Health Care Committee is planning to launch a campaign to educate and help families avoid tooth decay, which is the most common childhood disease in the United States.

"Dental decay is increasing among children. There is a need for better education on how to avoid this preventable disease," Dishler said. "In addition, the PDA will continue to advocate for the optimal levels of fluoride in our drinking water to reach all people with a basic level of prevention."

Dr. Dishler said PDA will continue to support legislation that would require insurers to cover general anesthesia for patients with special needs and young children. Dr. Dishler explained that young patients and patients with mental or physical disabilities often experience severe anxiety when visiting a dentist. However, many insurers do not cover the cost of general anesthesia.

Dr. Dishler also hopes to organize a Mission of Mercy (MOM) event in Philadelphia in April 2013.  Working with America's Dentists Care Foundation, MOM events can provide more than $1 million in dental care.  Powered by volunteer dentists, dental assistants and hygienists, MOM events can help relieve pain and infection for many people who have no dental insurance or financial resources to afford private dental care.

Dr. Dishler has practiced in Elkins Park, Pa at the Yorktowne Dental Group for 36 years.  He completed his dental education at the Temple University School of Dentistry.  Dr. Dishler has served as President of the Montgomery-Bucks Dental Society and Second District Valley Forge Dental Association.  He has been Chairman of the Valley Forge Dental Conference and PDA Council on Membership while also serving two years in United States Army Dental Corps.

Dr. Dishler has been very active in the Philadelphia Jewish Federation, holding several positions in the organization. He was a founding member and former chair of the Soviet Jewry Council. A frequent visitor to Israel, Dr. Dishler recently accompanied a group of Ethiopian Jews from their country to Israel.

Married to Lana Dishler, he is the father of Joseph Dishler, Dr. Elyse Dishler and Dr. Michael Bernstein.

About the Pennsylvania Dental Association

Founded in 1868, the Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA) is comprised of approximately 6,000 member dentists. It is a constituency of the American Dental Association (ADA), the largest and oldest national dental society in the world. PDA's mission is to improve the public health, promote the art and science of dentistry and represent the interests of its member dentists and their patients. PDA is the voice of dentistry in Pennsylvania. For more information on PDA, visit our website at www.padental.org.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Dental Association

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