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(Photo by Lisa Baltozer)

Making a difference – Sam Low speaks out on his role as FDA president

For the first time in its 120-year history, a college professor has been elected president of the Florida Dental Association. Samuel B. Low, D.D.S., M.S., M.Ed., associate dean of faculty practice, continuing education and allied health, and professor of periodontics at the UF College of Dentistry, was installed as president of the association during the Florida National Dental Congress last June.

“I had to climb the ladder, be very humble and I had to be a dentist first,” Low said of his achievement. “I have always felt I am a dentist; I’m not a periodontist, I’m not a dental educator – I am a dentist.”

As a dentist, Low is excited by his role as president of the FDA. He believes Florida is a lightning rod state for dental issues, and says that Florida’s response to these issues will help define how dentistry will be practiced nationwide in the coming decades.

“There are three states that will influence the future of dentistry: California, Texas and Florida,” Low said. “Interestingly, they share some common characteristics – all three are border-states and all three have huge populations. From that standpoint, they are the first states to see and deal with the trends that are going to happen in the other 47 states.”

With a membership of about 7,000 Florida-licensed dentists, the Florida Dental Association represents nearly 80 percent of all licensed dentists in the state and is an active participant in shaping the profession’s future. Low is happy to be in a leadership position as organized dentistry in Florida navigates the changing topography of dentistry in the state.

One trend Low finds particularly alarming is that young dentists are not getting involved in organized dentistry. Shortly after his installation, Low, with the fervor of a tent revival preacher, set about convincing his FDA cabinet that this was one trend that must be immediately addressed.

“What I want to do with the FDA is make it an organization where young people want to be a part of its direction,“ Low said. “I especially don’t want gray-haired, old men running it! I want young people, women, diverse groups running it.”

Low introduced the idea of forming an FDA leadership institute to identify and cultivate dentists at the grass roots for leadership positions in the association and in national organized dentistry.

“Organized dentistry enjoys one of the greatest market shares of any health profession,” Low said. “Seventy-five percent of all licensed dentists in the U.S. are members of the ADA. We have to do more to groom these young people to be our future leaders, to start to energize and crystallize a genesis of commitment in this group.”

Another hot button topic is expanded functions for dental hygienists. Low has been challenged by the resistance of some dentists to the notion that hygienists should be able to do more than just clean teeth.

“Because most of us are men and because we were raised with fathers who went to WWII, we have a military style of leadership,” Low laughed. “Which is, basically, line ‘em up, shoot ‘em all and take no prisoners. I want to be a part of changing that culture.”

Low’s approach to expanded functions for hygienists is to work with the hygienists to come up with some “win-wins.” He’d like dentists and hygienists to approach Florida’s lawmakers as part of a dental profession team working to increase access to quality dental care for Florida’s residents. Low is pleased by the positive progress he’s been able to make in that direction. Although he is a dentist providing treatment to patients, a dental educator, and a visionary leader of organized dentistry, it’s telling that he considers his greatest achievement to have been able to consistently place the patient first during these discussions.

“I have always given my patients my very best,” Low said.