A preview of the nastiness that looks likely to develop between those dentists who support the ADA’s new anesthesia guidelines and those who oppose them unfolded last week in the chat rooms of Dentaltown.com.

A close friend of TEAM 1500, posting under the moniker TJFR, walked into the “lion’s den” of Dentaltown’s Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery forum and openly expressed opposition to the ADA’s proposals and the oral surgeons backing them.

TJFR’s first post was on February 5, 2007 at 11:09 p.m.  Forty-eight hours later, one of the forum’s moderators – a Tarzana, California oral surgeon named Dr. Jay B. Reznick – had unceremoniously banned TJFR not only from commenting on the OMS forum, but booted TJFR off Dentaltown altogether after almost three years as a member in good standing.

Clearly, Dr. Reznick didn’t want to hear more from this strong opponent of the ADA proposals.

But that’s not the half of the story.  Members of the OMS forum hurled vulgarities and insults at TJFR – calling the TEAM 1500 supporter a “chick,” crack addict, troll and “utterly ignorant.”  Dr. Reznick rebuked none of them.

The good dentist did, however, have harsh words for TJFR, accusing our friend of undertaking “vulgar vendettas” and a tone that grew “more vile with each post.”

Frankly, it is hard for us to know what in the world Dr. Reznick is talking about.  A review of a complete transcript of the whole affair – and yes we carefully reviewed it – shows that TJFR was under constant attack by oral surgeons and at the very worst, quoted insults from the book “Don Quixote” in self defense.  [“Scoundrel! Unmannerly, ignorant, ill-spoken, foul-mouthed, impudent, murmuring and back-biting villain!]

The real point is that this smoldering argument between oral surgeons and general dentists has yet to really flair, although we are already seeing some fireworks. 

It seems clear to us that in a fair intellectual argument, the oral surgeons know they don’t have a leg to stand upon.

Rather than allow TJFR to defend TEAM 1500 and its views, Dr. Reznick resorted to the only intellectual tool he had to rebut TJFR.  Dr. Reznick heavy-handedly pushed the “mute” button.

Rest assured, Dr. Reznick and the other bullies on his OMS forum won’t silence TJFR or TEAM 1500 just by trying to unplug us.  Although Dr. Reznick may wish he was “Moderator of the Universe” – and thus able to silence us for good, he isn’t.

There are many other forums and avenues of expression that are available to the dedicated men and women who will fight on behalf of America’s dental patients for what is right, even if it means incurring the enmity of Dr. Reznick and some of his oral surgeon hooligans.

Feel free to email or call Dr. Reznick and let him know that he isn’t the Almighty and can’t silence TJFR and TEAM 1500.  Go on, drop him an email now (jreznick@scofsg.com ) or better yet call his office and register your views (1-818-996-1200) directly. 

Tell Dr. Reznick that the TEAM 1500 “chick” recommended that you contact him.

(p.s.  Yes, yes, TJFR is Dean Rotbart, director of TEAM 1500 and a male.  His actual identity was one of the worst kept ‘secrets’ on Denaltown.  He also wrote this column.)