About | SAID

About SAID

SAID is a benevolent group of dental professionals whose mission is to improve the oral health of people with disabilities through service, education, and advocacy.

Our History

SAID was begun by Dr. Gerald Bensberg in 1966, who was the Director of the Attendant Training Project, a five-year program supported by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health and sponsored by the Southern Regional Education Board – a non-profit organization based in Atlanta.

Dr. Bensberg invited dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and other interested professionals who served in facilities throughout fifteen (15) southern states to participate in a seminar to consider ways of delivering better dental care to dental patients with special needs. The seminar proved extremely beneficial to the attendees and the group decided to meet yearly, calling themselves The Southern Association of Institutional Dentists (SAID).

Since 1966, SAID has grown in scope and membership, and has boasted an active membership of over three hundred persons representing not only the southern states, but also Washington, California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, & Canada.

The scope of SAID has changed to include not only the individual with developmental disabilities, but also those with mental health challenges. SAID was the only organization in the United States that dealt primarily with the dental needs of people residing in facilities formerly known as institutions. Its membership is comprised of dental professionals working full-time in intermediate care facilities and developmental centers or who devote a substantial portion of their time treating patients with developmental disabilities, mental illness, and other complex medical issues.

While SAID maintains its southern heritage, its spirit continues to be enriched by members from all regions of the country. In 2010, the SAID name was officially changed to “Special Care Advocates in Dentistry” because the original “Southern Association of Institutional Dentists” no longer reflected the diverse makeup and broadened focus of the organization. SAID also desired to recognize the movement toward community-based care and incorporate inclusive language. What has not changed is the original vision of improving the oral health of people with special needs.

2025 Presidents Message

Greetings,

Thank you for visiting the website and welcome to Special Care Advocates in Dentistry (SAID), an organization comprised primarily of dental professionals dedicated to the mission of improving the oral health of people with neurodevelopmental disorders, mental health conditions and/or complex medical issues. SAID is proudly approaching “60” years of promoting equitable dental health care through service, advocacy, and education and continues to embrace the benefits of interdisciplinary care in dentistry. Although the current membership mainly includes dental professionals, we are looking forward to increasing and expanding our membership to all disciplines who play a part in improving outcomes and the oral and systemic health of individuals with special needs.

We invite you and your team to join us virtually for SAID’s 59 1/2th Prelude to “60, Enhancing Outcomes in Special Care Dentistry, September 17-19, 2025. We will begin Wednesday evening with a Strategic Planning Meeting to discuss the future of SAID, followed by our President’s Reception. Thursday and Friday will offer a variety of topics including Conservative and Preventive Dental Materials; Sensory Integrated Dentistry, Pearls of Wisdom: Learn from Each Other; Infection Control; Medicaid, Medicare, & CHIP; and The Fatal 7 Impacting Individuals with IDD. Join us as our expert speakers share the most current information and updates in each respective area and how it relates to the delivery of special care dentistry.

This session will be held virtually, so it is a prime opportunity to include your office staff and take advantage of the multiple registrant discount. Your attendance is guaranteed to be rewarded with increased knowledge, encouragement, and tricks of the trade to treat the individuals entrusted to your care. Remember, whether you are in private practice, a residential facility, a teaching institution, public health dentistry, a safety net clinic, or involved in product development, you WILL gain a wealth of information that promotes positive oral health outcomes for people with the greatest unmet dental needs, all while earning up to ten hours of continuing education.

In health and gratitude,

Monica Roberts

SAID President 2025

Presidents Message

Jack Menius

Friend ・ Dedicated・Pioneer
Visionary・ Educator・ Mentor

In Loving Memory

Jack Menius was a key contributor to the establishment of the SAID organization. As one of the founding fathers and the second president of the organization, he helped form the mission and philosophy of service to special needs patients. Jack may be the only Masters level pediatric dentist to devote his entire dental career of 28 years to institutional dentistry and the education of undergraduates and graduate students in developing skills to meet the needs of people living in an institutional setting. In addition, he encouraged the dentists he taught to use these learned skills to help integrate people with disabilities into their private practices.

He was an avid supporter of SAID from its inception to its maturity by sharing his experiences and techniques used in the treatment of special needs patients. He, along with others, developed and introduced a number of treatment strategies that continue to be of value today. Patient centered therapy was a vital tool in his practice.

Jack was a strong and effective advocate for special needs patients. He had a clear vision of the future needs of people who were moved from his care into the community through the process of deinstitutionalization that became prominent during his career. He tried to lay the ground work for a network of community based dentists who would meet the challenge of providing dental service to people after they were living a more independent life in the community. He truly was a visionary, a dedicated educator and a mentor for many of us who followed in his footsteps. We were fortunate to have someone who was talented and dedicated as Jack to walk beside us in our journey through this very challenging field in dentistry. Jack exhibited the true concept of SAID.

Thank you Jack for everything.

Present to Past Officers & Annual Meeting Locations

Year	President	President-Elect	Secretary	Treasurer	Location
2025	Monica Roberts	TBD	TBD	Sandra Ferencz	(Virtual)
2024	Monica Roberts	Monica Roberts	Jennifer Hew	Sandra Ferencz	New Orleans, LA
2023	Ellen Anderson	Monica Roberts	Ashland Doomes	Frances McClure	South Barrington, IL
2022	David Itzkoff	Ellen Anderson	Ashland Doomes	Frances McClure	South Barrington, IL
2021	Maria Lubak	TBD	Ellen Anderson	Frances McClure	(Virtual)
2020	Carolyn F	Maria Lubak	Ellen Anderson	Frances McClure	(Virtual)
2019	Mary B Tepper	Carolyn F	Risa Levi	Kristi Collins	Charleston, SC
2018	Kim Espinoza	Mary B Tepper	Risa Levi	Kristi Collins	Nashville, TN
2017	Betsy Lee White	Kim Espinoza	Risa Levi	Kristi Collins	Asheville, NC
2016	Paul Kovalski	Betsy White	Risa Levi	Frances McClure	Savannah GA
2015	Jennifer Hew	Paul Kovalski	Betsy White	Frances McClure	New Orleans, LA
2014	Bob Hollowell	Jennifer Hew	Betsy White	Frances McClure	Raleigh, NC
2013	Mannie Levi	Bob Hollowell	Jennifer Hew	Frances McClure	Philadelphia, PA
2012	Bill Milner	Mannie Levi	Jennifer Hew	Frances McClure	Raleigh, NC
2011	David Itzkoff	Bill Millner	Bobby Turner	Frances McClure	Louisville, KY
2010	Robert Henry	David Itzkoff	Bobby Turner	Charles Brooks	Charlotte, NC
2009	Carolyn F	Robert Henry	Bobby Turner	Charles Brooks	Charlotte, NC
2008	Scott Monroe	Carolyn F	Bobby Turner	Charles Brooks	Myrtle Beach, SC
2007	Jerry Kleponis	Scott Monroe	Carlton Horbelt	Charles Brooks	Myrtle Beach, SC
2006	Larry McDonough	Jerry Kleponis	Tom Butler	Charles Brooks	Charlotte, NC
2005	Tom Butler	Larry McDonough	Donna Spears	Charles Brooks	Charlotte, NC
2004	David Itzkoff	Tom Butler	Donna Spears		Asheville, NC
2003	Bob Ealy	David Itzkoff	Donna Spears		Savannah, GA
2002	Howard Blair	Bob Ealy	Donna Spears		Chattanooga, TN
2001	Bob Leonetti	Howard Blair	Donna Spears		Williamsburg, VA
200	Harrison Williams	Bob Leonetti	Donna Spears		Atlanta, GA
1999	Carlton Horbelt	Harrison Williams	Tom McIver		Savannah, GA
1998	Bob Early	Carlton Horbelt	Tom McIver		Myrtle Beach, SC
1997	Mary Tepper	Bob Early	Tom McIver		Cape May, NJ
1996	Doug Veazey	Mary Tepper	Tom McIver		Asheville, NC
1995	Bobby Tuener	Doug Veazey	Tom McIver		Wilmington, NC
1994	John Howard	Bobby Tuener	Tom McIver		Atlanta, GA
1993	Donna Spears	John Howard	Tom McIver		Alexandria, VA
1992	Paul Burtner	Donna Spears	Tom McIver		Savannah, GA
1991	Phil DiStanislao	Paul Burtner	Tom McIver		Charleston, SC
1990	Berman Maxey	Phil DiStanislao	Tom McIver		Asheville, NC
1989	Gil Watson	Berman Maxey	Tom McIver		Williamsburg, VA
1988	David Epsetin	Gil Watson	Tom McIver		Louisville, KY
1987	Al Steinberg	David Epsetin	Tom McIver		Savannah, GA
1986	Kate Wilson	Al Steinberg	Tom McIver		Chapel Hill, NC
1985	Don Myers	Kate Wilson	Tom McIver		Charleston, SC
1984	Jerry Griffin	Don Myers	Tom McIver		Alexandria, VA
1983	Paul Townsend	Jerry Griffin	Tom McIver		Nashville, TN
1982	Bob Hagman	Paul Townsend	Tom McIver		Orlando, FL
1981	Ike Lawson	Bob Hagman	Tom McIver		Charleston, SC
1980	Mike Noblit	Ike Lawson	Tom McIver		Atlanta, GA
1979	George Johnson	Mike Noblit	Tom McIver		New Orleans, LA
1978	William Morrow	George Johnson	Tom McIver		Nashville, TN
1977	Ron Markette	William Morrow	Tom McIver		Williamsburg, VA
1976	Wyatt Reid	Ron Markette	Tom McIver		Orlando, FL
1975	Joe Dicks	Wyatt Reid	Tom McIver		Atlanta, GA
1974	George Johnson	Joe Dicks	Fred Smith		New Orleans, LA
1973	Pearnson White	George Johnson	Fred Smith		Birmingham, AL
1972	Bill Cole	Pearnson White	Fred Smith		Charleston, SC
1971	Jack Menius	Bill Cole	George Johnson		Atlanta, GA
1970	Bill Sellingsloh	Jack Menius	Pearson White		Atlanta, GA
1969	Jerry Bensberg	Bill Sellingsloh			Dallas, TX
1968	Jerry Bensberg				Chapel Hill, NC
1967	Jerry Bensberg				Birmingham, AL
1966	Jerry Bensberg				Houston, TX

Past Presidents

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SAID's membership is comprised of dental professionals working full time in institutions or professionals who devote a large portion of their time treating the developmentally disabled, mentally ill and/or otherwise medically compromised client.

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