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.
2026 President's Message
Welcome to Special Care Advocates in Dentistry (SAID). As President of SAID, I am honored to serve alongside such dedicated, compassionate, and talented professionals. This year SAID is celebrating 60 Years Strong, “A Diamond Legacy in Special Care Dentistry”.
This year presents new opportunities for growth, collaboration, and leadership. Together, we will continue strengthening our mission of improving the oral health of special needs through education, advocacy and professional excellence. I am proud of the passion and resilience demonstrated by our members and inspired by the positive impact we make within our communities.
As healthcare and our profession continue to evolve, SAID remains committed to empowering our members with the resources, connections, and support needed to succeed. By working together, sharing knowledge, and encouraging future leaders, we ensure a strong and vibrant future for our organization.
I would like to invite you to attend our Annual Session October 14th through the 16th, 2026 in Richmond VA. Wednesday we will be holding our Strategic Planning Meeting to discuss the future plans for SAID. Thursday and Friday we will be offering a variety of presentations involving the care of our special needs clients which will include such topics as: Dental Materials Useful in Special Care Dentistry, Pearls of Wisdom: Learn from Each Other, Issues with Informed Consent and Guardianship and Program Sustainability, Forensic Odontology, Neurobiology on Addiction and More, Opioids: Dentistry’s Role in the Ongoing Crisis, Increasing Access to Care Through Prevention, Promotion, Advocacy and Alternative Practice Dentistry and more. Thursday night I
would like to take the opportunity to invite you to The President’s Reception.
I encourage each of you to stay engaged, participate in our events and initiatives, and continue building the meaningful relationships that make SAID such a special organization. Your dedication and enthusiasm are what drives our success.
Thank you for the privilege of serving as your President. I look forward to all we will accomplish together in the coming year.
With gratitude,
Patti Caress
President, SAID
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 |