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Nominations are now open for election at the ODA House of Delegates, November 10-11. Open positions include: Leadership Development Committee, Board of Trustees At-Large Member, Secretary Treasurer, and ADA Delegate At Large. All ODA members are encouraged to participate in the leadership of this organization. For more information about any of these positions, call 503-218-2010 ext. 107 or email cleone@oregondental.org.

Share your knowledge and experience! The Oregon Dental Association's Annual Meeting Council (AMC) invites you to submit a speaker proposal to be part of the 2nd annual ODA Expert Express Lecture Series and the 2018 Oregon Dental Conference (ODC), April 5-7.  This opportunity is open to all ODA members, both seasoned speakers and those new to presenting! Proposals will only be accepted electronically, by completing this online application. The proposal deadline is August 1, 2017. For more information, call 503-218-2010 ext. 104 or email cvaughan@oregondental.org.

Following last-minute negotiations at the end of the 2017 session, Legislators voted to renew Oregon’s rural health practitioner tax credit program, ensuring that rural Oregonians will continue to have access to much-needed dentists and doctors. ODA coordinated with the Oregon Medical Association and OHSU’s Office of Rural Health to recognize legislators’ efforts to help get doctors and dentists to the patients who need them outside of the state’s major population centers.

The ODA is committed to improving access across the state to ensure that every Oregonian has access to a high-quality, licensed provider regardless of their race, income or where they live. Stay up to date on related news and research.

The ODA recently met with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde to continue our conversation with Oregon’s tribes about the importance of oral health education and high-quality dental care. Accompanied by Dr. Phillip Marucha, dean of OHSU’s Dental School, the ODA met with representatives from Grand Ronde’s oral health care program. In the meeting, the ODA discussed program concepts that would help tribal youths pursue careers as dentists, and the unique needs and challenges the tribal community faces surrounding oral health care. The Grand Ronde Tribe’s newspaper, Smoke Signals, published the following piece about the meeting: Oregon Dental Association head, OHSU dean visit Grand Ronde.

Oral Health Topics on ADA.org provide information on anesthesia and sedation for dental professionals, including guidelines for the use of sedation and general anesthesia by dentists, and the ADA policy statement on the use of sedation and general anesthesia by dentists. In the case of children 12 and younger, the ADA’s sedation and general anesthesia guidelines direct dental professionals to the guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, which were created specifically for children. Patient resources on sedation and anesthesia are available for parents and caregivers on MouthHealthy.org.

"Advance notice” has the potential to influence referrals and therefore violates the rule against fee splitting under the Unprofessional Conduct Rule in the Oregon Dental Practice Act. ODA staff shares more in May’s Membership Matters Compliance Corner. Learn more.

There are three dental director positions. Terms are four years in length. Incumbents for the positions are David Howerton, DMD, and Patrick Nearing, DMD.  If interested, the deadline to submit materials is August 1, 2017. Submit materials and/or questions to leadership@oregondental.org.

Registration is now open for the ADA Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. Highlights include unique CE opportunities, up to 6.0 hours of CE per day in the exhibit hall and the ADA Distinguished Speaker Series with Legendary NFL Quarterback Peyton Manning. Be inspired by your friends, colleagues and profession at ADA 2017 in Atlanta. Learn more.

The ODA benefits from a robust and dedicated volunteer infrastructure that sustains the activities of the organization. As ambassadors for the Association, our volunteer leaders are essential to our sustainability and growth. The 2017 ODA House of Delegates will be held November 10-11, at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Portland, Oregon. Please contact your local component society if you are interested in becoming a delegate. 

The 2018 Oregon Dental Conference® is the 126th Annual Session of the Oregon Dental Association (ODA) and marks the association's ​21st year at the Oregon Convention Center. The conference is the concurrent meeting of the ODA, the Oregon Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (OSOMS), the Oregon State Association of Endodontists (OSAE), the Oregon Society of Periodontists (OSP), the Oregon Academy of General Dentistry (OAGD), the Oregon Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (OAPD), the Oregon Dental Assistants Association (ODAA), The Oregon Dental Executives' Association (ODEA), the Oregon Dental Hygienists' Association (ODHA), ​and the Oregon Association of Dental Laboratories (OADL). Learn more.