If you’ve ever wondered how to improve office efficiencies, the process of credentialing could be costing your office priceless hours that could be better spent with patients. That’s why ADA has teamed up with the non-profit CAQH to help streamline the credentialing process for dentists. The ADA® credentialing service, Powered by CAQH ProView® provides an alternative to the slow and cumbersome traditional paper method where dentists must respond individually to each payer request for credentialing information.

The ODA’s annual governance meeting, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Portland,  will discuss important issues that will shape the Association’s future.  Be part of the discussion! Contact your local dental society if you are interested in serving as a delegate. 

The Find-a-Dentist national digital advertising campaign, which launched July 10, is demonstrating early results. Findadentist.ada.org saw 801,736 visits from July 10–August 30. The campaign generated more than 76.8 million impressions (how many times someone saw an ad), and there were 182,561 completed searches and 275,381 ADA member profile views. When compared to the traffic from last year to the former Find-a-Dentist tool (the new version launched in April 2017), site visits jumped 1,667 percent from April–August 2016 to April–August 2017. Forty percent of Oregon dentists have updated their profile, but we are looking for 100 percent participation.  If you haven’t already done so, update your member profile at ADA.org/MyADA. 

Volunteer as a speaker host at the 2018 Oregon Dental Conference, April 5-7, and earn up to 18 hours of CE for free! The Annual Meeting Council is holding the annual Speaker Host Dinner and Training on January 11, 2018 at 6:30 pm at the ODA office in Wilsonville. Event attendees will learn the responsibilities and benefits of hosting and have the opportunity to select which speaker(s) they would like to host.  Email Christine Vaughan at cvaughan@oregondental.org to register for the event. 

In July we introduced ODA Dental Career Connect. This new platform is the dental community's resource for connections and advancement. Built with you in mind, the platform is designed to assist job seekers and employers in connecting more effectively. Learn more.

In the effort to learn more about our members each month we will include a poll question in the ODA Insider. Share your thoughts on the question and find out the member results in the next ODA Insider and upcoming Membership Matters issues. Complete the poll below and stay tuned for the results!

Check out September’s poll results here.

We are excited to share that Representative Knute Buehler will be joining our House of Delegates as a guest speaker during a DOPAC sponsored lunch on Friday, November 10th. Representative Buehler is an orthopedic surgeon who lives in Bend. He has served in the Oregon House of Representatives since 2014 and currently serves on the House Health Care and Revenue committees as well as the Ways and Means subcommittee on Human Services. Dr. Buehler can offer unique insight into the politics of health care in Oregon.  Contact your local dental society if you are interested in attending the House of Delegates.

Dr. Bruce Austin, Dental Director for the Oregon Health Authority, will provide a brief presentation and update at the House of Delegates on Fee for Service (FFS) reimbursement rates and the agency’s work to create incentives for providers to see additional OHP FFS patients. Input from members and providers state-wide is requested, so please contact your local society and delegates to share information. 

Learn more about ODA’s ongoing advocacy efforts.

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.

Join OHSU for an exciting, fast-paced morning with eight speakers addressing some of those confusing and contentious myths and controversies that face us in dentistry today. Speakers will have 40 minutes to present new issues by introducing their topic, identifying the opposing viewpoints, reviewing the relevant research, presenting their position on the topic based on their understanding of the evidence, and answering your questions. Learn more.

The Dental Foundation of Oregon invites you to celebrate the kick-off of Willamette Week’s Give!Guide on November 7, 2017 from 6 – 8 pm at Widmer Brewing.  Please RSVP by November 1st to Susan Greenberg at sgreenberg@smileonoregon.org.  

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.