Register today to take advantage of our new registrations savings options for New Dentists and Dental Teams! For event schedules, course listings, speaker information and to download the 2019 ODC Preview Program and mobile app, please visit our website at www.OregonDentalConference.org.

This month, the ODA launched our brand new member benefit—ODA Member Connection. This new, members only, private Facebook group, is designed to connect members throughout the state and provide you with a platform to share and collaborate. Join the conversation here!

The Oregon Legislature convened in January, and ODA is working alongside our partners advancing oral health initiatives for all Oregonians. Check out ODA's new Legislative Action Center to see our legislative agenda, priority bills, and updates throughout session!

The ODA is pleased to announce that Congressman Peter DeFazio, U.S. Representative for Oregon's 4th Congressional District, and Representative Paul Gosar, DDS, from Arizona, introduced H.R. 1418, the “Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act.” This bipartisan legislation would help encourage more competition in the health insurance marketplace by providing that the full range of federal antitrust law applies to the health insurance industry.

This legislation, if enacted, will amend a section of the McCarran-Ferguson Act of 1945, which exempted the insurance industry from important provisions of the Sherman Act and the Clayton Act – acts that have the purpose of ensuring fair competition. If passed, this legislation will help level the playing field between health insurers, providers, and consumers. It may also help to make health insurance more affordable for all Americans.

For more information about H.R. 1418, please visit Actioncenter.ADA.org.

With increasing professional and personal demands, the overall well-being of dentists in the Oregon community is more important than ever. Historically, the ODA Dentist Health & Well-being Committee focused primarily on substance abuse support. The ODA is working to relaunch and expand the scope of the Wellness Program, supporting stress management, practice issues, debt, family obligations, loss, etc. The goal is to have a comprehensive network of peers and resources to support dentists at all levels of their career, including dental students. Lend your expertise, experience, and support by signing up as a Wellness Ambassador. Learn more about what this opportunity entails here.

In order to ensure that we are meeting your needs, we invite you to take an important readership survey for our Membership Matters monthly magazine and the ODA Insider monthly eNewsletter. Your feedback will help us better shape our communication services around your needs as a valued ODA member.

Take part in this survey, which will take about 5 minutes to complete.

All dentists who hold an active DEA license must register with the Oregon Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP). If you have not already registered, please access the registration portal here.

The Board of Dentistry approved rule changes at their August 24, 2018, meeting. Please click here to see the changes, that went into effect January 1, 2019.

The 2019 Oregon Dental Conference® is the 127th Annual Session of the Oregon Dental Association (ODA) and marks the association's ​22nd 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). Register today!

Wall of Wine - Attendees to the 2019 Oregon Dental Conference may once again purchase a $20 wine pull ticket for the very popular Wall of Wine! We are accepting wine donations for this year's event and have received wine from well-known Oregon and Washington brands including 14 Hands, Chateau Ste Michelle, Dobbes Family Estate, and Willamette Valley Vineyards! If you would like to make a wine donation, please email us.

Give a Grin and Maybe Win – a New Toyota! Purchase a raffle ticket and you will be giving a grin to Oregon children by supporting DFO and their programs like the Tooth Taxi. Only 2,000 tickets will be sold. You might just win your choice of one of the following Toyotas – 2019 RAV4 LE AED SUV MSRP $27,658 or 2019 C-HR Limited, MSRP $28,185. Tickets are $60 each OR five for $275. Purchase tickets today!

The Chip! for Teeth Golf Tournament is an energizing way to raise critical funding to help improve the oral health of Oregon’s children. Proceeds go to support the DFO and programs like the Tooth Taxi. Register today!

The 2019 ODA House of Delegates will be held Saturday, September 28 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Portland. Mark your calendars and plan to serve as a delegate!