Welcome to our newest members! Please reach out to these new members and welcome them into the ODA community.

• Raleigh S Pioch, DDS – Clackamas County Dental Society
• Spencer W Tippets, DDS – Southern Oregon Dental Society

What a great event! Thank you for joining us for the 2023 Oregon Dental Conference. We hope you enjoyed the exceptional CE courses, the chance to shop the exhibit hall, and the opportunity to catch up with your fellow dental professionals! Please save the date for the 2024 Oregon Dental Conference, April 4-6, 2024 at the Oregon Convention Center.

ODA’s bill, HB 3008, increasing dental insurance transparency, passed out of the Senate Health Care Committee on May 10th! It now moves to the Senate Floor for a vote. The bill requires provider opt-in for insurance companies to lease out network panels or to reimburse providers via electronic credit card. Check out media coverage on the bill here.

House Bill 2979 is a workforce funding package, led by the ODA, that aims to address the dental assistant and hygienist shortage affecting dentists statewide. The bill supports the current workforce and expands the pipeline of dental professionals. You can make your voice heard by sending a letter to legislators asking them to support this bill – click here for a template. We also encourage you to add a personal story – how has the workforce crisis affected you?

You can read more about HB 2979 and ODA’s advocacy efforts here.

This course examines actual TDIC cases and Advice Line calls to highlight dentistry-focused risk management strategies to reduce the potential for complaints, claims, or lawsuits. Learn ways to increase patients’ confidence by developing critical skills to communicate with care and compassion and discover practical methods to obtain and document appropriate consent. 

Course:          Communication, Care, and Clear Protocols
Date:              June 12, 2023 
Time:              5pm (PDT) – 8pm (PDT)
Location:        Virtually from the comfort of your home or office (Webinar)         
Cost:               $50

Join the seminar to learn how to:

• Conduct more effective informed consent discussions with patients and their representatives or guardians.
• Establish protocols to review the patients’ medical history and implement controls for dispensing products safely.
• Enhance communication skills to increase patient safety and the potential for optimal treatment outcomes.

Link to register: https://www.tdicinsurance.com/Manage-Risks/Seminars#LiveVirtualEvents

The call for applicants is open for one Dental Director on the Moda board for a term of 4 years. The incumbent in this position is running for re-election. With a broad array of companies under its corporate umbrella, Moda is committed to attracting candidates to serve on the Organization’s Boards of Directors who represent excellence in both the practice of dentistry and in its diverse business ventures. Review the full job description at http://bit.ly/ModaBoard Interested in serving on the Moda/ODA Board? Submit a letter of interest, CV/resume, and 3-5 references (no family and one non-dental) to leadership@oregondental.org by July 1, 2023.

With so many career options in dentistry, how do dental students and dentists find their fit? Introducing…the new career path quiz in the ADA Member App.  

The new career path quiz takes about five minutes to complete and provides members with their top career recommendations based on their interests and aspirations. Members who complete the quiz by June 12, 2023, will be automatically entered to win one of six prizes.*

• One will win $2,000 cash or a VIP 2023 SmileCon® package ($5,000 retail value)
• Five will win an ‘Appiness box of gift cards and swag ($500 retail value)

Learn more at ADA.org/App or search “ADA Member App” in the App Store or Google Play to download now. 
*See rules and more details at ADA.org/App

Each month, the ADA Health Policy Institute (HPI) takes the pulse of the dental profession with a monthly poll of U.S. dentists to measure the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and to gather dentists’ opinions on other current and emerging issues impacting their practices. Less than 10 minutes a month could make a difference in the dental industry. Join the panel today!

We’re living through a time of uncertainty, and it’s normal to feel stressed and anxious. We have many challenges that lie ahead, and if you feel the need to reach out to someone, we are here, and you are not alone. The ODA's Wellness Program offers a robust network of compassionate Wellness Ambassadors, armed with resources to help support colleagues. The wellness program is open to all members, non-members, and dental students. If you need help or know of someone that needs help, please request support. Find ODA website wellness resources here.

Catch up on the latest ADA webinars and on-demand video learning opportunities on your own schedule. From managing your practice to caring for your staff or your own mental health, new events are added regularly. See all digital events here. Many CE opportunities are free of charge.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory regarding dental waterlines because of recent outbreaks of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria. In addition to the recommendations listed in the CDC HAN notification, Oregon health care providers and clinical laboratories are required by law to report all cases and test results indicative of and specific for extrapulmonary NTM within one working day to their local public health authority.

Section 1263 of the spending bill passed by the U.S. Congress in December 2022 requires prescribers of controlled substances to complete eight hours of one-time training on safe controlled substance prescribing to receive or renew their registration with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The statutory language was taken from a separate bill called the Medication Access and Training Expansion Act (or MATE Act). Here are questions and answers to assist dentists in complying with continuing education requirements for DEA registration.

The ODA is excited for a new partnership with Columbia Bank Healthcare Banking. CB Healthcare Banking has been a longtime supporter of the ODA, Oregon Dental Conference, and many of our components.  Columbia Bank Healthcare Banking is the largest Dental lender in the Northwest. Their teams service over 2,500 dentists and approximately 70% of the regional dental practices. CB Healthcare Banking is solely focused on the healthcare industry. Their team brings expertise, service and most importantly a banking partner to every relationship. CB’s Healthcare service model is based on direct client engagement, no call centers or 1-800 numbers. Lastly, the merger with Umpqua Bank has brought to bear the highest levels of technology available in today’s banking community, which allows them to bring the very best possible products and services to our clients. We look forward to working with CB Healthcare Banking.

 Make patient care data work for you with the ADA Dental Experience and Research Exchange (DERE)™. After your practice enrolls in DERE, you’ll get access to reports designed to help you analyze trends at your practice. When you use DERE to better understand patterns and treatment outcomes at your practice, you can harness data to help you discover ways to improve patient outcomes. DERE is free to use. Enroll now.

This week on “Dental Sound Bites,” join communication expert Tiffany Olson as she discusses conversation techniques  to help you be heard and understood by patients and colleagues. Learn about managing difficult conversations, non-verbal cues, cultivating confidence and more.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts or in the ADA Member App! (Tip: if you listen in the app, you get access to exclusive bonus content!) 

Enjoy a seamless experience and go wherever the road may lead. Find your Let’s Go moment and enjoy 1 free rental day when you rent 5+ days. Plus, save up to 25% off base rates.* Click here.

*Reserve for at least 5 days and pay for 1 less day. Discount applies to pay later base rate only. Discount will vary depending on date, location, length of rental, car class & other factors. Taxes and fees excluded. Terms and exclusions apply.

ODA Member Connection, a 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!

Our first Regional Event was so successful we are doing it again! Next year, join us on the coast for CE, social activities, and fun. See you at Driftwood Shores in Florence, Oregon!

A whole new world of transformative learning, irresistible connections, and serious fun is waiting to be discovered in Orlando, Oct. 5 - 7. No matter where you are in your professional journey, SmileCon will spark something new in you. Registration opens June 7 at SmileCon.org. Get a sneak peek in our preview video here!