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

• Justin Gonzales, DMD – Clackamas County Dental Society
• Courtney Levasa, DMD – Clackamas County Dental Society
• Jacob Roper, DDS – Rogue Valley Dental Society
• Carmel Townsend, DDS – Rogue Valley Dental Society

The 2023 ODA House of Delegates will be held on September 23rd and will be 100% virtual. Register here today and represent your local component society as a delegate!

Are you a new delegate or looking for a refresher? You can join us for a virtual New Delegate Orientation on the evening of September 12th. Register here.

Our first Regional Event was so successful we are doing it again! Join us on the coast for CE, social activities, and fun at Driftwood Shores in Florence, Oregon. Visit our website for the event schedule, registration (coming soon), speaker information, and sponsors! We are offering an Early Bird rate if you register before October 1.

Speakers:

Morning CE (2 hours): Real World Tips for Management of Challenging Patient Encounters - Caroline Zeller, DDS

Understand how trauma, PTSD, and anxiety show up in a dental setting, and learn de-escalation techniques to help keep your patients and dental team safe. 

Afternoon CE (3 hours): Dancing in the Rain: Thriving in Changing Times - Lou Radja

Dancing in the Rain is a great opportunity for us to come together, hold space and unpack proven strategies to help us turn adversity into advantage; fill our own cup through self-care, be there in our impactful care for our patients and teams who need us even more, and thrive!

Thank you to our sponsors!

BnK Construction
Columbia Healthcare Banking 
Garfield Refining
Retirement Advocates
Unbreakable Bonds

The 2023 Legislative Session concluded with a big win for ODA members. Developed by ODA members, HB 3008, which was signed by the Governor last week and goes into effect January 1, 2024, requires dental plans to obtain a provider’s consent before selling or leasing out provider panels, along with advance approval to receive reimbursement payments via electronic credit cards rather than checks. Insurers are also required to communicate about payment processing fees associated with these electronic reimbursements. For one ODA member, third-party credit card processing fees have added up to $11,000 a year. Read all about this bill, ODA’s workforce package, and others that ODA worked, tracked and advocated on this year in our End of Session Report.

Congratulations, Volunteers! Through your efforts, Oregon received the 2022 Membership Award for Converting the Highest Number of Diverse Dentists to Membership (Association size 1001-2000) and for 80% (or greater) National Signing Day student application completion rate. You may view a list of all recipients here. We look forward to working together to build community and grow the association this year and celebrating our 2023 accomplishments!

ODA is seeking applicants for a variety of open positions across the organization. You can find position descriptions and steps needed to apply here.

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 OR Employment Department Paid Leave team will be conducting a webinar to provide an overview of the Paid Leave program with information on benefits, claims and appeals. Their overview will run around 15 minutes, followed by a Q&A session.

A reminder that Oregon employees can begin taking paid leave benefits with the new Oregon program starting September 3, 2023. Employees can begin applying for benefits online starting August 14, 2023, via the Oregon Employment Department Frances Online system. Payments will begin going out to employees mid-September. Homepage for Paid Leave Oregon here. 

Tuesday, September 12th
10:00 a.m.
Via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82542472450?pwd=MG0rNWVPTHNTWjZjb1kreWppUldVQT09

Meeting ID: 825 4247 2450
Passcode: 791757

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.

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

This week on “Dental Sound Bites,” join Dr. Diana Dill Ed.D. as she conducts role playing regarding a peer support approach with co-host Dr. Effie Loannidou and also answers important questions from co-host, and DWAC volunteer, Dr. ArNelle Wright.

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!) 

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!

Register today for SmileCon®, Oct. 5–7 in Orlando and get ready for some SERIOUS FUN! Come hear keynote speaker Constance Wu—star of Crazy Rich Asians and Fresh Off the Boat, find your way out of the Oral Pathology Escape Room, take CE and more. Save up to $100 with Early Bird Discounts until June 23.

Join the ADA Council on Dental Practice and Providers Clinical Support System (PCSS) to learn how dental professionals can describe safe pharmacological management of acute dental pain, propose conversations and education for opioid use and misuse and the need for referral of patients and providers.

Kimberly A. Sanders Pharm.D., and David Lesansky, DMD, share their expertise and answer questions. You will learn safe pharmacological management of acute dental pain and propose conversations and education for opioid use and misuse. Presenters also review the need for referral of patients and providers at risk of substance use risk and the need for intervention.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe safe pharmacological management of acute dental pain
• Propose conversations and education for opioid use and misuse
• Review the need for referral of patients and providers

This course offers learners 2 CE and you can register here.

Join tech gurus Paul Feuerstein, DMD, John Flucke, DDS, and Marty Jablow, DMD, for Leveraging AI and Digital Dentistry for Enhanced Patient Care, Aug. 22 at 5 p.m. CT. In this conversational course, you will explore how artificial intelligence and digital dentistry technologies can be leveraged to enhance diagnostic accuracy, treatment planning, and overall patient experience. This free Bridge to SmileCon® Webinar offers 1 CE credit. Register here.

The ADA has several wellness resources to support the health and well-being of dental professionals. Two upcoming events include a webinar on Tuesday, August 22 from 12 - 1 pm Central titled "Perinatal or Postpartum Depression: Supporting Dental Professionals, Teams and Families" and the ADA Health and Well-Being Summit taking place at the ADA Building on Friday, September 8. Visit the webpages listed to take advantage of these wellness resources from the Council on Dental Practice.

Thursday, August 24 | 12 p.m. CT | 1 CE credit

Have you ever had an SRP claim denied or were asked to provide additional information? In this free webinar, you will hear from a consultant who will discuss payer’s claims submission expectations, why certain documentation is necessary for proper adjudication and the importance of submitting diagnostic quality radiographs and clear and legible narrative descriptions. You will also hear ADA Council on Dental Benefit Program member’s views based on best practices. Register today!