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

• Dr. Bryan Clevenger – Southern Oregon Dental Society
• Dr. Shannon English – Southern Willamette Dental Society
• Dr. Amanda Gallegos – Multnomah Dental Society
• Dr. Bruce A Havens – Multnomah Dental Society
• Dr. Geoffrey Wang – Marion Polk Dental Society

Your membership is an investment in your success, our profession, and public health. This investment also fuels our efforts in legislative advocacy, helps you elevate your skills, and assists you in cultivating invaluable connections to broaden your network and engage with our community. Discover how your member benefits can propel your life and career forward; check out the ADA brand new member value sheets, available for you to download and learn more here. Dues invoices have been mailed. Please remit payment or pay online by December 31. Let’s thrive onward together! We look forward to serving you and Oral Health in Oregon in 2024!

Members have the opportunity to win a 7-day Hawaiian cruise, among other prizes, for recruiting new members from January 1 – August 31, 2024.* For each new member recruited, the recruiter is entered into a quarterly drawing for a chance to win a prize from the ADA Store or ADABEI-endorsed providers valued at up to $1,000. For every five new members recruited, the recruiter receives a chance to win a 7-day interisland Hawaiian cruise for two. Recruiting 25 members automatically guarantees a quarterly prize. Any degreed dentists, apart from retirees, who were not ADA members in 2023 are eligible to be recruited. Newly recruited members must list the recruiter’s name and contact information as a referral on the membership application at ADA.org/Join. *See complete sweepstakes details at ADA.org/R4R

We have 40 speakers slated to speak in person at the 2024 Oregon Dental Conference, and we need your help! Speaker hosts receive complimentary conference registration and can spend some one-on-one time with their favorite speakers! The speaker host dinner and training will be on January 18, 2024, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the ODA Building in Wilsonville and will be streamed live via Zoom for those who cannot attend in person! Reach out to Alisha Santoyo at asantoyo@oregondental.org to register!

Join the ODA Lobby team and guests for a look into the upcoming legislative session in Salem. Last year’s legislative session was a great success for the ODA with the passage of legislation to support dentists with Provider Network Transparency, Claims Reimbursement Transparency, and support for the Oregon Wellness Program. The ODA also continues to advocate to fill the State Dental Director position and workforce issues.  Registration will for the evening Zoom event will open in early January.

The 2023 Legislative Session concluded with a big win for ODA members. Developed by ODA members, HB 3008, which was signed by the Governor in August 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.

The Oregon Dental Association is continuously developing ways to enhance member, and reader benefits through the association's communication program. To help us achieve this, we'd appreciate your feedback. By completing a short readership survey, you will provide us with a better understanding of your interests and concerns, enabling us to better serve you through ODA’s print and digital communications. By participating in this survey, you will be entered into the drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card.

This survey should take approximately 5 minutes to complete. Responses are anonymous and will remain confidential. Click here to take the survey.

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.

Class of 2023 dental school graduates get two years of free unlimited CE courses through ADA CE Online. Encourage recent graduates you know to Level Up their membership from students to dentists and keep honing their skills with cutting-edge CE. Contact ddouglas@oregondental.org to level up your membership.

 Let’s face it: a lot of dentists are perfectionists, but that drive to be the best can take a toll on our well-being. In the latest episode of “Dental Sound Bites™,” we’re joined by a dentist whose perfectionism drove him to burnout and depression – and who found a way to bounce back and find joy in his work again. 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!)

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 is a friendly reminder that the dental implant rule changes are effective January 1, 2024. The guidance document, communications and timeline for dental implant rule changes can be found on the OBD home page: https://www.oregon.gov/dentistry/pages/index.aspx

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.

Winter is here, and it’s time to get outside and explore the beauty of Oregon! Better yet, head to the Columbia Employee Store for all those last minute holiday gifts. We're excited to partner with Columbia Sportswear to bring you this ODA members only experience and invite you and up to four guests to shop the Columbia Employee Store December 8 - 31, 2023.* The Columbia Sportswear Employee Store offers 40-50% off retail prices and features all the latest products from the Columbia Sportswear Company family (SOREL, Mountain Hardwear, prAna, and of course Columbia Sportswear). Please see the email sent on 12/7/23 for your member pass and additional details.

*This offer is for store access only and does not allow for online shopping. Member Pass, Valid Photo ID and ADA Card required for entry.

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!

The 2024 Oregon Dental Conference is just around the corner! Join the ODA at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, OR April 4-6, 2024 for exceptional CE courses, the chance to shop the exhibit hall, and to catch up with your fellow dental professionals! Please check our Oregon Dental Conference website regularly for new developments and updates. http://www.oregondentalconference.org

Do you know a dentist in Oregon who contributed greatly in science, research & education, practice excellence, philanthropy, leadership, advocacy and more? This award celebrates 10 dentists who graduated from dental school less than 10 years ago (graduation years 2014 - 2023) and are inspiring others. Nominate someone today at www.ada.org/10under10. Nominators will be asked to share why their nominee is deserving of the award and to upload a CV. Winners are recognized at SmileCon and in ADA publications, such as ADA New Dentist News, and receive a $1,000 cash prize. Deadline to submit applications is December 31, 2023.