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. Dues statements have been mailed. Please remit payment or pay online.

As a reminder, ADA introduced a new login process to make it easier to access your account online. You will no longer use your ADA member number for login. Instead, your email address and password will grant you access to your ADA account, including ADA.org. If this is your first time signing on, you will need to reset your password by choosing the forgot password option. Learn more at ADA.org/LoginFAQ. We look forward to serving you in 2025!

Due to the change in systems monthly payment receipts will only be emailed with the first payment. To access your receipts please visit ada.org and sign in to your ADA portal.

Join thousands of dental professionals at Oregon's premiere dental conference, April 3-5, at the Oregon Convention Center. At ODC you can earn high-quality dental CE, shop for all things dentistry in the exhibit hall, and enjoy special events all while building relationships with your Oregon dental community! Find out more information, including the preview program which outlines all available courses and events, at www.oregondentalconference.com.

The Winter Webinar Series for ODA member dentists is in full swing. Our January 14 webinar had 80+ members join us and receive CE. Join us for webinars in February and March to receive your required CE before the Oregon Board of Dentistry deadline for licensure of March 31st. Registration for our second webinar, "Infection Control for the Dental Professional” is now open – register here. 

Mark your calendars: 

• Tuesday February 11th, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.: Infection Control for the Dental Professional with Kelli Ngariki
• Saturday March 15th 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.: Medical Emergencies Update 2025 with Dr. Steven Beadnell 

Do you know someone who should be considered for the 2024 Tom Tucker Humanitarian Award?

Please send all nominations to btaylor@oregondental.org. We can’t wait to celebrate this his year's recipient at the 2025 Oregon Dental Conference. Find out more information including award criteria and see past winners on the ODA website, here.

Do you know a new dentist who’s making an impact in the profession? The ODA Membership Council (previously New Dentist Council) is excited to present the ODA New Dentist Award. This new ODA award recognizes one amazing ODA member dentist who graduated from dental school less than 10 years ago. We’re celebrating new dentists who demonstrate excellence and inspire others in science, research & education, practice excellence, philanthropy, leadership, and advocacy. Nominate a colleague today! Nominations close March 1, 2025.

While the 2024 general election saw the country swing toward the right at the federal level, the balance of power in both chambers of Oregon’s legislature remained nearly unchanged. All statewide offices in Oregon will continue to be held by Democrats, and five of Oregon’s six congressional districts will send members of the same party back to D.C. The one congressional seat that saw a change this year was the election of Democrat Janelle Bynum, who unseated incumbent Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer in CD-5. The ODA was pleased to see that the two dentists who currently serve in the legislature, Rep. Hai Pham and Rep. Cyrus Javadi, were reelected to their seats.

Two of the three statewide ballot measures passed, including Measure 115, which allows the legislature to impeach elected state executives. Measure 118, which proposed a three percent increase in the corporate minimum tax with revenue distributed as direct payments to Oregon residents, failed, as did Measure 117, which would have established ranked choice voting for federal and state offices in Oregon.

Both local municipality fluoride measures, one in Hillsboro and another in Lebanon, failed. The ODA was disappointed to see voters reject these measures, given the extensive, science-based data that shows how unfluoridated water supplies can lead to unnecessary cavities, pain, and dental infections.

We know that the issue of fluoride is become a larger issue at the national level, and the ADA is closely monitoring those conversations and the developing narrative around fluoride. The ADA has developed talking points on fluoride that may be helpful for those who are receiving questions about the safety and efficacy of water fluoridation. If you receive inquiries from media about fluoridation, please reach out to Brett Hamilton (bhamilton@oregondental.com) so our team can help provide talking points and resources for responding to growing misinformation about this issue.

As the dust settles from the elections, it is time to shift our attention to 2025 Legislative Session, which will begin January 21st. ODA has a robust Legislative Agenda, and we need your engagement. Although it might sound like a broken record, there is no substitute for the voices of those working with patients and running dental offices every day and who can advocate for patients’ rights. The ODA is building its team of dental advocates, and we need YOU to get involved in the legislative process! Remember, this is your association and you can have some control of your destiny. 

Advocacy can take many forms, depending on your comfort level, experience, and expertise. As a member of the ODA Legislative Action Team, you may be invited to write a letter to legislators, attend Dental Day at the Capitol, or write an op-ed for a local publication, among other opportunities.

Sign up HERE or email ODA’s Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs Brett Hamilton at bhamilton@oregondental.org and express your interest directly. Join ODA’s Legislative Advocacy Team!

With several years of private practice and 40 years of research and teaching under his belt, OHSU School of Dentistry Dean Ronald Sakaguchi is deeply passionate about continued learning and has brought that passion for helping others to learn to his work in educating the next generation of dentists. 

After being appointed Dean in October 2020, Dr. Sakaguchi has brought that same innovative, forward thinking, and student-centric approach to his work with the School of Dentistry. Without hesitation, he says his favorite thing about his role at OHSU is getting to work with students. https://www.oregondental.org/members-in-action/dr.-ronald-sakaguchi

As a reminder, beginning Jan. 1, 2024, dental insurers in Oregon are required to allow providers to opt in to receiving payment reimbursements via credit card, rather than having to opt out. Thanks to ODA’s advocacy team, this new law will save dentists thousands in unexpectedly low reimbursement rates.

To provide clarification regarding the law, you may access a new FAQ, here.

The law applies to all new contracts, renewed, or extended contracts entered into or contracts that had significant changes made after January 1, 2024. If you renewed your contract before January 1, 2024, the new law does not yet apply to your contract. Contact your provider networks to learn more.

A rule added optional additional functions for Dental Therapists including intravenous access, phlebotomy, and blood draw with successful completion of a Board-approved course effective May 1, 2024. There were also 10 other rules amended including dental implant training requirements, nitrous oxide permitting, minimal sedation, and additional functions for dental hygienists and dental assistants. More information about these rule changes can be found on the OBD home page: https://www.oregon.gov/dentistry/pages/index.aspx.

As of January 1, 2025, the Board can issue a Local Anesthesia Functions Certificate (LAFC) to a dental assistant who holds an Oregon EFDA Certificate and has successfully completed a Board-approved curriculum from a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association or other course of instruction approved by the Board. A dental assistant will be able to administer local anesthetic agents and local anesthetic reversal agents under the indirect supervision of a licensed dentist. Local anesthetic reversal agents shall not be used on children less than six years of age or weighing less than 33 pounds.

Pending CMS Approval, starting in 2025, the Oregon Health Plan (OHP), Oregon’s Medicaid program, plans to roll out a set of Incentive Payments for dental providers. The incentives will reward for preventative care and increasing access for Medicaid members. The following two options will be available in 2025:

• Preventative and Minimally Invasive Bundle: If a provider completes a set of preventive services for a Medicaid member in six months, an additional payment of $30 for a pediatric member and $50 for adult member will be paid on top of normal reimbursement for those services.
• Provider Incentive: Two incentive structures will exist for new providers (less than 25 members served in recent past) and existing providers (more than 25 members served). The bonuses range from $3,500 to $15,000 for dental providers depending on their service volume and members served.

OHA will host webinars this fall/winter on these incentives. Please watch for more details in the coming months! If you have questions or feedback, please contact OHA at Actuarial.Services@odhsoha.oregon.gov.

Talkspace Go, a self-directed therapy app, is now available to all members and dental students as part of membership. Talkspace Go is designed to support mental well-being through personalized, science-backed courses on topics ranging from work stress to relationships through therapist-led live workshops, daily journaling and more.

To get started, members and dental students must visit ADA.org/TalkspaceGo and use their ADA login to receive an exclusive access code. Once they have the access code, they can download the Talkspace Go app to start their own well-being journeys.

Hertz LIMITED TIME: ADA Members save up to 30% off the base rate when using CDP discount code 42371 and combinable Promotional Code 211692. (Discount applies to Pay Later base rate only. Taxes, fees, & options are excluded). Additional terms & exclusions apply. Rentals booked December 20, 2024, through February 12, 2025, with rental pick-up January 01, 2025, through February 12, 2025. Book now.

Those who join Hertz Gold Plus Rewards can earn points toward free rental days as well as being able to skip the counter by going straight to the car.

Additional ADA member benefits can be viewed at ADA.org/travel.

The world moves fast – and your ADA UPS® Savings Program has the tools you need to help your dental practice move even faster. They’re here to help you push envelopes and ride the edge of what’s possible. They’ll be right by your side with everything you need to keep blazing forward. Let UPS® help make your practice unstoppable. Members enjoy the following savings every time you ship:

• 65% off Domestic Next Day
• 42% off Ground
• 65% off International

Sign up for a new account or enroll your existing account.

Already have an ADA UPS® Savings Program account? Re-enroll by calling 1-800Members (1-800-636-2377) and give them your association Acronym, ADA. Ask for Greg Brown, our dedicated Member Benefits Consultant (if possible).

Tap into a pool of top talent: Post your open positions on ODA’s Dental Career Center Connect and gain access to a vast pool of talented dental professionals actively seeking new opportunities. Our platform is the go-to destination for the brightest minds in dentistry. Looking for a change in your career? Discover a world of possibilities with our extensive job listings catering to every aspect of the dental field. Whether you’re a seasoned dentist, a passionate dental hygienist, or an aspiring dental assistant, find your perfect match with just a click. Visit the career center at https://careers.oregondental.org/.

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 2025 Oregon Dental Conference is just around the corner! Join the ODA at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, OR April 3-5, 2025 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. https://www.oregondental.org/meetings-events/oregon-dental-conference

Association leaders are encouraging the ADA community to donate to the California Dental Association Foundation’s fund dedicated to those impacted by the wildfires in Southern California.

Strong winds and dry conditions sparked intense wildfires in the Los Angeles area on Jan. 7, destroying thousands of homes and structures and resulting in at least 10 deaths. As of Jan. 14, there were four separate fires — the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst and Auto — none of which had been fully contained. For more information and resources, read the recent ADA News story and visit the ADA’s disaster relief webpage.