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Member News
Welcome to our newest members! Please reach out to these new members and welcome them into the ODA community.
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. Please join us on May 16th at the ODA building in Wilsonville for a Leadership Workshop with Lou Radja. This program is free of charge and open to all ODA and component volunteer leaders. We will begin with lunch at noon followed by a two-hour presentation from Lou Radja. Lou was so well received at the 2023 Oregon Dental Conference that we invited him to the 2024 Regional Event, where he again received outstanding reviews. Join us for an afternoon of leadership growth! Register by May 9, here. 
When is the last time you updated your Find-A-Dentist profile? Make sure potential patients can find you with this awesome member benefit. Go online here and confirm that the information is accurate. Contact Heather Langdon at hlangdon@oregondental.org if your profile needs to be updated. Wellness Ambassadors play an essential role in offering a compassionate ear and guiding colleagues through challenges related to stress, mental health, debt, and other life obstacles. Whether through personal experience or a passion for helping others, these dedicated individuals provide invaluable peer-to-peer support. Hope For The Day will be providing training this year, so if you're interested in becoming a Wellness Ambassador and making a meaningful impact, please complete the Wellness Ambassador interest form today! The ODA proudly presents the Tom Tucker Humanitarian Award to Dr. Rickland Asai. Created in 2017, the Tom Tucker Humanitarian Award is the highest humanitarian and service award for the dentists of Oregon. Dr. Asai joins a distinguished list of Oregon dentists. Help us celebrate Dr. Asai’s accomplishments by attending the 2025 ODC Party – Casino Royale on Friday, April 4. Congratulations Dr. Asai! The ODA Membership Council (previously New Dentist Council) is excited to present the 2025 ODA New Dentist Award to Dr. Mariah Baldwin from Southern Oregon Dental Society. This 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. Congratulations Dr. Baldwin! 
Compliance & Legislative Corner
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 becoming 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. After nearly 18 months of advocacy efforts, dental licensure applications in Oregon will no longer include stigmatizing questions related to mental health. The Oregon Board of Dentistry voted to remove “have you ever” questions related to receiving counseling, therapy, or treatment for mental health issues, including substance misuse, from initial and renewal licensure applications. These changes align with updated language already used by the Oregon Medical Board for physicians. Thank you to Representative Hai Pham, DMD, and Representative Cyrus Javadi, DDS, for helping to preserve access to health care coverage for Oregonians by extending funding for the Oregon Health Plan (OHP). Representative Pham had the honor of carrying the bill on the House of Representatives floor to passage. The passage of House Bill 2010 by the Oregon House of Representatives will ensure that all Oregonians have access to critical health care coverage. "We should be proud of the work we’ve done for Oregonians on health care,” said Representative Hai Pham (D-HD36). “Today, 97% of Oregonians have health care coverage and Oregon’s Medicaid program and delivery is held up as a national model. The 1.4 million Oregonians who receive their health care through OHP is a big part of that story.” The bipartisan bill extends the sunset dates for the hospital assessment program, the insurance provider assessment, and the intergovernmental transfer agreement with Oregon Health and Sciences University insurance and hospital assessments through 2032. Together, these funding tools support OHP, enhance hospital reimbursements, and stabilize the state’s insurance market. The assessments are key funding mechanisms that allow the state to draw down federal funds to continue delivering high-quality health coverage to children, families, and individuals across Oregon. Oregon House moves to renew provider tax to fund state Medicaid program. The 2025 Legislative Session began on January 21st. ODA is busy implementing our 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! Whether she is treating patients at La Clinica public health clinic in Medford, advocating for dental policies in Washington, D.C., serving as the editor of the Oregon Dental Association’s Membership Matters magazine, or shedding light on public health dentistry through her social media presence, Dr. Alayna Schoblaske is an ambassador for the next generation of Oregon dentists wherever she goes. https://www.oregondental.org/members-in-action/dr.-schoblaske 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. 
ODA Member Perks
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. It’s important for members to understand their insurance provider contracts before signing so that they can decide what is best for the members and their patients, as well as to avoid unpleasant surprises in the future. The ADA offers a free contract analysis service that provides members with a plain-language explanation of the insurance provider contract terms to allow them to make informed and independent decisions on the merits of the contract. The analysis is not a substitute for legal advice. The service also provides analysis of certain dental management service organization agreements. Members can utilize the service at no charge by submitting an unsigned contract and an analysis request through their state dental society. To learn more about the Contract Analysis Service, and for other dental insurance contract resources, go to the Support on Dental Insurance Contract Issues page on ADA's website. The ADA also offers resources to help members navigate employment-related contracts such as an e-book on employment agreements and articles on getting the contract you deserve, compensation basics, negotiating your salary, and general negotiating tips. Further resources related to DSO contracts are also available. If you have any questions regarding the Contract Analysis Service, please reach out to Maria Reyes at reyesm@ada.org. 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. Dental Community News and Events
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 Join the DFO for their 19th Annual golf tournament happening Thursday, May 29 at Rock Creek Country Club. 7:45 a.m. shotgun start. Awards luncheon immediately follows play. Register as a player or sponsor today, with early bird pricing still available! https://www.smileonoregon.org/events/chip-for-teeth-golf-tournament-2025 ADA NEWS
The ADA supports dentists in all modalities of practice and has entered a collaboration with APDP, a community of dentists dedicated to advancing private practice through relationship-based care, peer support and leadership development. Through this effort, the ADA will enhance its support of dentists in private practice with relevant resources, training opportunities and practice management tools. Dr. Kessler announced the collaboration on ADA social media earlier today including Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. In an opening monologue, Jimmy Kimmel shared the state of Utah’s potential ban on water fluoridation. Dr. Kessler posted an Instagram reel to highlight that the ADA and its 159,000 members continue to support water fluoridation across the U.S. Check out the video here. The U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network announced it is ceasing enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act while it revises compliance requirements in response to a recent court ruling and crafts a new set of regulations that will ultimately narrow the scope of beneficial ownership information reporting requirements. “No fines or penalties will be issued, and no enforcement actions will be taken, until a forthcoming interim final rule becomes effective and the new relevant due dates in the interim final rule have passed,” reads the announcement. The ADA signed a letter of support urging Congress to continue strengthening Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which provide health coverage to millions of Americans. The letter cautions that coverage interruptions make it difficult for those depending on Medicaid to maintain employment and stability. While reductions in Medicaid funding could lead to hospital closures and reduced access to healthcare providers in rural and underserved areas. Be sure to share this week’s #ADAICYMI with your communities on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. The ADA highlighted several key health policy issues it believes should be prioritized during the Trump administration. In a comprehensive letter to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ADA leaders addressed agencies like Health and Human Services, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the National Institutes of Health. “Oral health is a cornerstone of overall health, and we stand ready to collaborate on policies and initiatives that will improve access to care, enhance public health, and support the dental workforce across the country,” according to the letter. 
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