In the June issue of Membership Matters, Executive Director Dr. Barry Taylor discusses in the editorial the option of moving away from the House of Delegates to an Annual Meeting. Ask questions and find out more at an all-member meeting on Monday, June 30, register here.

The 2025 ODA Regional Event is November 7th & 8th and this year we are heading to Salishan in Lincoln City. Join us for family friendly social activities, 6 hours of continuing education from leading experts, and relationship strengthening with industry suppliers. Registration is now open. Find out all the details, here.

Kick off your Regional Event weekend with an inspiring two-hour leadership session led by the dynamic Lou Radja. "Leadership Requires No Titles" will be held from 2pm - 4 pm on Friday, November 7th at Pelican Brewery - Siletz Bay, which is conveniently located just 5 minutes down the street from Salishan Coastal Lodge. This event is included with the price of your Regional Event registration, but space is limited, and advance registration is required to attend! 

Are you someone who enjoys interacting with peers, loves to come up with innovative and fun ideas, and understands the need for organized dentistry? Then this volunteer role is perfect for you! The ODA Membership Council is looking for New Member Outreach Volunteers from each local component to help welcome new members, assist with event coordination, and coordinate new member communication and resources. If you’re ready to step in and make a difference in your local component, please contact Heather Langdon at hlangdon@oregondental.org.

The call for applicants is open for one Dental Director on the Moda board for a term of 4 years. 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, 2025.

The newly redesigned ADA Find-a-Dentist® makes it easier for patients in your area to find you. With enhanced search features, patients can now search by address or zip code and filter results by specialty, languages spoken, insurance accepted, and travel distance.

This powerful marketing tool is included in your member benefits. Increase your visibility and stand out by keeping your profile updated. Log in to your My ADA account portal to update your profile and check the “Include in Find-a-Dentist” box to appear in search results.

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! 

This week, the ADA has issued a grassroots request for all members to contact their Senators to voice opposition to a provision in the House passed reconciliation bill that unfairly targets small business dental practices—and other service-based professions, by eliminating the ability to deduct pass-through entity taxes (PTET) at the federal level.

This could result in a new tax increase on dentists who own or are partners in practices structured as pass-through entities, especially in high-tax states. Approximately 30% of dentists nationally would be directly impacted, based on estimates from the Academy of Dental CPAs. We need everybody to contact their Senators to request they fix the unfair tax increase on dentists and other service-based small businesses before H.R.1 moves to the Senate for a vote.

New workforce resources have been added as a webpage to the ODA website. The intention is to create a place for members to access workforce resources and information. This is just the start, please provide feedback to ODA’s Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs Brett Hamilton at bhamilton@oregondental.org.

On May 13, the Warrenton, Oregon City Commission voted to maintain community water fluoridation—a significant win for public health. The Oregon Dental Association (ODA) was proud to support local advocates in their efforts to educate commissioners on the importance of fluoride in public water systems.

ODA members Dr. Jeremiah Shakespear and Dr. Scott Santos testified at the city commission meeting in support of fluoridation and against its ceasing to fluoridate the city's water. ODA submitted a letter to the City Commission highlighting the well-established public health benefits of fluoridation. In addition, we collaborated closely with local advocates by drafting letters to the editor, supplying accurate fluoride information, and equipping residents with the tools and guidance they needed to effectively engage with their elected officials.

The issue is expected to appear on the November ballot in Warrenton, and ODA remains committed to supporting efforts that promote evidence-based public health policy.

Did you see ODA President Caroline Zeller and ODA President-Elect Amberena Fairlee’s letters to the editor? Dr. Zeller's appeared in the Oregonian and Dr. Fairlee's in The Bulletin. Dr. Fairlee wrote, “As a dentist working with low-income and underserved populations in Bend, and the President-Elect of the Oregon Dental Association, I am deeply concerned by recent federal efforts to dismantle dental public health infrastructure, specifically community water fluoridation.” Read the letter, here. Dr. Zeller shared, “I provide dentistry to vulnerable populations throughout Oregon. I am saddened knowing that fluoride benefits vulnerable populations the most. Increasing dental disease by removing fluoride from patients’ water means more trips to the operating room, more teeth lost and more challenges eating, resulting in a decreased quality of life.” Read the letter, here.

We’ve received recent reports of a phone scam that has been targeting dentists in our community. Scammers are impersonating representatives from the Oregon Board of Dentistry, attempting to collect personal and financial information under false pretenses. Please be aware that the Oregon Board of Dentistry will never request sensitive information over the phone. If you receive such a call, we urge you not to provide any personal or financial details and hang up immediately. We encourage you to remain vigilant and share this information with your colleagues to help prevent any potential scams. Find more information on the Board of Dentistry website.

The 2025 Legislative Session continues to move at a rapid pace. As attention shifts away from policy bills, most eyes in Salem are moving to the budget and other outstanding issues that have yet to be addressed, such as whether a major transportation package will pass this session as once expected. With a challenging revenue forecast released earlier this month, legislators have spent significant time and effort tempering expectations about the availability of state funding for state programs and budget requests. Amid this challenging landscape, our ODA advocacy team has been hard at work in Salem both proactively advocating for dental legislation and fighting back against harmful bills that have the potential to significantly impact our members. Read a full report, here.

The ADA is collecting patient and provider stories to help advocate for protecting oral health in Medicaid programs. As we continue to advocate for dental services in state programs for low-income families and adults, personal experiences will demonstrate what dentists and dental professionals are doing to improve oral health. Some things we want to know:

• What impact has their dental care had on their lives? Any specific patients come to mind that would not have been able to get by without Medicaid dental coverage?
• Do you treat adults and does your state have an adult dental benefit?
• What would happen if your state cut adult dental benefits due to loss of funding from the federal government?

Share your story with the ADA here to help advocacy efforts.

While the ODA team is busy in Salem and Washington, D.C., 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!

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.

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.

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/.

SmileCon® 2025 is bringing the whole dental team together in Washington, D.C., Oct. 23-25! With curated CE for dentists, hygienists, office staff and more, there’s something for everyone. Explore future-ready dentistry, discover new innovations in Dental Central and connect at fun team events. This isn’t just another meeting, it’s a celebration of every role in dentistry. Register today at SmileCon.org and bring your whole crew!

Mark your calendars for next year's conference, April 9-11, 2026! In the meantime, be sure to enter your course completion codes online at https://www.prereg.net/2025/odc or the ODC mobile app to claim your 2025 ODC CE certificate. See you next year!

The ADA’s Certified Clinic Director Program is a professional development initiative designed specifically for licensed dentists who currently serve—or are preparing to serve—in leadership roles within dental clinics. This 6-month, 35 CEU program will help dentists gain advanced knowledge in topics including clinical operations, regulatory compliance, financial management, and strategic leadership. Those who complete the program will earn a Certificate of Completion that they may use as part of their CV and a virtual badge to use on their social media profiles, and they will become part of the ADA Certified Clinical Director network.  
 
Please share with your colleagues who may be interested in applying. Apply today, and download the request for employer tuition support: https://engage.ada.org/pages/ccd 

Everyone wants to get paid fairly for their work, but you may not know how dental insurance operates behind the scenes. ADA Trustee Dr. Sara Stuefen joins “Dental Sound Bites” to break down the nuts and bolts of dental insurance: fees, reimbursements, the role of organized dentistry and practical takeaways for your practice.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts, in the ADA Member App or see the video version on YouTube.

The ADA Foundation is thrilled to announce the Give Veterans A Smile fundraising campaign, featuring a dollar-for-dollar match of your donation. The GVAS program was launched in 2024 and encourages dentists to provide pro bono oral health care to underserved Veterans and to assist them in finding a dental home. Thanks to Henry Schein’s generous matching gift, donations up to $10,000, will go twice as far. This means we can make twice the impact, help twice the Veterans, and create twice the smiles. Click here to make your donation and help a veteran in need.

Fulfill the training needs mandated by the MATE Act for your DEA registration with MATE Act Training for Opiate Prescribers on June 20 from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. In this 8-hour Live Webinar you will discuss substance use disorders (SUD), understand how to identify and manage SUD in pediatric patients, learn to recognize common dental issues that prescribed medications can cause and more. Earn 8 CE credits; appropriate for dentists.

This webinar will cover general information for dentists wishing to treating Medicare beneficiaries and will outline new requirements by CMS for Medicare billing that begin on July 1, 2025. Join two member dentists who will better help providers understand how to best prepare for treating Medicare beneficiaries and submitting claims.

Presenters are:
Caroline Zeller, DDS, MPH, Member of Council on Advocacy for Access and Prevention
Stephen Morgan, DDS, Chair of Dental Content Committee and Member of Council on Dental Benefit Programs

Additionally, operational information regarding billing for dual-eligible individuals and submission through electronic dental records will be provided. Register here today if you wish to attend.