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

Ahmad Alkhazaleh, DDS—Multnomah Dental Society

Stephanie Bobbitt, DDS—Multnomah Dental Society

Jessica Bong, DDS—Multnomah Dental Society

Francois Fisselier, DMD—Multnomah Dental Society

Daniel Hoopes, DDS—Washington County Dental Society

Caroline Leibrecht, DMD—Rogue Valley Dental Society

Alison Revling, DDS—Central Oregon Dental Society

Michael Reynolds, DMD—Central Oregon Dental Society

Jay Schofield, DMD—Marion Polk Dental Society

Dalton Shearer, DMD—Multnomah Dental Society

Venus Tran, DMD—Multnomah Dental Society

Adam Vasquez, DMD—Washington County Dental Society

Jared Young, DMD—Clackamas County Dental Society

The 2025 ODA House of Delegates will be held on October 11th and will be 100% virtual. We encourage all members to be engaged and represent their local component society as a delegate! This year we will be discussing the following resolutions:

·        BOT 1-25: Dues Discounts—New Graduates

·        BOT 2-25: HOD Conversion to Annual Meeting

·        BOT 3-25: Cost of Living – Dues Increase

Currently 40 members are registered to serve as delegates; we need 30 more members for quorum. Please register here and support your association.

We're excited to enhance your member experience! To better protect and personalize your access to exclusive resources, many pages on the Oregon Dental Association website are now available only through your ADA member login. This change ensures that valuable, members-only content stays just that—a benefit just for you. Simply log in with your ADA credentials to explore all the tools, updates, and insights curated specifically for ODA members. If you need assistance logging into your ADA portal please email Heather at hlangdon@oregondental.org.

Pack your bags for the coast; Camp ODA is coming November 7-8 to Salishan Coastal Lodge! Earn up to 11 hours of CE, enjoy family-friendly social events such as Trivia Night and the Campfire Social, and connect with local industry suppliers in a beautiful coastal setting. ODA members receive an amazing deal of $250 (including all meals!) if you book before October 7th. Click here to register. 
 
More information, including the agenda, how to book your hotel accommodations, and lecture descriptions and learning objectives, can be found on the ODA website here.

Do you know an ODA member who would be a good fit for our emerging speaker series? The Annual Meeting Council (AMC) is currently seeking proposals to be part of Trailblazer Talks at the 2026 Oregon Dental Conference (ODC), April 9-11.

• What are Trailblazer Talks? Trailblazer Talks provide a platform for ODA members to share their knowledge and expertise with thousands of ODC attendees. Trailblazer Talks are 90 minutes in length and are planned to be held at the Oregon Convention Center as part of the ODC.
• Who is eligible to submit a proposal to present? All ODA members are welcome and encouraged to submit a proposal for consideration by the Annual Meeting Council. This opportunity is open to seasoned speakers and those new to presenting!
• How do I submit a proposal? Proposals are being accepted through the ODA website, here. The proposal deadline is Tuesday, October 7, 2025.

For more details, please visit the website or email Alisha Santoyo, Director of Education & Events, at asantoyo@oregondental.org.

Are you ready to continue your journey in continued excellence and leadership growth? This program provides a unique backstage pass to ODA offerings and experiences while developing and enhancing leadership and interpersonal skills. Customized to each participant, depending upon area(s) of interest, the Academy guarantees a deeper understanding and growth where it matters most! Nominate yourself or a colleague to join our 2026 class by December 1, 2025! Find out more information here.

Do you know someone who should be considered for the 2025 Tom Tucker Humanitarian Award?

Please send all nominations to leadership@oregondental.org before December 1st. We can’t wait to celebrate this 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.

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.

Are you passionate about mental health and supporting others? Wellness Ambassadors are vital in offering a compassionate ear and guiding colleagues through life’s challenges—whether it’s stress, mental health, financial struggles, or more. If you're ready to be a source of support and hope, complete the Wellness Ambassador interest form today and be part of a movement that truly matters. Email Heather at hlangdon@oregondental.org and complete the Wellness Ambassador interest form.

Our fundraising arm, the Dental Foundation of Oregon, is raising funds for Tooth Taxi services this fall and winter. There are all kinds of ways to help the Tooth Taxi, and one way is by making a gift through the Willamette Week's GiveGuide, which opens November 1 and runs through December 31. Donations made on certain “Big Give” days in the GiveGuide are eligible for prizes,, and we'll share those dates in a future ODA Insider. In the meantime, donations to The Dental Foundation of Oregon can be made at https://smileonoregon.kindful.com/.

What’s Happening

• The Board of Dentistry is holding a Public Rule Making Hearing on September 30th, where it will consider revisions to rule OAR 818-042-0040, which, if passed, will clarify the prohibition of dental assistants by law from performing periodontal probing and scaling teeth to remove deposits and stains.
  • Already, it is the understanding of the Board of Dentistry and ODA that this activity is outside the scope of practice for a dental assistant in Oregon, and adding it to their scope would require legislative action.
• The issue of dental assistant scaling is an evolving field. ODA has urged the Board of Dentistry to postpone the proposed revisions and instead have staff conduct a thorough analysis of the potential impacts of scaling dental assistants in Oregon. And in the meantime, if the Board of Dentistry wishes to add more clarity on this issue, ODA would suggest publishing guidance or an FAQ document.

What You Can Do

• Please send the ODA your thoughts. If you are interested in doing so, we can help you submit public comments. Contact Brett Hamilton, Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs, at bhamilton@oregondental.org. 
• The public comment period is from September 2 through 4:00 PM on October 10, 2025.

Dr. Amberena Fairlee will join other devoted ADA members and state, and local society staff leaders committed to supporting the dental workforce and working collaboratively to address challenges.

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.

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 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.

The ADA Fluoride Ambassador program is a group of dentists, hygienists, dental assistants, medical providers, and community leaders who want to help stem the tide of fluoride disinformation. Learn more and get involved. If you would like to get involved or need more information, please contact Jane Grover, D.D.S., senior director for the ADA Council on Advocacy for Access and Prevention, at groverj@ada.org or 312-440-2751.

Fall is here, and it’s time to get outside and explore the beauty of Oregon! We're excited to partner with Columbia Sportswear to bring you this ODA members-only experience and invite you and up to 4 guests to shop the Columbia Employee Store September 5th-28th, 2025.* Look for your pass in your inbox on September 4th.

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, language 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.

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. 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.

Put yourself at the center of dentistry with ADA Continuing Education’s Online Courses. These on-demand, science-backed CE courses deliver the latest knowledge and practical applications, empowering you not only to improve patient care but also to help shape the future of the profession itself. ADA CE brings you a new course every week, satisfying your need to keep learning and growing as a clinician. View the ADA CE library.

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!

In light of a recent phishing attempt, the ADA is reminding member dentists to stay vigilant about cybersecurity as they renew their membership this fall. At least one member has received a fraudulent email warning them their membership would be suspended unless they clicked on a link to open a “payment advice document” and completed their “most recent up-to-date membership record.”  

The ADA reported the link, which was disabled after the company that was used to create and host the fraudulent document shut down the scammer’s user account. 

A coalition of public health organizations, including the ADA, submitted formal comments Aug. 26 to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in support of a proposed rule to reduce nicotine levels in cigarettes and other combustible tobacco products. The proposed standard aims to lower nicotine content to minimally or nonaddictive levels, which the coalition said would prevent youth initiation, help millions quit smoking, and reduce tobacco-related morbidity and mortality. 

The U.S. House of Representatives passed on Sept. 10 its version of the fiscal year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which includes several dental-related provisions supported by the ADA.

Tune in Wednesday, September 17th, at 4 p.m. CT as the latest installment of the ADA Instagram Live series with SmileCon 2025 keynote speaker Brett Culp and SmileCon 2025 co-correspondents Dr. Britany Baker and D4 student Jaylon Johnson, moderated by Dr. ArNelle Wright, streams. Get a sneak peek at Brett’s keynote while also hearing what to expect at SmileCon 2025. 

For more information about SmileCon and to register, visit SmileCon.org. Feel free to share with your communities on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Dr. Kathryn Pawlak shares her passion for pediatric dentistry and how a chance encounter with a pediatric dentist during a campus tour set her on the path to success. Her journey is a testament to the lasting impact of mentorship, and she’s now paying it forward by mentoring the next generation of dental professionals. Learn more about Dr. Pawlak’s story here.