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

• Alex Boson, DDS – Washington County Dental Society
• Jeffrey Dryden, DDS – Rogue Valley Dental Society
• Janny Lim, DDS – Marion and Polk Dental Society
• Shayda Sarrami, DDS – Multnomah Dental Society
• Matthew Williams, DDS – Multnomah Dental Society
• Yangshin Woo, DMD – Multnomah Dental Society

The 2024 ODA House of Delegates will be held on September 28th and will be 100% virtual. Encourage your members to be engaged and represent their local component society as a delegate! It's never too early to start recruiting delegates to represent your component. Register here.

You're invited to ODA's Regional Event: CE on the Ranch! Taking place November 1-2, 2024, in beautiful Central Oregon. Join us at Brasada Ranch in Powell Butte, OR, for 5 hours of continuing education, social events, and relationship building with sponsors and exhibitors. Events include a Friday Night Trivia welcome kick-off and a Saturday night Boots & Bling party featuring country western music & line dancing. Event schedule, registration, speaker information are all available here.

Come for the CE – Stay for the boot scootin' good time!

ODA is seeking applicants for a variety of open positions across the organization. You can find position descriptions and steps needed to apply here.

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.

Effective July 1, 2024, the Oregon Wellness Program (OWP) will reduce the number of free counseling sessions available to medical and dental professionals from eight annually to three visits. Learn more on the ODA website here.

Members have the opportunity to win a seven-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 seven-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.

Mental Health Awareness Month may be coming to an end, but you can access the ADA’s wellness resources 24/7.

If you haven’t yet, take one minute to assess your mental wellness with the Well-Being Index designed by Mayo Clinic. Check out this video to learn more about how this tool can help you monitor and support your mental health.

If you missed our Instagram Live on mental health awareness earlier this month, you can watch the recap here. Don’t forget to also tune into the latest Dental Sound Bites episode on mental wellness and suicide prevention in dentistry.

The ADA Member App also has new audio-guided ergonomic stretches to help you maintain your physical health.

Find these resources and more at ADA.org/wellness.

When most people think of a dentist, they think of an older man, even as the profession is becoming more diverse! On this episode of Dental Sound Bites, we’re hearing the stories of women dentists, dentists of color and younger dentists and how they strive for respect in the workplace. Plus, learn what to do if a staff member or patient doesn’t view you as an authority.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts or in the ADA Member App.

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.

A new 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 ten 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.

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.

Tailored for your entire dental team, Opioid and Infection Control: State Required Relicensure CE for Every Member of Your Dental Team on Friday, Sept. 20, simplifies state regulations and licensure demands, delving into crucial areas concisely. From infection control updates to opioid management insights, our expert-led Live Webinar will boost your team’s expertise and confidence in one fast-moving day. Recommended for dentists and dental team; earns 6 CE credits. Register today

Communities are at their strongest when their individuals are at their best – when they’re growing, energized, and thriving. So, come to SmileCon® and learn a new skill, mingle with colleagues, and have a little fun along the way … because when you reach new heights, you cultivate what makes dentistry great. Register today at SmileCon.org!

On Wednesday, October 2nd at the Salem Convention Center, please join over 400 professionals and advocates representing CCOs, health and human service providers, elected officials and state agency leaders, hospitals and clinics, patient advocates, and community partners interested in health transformation. The 11th annual conference will again offer informative and engaging content, with a diverse range of sessions and panelists aimed at advancing coordinated care in Oregon. Please send questions to info@ccooregon.org. Register Here.