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Each month, CDA spotlights a student from one of California's seven dental schools. Herman Ostrow's Adriana Eraso reveals the one benefit of working in dentistry that she hasn't seen in other careers.

Every quarter, CDA publishes a Practice Health Check focusing on a different topic related to the business side of dentistry. Dental plan benefits are the focus in the fourth quarter of 2023. CDA members are invited to take the Q4 Practice Health Check evaluating one key question.

This CDA Journal collection includes an update on efforts to integrate dental coverage in the Medicare program, a review of recent data on the number of patients who seek dental care at hospital emergency departments and other articles. 

Seeking specialized advice from risk management experts is essential for addressing the complexities of running a dental practice and managing employee dynamics. Collaboration with TDIC’s Advice Line analysts contributes to the long-term viability, success and prosperity of the dental practice.

Dentists are uniquely positioned to be part of the solution to reducing the harm of the current opioid/fentanyl crisis. Along with limiting the distribution of prescription opioids, dentists can take an active role in community efforts to raise awareness and increase access to naloxone.

A coalition of health care organizations including CDA has filed a ballot measure for the November 2024 election to protect and expand funding for California’s Medi-Cal program, improving access to care for generations to come.

Dentists and X-ray machine registrants must properly document occupational exposure to radiation and maintain those records in anticipation of periodic inspections. In California, dental offices are to be inspected every five years and may be scheduled for an on-site inspection. 

The collection’s discussions, review articles and guidance cover all aspects of running a dental practice, from creating an annual business plan to achieve practice success to fostering employee engagement and retention and understanding the practice evaluation process.

Effective communication and a basic understanding of the Americans with Disabilities Act are important tools to reduce risk and improve care for patients with special needs. One call to TDIC’s Risk Management Advice Line illustrates how AwDA violations might occur when practice protocols are not in place.