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As the number of measles cases in California and at least 25 other states continues to rise, becoming the highest number of reported cases in the U.S. since 1994, dental practices should ensure that they are screening patients for the highly contagious virus and other aerosol transmissible diseases prior to providing treatment.

The Dental Board of California is undergoing its sunset review in the state Legislature. In Assembly Bill 1519, authored by the Assembly Business and Professions Committee, the dental board provides a status update to the Legislature and identifies opportunities for improvement. CDA has particular interest in three areas of the dental board’s sunset review bill, including clarifying how an applicant can obtain a new license after their initial license has expired.

CDA Practice Support developed and published in April two new resources for practice owners who wish to help put their staff on the proper path to become a California-registered dental assistant. Both resources are in a one-page format that is easy to follow.

“Steps to Becoming a California-Registered Dental Assistant” outlines the required hours of work experience or formal training and dental board-approved courses that must be completed prior to taking the written RDA licensure examination. Final steps for completing and mailing the application are included.

In a perfect world, all patients would receive the care they need to improve their health. But too often patients hesitate to seek the care they need, especially when it comes to mental health. It is an unfortunate reality that there is still a stigma associated with mental illness, and those in need of treatment don’t always ask for help.

Delta Dental of California notified California dentists in its FYI newsletter that dentists should be prepared for a quality assessment review. CDA members are encouraged to review the on-site QA review checklist provided in the April 9 newsletter to ensure compliance.

Get to know CDA’s May Student Spotlight, Eric Stratton from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry class of 2020.

Five months after the catastrophic Camp and Woolsey wildfires tore through more than 250,000 acres in Northern and Southern California, life and work are far from routine for dentists who lost their practices or homes — or both — in the fires. But many are beginning to find some semblance of daily structure and make long-term plans with the help of their colleagues and the dental community.

Delta Premier Providers who are class members of the Delta Dental class action lawsuit have until June 14, 2019, to cash their settlement checks. The $65 million settlement is the result of legal action CDA filed against Delta on behalf of members. Most settlement checks sent to approximately 14,000 class members have been cashed, but the class action settlement administrator reports that more than 500 settlement checks have yet to be cashed.

Commonly, a dental practice will hire a temporary dental assistant, hygienist or front-office staff to fill in briefly for employee sick days, when the practice’s needs have increased or for an employee’s long-term leave of absence. CDA Practice Support finds that many employers are still puzzled about the requirements when hiring, classifying and properly paying these short-term employees.