Each month, CDA highlights a student from one of California's seven dental schools. Get to know Somkene Okafor-Okwuego of Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry's class of 2026.

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.

The recording of conversations between dentists and patients can pose significant risks to dental professionals, including potential HIPAA violations, loss of control over the use of the recording and legal issues related to consent. Dentists should take steps to protect patient privacy.

The four-part series explores the crucial stages of finding qualified candidates, successfully integrating new team members into the dental practice and retaining top talent.

With the holiday season’s arrival, CDA’s employment practices analyst is receiving calls from members who have questions about the laws governing holiday pay. Here she’s assembled some tips to guide California dentists based on her conversations with callers.

CDA launched and managed a digital advertising campaign and website, Fix Our Dental Insurance, and built a large coalition in support of two CDA-sponsored dental plan reform bills that the governor signed into law in October. 

Through The Dentists Insurance Company, CDA has heard from concerned members who have received non-renewal notices from their business owner insurance carriers. As insurance companies discontinue offering policies that dentists in California rely on, members can count on their CDA benefits for support.

Most practices benefit from electronic prescribing, but it’s important to make sure that the solution you use to e-prescribe has features that will streamline your workflow and protect your patients and practice from error. Find out which e-prescription software characteristics are most valued by dentists.

A San Francisco Superior Court judge ruled last month that CDA and individual dentist-plaintiffs could proceed on their claim that Delta Dental breached the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing in adopting the 2023 contractual amendments.

A new Los Angeles city ordinance requires employers who hire and retain freelance workers within the city to provide a written contract and timely payment among other things and also established certain rights for freelance workers. 

CDA Presents The Art and Science of Dentistry in San Jose September 7-9 will feature opportunities to learn from CDA’s experts and earn C.E. credit.

Patients, visitors and workers not performing clinical procedures are no longer be required to wear face masks in dental offices and other indoor health care settings in California as of April 3 per new guidance from the state Department of Public Health.

Obtaining and regularly updating medical and dental health histories for every patient is a cornerstone of ethical and responsible dental care. Risk management experts have identified six ways that maintaining accurate health histories protects your patients and practice.

The state of California is reviewing Medi-Cal eligibility. Dentists can share outreach materials with their Medi-Cal patients to help ensure they receive important information and updates about their coverage. 

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. 

When offering refunds to dental patients, it is essential to have clear policies and procedures in place. Refund policies should be communicated clearly to patients, so they understand under what circumstances refunds will be offered and what documentation may be required.

As the Dental Board of California continues to navigate its first full renewal cycle for the newly established anesthesia and sedation permits, two new implementation issues have been identified for the moderate sedation permit and have prompted CDA advocacy.

The Journal of the California Dental Association continues to evolve as an open-access scientific publication of reviews and original research articles. Now, the Journal is transitioning to a new digital online platform. This change will make Journal research more accessible and searchable.

Two California counties have issued new flu and COVID-19 vaccination orders that include dental offices and will take effect Nov. 1. Counties may amend their orders at any time and other counties could issue new orders during flu season. 

A new safety needle is on the market and is now the fifth safety needle, or safety sharp, available to California dentists. Dental practices that do not use safety sharps should evaluate the NopoGuard as part of the Cal/OSHA-required documentation.

A breakdown in communication is often the underlying factor in negative online reviews, lawsuits or complaints. TDIC’s Risk Management analysts explain how a confirming communication climate in the dental office reduces risk and share ways to create one.

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. 

Two CDA-sponsored bills signed into law this year are the latest legislative outcomes to benefit California dentists and their patients, but these successful reform efforts follow several successful bills sponsored by CDA in recent years as part of a multi-year, multi-pronged strategy.

As the competition for talent escalates, the need for practice owners to show that they value their current employees has become more important than ever. Stay up to date on upcoming employee appreciation weeks.

In the May collection of the CDA Journal, readers will find articles and a case study on the use of oral appliances for the treatment of various conditions, along with regulatory compliance guidance and an opportunity to earn C.E.