Do you have a question about a dental benefit issue? You can receive timely assistance from a CDA Practice Support expert. Simply submit your question online using the dental submission form available within your cda.org account. 

Charles E. Wilson, DDS, CDA past president, died Dec. 23, 2020, at his home in Fairfield, California. He was 96 years old. Dr. Wilson was a respected leader in the dentistry profession who oversaw and contributed to monumental milestones throughout CDA’s history and organized dentistry.

A recent California Supreme Court ruling that requires stricter meal practices in the workplace underscores the responsibility of dental practice owners to enforce break policies that are compliant with California laws.

CDA’s newest Endorsed Services partner, Henry Schein One ePrescribe, provides CDA members an option for sending prescriptions electronically to retail and mail-order pharmacies. 

Some dentists are unclear about whether to maintain face covering and social distancing requirements in the dental office following the CDC's updated mask guidance for fully vaccinated people. Cal/OSHA has not yet updated its COVID-19 prevention guidance for dental offices. Protocols for masks and social distancing are still required. 

Sunstar Americas Inc. has expanded its voluntary nationwide recall on its prescription oral rinse. The FDA on Dec. 28, 2020, published an updated announcement expanding the expiration period from Dec. 31, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2022.

Get to know CDA’s February Student Spotlight, Purna Patel from UCSF School of Dentistry class of 2021. 

Update: The U.S. Supreme Court in January 2022 ruled to block President Biden's vaccinate-or-test mandate for larger employers but upheld the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rule.

California issued an order requiring approximately 2.5 million of the state’s health care workers to get the COVID-19 booster to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. The state order does not include dental offices, but Santa Clara County and San Francisco have since issued booster orders for dental personnel.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, California-licensed dentists who administer or order the administration of general anesthesia, moderate sedation and minimal sedation will be subject to new requirements under legislation signed into law in 2018.

Dental practices that have been harmed or disadvantaged by the COVID-19 pandemic will find support through CDA-sponsored or supported bills signed into law in recent weeks by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Altogether, the governor signed 14 bills that help dentists practice better and expand access to oral health care.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Oct. 8 signed into law CDA-sponsored legislation that allows California-licensed dentists to apply for the requisite laboratory licensure to administer rapid COVID-19 tests in the dental office. The new law also gives dentists permanent authority to administer FDA-approved or FDA-authorized COVID-19 and flu vaccines.

A variety of situations can prompt patients who are not local to seek dental care while they are temporarily visiting or residing in your area. As the “secondary“ general dentist, you have more liability exposure than the dentist who is performing their routine dental care. Discover how to mitigate risk when you choose to treat these patients.

With the holiday season’s arrival, Michelle Coker, employment practices analyst at CDA Practice Support, is taking calls from members who have questions about the laws governing holiday pay. She’s assembled tips to guide California dentists based on her conversations with callers.

The Dentists Insurance Company’s website has more than a fresh new look. It’s also now faster and easier to manage your policies when and how you prefer. Online account access is now available for TDIC policyholders. Just follow these five quick tips to set up your account today, then access it online at any time.

No later than Jan. 1, 2022, dentists will be required by state law to issue electronic prescriptions for all medications, with very few exceptions. CDA members have a new option to assist their compliance with iCoreRx e-prescribing software from CDA’s Endorsed Services partner iCoreConnect. 

Patient safety remains a top priority for practice owners and dental teams; however, the dental office can often be a fast-paced working environment with distractions that can impede best safety practices. To better prevent mishaps, the Joint Commission requires accredited dental practices to implement a timeout before all surgical procedures.

UCLA School of Dentistry's Alvaro Hernandez Saavedra discusses his first year as a dental student in the United States and the challenges he's faced as he and his classmates adjust to dental school during the pandemic. 

Every month, CDA spotlights a student from one of California's six dental schools. Get to know CDA’s January 2022 Student Spotlight, Jay Patel from UCLA School of Dentistry Class of 2025.

Every month, CDA spotlights a student from one of California's six dental schools. Get to know CDA’s July 2021 Student Spotlight, Jasleen Kaur from UCSF School of Dentistry class of 2021.

Every month, CDA spotlights a student from one of California's six dental schools. Get to know CDA’s June Student Spotlight, Andy Tawfik from Western University School of Dentistry class of 2022. 

Watch Dr. Tippett-Whyte as she discusses financial relief opportunities for practice owners. She's providing details about the PPP second draw loan, CalHealthCares' extended application deadline and a new initiative aimed at securing financial relief from dental plans for dental practices during future emergencies. 

Dr. Tippett-Whyte answers your questions about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine, why it’s best to avoid implementing a mandatory vaccine policy among your dental staff and offers guidance on maintaining extra infection control protocols. 

From exclusive practice support resources to comprehensive COVID-19 guidance, Dr. Tippett-Whyte is highlighting the many benefits of being a CDA member. Learn more about what CDA is doing for California dental professionals in this week’s Leadership Corner.

Dr. Tippett-Whyte discusses the latest developments with Delta Dental's planned fee cuts and provides insight on CDA’s ongoing advocacy efforts to ensure Delta Dental honors its obligation to providers.