In-office dental assistant training has arrived for the many CDA members who continue to have challenges finding and hiring qualified dental assistants for their practice. The curriculum provides 12 weeks of supportive online learning for use alongside in-office training.

California dentists can take a new online course that meets the requirements for opioid use disorder training for licensure. “Responsibilities and Requirements for Prescribing Controlled Substances (Schedule II Opioid Drugs),” is eligible for 2 units of C.E. and is available to CDA members for a substantially discounted price. 

The December 2022 issue of the Journal of the California Dental Association explores how CDA’s decades-long advocacy yielded targeted investments to improve dental pipeline opportunities and improve access to care for vulnerable populations.

The July 2022 issue of the Journal of the California Dental Association explores the challenges dentists encounter with dental benefit plans and reimbursement.

The February 2022 issue of the Journal of the California Dental Association features articles on how dentistry has responded and adapted to the “new normal” of living and practicing with COVID-19, with the expectation that SARS-CoV-2 will eventually become endemic. 

The May 2022 issue of the Journal of the CDA Journal features a toolkit with simple visuals and messages dental providers can use to talk with patients about reducing and eliminating sugar-sweetened beverage consumption.
 

The June 2022 issue of the CDA Journal addresses the chronic problem of access to dental care for people with special health care needs and discusses effective and compassionate approaches dentists can take to provide that care.

CDA is bringing an enhanced learning experience to dentists and dental teams through a new education program launching this month. Through the online program, registrants will be able to log in to their CDA membership account and access interactive courses and virtual events all in one place, including all CDA and TDIC Risk Management courses.

CDA will host two in-person gatherings in San Diego and Ontario in late March that are especially geared toward early-career dentists who want to define or refine their career goals, but dentists in any stage of practice with an eye on the future are invited to attend. 
 

CDA’s pilot dental assisting training programs continue to be successful ― placing most of their participants in open dental positions in California. Now, the training programs, which teach participants the basic skills for a dental assisting career, are coming to two additional regions in the state.

The November 2022 issue of the Journal of the California Dental Association showcases dental student research and includes an opportunity to earn C.E. by reading an article and completing a quiz.
 

Dentists and other authorized prescribers across the U.S. will be required under a new federal law to complete eight hours of instruction on treating and managing patients with opioid and other substance use disorders prior to renewing or obtaining a DEA registration.

The October 2022 issue of the Journal of the California Dental Association provides a candid view of exclusion and underrepresentation in dentistry from both the patient and clinician perspective.

TDIC offers a new seminar, online and in person, to help dentists improve communication and documentation skills to reduce the potential for complaints, claims, or lawsuits.

The April 2022 issue of the Journal of the California Dental Association discusses the need for a health care-public health partnership to improve the oral health of pregnant people and infants and children. 

Registered dental assistants and dental assistants in extended functions who are applying for licensure in California have additional time to complete their examination requirements. The DCA approved a waiver for RDAs and RDAEFs whose clinical exams have been delayed due to the pandemic. 

Changes in continuing education regulations are coming for California dentists beginning Jan. 1, 2023, including mandated C.E. that covers the responsibilities and requirements of prescribing Schedule II opioid drugs. 
 

The September 2022 issue of the Journal of the California Dental Association highlights the value of adequate imaging in dentistry and the significance of appropriate radiographic interpretation knowledge in the diagnosis of dentoalveolar pathosis. 

The California Department of Consumer Affairs on Jan. 11 reinstated a waiver that temporarily lets dental professionals in California count recorded lectures as live continuing education as long as the courses are web-based and allow participants to interact with the presenter in real time.

New training specifically for California dentists focuses on COVID-19 vaccine administration, patient preparation and documentation and satisfies the 1 unit of C.E. dentists must complete to administer the COVID-19 vaccines.

All businesses that are open to the public, including dental practices, should ensure their websites are accessible to people with disabilities as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.