California Dental Association (CDA)

06/05/2026

A web of confusion compounded by lack of transparency is how Zeynep Barakat, DMD sums up her experience with dental plan leased networks. In a candid interview with CDA analyst Lisa Byers, Dr. Barakat details how unknowingly contracting with leased networks led to incorrect fees, delayed care and patient challenges. Watch the video to hear her story and see how she’s addressing the challenges:

Dr. Zeynep Barakat details how unknowingly contracting with leased networks led to incorrect fees, delayed care and patient frustrations.

06/05/2026

‘Find your why and keep it close’: Western University’s Michalina Fili shares sound advice for incoming dental students.

06/04/2026

Does your practice have hazardous chemicals? Federal OSHA issued a final rule mandating employers update their hazard communications plans and fulfill other requirements intended to reduce the incidence of chemical related illness and injuries by July 20, 2026. Learn more:

A final rule issued by federal OSHA that takes effect July 19 largely affects product manufacturers and distributors of hazardous...

06/03/2026

Patients don’t want to wait for statements in the mail anymore and your practice shouldn’t have to wait to get paid. With Best Card’s online tools, you can offer secure online payments, Text-to-Pay, recurring payments, easy reporting and more. To connect directly with Best Card’s experts, call 877.739.3952. https://www.cda.org/practice/endorsed-services/best-card/

06/03/2026

Medi-Cal Dental funding cuts are set to take effect July 1, with severe impacts on Medi-Cal providers’ practice models, sustainability and the communities they serve. Visit saveourdentalcare.org to help spread the word through social media, printable flyers and online forms that make it easy to take action.

06/02/2026

The best time to plan for long-term care is before you need it. And the chances that you need it are higher than you think. 1 out of 2 people will need long-term care assistance in their lifetime. Secure a long-term care insurance policy now to access a greater pool of benefit dollars than you could by self-funding your care later. https://hubs.ly/Q04jNDdv0

06/01/2026

Nearly half of dental students face challenges meeting basic food needs while navigating the financial demands of their education. That's why the CDA Foundation has launched the new Dental Student Food Insecurity Program to provide direct support at all seven California dental schools. The program will fund on-campus food pantries and financial wellness education focused on budgeting, meal planning and accessing available resources. Make a difference by donating to the Dental Student Food Insecurity Program today. https://www.cda.org/newsroom/cda-foundation/new-cda-foundation-program-addresses-food-insecurity-experienced-by-nearly-half-of-california-dental-students/

06/01/2026

Senior Swag Days are bittersweet! We loved visiting each CA dental school with local dental societies to hand out free swag bags, help seniors prepare for the transition into the workforce and share tips on how to stay connected to organized dentistry after graduation.

No matter your next step, make sure to click on the Dental Students link in our bio to update your cda.org profile to keep your info current and stay connected to your member benefits!

06/01/2026

Dental anxiety remains a persistent and often overlooked barrier to oral health care. Learn how to recognize and reduce dental anxiety in underserved populations during our live webinar with Dr. Fadie Coleman on June 17. Save your spot now to attend the webinar at no cost. https://www.cda.org/event-details/health-equity-webinar/

05/28/2026

New federal guidance reclassifies 11 Form I-9 errors as substantive, which means they carry immediate fines for employers if discovered during an audit. Substantive errors include missing employee date of birth, incomplete document information and other errors. Employers are encouraged to review ICE’s updated Form I-9 guidance and self-audit their Form I-9s and electronic I-9 systems for compliance to avoid immediate fines for potential violations. Learn more:

Nearly a dozen Form I-9 errors are now considered substantive errors and therefore immediately subject to fines.