It's been called many things: Groundbreaking. Revolutionary. Award-winning. Perhaps most importantly, it's effective. Ask anyone affiliated with the University of Washington School of Dentistry's Regional Initiatives in Dental Education (RIDE) program and they will tell you: RIDE works. Learn more about the program and its plans for expansion in the WSDA News Issue 1 cover story.

"While there are many reasons why the American Dental Association is valuable to our nation’s dentists, I believe it is important to point out some of the less obvious values. Like road, electrical, water, and sewage systems help ensure stable communities, the ADA provides important infrastructure that sustains and enhances the work of state dental associations, local dental societies, and your practice."

The Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) will hold its next business meeting in a hybrid format on Friday, April 28 at 10:00 AM.

Effective June 27, 2023, prescribers of controlled substances, including dentists, must complete eight hours of one-time training on safely prescribing controlled substances (Schedules II, III, IV, and/or V) in order to receive or renew their registration with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). See CE options at PNDC, from UW Continuing Dental Education, and from the ADA to meet the requirement.

The Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) will hold a Dental Collaboration Committee meeting on June 6.

During the 2023 legislative session, WSDA successfully advocated for the passage of three important dental workforce bills that reduce barriers to hygiene licensure in our state and increase licensure portability for dentists and hygienists. In addition to advocating for important workforce legislation, WSDA also supported or opposed several bills this session concerning dental-related issues, insurance, small business issues, employer/employee matters, and much more.