WSDA Members: Join Dandy on Thursday, August 27 at Aerlume Seattle for a free, exclusive evening of education, networking, and fine dining. RSVP by August 21.
Register today for the upcoming student loan webinar, Understanding the SAVE Plan and Other July 1 Changes, presented by TISLA on Tuesday, August 11. This session will explain the SAVE plan transition, describe all available plans and give tips on how to choose a new plan.
Credentialing is the process of verifying a dentist’s qualifications so they can participate with insurance plans and receive reimbursement. “My biggest advice to new dentists is before they start applying for jobs or changing offices, it’s good to have all the documents ready.”
WDIA can help you navigate the coverage needs for your practice. “Our main goal is to provide you with the best coverage for your business. Within the many carriers that we work with, we shop around to get the best rates for what you need.”
On July 8, 2026, WSDA shared an update on the recently completed mediation process that was legislatively mandated by Substitute Senate Bill 5351, WSDA’s dental benefits reform legislation passed in 2025.
WSDA has dental benefits resources to help member dentists and their teams, including 1:1 support and new letter templates to help you communicate with insurance companies when a claim payment is delayed.
Beginning July 1, 2026, new rules adopted by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) will create a clinical employment pathway for eligible 16- and 17-year-olds in Washington dental practices.
Delayed dental claim payments can create unnecessary administrative work and strain practice cash flow. These WSDA resources can help members and their teams understand these timelines, respond to repeated documentation requests, and raise concerns when payors delay claims that should otherwise be processed.
“Everyone is dealing with something — childcare, parenting issues, financial issues — and it can create feelings of anxiety or depression. It’s causing them not to enjoy this as much. We are here to be supportive of our dentists and help them feel their best — both in their profession and in their daily lives.”
Understanding the ins and outs of dental benefit plans can be complicated and frustrating for many dental offices and especially overwhelming for dentists early in their careers. The ADA can help with guidance for navigating these challenges.
The ADA is introducing a new Student Loan Resource Guide to help dental students and their families understand significant changes to federal student aid programs that take effect July 1.
Join OMNI Practice Group in Chelan on Friday, August 7 for a guided wine tasting with practical, real-world insights into one of the most important decisions of your career—your practice transition.
“What we’ve found over the years is that traditional mental, dental and medical care doesn’t serve this segment of the population well — especially those who live outdoors or are unfamiliar with the system or how to navigate it on their own. The biggest shift we made as an organization was taking the care to the patients. We started looking for patients rather than waiting for them. Our mission on paper stayed the same, but the actions behind it changed. When we did that, we found even more unmet needs in our community.”
WSDA members interested in speaking at PNDC 2027, April 1-3 in Seattle, can now apply for the New & Emerging Speaker Series. Applications are due Sunday, July 19. This member-exclusive opportunity gives WSDA members the chance to present 50-minute dental-related lectures at Washington's largest dental conference.
"More members use WSDA programs. Those programs generate non-dues revenue. That revenue funds better member benefits, stronger advocacy, and lower membership costs. Lower costs and greater value bring more dentists into organized dentistry. More members create more strength, more influence, and more opportunity to serve."
"The more familiar lawmakers become with this issue before they return to Olympia, the better chance we have of passing this important strategy to help solve our workforce shortage."
Reducing the dental workforce backlog in Washington requires a multi-pronged approach. WSDA hopes a new category of dental care provider will offer another avenue for relief.
The world of dental benefits can seem like it comes with its own language, and learning the terms can feel like cramming for a vocabulary test. Here are 12 terms from that glossary that dentists should know.
Thank you to all the dental professionals who joined us for the 2026 Pacific Northwest Dental Conference. We had an incredible time hosting you in Seattle for PNDC 2026! Mark your calendars today for more high-quality continuing dental education, dental exhibits and more as PNDC returns April 1-3, 2027 to Summit - Seattle Convention Center.
The ADA is urging dentists to contact members of Congress in support of federal legislation aimed at closing what the Association describes as an “ERISA loophole” affecting dental insurance reform laws. “Your patients deserve to be treated equally under the law when receiving dental care no matter how their dental benefit plan is designed. Congress can finally bring this needed consistency and accountability to federally regulated dental plans and ensure state dental insurance laws are adhered to.”
Washington Dentists' Insurance Agency (WDIA) offers insurance policies designed for dentists. You protect your livelihood and your profession when you invest in quality coverage through WDIA. Visit WDIA during PNDC 2026 at Booth #113.
Pre-book your Dandy demo at the Pacific Northwest Dental Conference and walk away with a $150 gift of your choice. Visit Dandy at Booth #312 to see it in action and discover how Dandy can simplify your digital workflow.
Whether you just started your career, retirement is around the corner, or you’re somewhere in between, we can help. Stop by booth 212 at the Pacific Northwest Dental Conference to learn more about the MedPro Group difference.
While exploring the exhibit hall at PNDC, stop by booth 613 and enter for an opportunity to experience a premium suite at a future Seattle Sounders FC match or win two tickets to a FIFA World Cup 2026 game right here in Seattle—an unforgettable experience for you and a guest.
The business of dentistry is becoming more complex, while some dental practices turn to dental service organizations (“DSOs”) for help with billing, marketing, and office management. These arrangements may be useful, but Washington dentists should understand the strict legal limits before entering into such arrangements.
Across Washington, activists are fighting fluoridation in public water systems. As a result, more state residents are at risk of losing the benefits of a proven public oral health program.
To the WSDA Advocacy Champions who added an additional $250 donation to their 2026 membership renewal, thank you for your support! From dental benefits reform to improving the workforce shortage, no one fights harder for dentists than WSDA.
Effective May 22, 2026, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has adopted amendments to the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (EPOA). Rule changes affect wage and salary disclosure and other job posting requirements.
On April 30, the U.S. Department of Education released a final rule updating federal student loan regulations under Title IV of the Higher Education Act to implement changes enacted in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Join dentists from across the state on Thursday, February 25, 2027 at Dental Action Day in Olympia to meet with your legislators and advocate for dental benefits reform and other issues affecting the dental profession. One profession, one voice!
Last fall, Washington state opened its second dental school with the launch of the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences School of Dental Medicine in Yakima. WSDA thought it would be timely to check in with students from both PNWU and the University of Washington, to see what issues are top of mind among the next generation of dentists.
With an announcement expected this May about significant changes to the HIPAA Security Rule, it’s a good time for WSDA members to take stock of their offices’ HIPAA and overall compliance practices. We suggest dentists start by reviewing what our team consistently finds to be one of the most common HIPAA compliance gaps — the Security Risk Assessment (SRA).
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights is expected to announce significant changes to the HIPAA Security Rule in May 2026, including requirements for encryption of electronic protected health information, multi-factor authentication and more.
“Access to food can make a meaningful difference in their well-being and academic success. When students are worried about where their next meal will come from, sometimes not just for themselves but also for their families, it becomes much harder to focus on the already demanding nature of their academic work.”
The American Dental Association released updated sedation and anesthesia use and teaching guidelines April 20, the first comprehensive revision of the guidelines in nearly a decade.
"Across the tripartite, our greatest strength is our ability to move forward together. We have an opportunity to work collectively to make a lasting impact for those we serve — now and in the future. As your national association, the ADA has both the responsibility and the opportunity to help lead that work and shape what comes next."
The ADA is supporting newly introduced federal legislation aimed at ensuring that state dental insurance reform laws apply to self-funded dental plans.
"Our state is entering a new era of dental education. That’s why WSDA and the WSDA Foundation are asking the state’s dental community to step forward—together—to support the Campaign for Dental Futures: A Tribute to the Work of Dr. Linda Edgar."
With a mix of brutally honest life stories, outrageous tales from the dental trenches, and a knack for turning the mundane into the absurd, Brady delivers a comedy experience that’s raw, relatable, and absolutely hilarious!
Get a comprehensive overview of the WSDA Member Assistance Program — a new free benefit designed to help you and your family navigate life's challenges — at our April 20 orientation webinar. Register by April 16.
After serving six terms in the Washington State House of Representatives, Rep. Michelle Valdez (Caldier) retired from office at the conclusion of the 2026 legislative session.
Urgent action recommended for Parent Plus borrowers, especially those pursuing Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). SAVE plan borrowers should be aware of a March 9 court decision to officially end the SAVE plan and educate themselves on anticipated next steps.
It’s been two years since Washington Dentists’ Insurance Agency (WDIA) announced MedPro Group as its preferred provider for professional liability coverage—and it’s cause for celebration.
This afternoon, WSDA became aware of a potential phone scam targeting an unknown number of Washington dental offices. The caller(s) may be impersonating or "spoofing" WSDA's phone numbers (206) 448-1914 or (800) 448-3368 and asking dentists to provide their dental license number. This is not WSDA calling.
The PNDC Speaker Ambassador Program gives WSDA members and their staff a way to get involved at PNDC by assisting our speakers prior to and during the conference. Plus, Speaker Ambassadors can receive registration reimbursement for volunteering!
The ADA joined a coalition led by the American Dental Education Association urging the U.S. Department of Education to adjust the implementation timeline for major federal student loan changes that could significantly affect dental students and other graduate and professional learners.