Blog

Feb 12, 2026

Announcing the Campaign for Dental Futures: A Tribute to the Work of Dr. Linda Edgar

WSDA is excited to announce that the WSDA Foundation has pledged $1 million to support the creation of the Simulation Lab at the new Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences School of Dental Medicine in Yakima, named in honor of Washington’s own Dr. Linda Edgar. Through this campaign, dentists and supporters have a unique opportunity to help shape the future of dentistry in Washington state and beyond.

Feb 9, 2026

ADA: EPA Initiates Accelerated Review of Fluoride in Drinking Water

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has initiated an accelerated review of fluoride in drinking water under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The action marks the first step in an expedited process to evaluate potential health effects associated with fluoride exposure and could inform future regulatory decisions related to drinking water standards for the entire country.

Feb 2, 2026

February 16 HIPAA Deadline: Update Your Notice of Privacy Practices

By February 16, 2026, all HIPAA-covered entities — including dental practices — must update their Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP) to include specific information about how they handle substance use disorder (SUD) treatment records protected under federal law, and train their workforce on these updates. Learn more and see resources available from WSDA and ADA.

Jan 29, 2026

Unlock Job & Practice Opportunities with WSDA Classifieds

Whether you’re a dentist looking to grow your career or a practice owner ready to make a change, the WSDA Classifieds section is your centralized resource. This platform is tailored specifically to the job and practice search needs of dentists across the state.

Jan 13, 2026

Giving Back: "I Know This Works"

Spice Isle Smiles is transforming children’s oral health in Grenada by delivering comprehensive, school-based dental care to rural primary schools. Founded by Dr. Brian Holmes and Tammy Holmes, the nonprofit is creating lasting, generational change by ensuring young students have access to the care they need to grow up healthy and confident.

Jan 13, 2026

Steps to Take if Facing Collection Notices on Defaulted Loans

Experts indicated that acting quickly may be critical among federal student loan borrowers at risk of a portion of their wages being seized. Although wage garnishment was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the U.S. Department of Education announced plans to resume seizing the wages, federal tax refunds, Social Security retirement and disability benefits of those who have defaulted on their loans.

Dec 24, 2025

ADA: Deleted CDT Codes You Should Know for 2026

CDT 2026 boasts 60 code changes, including six deletions. Find information here to help you prepare for these deleted codes come Jan. 1, 2026. Deletions include preventive resin restorations, vaccine administrations, non-intravenous conscious sedation and more.

Dec 23, 2025

Faith, Family & Friends: Dr. Kim Nordberg, WSDA 2025 Citizen of the Year

What is the best way to measure Dr. Kim Nordberg's legacy? It's not in buildings, though that could be part of the answer. Nor is it in accolades and awards, though there were those, too, including being honored as this year's recipient of the WSDA Citizen of the Year award. No, the real measure of his legacy is in lives touched.

Dec 16, 2025

Your Association in Action

WSDA’s recent successes and future priorities underscore the Association’s strong value to the profession. As Washington’s leading advocate for dentists, WSDA is uniquely committed to addressing unfair insurance practices, rising costs and regulations, workforce shortages, and other challenges affecting dentists and their patients.

Dec 12, 2025

ADA: Education Department Moves to End SAVE Under Legal Settlement

The U.S. Department of Education announced it has reached a proposed legal settlement that would formally end the Saving on Valuable Education, or SAVE, income-driven repayment plan, a signature Biden-era policy that had offered some of the lowest monthly student loan payments and fastest potential paths to forgiveness in the federal system.

Dec 5, 2025

ADA: Tips to Avoid Claim Denials Due to Common Coding Mistakes

The ADA hopes to help dentists avoid common coding mistakes as they begin using CDT 2026 on January 1. Here are examples and explanations of some common miscoding issues to help address potential misinterpretation during claims processing.

Dec 2, 2025

ADA: Revised CDT Codes You Should Know for 2026

CDT 2026 boasts 60 code changes, including 14 revisions. Find information here to help you prepare to use some of these revised codes come Jan. 1, 2026. Revisions cover resin-based composites, the administration of nitrous oxide, and more.

Nov 21, 2025

Register for Dental Action Day

Join WSDA at Dental Action Day on Thursday, January 22, 2026 to meet with legislators and promote the Association’s legislative efforts!

Nov 17, 2025

Next Steps After Student Debt Forgiveness

As the government shutdown comes to a close, student loan borrowers are receiving notices regarding debt forgiveness. With over $1.6 trillion in combined outstanding student debt across the United States, experts advised borrowers who receive debt relief to take several steps to reevaluate their financial goals and consider the potential uses of their discretionary income.

Nov 14, 2025

ADA Opposes Delta Dental’s Acquisition of Cherry Tree Dental

The ADA filed a letter with the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance expressing opposition to Delta Dental of Wisconsin’s proposed acquisition of Cherry Tree Dental. The filing notes potential conflicts of interest and concerns about patient care under the proposed ownership structure, stating that direct ownership by Delta Dental could compromise dentists’ ability to advocate for patients.

Nov 10, 2025

Volunteer at the Seattle/King County Clinic

Dental professionals looking for a volunteer opportunity can sign up to volunteer for the 2026 Seattle/King County Clinic, held April 23-26 at Seattle Center.

Nov 7, 2025

Dr. Stephen Lee: Who are the Legends of Dentistry?

Many “legends” might produce beautiful cases on their good days. But to me, the measure of a dentist isn’t how good they are when they’re at their best, it’s how good they are when they’re not. What do the worst 2% of everyone’s cases look like?

Nov 5, 2025

ADA: Sign Up for Give Kids A Smile 2026

Join the GKAS Movement and sign up your 2026 Give Kids A Smile (GKAS) event no later than November 15, 2025, to request free GKAS product kits for your program.

Nov 5, 2025

Renew Your Membership for 2026

It's time to renew your WSDA, ADA and local dental society membership. WSDA is decreasing the cost of membership in 2026. Renew online by January 1 to enter to win a refund of your 2026 dues!

Nov 5, 2025

2025 WSDA House of Delegates Resolution & Election Results

The 2025 meeting of the WSDA House of Delegates, the governing body of the Association, was held Sept. 25-27 at the Marriott Tacoma Downtown. Members can visit wsda.org/HOD to view resolutions adopted at the 2025 House.

Oct 24, 2025

“Sno-Isle Launched Me into a Profession I am Passionate About”

“What we provide here is an amazing opportunity for students to see if the profession they have dreamed of — or are considering — is what they really want,” said Kelly Beebout, dental assistant instructor at Sno-Isle Technical Skills Center in Everett.

Oct 21, 2025

ADA Launches Toolkit to Support Dentists in Medicaid Participation

The Medicaid Financial Sustainability Toolkit: An Operational Guide for Dentists Wishing to Treat Medicaid Beneficiaries is designed to support dentists who are committed to serving underserved populations but need effective and operational strategies to do so sustainably.

Oct 14, 2025

It's All About the Mission

“I’m blessed to be in this position. I wake up every morning and I’m excited to come to campus.” Dean Foti Panagakos is leading the launch of the new School of Dental Medicine at PNW University of Health Sciences.