Blog

Nov 6, 2026

2026 WSDA Citizen of the Year: Dr. Randall Thompson

“He exemplifies humility and compassion in working with and serving those in need. Although we were technically colleagues in our roles, I’ve always looked up to him as not only a professional mentor, but also someone I aspire to be like as a consummate volunteer and servant. He and Jamie truly live out what it means to help and serve others.”

Nov 5, 2026

Dr. Fotinos Panagakos: A Milestone Summer

"None of this progress would be possible without the dedicated faculty and staff and our sustained partnership with WSDA. Thank you for supporting us as we continue to build a dental workforce for communities that need it most."

Nov 2, 2026

ADA: Give Veterans a Smile

As Veterans Day approaches, we pause to thank and honor all who have bravely served our country. A meaningful way to give back is by helping to meet their oral health needs. Join the GVAS movement and provide essential dental care to those who served.

Oct 22, 2026

Registration is Open for PNDC 2027!

Registration is open now for the 2027 Pacific Northwest Dental Conference, April 1-3 in Seattle! Earn 20+ CE credits, shop the Exhibit Hall, enjoy special events and more all for one low price.

Oct 16, 2026

Happy Hour in Seattle with Dandy

WSDA Members: Join Dandy at Dead Line Seattle for a free evening of great company, delicious bites, and an open bar.

Oct 6, 2026

Do Not Attend or Submit Proxy: DDWA Annual Meeting

Again this year, WSDA is calling on dentists to stand united and send Delta Dental of Washington (DDWA) a clear message: Change your anticompetitive out-of-network reimbursement policy. DDWA continues to defend a policy that penalizes patients and dentists. Business as usual is unacceptable.

Oct 6, 2026

Dear ADA: Recoupments

In response to an ADA Health Policy Institute poll in late 2025, more than half of dentists reported that one of their top concerns looking ahead to 2026 was related to insurance, including low insurance reimbursement rates and delayed or denied payments.

Sep 24, 2026

Dr. Lisa Egbert: Keeping the Good Things Going – and Growing

"I have long believed that WSDA is a community, and we need to take care of each other. Over the past year, I have seen WSDA fulfill that promise and build an even stronger foundation for future success. Advocacy, Support, Excellence — I’m counting on all of us to keep the good things going!"

Sep 16, 2026

New Benefit: In-Office Membership Plan Guide

WSDA is excited to share a new member benefit — an updated guide to creating and administering legally compliant in-office membership plans for Washington dental offices.

Sep 10, 2026

ADA: Aetna Resolves Medicare Claims-Processing Error After ADA Push

Thanks to efforts by the American Dental Association, Aetna has resolved a processing issue that affected reimbursements for out-of-network Medicare Advantage dental claims. The ADA reminds dentists to be vigilant when reviewing explanations of benefits.

Aug 25, 2026

WSDA Endorses Weave as Patient Engagement Platform

Washington State Dental Association and ADA Member Advantage have endorsed Weave to provide its artificial intelligence-powered patient communications and engagement platform to members.

Aug 19, 2026

WSDA Member Appreciation Night: 9/18 in Spokane

We're thrilled to invite our members to WSDA Member Appreciation Night! Join us on Friday, September 18 during the House of Delegates meeting for an evening of celebration, connection, and gratitude.

Aug 13, 2026

2026 WSDA House of Delegates: Sept. 17-19 in Spokane

The 2026 WSDA House of Delegates, the governing body of the Association, will be held September 17-19 at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane. See current resolutions, delegates, candidates for elected positions and more.

Aug 6, 2026

August 28 Webinar: Town Hall with WSDA President Dr. Lisa Egbert

WSDA members are invited to join us on Friday, August 28, from 12:00-1:00 PM for an interactive webinar with Dr. Lisa Egbert to hear updates on important issues affecting organized dentistry, ask your questions live, and engage in an open discussion.

Jul 30, 2026

Free Webinar: Understanding the SAVE Plan and Other July 1 Changes

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.

Jul 14, 2026

ADA: Credentialing 101: What New Dentists Need to Know

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.”

Jul 9, 2026

Finding The Best Business Owners Policy for Your Practice

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.”

Jul 2, 2026

Dental Benefits Resources from WSDA

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.

Jul 1, 2026

Dealing with Delayed Dental Claims: What Washington Dentists Should Know

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.

Jun 30, 2026

‘We Are in This Together’: WSDA’s New Member Assistance Program

“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.”

Jun 29, 2026

ADA: Dental Benefit Basics

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.

Jun 25, 2026

Afternoon Sip & Learn with OMNI Practice Group

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.

Jun 24, 2026

Giving Back: Restoring Smiles, Building Fulfillment

“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.”

Jun 22, 2026

Apply for the New & Emerging Speaker Series

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.

Jun 10, 2026

Bracken Killpack: The Next Turn of WSDA's Flywheel

"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."

Jun 5, 2026

Planting the Policy Seeds for 2027

"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."

Jun 4, 2026

ADA: 12 Dental Benefit Terms New Dentists Should Know

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.

Jun 3, 2026

Thanks for Joining Us at PNDC 2026!

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.

Jun 3, 2026

ADA Grassroots Alert Urges Dentists to Support ERISA Reform

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.”