Dear Colleagues,
I hope everyone is enjoying the summer season and finding time to recharge. Even as the pace slows for some, our work at the DC Dental Society continues with meaningful progress and important opportunities ahead for member engagement. I’m excited to share the latest updates and invite you to stay involved.
Dear Colleagues,
I hope everyone is enjoying the summer season and finding time to recharge. Even as the pace slows for some, our work at the DC Dental Society continues with meaningful progress and important opportunities ahead for member engagement. I’m excited to share the latest updates and invite you to stay involved.
🏛️ Advocacy Update: Progress on Medicaid Reimbursement & Scope of Practice
We are pleased to share continued momentum in key advocacy efforts:
✅ Board of Dentistry Engagement: Last month, a number of DC dentists represented our profession at the June Board of Dentistry meeting to discuss the DCDS proposal on workforce development, licensing improvements, and scope of practice for neurotoxin use in dentistry (e.g., Botox and similar substances). Thank you to those who showed up to advocate for meaningful change. The Board voted to refer our proposal to two subcommittees. We will remain engaged with the Board to continue to advocate for the adoption of these important policy changes.
✅ Medicaid Fee Increase Proposed: Mayor Bowser’s proposed FY26 DC budget includes an $8 million increase to dental Medicaid reimbursement rates—the first potential fee increases in over 15 years. We are grateful to our dedicated DCDS members who have been instrumental in leading the charge toward fairer reimbursement and increased access to care for District residents.
🎉 Don’t Miss Our Free Summer Social – July 22
Join DCDS for a fun evening of indoor golf, great food, an open bar with wine, beer, mocktails, premium spirits—and excellent company!
📍 Swingers Dupont Circle – Indoor Golf
🗓 Tuesday, July 22 | 5:00 – 8:00 PM
This is the perfect way to unwind, connect, and enjoy time with friends and colleagues in the DC dental community.
FREE for DCDS Members—Reserve Your Spot Today!
🧒 Summer Member Resource: Family & Parenting Guides
We recognize the unique challenges many working parents face when summer vacation begins. To support you during this time, AllOne Health is sharing new Resource Guides addressing parenting and family concerns:
These resources are available to all DCDS members through our partnership with AllOne Health.
🌟 SmileCon 2025 and DCDS Symposium for Licensure– Registration Now Open
Dentistry is at a tipping point—with new technologies and strategies transforming how we care for patients. Join us at SmileCon, right here in Washington, DC:
🗓 October 23–25 | ADA SmileCon
🗓 October 25 | DCDS Symposium for Licensure
This is a license renewal year, so you and your dental team members will need to renew your license or registration by December 31st*. That also means you and your dental team will need to complete up to four courses that are required by DC Health on ethics, infection control, LGBTQ+ cultural competency/humility, and opioid prescribing.
We will make it easy for you to complete those courses in one day at the DCDS Symposium for Licensure. The presentations will be recorded for those who are not able to attend in person on October 25. Learn more about the Symposium and those required courses on the DCDS website.
Attend SmileCon and the Symposium in person to boost your CE, network with peers, and take part in one of the most influential dental meetings of the year.
📝 We Want to Hear from You: Educational Needs Survey
Help us shape our future educational programming! Share your input through the 2025 DC Dental Society Educational Needs Assessment Survey—we want to know what learning topics matter most to you.
Take the Survey Here
📚 September 9 CE Meeting
“Antibiotic Prophylaxis - The Adoption of Recent Concepts”
Presented by Dr. Ronald S. Brown, Howard University College of Dentistry
Location: DCDS Headquarters – 2001 K Street NW, 3rd Floor North
CE Credits: 2.0 CE Hours. The program will run from approximately 5:45 – 8:15 PM.
Pricing:
• Free for DCDS Members. A recording of the presentation will be made available to all DCDS members at no cost.
• $75 Recording / $110 In-Person for Non-Members
• $45 Recording / $60 In-Person for Dental Office Staff
Dinner provided for in-person attendees!
________________________________________
Thank you for your continued dedication to our profession and the DC dental community. I look forward to seeing you at our summer events and working together to advance dentistry in the District.
Be well,
Dr. Hillary Rosse Abel
President, District of Columbia Dental Society
* DC Health is shifting to a new renewal cycle based upon the month of birth. This shift will begin with those who received a new DC license or registration on or after June 16, 2024. Anyone licensed/registered before June 16, 2024, will be required to renew their license on December 31, 2025, as has been the case in the past. Starting in 2027, those who renew their license at the end of this year will be required to renew in the month of their birthdate. Full details regarding the implementation schedule have yet to be released by the Board of Dentistry.
