From the 2026 Summer Journal of the Colorado Dental Association, By Molly Pereira, CDA Executive Director Healthcare options for sole proprietors/employers, employees and 1099 contractors Finding quality, affordable healthcare benefits has become increasingly difficult for sole proprietors, small business employees, and 1099 contractors, especially within the dental profession, where many practices operate independently or with small teams. To help address …
Colorado Mission of Mercy Approaches 20-Year Milestone While Planning for Future Growth
From the 2026 Summer Journal of the Colorado Dental Association, By Becky O’Guin, CDA Communications Director As the Colorado Mission of Mercy (COMOM) prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary next year, the nonprofit free dental clinic is reflecting on nearly two decades of service while charting a course for future growth and expanded community impact. Since its inception in 2007, …
Counting Isn’t the Same as Measuring: A Plain-Language Look at Sleep Apnea and the Heart
From the 2026 Summer Journal of the Colorado Dental Association, By Peter A. McIntyre, D.D.S. Imagine two people who both stop breathing the same number of times each night. On paper, a sleep test gives them the same score, the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). The AHI is the number of times per hour that breathing pauses or grows very shallow. For …
A Lot Going on at the Moment
From the 2026 Summer Journal of the Colorado Dental Association, By Casey Rhines, D.D.S., CDA Editor There’s no universal definition for how long an era or a chapter should last. Taylor Swift’s Folklore and Evermore eras, for example, were separated by only a few months— proof that some chapters arrive quickly, unannounced and still manage to change everything. William Faulkner …
Clearing Up Confusion: “Important New Laws Affect Your Profession”
The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) recently sent an email to all licensees about “Important New Laws Affect Your Profession” that has caused substantial confusion, worry and questions from dentists. The CDA would like to provide clarification on two noted bills and corresponding changes to Colorado law. SB26-138: Reducing Administrative Burdens on Health Care What you need to know: …
Jeff Lodl, D.D.S. Installed as 139th President of the Colorado Dental Association
The Colorado Dental Association welcomes its 139th president, Dr. Jeff Lodl. Dr. Lodl has a long history of volunteering for professional dentistry and in the community and has been in private practice in Wheat Ridge and Arvada since 1987. “It is important to volunteer for the CDA to help keep dentistry moving forward,” Dr. Lodl said. “The CDA does a tremendous …
Rulemaking Underway for the Dental Practice Act: Some Rules Effective June 30
In 2025, the CDA successfully passed the Dental Practice Act Sunset bill (SB25-194) reflecting priorities and policies that support our member dentists. While a huge victory, that was only half of the process — now the Colorado Dental Board is required to adopt rules to implement the bill. Over the last year, the Colorado Dental Board has held stakeholder meetings …
July 1 Changes to State Funded Dental Programs
Despite the dire state of the 2026 Colorado government budget, where the Joint Budget Committee(JBC) of the legislature was forced to cut upwards of $1.5 billion in state spending, the CDA was able to advocate for access to oral healthcare and has prevented more severe targeted cuts that could have jeopardized the viability of state-funded dental programs. Recap of Past …
Finding Freedom from Stress in Private Practice
From the 2026 Spring Journal of the Colorado Dental Association: Finding Freedom from Stress in Private Practice, By Eric Chatterley, D.D.S. Focus on What Gives You Energy, Not What Drains It If you’ve been feeling stressed, frustrated, overwhelmed or just “off” in your practice, you’re not alone. Many dentists quietly carry stress, believing it’s just part of the career. But …
Cut to the Chase
From the 2026 Spring Journal of the Colorado Dental Association: Cut to the Chase, By David Geck, D.D.S., M.S. We often ask someone to “Cut to the Chase,” a phrase that has its origins in the early film industry, where the “chase” was considered the most exciting part of the movie. In this article, the “chase” refers to the issues …
