By Molly Pereira, CDA Executive Director
I frequently see social media posts questioning the relevance of organized dentistry today.
- “Joining an association? That’s something my great grandpa did. It feels outdated.”
- “With the internet and social media, I can find anything I need and connect with anyone I want. Why pay for something that’s already available?”
- “I keep reading that organized dentistry advocates for the profession, but I still benefit even if I’m not a member, right?”
The answer to all three questions is, yes…but…
- Associations were formed as a way for people to join a community and thrive as a larger body. This is still true – associations are about organizing for a greater cause, for greater change. We’ve all seen examples this year showing the power of people united. Your great grandpa was on to something.
- The internet and social channels have more information than we need – but so much of the information is inaccurate. It’s easy to get trapped in an echo chamber or confused by conflicting sources. The CDA curates reliable, factual and relevant content. It creates information tailored to your practice, your patients and your future.
- Yes, the CDA advocates for both members and non-members; it is the leading voice for dentists in Colorado. If the majority of dentists aren’t engaged, policymakers will only hear those advocating from other trades, regulatory agencies, healthcare giants and well-funded interest groups. These groups don’t always have dentistry’s best interests in mind.
This year the CDA is fighting for you in the legislature’s full review of the Dental Practice Act – the laws that govern dentistry in Colorado. To prepare for this very important legislation (that only happens once every 10 years) we met with dentists over the last two plus years to better understand the changes dentists needed and the safeguards that needed to be protected. Our 36-page report to the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) contained 27 substantive changes to improve the quality of care in Colorado. Unfortunately, DORA accepted just four of our recommended changes and created a bill draft that contained THEIR recommendations for how dentistry should be regulated for the next 10 years. In February of this year, the CDA challenged DORA in the Senate and was successful in proposing an entirely new bill draft – the Senate Health and Human Services Committee unanimously accepted CDA’s version of the bill draft, which was introduced in March. As of April 17, 2025, our bill draft has passed the Colorado Senate and is headed to the Colorado House of Representatives, where we will continue to fight for our members.
But what if the CDA didn’t exist? What if DORA’s bill draft was used instead?
If the CDA didn’t exist to advocate on behalf of Colorado dentists, the DORA version of the Dental Practice Act would include:
- Foreign-trained dentists from any country potentially allowed to practice in Colorado without CODA-accredited training. It would be left up to the Colorado Dental Board to review each foreign dental education program, or to review foreign accrediting agencies themselves, to decide if they think it meets Colorado standards.
- Dental therapists singled out and prioritized above other dental professionals to practice in dental shortage areas of the state, which includes rural and frontier areas, as well as Federally Qualified Health Centers and rural health clinics.
- Dental therapists not required to take a clinical exam demonstrating their competency in dental hygiene but would still allow dental therapists to practice in the hygiene scope.
- Dental hygienists performing ITR not required to have a referral in place for follow-up care that is within a reasonable distance from where the patient is receiving ITR.
If the CDA didn’t exist to advocate for Colorado dentists, the following items would most likely NOT be included in the Sunset bill:
- Requirement that any dentist, hygienist or dental therapist receive CODA-accredited education in order to be licensed to practice in Colorado.
- Authorization by law that dentists can administer neuromodulators and dermal fillers.
- Authorization by law that dentists can administer certain immunizations.
- Reduction in the number of seats that dental therapists would have on the Colorado Dental Board in the future, in addition to a requisite that dental therapists only be represented on the board once a threshold number of dental therapists are licensed and actively engaged in clinical practice in Colorado (right now, there are none).
- Improved access to the peer health assistance program for dentists, allowing dentists to self-refer anonymously.
- Creation of an expedited process for anesthesia permitting for dentists who meet training and education requirements.
If the CDA didn’t exist, someone else would be influencing how you practice dentistry in Colorado.
As a CDA member, you are represented every day at the State Capitol by our Director of Government Relations Lauren Harvey and our lobbying team Emma Hudson and Dave DeNovellis.
So, the next time someone asks, “Do we need organized dentistry?” just imagine where we would be this year without the efforts of the CDA.
