Happy 250th Birthday U.S.A.
This Newsletter is an independent publication, and is not a product of the Central Oregon Dental Society, Oregon Dental Association or the American Dental Association. This Newsletter relies on the dental community, its readers and Editor for its content and aims to relay announcements, information and dialogue relevant to the Central Oregon Dental Community.
- This issue of the Central Oregon Dental News is brought to you through the generous support of:
- Assured Dental Lab
- BnK Construction
- O’Brien Dental Lab
- Unbreakable Bonds Dental Lab
CONTENTS OF NEWSLETTER:
- Upcoming Central Oregon Meetings & Events
- Central Oregon Dental News
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Seeking Employment
- Classified Ads
- Regional CE Calendar
- More Info.
- Editorials / Commentary
- Dear Dr. Rupert
UPCOMING MEETINGS, EVENTS or C.E.
July 23, 2026 CE Course: Advanced Hand Instrumentation Workshop
Advanced Hand Instrumentation Workshop
Hands-on training. Real clinical skill building.
Join us for an interactive workshop focused on advanced periodontal hand scaling techniques. This course is designed to elevate your instrumentation skills with practical guidance, live coaching, and hands-on practice.
Participants will receive a set of 7 Hu-Friedy scalers and files to keep (a $350 value), making this an excellent opportunity to refine your technique with high-quality instruments you can use in your daily practice.
What You’ll Learn
- Advanced periodontal hand scaling techniques
- Improved adaptation, angulation, and stroke efficiency
- Strategies for accessing challenging root anatomy
- Clinical tips to enhance effectiveness and reduce clinician fatigue
Event Details
Date: July 23, 2026
Time: 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Location: Breathe Deep Dental
61583 SE 27th St, Suite 170
Bend, OR 97702
CE Credit: 2 CEUs
Registration:
- Early Bird: $225 (register by May 23)
- Regular: $250
- Space is limited. Must register by June 23rd to ensure supplies are ordered.
To RSVP:
Email stairwaytoperio@gmail.com with “July 23 CE” in the subject line to reserve your spot.
Instructors
- Kindra Hogan, RDH
- Janell Hall, BS, RDH
- Cassandra Beck, BS, RDH
With a combined 70+ years of clinical experience in both general and periodontal practice settings, your instructors are excited to help you refine your hand skills and build confidence in advanced instrumentation.
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July 23 (Thurs.) – Bend Prosthodontics Event: Get Your Rodeo On
Dress in your favorite Cowboy / Cowgirl gear
Line Dancing
Dinner and Drinks
Mechanical Bull
5:00 pm
695 NW York Dr suite 200, Bend, OR 97703
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July 31 – August 1, 2026 Equity Dental Conference and Continuing Education
August 6, 2026 Retirement Celebration for Dr. Mehdi Salari
August 29, 2026 CE Course: Serving Vulnerable Populations: Effective EPDH Models
You’re Invited – Continuing Education Course
Serving Vulnerable Populations: Effective EPDH Models
Date: Saturday August 29, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: The New Central Library, Bend, OR
Cost: $15 ($10 Early Bird register by July 29)
CE Credit: 2 CEUs
Course Objectives
- Changing the face of preventive oral health for vulnerable populations
- Understanding the impact of oral care on systemic health in medically fragile patients
- Implementing effective solutions to behavioral challenges in care delivery
Featured Speaker
Laine Aus Neal, BS, RDHEP
Laine Aus Neal brings over 18 years of experience in dental hygiene, with a focus on expanding access to care for underserved and medically complex populations. After earning her BS in Interdisciplinary Studies from Cascade College and graduating from Mt. Hood Community College’s dental hygiene program in 2008, she spent 14 years in private practice before transitioning into expanded practice dental hygiene.
Today, Laine provides care in assisted living and community-based settings, reaching patients who are unable to access traditional dental offices. Through her work with programs such as Oral Health for Life, Exceptional Needs Dental Services, and Prime Mobile Dental, she has built a flexible model that allows her to set her own schedule while delivering essential care to vulnerable populations. This transition has also allowed her to create a sustainable and financially rewarding career beyond the traditional private practice setting.
Reserve Your Spot
RSVP: Email stairwaytoperio@gmail.com to with the subject line August 29th CE to register.
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September 9, 2026 CE Course: Cultural Competency CE Night at Worthy Brewing!
You’re Invited: Cultural Competency CE Night at Worthy Brewing!
Let’s make a mandatory CE more fun! Join us for an evening of learning, connection, and conversation — over a beer.
Date: September 9, 2026
Time: 6:30–8:30 PM
Location: Worthy Brewing, Bend, OR
Ticket Includes: One drink token
CE Credit: 2 hour – Cultural Competency (meets Oregon licensure requirement)
Featured Speaker: Lindsay Luttrell
Lindsay is a passionate educator turned compliance expert who makes complex topics accessible and engaging. After 20 years in the classroom, she found her calling in healthcare compliance — and brings a people-first, relatable approach to a topic most of us dread. As part of Healthcare Compliance Associates, she delivers content that’s impactful, relevant, and actually fun to learn.
Course Objectives:
- Define key cultural competency concepts relevant to dental care
- Recognize how cultural beliefs impact oral health behaviors and treatment decisions
- Identify and reflect on personal biases that may affect patient interactions
- Communicate more effectively across cultural and language barriers
- Apply culturally responsive strategies during exams, treatment planning, and patient education
- Use interpreters and translated materials appropriately
- Foster an inclusive and respectful practice environment
- Commit to ongoing growth in cultural competency to better serve your community
Ticket Info:
$50 – Includes 1 drink – Limited seats available!
RSVP to Register: Email stairwaytoperio@gmail.com with your name and “Sept 9 CE” in the subject line.
September 24, 2026 (Thurs.) Central Oregon Dental Society Meeting
6:00 pm – Social Hour
7:00 pm – Dinner and Meeting / CE
CE: TBD
Speaker: TBD
Location: Currents Restaurant at the Riverhouse
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October 2-3, 2026 (Fri. & Sat.) ODA Regional Event & Annual Business Meeting
Join us for family-friendly social activities, continuing education from leading experts, and relationship building with industry suppliers and our hybrid Annual Business Meeting. Registration opens in July. Be sure to check www.oregondental.org for all updates.
December 3, 2026 (Thurs.) Central Oregon Dental Society Meeting
6:00 pm – Social Hour
7:00 pm – Dinner and Meeting / CE
CE: TBD
Speaker: TBD
Location: Currents Restaurant at the Riverhouse
April 29 – May 1, 2027 Oregon Dental Conference
Plan to join us in Portland for another 3-day conference filled with education, connection, and growth at the Oregon Convention Center in downtown Portland. We look forward to bringing the community together once again and will be sharing more details in the months ahead. In the meantime, we encourage you to save the dates on your calendar.
CENTRAL OREGON DENTAL NEWS
COCC Dental Assisting Clinic Dates and Volunteer Opportunities
A HUGE thank you to all of our volunteer dentists for your time, care, and support throughout this year’s COCC Dental Clinics. Your generosity impacts our students, patients and community, and we truly appreciate all you do. We could not do it without your support!
Volunteer dates for next year’s clinics are now available at the link below. This year, we are using a Google Sheet where volunteers can sign themselves up directly. Please be sure to include your name and email address when signing up. If you prefer, you are also welcome to email me and I would be happy to sign you up.
Here’s the Google Sheet link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14RNBLJaH5bWhPkYzOo1cj0cr1ik7fL_lI29JelTdgLw/edit?gid=0#gid=0
We would love to have you join us again!
Jenna Johnson
Central Oregon Community College
541.383.7574
jjohnson47@cocc.edu
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THANK YOU From the COCC Dental Assisting Program
The COCC Dental Assisting Program and Students would like to thank the following individuals for volunteering in the dental clinic this past year:
Dr. Julie Lezotte
Dr. Tom Spoonster
Dr. Jared Anderson
Dr. Hallie McNaughton
Dr. Brandon Turley
Dr. Jay Gronemyer
Dr. Tony Ramos
Dr. Phillippe Freeman
Dr. Jeff Timm
Dr. Tad Hodgert
Dr. Mehdi Salari
Dr. Macy Huettl
Dr. Eric Alston
Dr. Jade Cherrington
Dr. Ben De Graff
Dr. Amberena Fairlee
Denali Tester, RDH
Juanita Simpson, RDH
Taylor Lee, RDH
Summer Fleming, RDH
Amber Kirkendall, RDH
Pema Sherpa, RDH
Marisa Navarre, RDH
Kymme Mackelvie, RDH
We would also like to thank the following doctors and offices for allowing our students to rotate through their office and attain their practicum hours and experience:
Bend Family Dentistry
Timm Family Dentistry
Deschutes Pediatric Dentistry
Bluebird Oral Surgery
Bluefish Dental & Orthodontics
Turley Dental
Aspen Dental
Redmond Dental Group
Stillwater Dental
Cascade Endodontics
Deschutes Endodontics
Dental Artistry
Mill Point Dental
Rimrock Dental of Redmond
Oak Street Dental
Shevlin Dental Center
The Brace Place
Peak Dental
Sullivan Orthodontics
Alpenglow Dental
Struble Orthodontics
Bend Dental Group
East Bend Dental
Pediatric Dental Associates
Please Take 5 min. to Fill out an Oregon Board of Dentistry Survey on Dental Assistants
Subject: Oregon Board of Dentistry – Dental Assisting Survey
June 26, 2026
The Oregon Board of Dentistry is conducting a survey of dental assisting practice in Oregon. Your participation is greatly appreciated in helping us develop an accurate picture of the profession, including practice settings, job duties, wages, and workforce trends. The information gathered will help the Board better understand the needs of Oregon’s dental assisting workforce and inform future decisions related to workforce shortages, education, certification, and other issues affecting the profession.
All responses are confidential and will be combined with those of other participants for analysis. Individual responses will not be identified or reported.
Please forward to dental assistants who work in your office to complete. The survey will take approximately 5-10 minutes.
Click to begin SURVEY.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact information@obd.oregon.gov
Cascade Endodontic Group News
“It falls under the dentist’s license”: A risky myth for the entire dental team
The article below was submitted by Lynn Murray, Professor Emeritus of Dental Assisting at COCC and a member of the Executive Board of the Oregon Dental Assistants Association and the Dental Assistant Workforce Shortage Advisory Committee (DAWSAC) with the Oregon Board of Dentistry. The article is from Dentistry IQ and is an excellent reminder and worth sharing with the entire staff at an upcoming Staff Meeting.
“It falls under the dentist’s license” is a common—but dangerous—misconception in dental practices. Bethany Montoya, MBA, RDH, explains how shared accountability, scope of practice, and team culture impact compliance, risk, and patient care.
Key Highlights — May 6, 2026
- “It falls under the dentist’s license” is a risky myth—accountability in dentistry is shared, not transferred across the team.
- Regulatory boards assess each role individually, meaning dentists, hygienists, and assistants are all responsible for staying within their legal scope.
- Practice culture matters — clear communication, ethical standards, and empowered team members help prevent small shortcuts from becoming major compliance risks.
It’s a phrase that circulates in dental practices more often than many would like to admit: “Don’t worry—it falls under the dentist’s license.” It may be said to reassure a hesitant team member or to move a schedule along, but the message behind it is deeply flawed. More importantly, it creates risk not just for one role, but for everyone involved in patient care.
Modern dentistry is a team-based profession. Dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants each play distinct roles, governed by defined scopes of practice and ethical obligations. While the dentist holds primary responsibility for diagnosis and overall treatment planning, that does not mean accountability is centralized under one license. In reality, responsibility is distributed across the team; so is liability.
How regulatory agencies fit in
Regulatory agencies, such as one’s state board of dental examiners, exist to protect patients, not practices. These boards evaluate the actions of individual licensees and, in many cases, the conduct of dental assistants as well, depending on state requirements and credentialing. When a complaint is filed or an audit occurs, each person’s role is examined independently. The question is not simply, “What did the dentist authorize?” but also, “What did each team member do, and was it within their legal and ethical boundaries?” This distinction matters more than many realize.
“But I was told to do it”
Supervision is often misunderstood as a transfer of responsibility. It is not. While dentists supervise certain procedures and delegate tasks, delegation does not absolve the person performing the task from accountability. A hygienist who provides care outside their scope, an assistant who performs a duty they are not authorized to complete, or a team member who knowingly participates in inaccurate documentation all carry their own level of responsibility.
In other words, “I was told to do it” is not a reliable safeguard for anyone on the team. Consider some common pressure points in clinical practice: rushing through procedures to maintain production, adjusting documentation to support billing, or performing duties that stretch or exceed legal scope. These situations rarely feel dramatic in the moment. They are often framed as small accommodations for efficiency or patient satisfaction. But over time, these small compromises can accumulate into significant compliance risks. And when those risks surface, accountability doesn’t stop at the top.
Practice culture plays a part
Beyond legal exposure, this issue reflects something deeper about practice culture. When concerns are dismissed with statements like “it falls under the dentist’s license,” it signals that efficiency or revenue may be taking precedence over ethics and patient care. That dynamic can silence team members, discourage critical thinking, and create an environment where questionable practices become normalized.
Healthy dental teams operate differently. They foster open communication, respect professional boundaries, and encourage questions—especially when something feels unclear or uncomfortable. A strong culture does not view hesitation as resistance; it recognizes it as a sign of professional judgment. That moment when a team member pauses and thinks, “Is this appropriate?” is not an obstacle. It is a built-in safeguard that protects patients, licenses, and the integrity of the practice.
Clarity and shared responsibility
So how can dental teams move away from this outdated and risky mindset? It starts with clarity and shared accountability. Dentists should ensure that delegation aligns with state laws and that expectations are clearly communicated. Hygienists and assistants should remain familiar with their scope of practice and feel empowered to speak up when something doesn’t align. Practice leaders should create systems that prioritize accurate documentation, ethical billing, and realistic scheduling.
When uncertainty arises, the best response is not reassurance without substance—it is verification. Consulting state regulations, seeking clarification, and documenting appropriately are all signs of a compliant and conscientious team. Perhaps most importantly, there must be a collective understanding that ethics are not negotiable. They are not flexible based on production goals, time constraints, or convenience.
The phrase “it falls under the dentist’s license” persists because it simplifies a complex system. But simplicity, in this case, comes at a cost. It obscures individual responsibility, minimizes risk awareness, and places every member of the dental team in a vulnerable position. A more accurate and far more constructive perspective is this: Accountability in dentistry is shared, but it is never transferred. And that’s exactly what makes trust, communication, and ethical consistency so essential in today’s dental practice.
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Update on the COCC Dental Hygiene Program
The COCC Board of Directors have approved a Dental Hygiene Program at the college. At this time, the main thing holding up the program is the finding of a Program Director. Hopefully, once the Faculty negotiations are completed at COCC, the search for a Program Director can resume.
The Program Director would need to build a curriculum, which may likely take up to another two years before the initial class of 15 students would be welcomed into the program. The Program Director would need to have a Dental or Dental Hygiene License. If you are interested or know anyone who might be a good candidate, please reach out to
News From the ODA, ADA & OBD
- ODA Secures Major Legislative Win: HB 4040 Passes: After years of persistent advocacy by ODA members alongside the Association’s Government Relations team, the Oregon Legislature has passed HB 4040, advancing all three of ODA’s proposed dental insurance reforms. The bill now heads to the Governor for signature. This achievement is a direct result of member engagement. The three legislative concepts originated from ODA dentists and were brought forward to the Regulatory Advisory Council by Dr. Kim Wright, Dr. Scott Hansen, and Dr. Denise Gates demonstrating how member voices shape ODA’s advocacy priorities.
- Member advocacy was also front and center at ODA Lobby Day, where dentists and dental students met directly with legislators to share how these reforms would impact practices and patients across Oregon. Special thanks to Dr. Amberena Fairlee, Dr. Michael Naughton, Dr. Kent Burnett, Dr. Elizabeth Tomczyk, Dr. Ron Sakaguchi, Dr. Jeff Kobernik, Dr. Olesya Salathe, and Dr. Stacy Geisler for lending their voices at the Capitol, along with dental students Maryam Shuaib, Finn Peck, Gabrielle Hanna Choquette, and Diyar Dizray.
- Behind the scenes, the ODA Government Relations team—Brett Hamilton, George Okulitch, Sabrina Riggs, and Jennifer Sitton—worked tirelessly to move this legislation forward.
- Key provisions of HB 4040 include:
- Assignment of Benefits: Insurers must honor a patient’s request to pay their dentist directly.
- Prompt Pay: Insurers must pay or deny clean claims within 45 days.
- Retroactive Denial Reform: Limits insurers to 18 months to retroactively audit or deny claims.
- This legislation represents a meaningful step toward fairer insurance practices and improved access to care for Oregon patients. Most importantly, it is proof that when ODA members engage, advocacy works.
- Two Dentist Board Member Positions Open: There are two Dentist Board member positions open to join the Oregon Board of Dentistry. More information and the application can be found on the Board/Staff openings page on our website. Please email Haley.Robinson@obd.oregon.gov if you have questions about the Board member application or other details about serving on the Board.
- Let Your Voice Be Heard: The Board of Dentistry is developing its 2026–2029 Strategic Plan and is seeking input from the dental community. Their strategic planning survey is now live, offering you an important opportunity to share what you believe should be prioritized over the next three years—whether it’s workforce shortages and access to care, professional development and burnout, and/or emerging technologies like AI in dental practice.
- Your feedback will help shape the future of dentistry in Oregon. The survey is open through the end of February—we encourage all members to take a moment to participate.
- Association Healthcare Plan Available for 2026: Providing healthcare as a small business can be tough. That’s why the Oregon Dental Association has partnered with Associated Industries Trust (AIT) to provide members with access to affordable, comprehensive coverage, leveraging the buying power of the association! With AIT + Moda, you get better rates and stability, so you can focus on running and growing your business. Open year-round enrollment for all ODA members. Visit the website to get started.
CENTRAL OREGON DENTAL SOCIETY OFFICERS
Please feel free to reach out to any of the Central Oregon Dental Society Officers, if you want to get more involved with organized dentistry, if you have ideas or suggestions for upcoming speakers or courses, or any other dental related issues on your mind.
- CODS President: Dr. Emily Bradshaw
- CODS Vice President: Dr. Jessica Henderson
- CODS Secretary/Treasurer: Dr. Jacqueline Gambee
- CODS Continuing Education Chair: Dr. Michael Reynolds
- CODS Ambassador: Dr. Joselene Piedra & Dr. Bradley Field
- ODA Trustee: Dr. Shannon Woods
- ODA President: Dr. Amberena Fairlee
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
- Please go to the ‘VOLUNTEER’ page on the menu bar for contact and additional information about the following Central Oregon organizations seeking dental volunteers:
- Central Oregon Community College Friday Clinic
- Central Oregon Community College Dental Assisting Program
- Volunteers in Medicine
- Medical Teams International Mobile Dental Van
- Donated Dental Services (DDS) Program
- Healthy Beginnings
- Smile Central Oregon
SEEKING EMPLOYMENT
Dentist Available for Part-Time or Fill-In Work
Retired Central Oregon Dentist available for either part time or fill in / locum tenens work on an as needed basis. Please reach out to Dr. Tom Rheuben at trheuben@gmail.com. if needing some help.
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CLASSIFIED ADS
South Central Oregon Endodontic Practice
Well established endo practice with 2 equipped and 4 plumbed operatories situated in a nice strip mall with plentiful parking. The office is located in the beautiful city of Klamath Falls with abundant sunshine and outdoor recreation. Seller is retiring and willing to help with a short term transition. Collections in 2023 were 550k with low expenses. Tons of potential. Klamath Falls has a dental trade area of 70,000 with only 2 endodontists. Contact Adam at 541.520.5507 or adam@mydentalbroker.com.
FOR SALE- Two Schick Intraoral Sensor Starter Kits (size 1 and size 2):
Brand new and unopened (purchased in 2024) Dentsply Sirona Schick 33 Intraoral Sensors with updated 3.0 USB interface. Schick has had a recent price increase for these same sensors, but selling for the original purchase price:
Schick 33 Size 2 Sensor Starter Kit 3.0 USB with 6ft cable : $6919
Schick Size 1 Sensor Starter Kit 3.0 USB with 6ft cable: $6679
If you are interested, please contact Brad Field at dr.field@littlebendsmiles.com.
FOR SALE DEXIS CBCT OP 3D 9×14.
Purchased at the end of 2020, this cbct/pano works great, I’m just looking to upgrade for a larger field of view. Great for a general practice for implants, endo, pano, bitewings pano etc. Henry Schein is currently selling a smaller field of view (9×11) refurbished model model for $47K, asking $28K for the larger field of view. You must set up the move. Feel free to come take a look at it, you can contact me at drmiller@stillwaterdentalbend.com.
Dental Equipment for Sale
I have some dental equipment that I would like to sell:
- Planmeca ProMax digital pano with ceph arm – upgradable to 3D
- Ramvac DentalEZ air compressor
- Ramvac Bulldog QT vacuum pump
- Ramvac OWL controller
- The steel rack to stack the compressor and vacuum pump in the mechanical room
- Porter nitrous equipment – all the equipment from the nitrous closet for the central nitrous setup, and the controls from the hallway, valves for the chairs, etc.
All of this equipment was purchased new by me in 2010, and it all still works fine – it was just too small for my new office, and I went with a new CBCT for the new office rather than upgrading the ProMax. Please contact Eric Cadwell at eric@purecaredental.com and make me an offer on anything you are interested in.
REGIONAL CE CALENDAR
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MORE INFO
Searching for a Dental Hygienist?
You might want to email the High Desert Dental Hygienists’ Association (CODHAinfo@gmail.com) and tell them about your need. They are very helpful and have a great database of Central Oregon Dental Hygienists and may email information about your opening to their members.
Announcements, Articles or Classifieds for the Newsletter
Article submissions for the Central Oregon Dental Community are encouraged and welcomed. You can email your content to Dr. Mehdi Salari (bendsalari@gmail.com). The deadline to contribute articles or request the posting of information in the Newsletter is 5:00 pm PST on the second to last day of each month. The Newsletter is typically sent out on the first or second day of each month.
Advertising or Content for Future Newsletters
Please contact Dr. Mehdi Salari (bendsalari@gmail.com) if you would like to post a classified or advertisement in future issues of the Central Oregon Dental Newsletter. The Central Oregon Dental Newsletter is available & sent to all practicing and retired Dentists, Specialists in Bend, Redmond, Prineville, Madras, Sisters, La Pine, Sunriver, Warm Springs & Powell Butte & Mitchell. The deadline to update or post an advertisement in the Newsletter is 5:00 pm PST on the second to last day of the each month.
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Everything above the Red Line is put together as a service to the Central Oregon Dental Community and is the nonpartisan news and events of this Newsletter.
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The Red Line
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The Red Line
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Everything below the Red Line is either for entertainment purposes or to stimulate conversation or debate. It’s personal, opinion based, has a conservative slant and is not meant to offend or upset … only to stimulate discussion or entertainment. READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
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COMMENTARY
DISCLAIMER / WARNING: The opinions or comments expressed are NOT those of the Central Oregon Dental Society, Oregon Dental Association, American Dental Association or any of the Advertisers or Business Partners. Editorials or commentaries are OPINIONS ONLY and are simply meant to encourage discussion or dialogue. Readers are welcome and encouraged to contribute editorials or comments for possible inclusion in future issues.
Please Consider Contributing an Editorial or Column For Future Newsletters
This Newsletter is a forum for the Central Oregon Dental Community to stay in touch and connected and a place to have your voice heard. Your opinion columns, thoughts and feedback are encouraged and welcome.
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COMMENTARY has its own page.
Commentary content can be found at:
https://codentalnews.com/commentary/
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Dear Dr. Rupert
Dear Dr. Rupert’s monthly practice management advice column has its own page .
Dear Dr. Rupert can be found at:
https://codentalnews.com/dear-dr-rupert/
or by clicking the DEAR DR. RUPERT tab on the Home Page Menu bar