Shaping the Future of Dentistry: A Report from the CDA Workgroup

• By: SACDS Admin
• On: 10/05/2026 15:38:58
• In: SACDS

As your past president and a current member of the California Dental Association's Future of Dentistry Workgroup, I'm excited to share an update from our most recent meeting, held April 17th in Sacramento. This workgroup brings together CDA members from across the state to take an honest look at where our profession is headed — and more importantly, to help steer it in the right direction for practicing dentists and the patients we serve. It's a privilege to represent Southern Alameda County at the table, and I want to make sure our local community stays informed and engaged in this important process.
Our April session was particularly productive. We divided into breakout groups to dig deeply into three priority areas that the workgroup has identified as central to the profession's future. The first is the payment ecosystem — tackling the increasingly complex world of insurance reform and dental benefits, and advocating for systems that work for both dentists and patients rather than against them. The second is the care delivery system, where we had candid conversations about practice ownership preservation, and the growing influence of DSOs and private equity in dentistry — a topic I know resonates strongly with many of our members who are committed to independent practice. The third area is the clinical experience, with a focused look at artificial intelligence in diagnostics and how emerging technology can be thoughtfully integrated to enhance — not replace — the clinical judgment we've spent careers developing.
The energy in the room was encouraging. These are not easy conversations, but they are necessary ones, and it's clear that the CDA is committed to ensuring that the voice of the practicing dentist remains central to how the profession evolves. I look forward to continuing this work and bringing what we learn back to our society. If you have thoughts or concerns you'd like me to carry forward to the workgroup, please don't hesitate to reach out — your perspective matters in shaping these discussions.