The CDT Code: Why it Exists, How it’s Maintained, What’s Changed

Friday, December 6th at 12 PM CDT

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Course Description: Stay up-to-date with the latest changes in the CDT Code to enhance clinical documentation, streamline claim submissions, and ensure accurate reimbursements. This course provides an overview of the CDT 2025 updates, including new codes, revisions, and deletions, with a focus on how current and proper use of CDT codes impact dental practice. Learn the importance of consistent and accurate coding in maintaining compliance, facilitating patient communication, and improving clinical record-keeping.

Learning Goals:

1. Understand the purpose and structure of the CDT Code, including recent changes for 2025.
2. Apply updated CDT codes accurately in patient records and claims.
3. Recognize the importance of staying current with CDT changes for regulatory compliance and reimbursement.

Speaker: Afton Dunsmoor 

Afton Dunsmoor, BSDH, MS, is the Senior Manager of Dental Codes Maintenance and Development at the American Dental Association. In this role, she oversees the ongoing maintenance and technical development of the Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature (CDT). Afton also manages SNODENT and oversees development of dental-specific terminology mappings that integrate SNODENT, ICD-10-CM, and CDT codes to support comprehensive, interoperable clinical documentation. Her background includes thirteen years of clinical experience as a registered dental hygienist, as well as project management with the Health Care Systems Research Network (HCSRN). Afton holds a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in health informatics from the College of St. Scholastica.

The TDA is an ADA CERP provider (May 2024 – June 2028)

ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to ADA CERP at ada.org/cerp.

Securing Smiles: Cybersecurity Strategies for Dental Professionals

Friday, May 10 | 12-1:00 PM CDT | 1 CE Credit

In an era where digital security is paramount, your practice requires a robust strategy to protect sensitive data. This webinar will provide you with an in-depth understanding of cybersecurity, focusing on advanced tools and methodologies tailored for your practice's unique needs.

By the conclusion of this webinar, you will have a thorough understanding of how to leverage cutting-edge technology to enhance your practice's cybersecurity. These proactive and advanced strategies will help you safeguard your data, maintain your practice's reputation, and secure your financial future against the ever-increasing cyber threats.

Learning Objectives:

• Ransomware - Understand what it is and the impact it can have on your practice – regardless of if you are Cloud-based or have your own server(s).
  
• Cutting-Edge Security Techniques - Learn advanced methods for secure web browsing, email protection, and password practices, including the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based antivirus technology.
  
• Empowering Your Team - Discover the importance of equipping your entire team with the knowledge to identify and avoid potential security breaches.  Understand the critical differences between cybersecurity and IT services.
  
• Advanced Defense Strategies – Understand how to secure your practice against cyberattacks with technologies that go beyond conventional IT solutions.  Learn how to implement a 'trust but verify' approach by engaging third-party experts to conduct ongoing security analysis.
  
• Real-World Insights – Learn about practices that were impacted by ransomware, understand the limitations of traditional backups, and learn why a proactive defense is essential in today's digital landscape.
• Proactive Protection Measures - Understand strategies and best practices to prevent ransomware attacks, including the importance of third-party security evaluations to identify vulnerabilities.

Speaker: Gary Salman, CEO of Black Talon Security, LLC

Gary Salman is the CEO and co-founder of Black Talon Security and is dedicated to data security and understanding the latest trends in the industry—particularly as they relate to the dental industry. He has decades of experience in software development and computer IT, and he also developed one of the very first cloud-based healthcare systems.

He is a sought-after speaker and writer, having lectured nationally on cybersecurity threats and their impact on the healthcare industry. Gary has trained tens of thousands of practices across the U.S. on how to maintain "best practices" in cybersecurity and has been featured in some of the largest national publications and news stories in the dental, medical, legal, and financial industries. He is a member of the AAE Speakers' Bureau and has lectured for many organizations including AAO, AAOMS, AAE, AAPD, ADSO, OMSNIC, Dykema, and many more. 

The TDA is an ADA CERP provider (May 2024 – June 2028)

ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to ADA CERP at ada.org/cerp.

Dental Insurance Trends 2024

Friday, April 19 | 12-12:30 PM CDT | 0.5 CE Credits 

In surveys to dentists, dental insurance has been cited as one of the major problems faced by dental practices as almost 293 million people have some type of dental benefit plan. It is incumbent that dental offices are aware of trends in the dental benefits industry and how these trends may affect a typical dental practice. Participants will hear about major trends in the national dental benefits marketplace. Topics to be discussed include trends on enrollment, premiums, network participation, annual maximums and more. In addition, you will hear of recent ADA and TDA advocacy efforts and learn where to find valuable dental insurance resources and assistance.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will learn of the major trends in the national dental benefits marketplace which includes enrollment, premiums, network participation and plan annual maximums.
• Participants will be knowledgeable of available ADA resources and will learn how to receive one-on-one assistance from the ADA.

Speaker: Dennis McHugh

Dennis McHugh is the senior manager for third party payer issues for the American Dental Association and works in the Practice Institute’s Center for Dental Benefits, Coding and Quality (CDBCQ). CDBCQ is the ADA agency responsible for promoting resources and information on dental benefit plans to employers and member dentists. In addition, CDBCQ responds to requests and helps resolve dental insurance problems from member dentists and helps answer questions regarding the CDT Code. He has been with the ADA for 24 years and prior to that spent 7 years working for the American Association of Orthodontists. Dennis graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and an Associate of Applied Science in Computer Science.

The TDA is an ADA CERP provider (May 2024 – June 2028)

ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to ADA CERP at ada.org/cerp.

Friday, July 26 | 12-1:00 PM CDT | 1 CE Credit

Speaker: Larry Guzzardo

Larry began his 25-year career as a training specialist where he delivered in-house training programs such as active listening, customer service, stress management, and career development.  Since turning to full-time dental consulting years ago, he has focused his talents and experience exclusively on dental practice management, business systems, and leadership development.  He conducts in-office practice management consultations that are designed to enhance trust, create organization, increase profits, and develop patient relationships that last.  

Larry has co-authored two books, “Powerful Practice” and “Getting Things Done”. He has also presented numerous workshops including, “Winning Patient Acceptance,” “Business Communication Systems,” and “The Leadership Challenge.”

Larry has spoken to professionals across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and even Europe and the Middle East on Practice Management, having received the Speaker’s Appreciation Award from several organizations, including the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Florida National Dental Congress, California Dental Association, Chicago Dental Society-Midwinter Meeting and the National University of Mexico, as well as a Certificate of Appreciation from the Georgia Dental Association and has earned a Certificate of Recognition from the American Dental Association. The Hinman Dental Society has also presented Larry with Certificates of Appreciation for his table clinic and lectures.

He also serves as a member of the visiting faculty at the Dawson Academy where he teaches patient communication and practice management techniques. He is also the Head Instructor for the All-Star Dental Academy. Larry is certified to administer the DiSC Personality Profile and is certified as a Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) Consultant. He is a member and past secretary of the Academy of Dental Management Consultants and has contributed articles for various publications. Larry actively promotes adult literacy in the community by volunteering to serve on the Board of Directors for Project READ as chairman of the program development committee.

Maximizing Effective Collections in the Dental Office

Friday, August 16| 12-1:00 PM CDT | 1 CE Credit

This session will cover how to ensure the collection of patient accounts in an effective and compliant way. It also will address creating and enforcing a compliant and effective patient financial policy, current regulations governing collections, how to effectively communicate with patients when speaking about their account and what options are available for handling accounts that become past due.

Learning Objectives:

• Create a compliant and effective patient financial policy.
• Review current regulations on collections and how they affect patient communication.
• Demonstrate communication with patients regarding their financial obligation in a way that ensures maximum collections in the shortest amount of time.
• Cite the available options when an account becomes past due and the most effective ways to ensure accounts do not become uncollectible.

Speaker: David Wiener

The AI Dental Revolution: Today's Innovations, Tomorrow's Possibilities

Friday, September 13| 12-1:00 PM CDT | 1 CE Credit

This course is specifically designed for dentists who aim to stay at the forefront of technological advancements and harness the power of AI to enhance patient care and optimize dental practice operations. Discover how AI is revolutionizing dentistry, improving marketing, call conversion, diagnosis and case acceptance. Learn to operationalize these technologies in your dental office to maximize patient experience and practice efficiency.

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Learning Objectives:

• AI-Powered Marketing Strategies:
  Discover effective AI-powered marketing strategies tailored specifically for dental practices to enhance patient outreach and practice growth.
• Optimizing Call Conversion Rates:
  Learn how to leverage AI technologies to optimize call conversion rates and improve appointment scheduling processes.
• Enhancing Diagnostic Accuracy:
  Implement computer vision AI to enhance diagnostic accuracy, treatment planning, and case acceptance.

This course will empower dentists with the knowledge and tools to effectively integrate AI into their practices, ensuring they remain competitive and provide the highest quality of care to their patients

Speaker: Amol Nirgudkar