Dental Team Summit in Anaheim

A full-day event for you and your team to shape your practice and accelerate productivity.

Event details

Location: Anaheim, CA during CDA Presents
Date: Friday, May 16, 2025
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (registration opens at 7:30 a.m.)
Format: Full-day, interactive event
C.E.: Up to 5 C.E. units per licensed attendee
Cost: $199 person plus applicable CDA Presents registration fees for non-members

Featured Speakers & Industry Experts

Jenell Bell

Associate Analyst, CDA

Brian DesRoches, MBA, PH.D, LMFT

Growth into Greatness Institute

Greer

Lisa Greer

Dental Benefits Analyst, CDA

Miguel Mariona

Associate Analyst, CDA

Dr. Max Martinez, DDS

CDA President

Nelson

Matthew Nelson

Practice Management Analyst, CDA

Teresa Pichay

Sr. Regulatory Compliance Analyst, CDA

Ashley Reich

Ashley Reich, RDA

Workforce Development Program Specialist, CDA

Schedule & Sessions

Take a peek at the summit agenda, activities and breakouts.

Kick off the day on a positive note and set the stage for a productive summit! The welcome session at our all-day dental team event is the perfect start to a day of interactive learning. Join a fun morning that includes registration time, breakfast, and an overview of the days’ activities for all participants.  Plus, hear an energizing keynote to set the tone for the day s learning. Settle in, connect with colleagues and get ready for a day of role-specific breakout sessions.

 

Speaker: Brian Des Roches

Description:
In the demanding world of dentistry, personal development and patient care are deeply interconnected. This transformative session explores how self-improvement and mental wellness directly translate to enhanced professional performance and patient experiences. We’ll uncover the powerful link between individual growth, professional satisfaction and exceptional dental care.

Participants will discover how cultivating a mindset of continuous learning and personal development can:

  • Elevate clinical skills
  • Improve patient interactions
  • Boost professional confidence
  • Create a more meaningful and impactful dental practice

Learning Outcomes:

  1. Identify and cultivate personal inspirations that drive excellence in patient care.
  2. Develop strategies to transform small, positive actions into significant improvements in patient outcomes and experience.
  3. Implement an aspirational mindset in daily practice to enhance team collaboration and patient engagement.

CE: CORE

Dentistry 101: A Comprehensive Guide to Working in a Dental Practice
Speakers: Matt Nelson, Ashley Reich

Description:
This session provides a comprehensive overview for newcomers to the dental field. Participants will explore motivations for entering dentistry, various roles within a practice and the importance of team dynamics. The session covers typical dental procedures, specialties and patient records management. Through interactive activities and discussions, attendees will gain insights into patient care, customer service and the structure of organized dentistry. This course offers a solid foundation for understanding the diverse aspects of a dental practice and the critical role each team member plays in patient care and practice success.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Identify key roles and responsibilities within a dental practice.</li<
  • Understand the importance of patient care and team dynamics.
  • Learn common dental terms, procedures and the importance of keeping accurate patient records.

CE: 20%

Connect and Collaborate with Patients Using Transformational Listening
Speaker: Brian Des Roches

Description:
Listening to patients is essential for them to feel their oral care and dental health is important to you. But how can you listen in a way that they also feel connected to your message and open to collaborating with you to create a healthy dental future? This requires an innovative approach called transformational listening.

Transformational listening creates the experience in which speaker and listener share a sense of connection and collaboration to create a shared outcome. It begins with recognizing what impedes this and then implementing the four skills associated with this innovative approach.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Describe seven primary active listening skills, the five hindrances to their effectiveness and how to overcome them.
  • Learn how transformational listening can help you connect and collaborate with patients in creating a healthy dental future for them.
  • Describe and apply the four basic skills of transformational listening.

CE: CORE

Taming the Beast that is HIPAA Documentation
Speakers: Teresa Pichay, Jenell Bell

Description:
Discover the critical importance of HIPAA documentation in this interactive session. Learn why proper documentation is essential for proving compliance and protecting your practice. Go beyond the basics and dive into the heart of HIPAA requirements. Initiate a risk analysis, the most requested document by HIPAA investigators, and identify key elements for your policies and procedures. Through hands-on exercises, you’ll make significant progress in creating comprehensive HIPAA documentation tailored to your dental practice. Leave with practical tools to enhance your compliance efforts and confidently face potential audits.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Understand HIPAA documentation requirements and their importance in compliance.
  • Conduct a risk analysis to identify potential vulnerabilities in patient information handling.
  • Develop essential policies and procedures for effective HIPAA compliance in your practice.

CE: CORE

Make meaningful connections and enjoy ad hoc learning! At our dynamic lunchtime session, engage with expert speakers and sponsors, network and gather new insights. (Participation is optional; hourly employees are encouraged to use their half-hour break.)

Exploring Dental Plans: Strategies for Success and Enhanced Patient Experience
Speakers: Lisa Greer, Miguel Mariona

Description:
Dive into the world of dental billing in this interactive session. Learn to navigate dental plans, verify eligibility and code accurately to ensure patients receive coverage for treatment. Understand common claims issues and develop strategies for successful appeals. Improve practice efficiency and gain the confidence to guide patients through dental plan complexities, ultimately supporting their oral health needs.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Understand various dental plan types and their impact on billing practices and patient care.
  • Identify common claim pitfalls and develop effective appeal strategies.
  • Develop skills to prepare and submit successful appeals for denied claims.

CE: 20%

Mastering the Art of Dental Patient Communication: 6 Essential Skills
Speaker: Brian Des Roches

Description:
Effective communication is the cornerstone of successful dental practice, enabling you to engage, inform and guide patients towards optimal oral health decisions. This course unveils six critical skill sets that will transform your patient interactions, helping you capture attention, build trust and influence positive outcomes. Learn how to create meaningful connections that empower patients to make informed choices about their dental health.

This interactive course will equip you with practical strategies to optimize communication, ultimately leading to improved patient satisfaction and better oral health outcomes.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Identify and prioritize the six key skill sets for impactful patient communication.
  • Apply the triad of effective communication to enhance patient engagement, learning, and decision-making.
  • Master the art of asking curious questions to demonstrate genuine interest and foster patient-centered care.

CE: CORE

Streamline & Shine: Optimizing Inventory and Equipment Management
Speaker: Ashley Reich

Description:
This interactive session provides practical tools for you to streamline inventory and equipment management in your practice. Learn how to reduce costs and improve overall efficiency. Discover essential strategies to organize supplies effectively, implement best ordering practices and optimize budgeting. Explore OSHA requirements for equipment maintenance, understand the impact of proper care and develop actionable plans for assigning responsibilities.

Learning outcomes:

  • Execute effective inventory management strategies to reduce waste and streamline ordering.
  • Understand OSHA requirements for equipment maintenance to ensure compliance and safety.
  • Assign clear roles for inventory and equipment oversight to enhance team accountability and efficiency.

CE: 20%

Description:
End the day on a high note. Come together to review and share your learning from the day and discuss action plans with your team. Identify and apply best practices to enhance office procedures, productivity and, ultimately, patient care. Our lineup of speakers and experts will be on-hand to answer questions and provide guidance during this quick brainstorming session. Don’t miss this opportunity to collaborate with your colleagues and take your practice to the next level!

CE: N/A

Travel & Planning FAQ

Visit the CDA Presents Attendees page for more information about hotel options.

Bring your confirmation email (printed or mobile) for an easy check-in process. And be prepared to take notes in whatever way you choose.

Dress is business casual.

Visit the CDA Presents Attendees page for more information about parking.

Breakfast and lunch are included in the event registration fee. Look for the questions about any dietary restrictions in follow up emails after registration or email us.

Dental Team Summit registration tips:

Not yet registered for CDA Presents?
  1. First, save your spot at CDA’s convention in Anaheim.
  2. Sign in or set up your account and follow the prompts.
  3. When registering, look for the Dental Team Summit tab when selecting your courses for CDA Presents.
  4. Next, register for the Dental Team Summit.
  5. Follow the prompts to register each member of your team and choose your preferred breakout sessions.
  6. Once registered for both the convention and the summit, make your hotel and travel plans.
Already registered for CDA Presents and want to add the Summit? Log in to your CDA Presents dashboard through your confirmation email and then edit your courses. Go to the Dental Summit tab and select all elements to complete event registration. If you have questions, please email us.

Thank you to our event sponsors

CERP

CDA is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry.

CDA designates each activity for a specified number of C.E. units. These courses meet the Dental Board of California requirements for continuing education units.