Washington State Dental Association

The Washington State Dental Association (WSDA) is the voice of dentistry in Washington. With more than 4,000 member dentists, WSDA describes itself as the leader in advocacy and support for dentists pursuing excellence in Washington State.

2025 legislative result: dental benefits reform

• SSB 5351, effective July 27, 2025 — "Ensuring patient choice and access to care by prohibiting unfair and deceptive dental insurance practices." The law, backed by WSDA, added new sections to chapter 48.43 RCW that bar dental-only insurance plans from denying coverage for procedures performed on the same day (subject to fraud-prevention and clinical-appropriateness exceptions) and allow dental providers to receive insurer reimbursements by credit card only if the insurer discloses any associated fees and offers a fee-free payment alternative. A mediation process legislatively mandated by the bill concluded in mid-2026 and is informing WSDA's continued dental-benefits advocacy.

Advocacy and member resources

• Legislative advocacy — WSDA advocates for dentist-led practices and dental benefit reform in Olympia, including its annual Dental Action Day, and supports DentPAC, its political action committee.
• Doctor-Patient Mediation — WSDA offers mediation to help resolve patient concerns, available as an alternative or complement to filing a formal complaint with the state.
• ComplyBetter — WSDA's online, on-demand compliance platform covering HIPAA, OSHA/WISHA, and infection control requirements, available to WSDA members.
• WSDA News magazine — WSDA's member publication covering advocacy, policy, and professional news for Washington dentists.

Pacific Northwest Dental Conference (PNDC)

WSDA's annual continuing education conference, the Pacific Northwest Dental Conference (PNDC), is Washington's largest dental conference. PNDC 2027 is scheduled for April 1–3 in Seattle, with a New & Emerging Speaker Series open to WSDA members.

Dental education in Washington

Washington recently expanded its dental education landscape: the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences School of Dental Medicine in Yakima opened in fall 2025, becoming Washington's second dental school alongside the University of Washington School of Dentistry.

More information is available at wsda.org, or by phone at (206) 448-1914 (toll-free (800) 448-3368).