What Is Advocacy Day?
Each year, CDA coordinates small-group advocacy days at the state Capitol. The goal of this event is to help members learn about the legislative process and to allow participants to have in-depth, interactive discussions with lawmakers about dentistry and oral health.
With over 27,000 members, CDA’s advocacy work ensures dentists have a “seat at the table” within the Legislature and throughout the state, keeping the profession and oral health at the forefront. CDA advocates tirelessly for California’s dentists, working at the state and federal levels for policies that will protect and maintain oral health, patient care and dental practices.
Santa Clara County Attendees
On April 7th, 2025, five (5) Santa Clara County Dental Society members — Dr. Monica Wu (President Elect), Dr. Kayhan Mashouf (Secretary), Dr. Bharathi Gorthi, Dr. Nishat Azeem, and Dr. Dhruva Gurjar — represented our membership.
During the visit, the group toured the Capitol, met with Assemblymember Marc Berman, Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens, and Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, and discussed important issues facing our members.
Key Legislative Issues Discussed
AB 371: Dental Insurance – Access & Accountability
CDA is sponsoring AB 371, authored by Asm. Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), to address the growing inadequacy of dental plan networks and the resulting barriers to care.
SB 386: Virtual Credit Card Payments
This bill addresses dental insurance companies’ use of third-party virtual credit card (VCC) payments, which can result in up to 10% in fees for dental practices.
AB 873: Dental Assistant Infection Control Training
This bill aims to reduce hiring delays by increasing access to infection control training, which is currently required in person before unlicensed dental assistants can begin working.
Medi-Cal Dental / Prop. 35 Implementation / Proposed Federal Cuts
The Medi-Cal Dental program is essential to Californians’ health. CDA and the Prop. 35 coalition are working to ensure proper implementation and protect against harmful federal cuts.
AB 350: Fluoride Varnish Coverage
This bill, co-sponsored by CDA, seeks to expand access to preventive fluoride varnish treatments in various care settings for children.
SB 351: Private Equity in Health Care
SB 351 strengthens California’s ban on the corporate practice of dentistry by addressing the influence of private equity and hedge funds on clinical decision-making.
Member Reflections
Dr. Dhruva Gurjar
“I had a nice first-time experience at CDA’s Advocacy Day. I would be interested in attending again next year as we had a lot of fun seeing the Capitol with the amazing company of doctors. We were briefed properly before seeing the assembly members.”
Dr. Monica Wu
“Lobbying at the Capitol on Advocacy Day is a fast-paced, high-impact experience—imagine stepping into a real-life episode of Shark Tank, but for policy change.
You walk into a legislator’s office with only a few minutes to make a meaningful impression. The goal? To help them understand, connect with, and ultimately care about the issue you’re presenting.
It’s not just about facts and numbers—it’s about telling a story that resonates deeply. You have to quickly build an emotional bridge between the reality of a dentist and the world of a lawmaker, showing why this bill matters now, and how their support can make a difference.
That means bringing our clinical perspectives into a conversation often dominated by budgets and political strategy. You become the expert in the room, translating complex oral health issues into real-life consequences for their constituents—or even themselves.
Legislators may not speak dental, but they do understand human struggle. By painting a clear image of individuals who can’t eat, work, or smile because they lack access to care, we hope they’ll be moved to care as well.
Advocacy Day is about transforming our dental expertise into a message that humanizes the policy—making it impossible to ignore.”
