SPRING, Texas – For Dr. Parthiv Mehta, dentistry is about more than treating patients. As he told 2 Helps You, it’s about giving back to the community he considers family. As the owner of Charm Dental, he is preparing for … Read More
The U.S. needs 12,715 dental practitioners to fill existing shortage areas, according to new data from the Health Resources and Services Administration. The HRSA updated its dashboard showcasing data on health professional shortages June 11. Five dental notes from the … Read More
According to data from the American Dental Association, first-year enrollment in dental hygiene programs has climbed 16% since 2020, and 2025 produced the highest number of dental hygiene graduates at nearly 8,000. More than 90% of dentists who have actively … Read More
Isabel Flores used to have nightmares about her teeth falling out when she was young. To this day, the 56-year-old Arizonian does her best to take care of her teeth to prevent that from happening. But her teeth are very … Read More
Parker Family Health Center, Brookdale Community College and the Monmouth County Board of Commissioners recently opened New Jersey’s first free dental clinic in Lincroft. The clinic provides free dental services to low-income and uninsured residents, including preventive care, cleanings, fillings, … Read More
The American Dental Association released a report showing that a pilot program increased dentist participation in Medicaid and expanded access to oral health care for beneficiaries, according to a June 16 news release from the ADA. As of 2024, about … Read More
State dental associations, including the New York State Dental Association (NYSDA), are raising concerns about Medicaid provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) that are on track to significantly reduce adult dental benefits. OBBA imposes new work requirements … Read More
BOSTON, MA – June 16, 2026 – A startling new report from the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health has put a number on a trend many have long suspected: nearly 9.6 million American adults have traveled outside the United States … Read More
A new ADA report demonstrates that collaboration among state dental associations, Medicaid agencies, managed care organizations, oral health coalitions and other stakeholders can help increase dentist participation in Medicaid and expand access to oral health care for beneficiaries. The report, … Read More
BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A new report from CareQuest Institute for Oral Health® reveals that roughly 4% of adults — nearly 9.6 million people — have pursued dental care abroad at some point, most often to access lower-cost treatment, highlighting affordability gaps and … Read More
DES MOINES, Iowa — Delta Dental of Iowa and DentaQuest will begin providing dental coverage for Iowa Medicaid members under a new contract. On Aug. 15, 2025, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services announced plans to award contracts … Read More
On May 13, Vice President Vance, the chair of the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, held a press conference. He announced the deferral of $1.3 billion in federal Medicaid matching payments owed to California, which received considerable attention. … Read More
Dive Insight: Medicaid waivers, called section 1115 demonstrations, allow states more flexibility to experiment with care delivery in the safety-net insurance program. Almost every state uses a demonstration waiver, while some states have multiple active waivers. The waivers have allowed … Read More
Although the majority of Americans care about their oral health, only 3% associate it with their overall well-being, according to a new study from P&G and the American Academy of Family Physicians. The two organizations surveyed more than 2,000 adults … Read More
cottsdale, Ariz.-based Imagen Dental Partners recently added a Texas dental practice to its network. The dental partnership organization affiliated with Cosmetic Smiles in Houston, according to a June 1 news release. The practice, which provides cosmetic, family and prosthetic dentistry, … Read More
The ADA is urging House lawmakers to pursue health care transparency policies that strengthen accountability for insurers and Medicare Advantage plans and improve the patient experience, while avoiding requirements that it says are ill-suited to dental practices. In a letter … Read More
The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine plans to open its third training center to boost the dental workforce and increase dental care accessibility, Penn Live reported June 9. The dental school is partnering with Hyndman Area Health Centers … Read More
A new Wisconsin rule would bar many dentists from telling patients, or even implying, that they specialize in certain fields. Why It Matters The rule tells dentists they cannot call themselves a “specialist” unless a private group in Chicago—the American … Read More
DentaQuest, an administrator of dental benefits, is actively managing a cybersecurity incident. A limited portion of the company’s network was accessed by an unauthorized party. DentaQuest’s systems remain fully operational, according to a June 1 notice from DentaQuest. DentaQuest is … Read More
The federal House Committee on Energy and Commerce voted to advance a bill that would reauthorize a dental workforce grant program. HR 2001 aims to expand education, training and recruitment efforts for the dental workforce, particularly in rural and underserved … Read More
Dentists filed class-action lawsuits against Delta Dental organizations in California, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Massachusetts on April 30, alleging anticompetitive conduct that suppressed reimbursement rates and limited competition in dental insurance markets. The state filings follow a September 2025 federal ruling … Read More
Federal investments in community-based residency training programs are helping drive a powerful response to the nation’s dental workforce shortages, creating new pathways to care in rural and underserved communities that need it most. Through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s … Read More
The number of uninsured young children in Texas has risen in recent years, according to a new report from Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families. Georgetown CCF, a prominent nonpartisan health policy research organization, used data from the 2024 … Read More
KILLEEN, Texas (KWTX) – Uninsured children in Killeen received free dental care as Topaz Dental & Braces opened its doors for its annual Sharing Smiles Day. Dr. Afiya Tamkeen volunteered her Sunday to help families who might otherwise go without … Read More
Sixty uninsured and underinsured adults from El Paso age 60 and older received free dental screenings and cleanings at the Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic during the annual WellMed Screen & Clean event, provided by dental students under the … Read More
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), the leading authority on children’s oral health, will celebrate the 2026 winners of its prestigious member recognition awards during the Academy’s Annual Meeting, AAPD 2026, in Las Vegas from May 22-24. The 2026 … Read More
The ADA Forsyth Institute ranked first in National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research funding to U.S. dental institutions in fiscal year 2025 after being awarded more than $11.8 million in grants. This is the first time since 2010 that … Read More
The ADA expressed support for federal legislation intended to strengthen oversight and enforcement of Medicare Advantage supplemental dental benefits. In a May 26 letter to the bill’s sponsor Rep. Troy Downing, R-Mont., the ADA endorsed the Protecting Authority and Restoring … Read More
There are currently nearly 5,000 oral and maxillofacial surgeons employed in the U.S., according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The agency updated its employment data May 15 to reflect 2025 information. Four statistics on the oral … Read More
So Texas Republicans have, by a huge margin, rejected Sen. John Cornyn, a hardline conservative whose great failing, from Donald Trump’s point of view, was that he occasionally took stands on principle. To replace him they chose the scandal-ridden, deeply … Read More
There are currently 387,790 dental assistants employed in the U.S., according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The agency updated its employment data May 15 to reflect 2025 information. Here are the number of dental assistants … Read More
Washington and California are among the highest-paying states for dental hygienists in 2026, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The agency updated its salary data May 15 to reflect 2025 information. Here are 10 states with … Read More
Oral health professionals across the Houston metropolitan area are increasingly recognizing the value of an integrated care model – one in which general dentists and periodontal specialists work hand-in-hand to deliver more comprehensive, effective outcomes for patients. At the forefront … Read More
When it comes to health benefits, more attention has always been given to medical, compared with dental and vision. And yet, there is a growing recognition that oral health is closely correlated with overall health, even though dental and vision … Read More
A new study published in JAMA Network Open projects that pediatric Medicaid coverage losses could lead to worsening oral health outcomes and higher health care costs, reinforcing longstanding concerns from organized dentistry about the consequences of disruptions in dental coverage … Read More
Here are six trends and statistics showcasing how private practice dentistry is evolving: 1. Increased competition from DSOs has led dentists to rethink their approach to private practice to optimize success, including taking advantage of opportunities to enhance patient care … Read More
Newswise — EL PASO, Texas — For Carolina Mendez, M.D., graduating from the Foster School of Medicine represents the fulfillment of a dream shaped by personal loss, and her commitment to serving the Borderplex. The El Paso native became the … Read More
A Plainview dentist was elected to the Texas Dental Association board of directors. Dr. Georgia Mitchell, who owns and practices dentistry at Plainview West Texas Dental Associates, was chosen to serve on the Texas Dental Association board of directors, a … Read More
The ADA is urging dentists to contact members of Congress in support of federal legislation aimed at closing what the Association describes as an “ERISA loophole” affecting dental insurance reform laws. In a May 19 Grassroots Alert sent to ADA … Read More
Increased competition from DSOs has led dentists to rethink their approach to private practice to optimize success, including taking advantage of opportunities to enhance patient care and reduce operational inefficiencies. Dentists are facing compounding challenges that have led some to … Read More
