WASHINGTON—In yet another plank in a “platform” they’re taking to the voters before the Nov. 3 election, House Democrats unveiled an 84-page agenda of health care improvements—with the addition of vision, hearing, and dental benefits for Medicare recipients. But it … Read More
The oral microbiome is tracking the arc gut and skin followed before it, moving from fringe science into a full consumer category. New research linking mouth bacteria to inflammation, cognition and longevity is colliding with prebiotic formulas and portable formats … Read More
The Missouri Dental Hygienists’ Association and a licensed dental hygienist have filed a lawsuit seeking to block a proposed Missouri Dental Board rule that would allow expanded-function dental assistants to perform supragingival scaling and comprehensive periodontal charting. The petition, filed … Read More
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers about the risks of using unauthorized clear dental aligners sold directly to them without the supervision of a dentist or orthodontist. In newly published information for patients, the FDA said clear … Read More
The American Dental Association is urging the Senate Finance Committee to ensure dental benefits are included in potential health insurance reforms, including proposals addressing self-funded dental plans, greater oversight for third-party administrators, prior authorization and benefit transparency. The ADA submitted … Read More
For many years, KFF polling has found that the high cost of health care is a burden on U.S. families, and that health care costs factor into decisions about insurance coverage and care seeking. These costs also rank as the … Read More
The HHS Department announced $51 million in awards to 28 HRSA-funded health centers to expand dental care for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. The Quality Improvement Fund awards — up to $2 million per recipient — will help health centers build … Read More
Although private equity has largely defined the last few years of consolidation in dentistry, many executives agree that this era is now over, and that financial performance will begin to decide who survives long term. Three dental executives joined Becker’s … Read More
Advocates warn funding cuts proposed by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, or HHSC, could hinder access to critical services and programs. Dozens of advocates from across Texas testified in front of the legislative budget board Thursday to ask … Read More
The American Dental Association is launching a cone-beam computed tomography training program with learning options for both dentists and team members. One option, worth three continuing education credits, is open to dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants and lab technicians. It … Read More
With staffing shortages and workforce challenges continuing to create problems for dental practices, more offices are turning to a combination of temporary and permanent staff members, according to a new report from Cloud Dentistry, a dental staffing platform. The company’s … Read More
NYC Health + Hospitals has received the 2027 William J. Gies Award for Eminence in Achievement for its system-wide dental residency programs. The award recognizes individuals or institutions that demonstrate transformative achievement in oral health education, with evidence of improved … Read More
Texas’ Medicaid application backlog has skyrocketed in 2026, state data shows, as federal changes may bring uncertainty to some families trying to access the program. The program’s application backlog grew from less than 2,000 to more than 210,000 between January … Read More
Texas Medicaid remains the primary focus as federal authorities recently authorized a historic infusion of nearly $12 billion in federal health grants to reshape regional health networks across the state after months of complex negotiations between state officials and the … Read More
Austin families often juggle packed schedules, multiple appointments and the challenge of finding trusted healthcare providers for every stage of life. At the Austin Institute of Dental Medicine in Mueller, patients can access a wide range of dental specialties in … Read More
Governor Greg Abbott announced that Texas has secured nearly $12 billion in critical Medicaid funding after months of negotiation with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). “This funding is a major victory for Texas patients,” said Governor Abbott. … Read More
What will a dental hygienist actually do in 2030? It’s tempting to answer that question by looking at technology. AI. Automation. Voice documentation. Digital diagnostics. New delivery models. Certainly, all of those things will play a role, but I think … Read More
Fannin County, Texas — Constantine Masonic Lodge #13 AF&AM in Bonham recently presented dental hygiene kits to all first grade students in Bonham and Dodd City schools. The Fantastic Teeth Club has already reached over 1.4 million Texas kids. With … Read More
Nearly $12 billion in Medicaid funding to Texas hospitals will be restored, Gov. Greg Abbott said Thursday, ending a near year-long impasse between Texas and the federal government. “This funding is a major victory for Texas patients,” Abbott said in … Read More
The global dental equipment market was valued at $11.66 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $27.8 billion by 2035, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.08% from 2026 to 2035, according to a report from … Read More
Rural dental providers are facing compounding challenges making it more difficult to treat patients and operate their practices. Here are three areas straining rural dental care access: Medicaid cuts Low Medicaid reimbursements are putting dentists in a tight financial position, … Read More
The American Dental Association has launched an oral health certification program for community health workers — public health professionals who provide health education to residents in their community and connect them with healthcare providers, services and resources. The ADA Oral … Read More
Staffing challenges, DIY dentistry and lax insurance policies are among what dental leaders share are the most dangerous trends in the field today. Six dental leaders recently spoke with Becker’s to share what they feel are the most dangerous trends … Read More
The University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine received $17.75 million in new extramural research grant funding in fiscal year 2026 — the highest in its history. The dental school’s FY26 funding was also more than twice than what it … Read More
Although technology has the power to enhance patient care, one executive warns that these innovations should not come at the cost of human connection. Benjamin Golik, DDS, the co-founder of URBN Dental in Houston, recently spoke with Becker’s to discuss … Read More
There are nearly 10,000 pediatric dentists in the U.S. as of 2025, with the specialty more than doubling since 2001, according to data from the American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute. The profession has grown by 126%, increasing from 4,213 … Read More
The ADA is urging the federal government to retain Head Start requirements related to oral health, including supervised toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste and provisions designed to help children access dental care. In comments to the Administration for Children and Families, … Read More
Employment of dental hygienists is projected to grow much faster than the average rate for all other occupations, according to data from the Bureau of Labor statistics. Here are seven notes on the hygienist workforce: 1. Employment of dental hygienists … Read More
OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Ill., was recently approved to receive $2 million in federal funding to support the development of a pediatric dental surgery clinic, WMBD Radio reported Sept. 8. The Dental Surgery Center will cost a … Read More
Every dentist remembers the moment they decided to become one. For some, it was watching a loved one receive extraordinary care. For others, it was the perfect intersection of science, artistry and medicine. For many of us, it was something … Read More
Researchers at the University of Rochester’s Eastman Institute for Oral Health have received a five-year, US$3.1-million grant to develop an artificial intelligence-powered platform for detecting and predicting oral disease outside traditional dental clinics. The project is funded by the National … Read More
Effingham, Ill.-based Heartland Dental launched Conuity Care Coordination to better connect general dentists, specialty providers and patients. The platform combines technology and care coordination services to manage specialty dental care across referral, scheduling, treatment and follow-up. Currently, only about 15% … Read More
Thanks to efforts by the American Dental Association, Aetna has resolved a processing issue that affected reimbursements for out-of-network Medicare Advantage dental claims. A system configuration error had resulted in some dental claims being adjudicated based on Medicare medical rules … Read More
Dental practices and DSOs may have to do more than increase compensation in order to get ahead of the industry’s growing dental assistant shortage. Dentalpost’s 2026 “Dental Salary Survey Report” pointed to future challenges with recruiting and retaining dental assistants, … Read More
Texas’ backlog of Medicaid applications grew from about 1,600 in January to more than 210,000 in August. During the same period, the backlog for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, grew from about 3,700 to more than 150,000, according … Read More
(Texas Tribune) — When the state’s new fiscal year begins on Tuesday, Texas hospitals expect to lose $27 million a day in additional Medicaid funding. The shortfall is the result of a decision by the Trump administration to withhold approval … Read More
As of the start of the fiscal year Tuesday, Texas hospitals are losing $27 million a day in additional Medicaid funding, according to the Texas Hospital Association. The shortfall is the result of a decision by the Trump administration to … Read More
Massachusetts has become the first U.S. state to require and enforce dental insurance rebates, ordering six insurers to return a combined US$8.4 million to consumers after they failed to meet the state’s dental loss ratio standard. The rebates form part … Read More
A number of states have enforced, enacted and introduced dental loss ratio legislation this year, with dentists in a handful of additional states advocating for the change. Here are six updates on dental loss ratio, as reported by Becker’s so … Read More
The dental assistant shortage could worsen as the industry grapples with decreased job satisfaction, an upcoming wave of retirements and program enrollment. Dentalpost’s 2026 Dental Salary Survey Report pointed to potential challenges with recruiting and retaining dental assistants, showing that … Read More
