State health officials are racing to implement sweeping new Medicaid work requirements mandated by federal law, navigating complex reporting systems and warnings of widespread coverage losses among vulnerable populations. Following provisions in the 2025 federal reconciliation law, states must enforce … Read More
our states have passed healthcare oversight laws so far this year, according to the Private Equity Stakeholder Project’s “2026 State Healthcare Policy Review” report. The healthcare policy report includes a dashboard that tracks bills introduced or enacted in the U.S. … Read More
Minh Phuong Dong, MD, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at Loma Linda (Calif.) University School of Dentistry, received an award from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research to develop a way to predict how patients with oral cancer will … Read More
AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott announced that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) plans to award $8 million in Rural Texas Strong grants to 28 rural healthcare providers throughout the state. “Your address should not determine the quality … Read More
The ADA Community Dental Health Coordinator Program is now available to dental hygienists and assistants as a fully online, asynchronous course. While some dental hygiene or dental assisting programs continue to offer the community dental health coordinator recognition by incorporating … Read More
The U.S. now has 8,033 dental professional shortage areas, according to the latest data from the Health Resources and Services Administration. The HRSA updates its dashboard showing data on health workforce shortage areas Oct. 20. The dashboard shows that 13,211 … Read More
Here are six recent updates that have led to optimism and skepticism in the dental industry: Good news Graduation rates increase The total number of dental school graduates has increased by 20.7% since 2015, according to data from the American … Read More
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced $51 million in funding to 28 health centers to improve access to dental care for children with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities. The … Read More
One-fifth of dentists stated that hygienist positions had been open for more than six months before being filled, according to the American Dental Association’s “State of the U.S. Dental Economy” report for the third quarter of 2026. The report shows … Read More
Utilization among seniors with a Medicare Advantage dental benefit increased to 61% in 2024 from 53% in 2023, according to a report from the American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute. The September 2026 report, “National Trends in Dental Care Use, … Read More
Pediatric dentistry is one of the fastest growing specialties in the dental industry. Here are six statistics and facts to know about the field: 1. The average salary for pediatric dentists in 2026 is $277,314, according to ZipRecruiter. 2. There … Read More
Twenty-two Republican governors, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, have signed a pledge supporting Vice President JD Vance’s efforts to combat fraud in taxpayer-funded benefit programs. The document, titled “The Vice President’s Pledge to Protect Americans from Fraud,” outlines six commitments … Read More
The American Dental Association honored its 2026 award winners Oct. 9 during the Changemakers Celebration at the ADA 2026 Scientific Session in Indianapolis. The ceremony celebrated recipients of the Distinguished Service Award, Humanitarian Award, 10 Under 10 Award, Dr. David … Read More
State dental boards exist for a fundamental reason: to protect the public. They license and regulate dental professionals, establish standards, enforce dental practice acts, investigate violations, and help ensure that individuals providing care possess the education, training, and competency required … Read More
As private equity-backed groups continue to buy up dental and oral surgery practices, some independent owners say the gap is getting harder to close. Lee Kojanis, DDS, is co-owner of Premier Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Group, which has three locations … Read More
The business of running a dental practice has always been shaped by payers, but the relationship is shifting in new ways, according to one dental CEO. According to a March 2026 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the three … Read More
Veterans looking to find a dentist through Department of Veterans Affairs health clinics waited nearly two months for a first appointment, according to new figures provided by the VA to Task & Purpose. That delay is about three times as … Read More
Leaders from the American Dental Association and ADA Foundation gathered with other Scientific Session attendees Oct. 8 to pack 500 health and comfort kits for underserved veterans. Volunteers added toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss and oral health educational materials to the kits … Read More
Picture a retired home health aide in a small Texas county watching the evening news. Texas just got nearly $12 billion in Medicaid funding restored, and she reaches the natural conclusion. If Austin landed its share of that kind of … 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
