The ADA is urging Senate leaders to include key oral health provisions in the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2026. In a Sept. 24 letter addressed to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and … Read More
As the nation prepares to celebrate those who have served, Ward Family Dental, PC, located at 1500 Scurry St in Big Spring, is proudly participating in Freedom Day USA by offering free dental services to veterans. This initiative aligns with … Read More
Staffing shortages, rising costs and low payer reimbursements are three persistent challenges that have faced dentists for the last several years. Here is a deep dive on how these challenges are affecting dentists: Staffing shortages COVID-19 exacerbated ongoing workforce shortages, … Read More
The White House, as part of the broader Make America Healthy Again platform, released the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy to improve children’s health outcomes on Sept. 9. While the report references oral health, it does not consistently detail … Read More
The Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Medicaid expansion expanded Medicaid coverage to nearly all adults with incomes up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level ($21,597 for an individual in 2025) and provided states with an enhanced federal matching rate (FMAP) … Read More
The ADA is asking the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to maintain the current scope of dental services under Medicare but is pushing for significant improvements in how those services are reimbursed and coordinated. This was part of a … Read More
The number of federally-designated dental professional shortage areas in the U.S. has steadily increased over the years, now hitting 7,229 shortage areas. In the last year, the U.S. has gained nearly 350 dental shortage areas, according to data from the … Read More
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis recently issued an executive order that includes cuts to the state’s Medicaid program. Four notes: 1. Gov. Polis issues Executive Order D2025-014 to help fill the state’s $750 million budget deficit. 2. The executive order includes more than … Read More
The U.S. House of Representatives passed Sept. 10 its version of the fiscal year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which includes several dental-related provisions supported by the ADA. The act sets funding parameters for defense-related spending and implements military policy … Read More
Incoming federal loan caps could worsen workforce shortages if fewer students pursue dental education, one DSO executive predicts. Barry Lyon, DDS, the dental director for Main Street Children’s Dentistry and Orthodontics and the chief clinical auditor for Dental Care Alliance, … Read More
American Dental Association President Brett Kessler, DDS, and Scott Smith, DDS, past president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, published an editorial warning against efforts to eliminate community water fluoridation. In the editorial, published Sept. 5 in the Journal … Read More
A report released by the ADA Council on Advocacy for Access and Prevention says that only seven states are meeting network adequacy for Medicaid and recommends the Association lead the charge to establish standards. The report, along with its recommendations, … Read More
It’s fall 2023. Richard J. Rosato, D.M.D., is ending his four-year term on the ADA Board of Trustees, ready to devote all of his time to his family and oral and maxillofacial surgery practices. But, and it may be cliché … Read More
The American Dental Association is pushing state dental boards to remove stigmatizing questions related to mental health and substance use disorders from licensure applications. The ADA recently sent letters to each board to share best practices and resources. The letters … Read More
The American Dental Association is seeking new dentists to serve as workforce ambassadors. Launched by the ADA Council on Dental Practice, the ADA Workforce Ambassador Program aims to address workforce shortages by increasing the sharing of information and best practices … Read More
The face of dentistry is changing to a younger and more female workforce, according to a new report from the ADA Health Policy Institute. In 2024, nearly 2 in 5 dentists in the U.S. were female, according to The U.S. … Read More
Tariffs could cause additional financial challenges as operating costs rise and fewer patients visit practices. Barry Lyon, DDS, the dental director for Main Street Children’s Dentistry and Orthodontics and the chief clinical auditor for Dental Care Alliance, connected with Becker’s … Read More
Provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will impact the 78% of dental school graduates starting their careers with more than $312,000 in student loan debt, according to a letter from the American Dental Association to the U.S. Department … Read More
AUSTIN, Texas – Across the 140 days of the 89th Texas Legislature, lawmakers filed 11,503 Senate and House bills. By Sunday, June 22, which marked the final day for Gov. Greg Abbott to veto legislation, he had signed 1,155 bills. … Read More
The Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Medicaid expansion expanded Medicaid coverage to nearly all adults with incomes up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level ($21,597 for an individual in 2025) and provided states with an enhanced federal matching rate (FMAP) … Read More
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Covered California announced that the statewide weighted average rate change for dental plans offered through the marketplace in 2026 will be 0.35 percent. Californians will still have five dental insurance companies to choose from, including Anthem Blue … Read More
AUSTIN (KXAN) — More than 600 people in Texas were provided with free dental care over the weekend as part of a network of dental offices’ way of giving back to their communities. Smile Generation, a national dental care provider … Read More
Clear aligner manufacturer Angelalign Technology has denied accusations of patent infringement from Align Technology. Align Technology recently filed patent infringement lawsuits against Angelalign in the U.S., Europe and China and is seeking injunctive relief and monetary damages. The latter’s chief … Read More
Brett Culp — an acclaimed filmmaker, social entrepreneur and keynote speaker whose films have been featured on Netflix, Hulu and Prime Video — will deliver the keynote address during the SmileCon 2025 Opening Session. Mr. Culp’s documentaries include “Look to … Read More
Here are six recent updates that have led to optimism and skepticism in the dental industry: Good Artificial intelligence innovation AI companies are continuing to expand ways for their technology to be used in dental practices, and industry leaders are … Read More
Alaska Medicaid providers are preparing for increased demand for dental care after the federal budget passage earlier this year, Alaska’s News Source reported Aug. 19. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which was signed into law July 4, is expected … Read More
Dental care has been elevated as one of the most important aspects of whole-person care and digital technology is improving patient outcomes. Both large and small DSOs are growing alongside thriving independent dental practices, and private equity is taking notice. … Read More
After the One Big, Beautiful Bill was passed on July 4, it left some wondering how it will ultimately affect their Medicaid benefits as reports of anywhere from $800 billion to $1 trillion is primed to be cut from the … Read More
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is awarding dental contracts to support dental care for Medicaid patients. Contracts will be awarded to Delta Dental of Iowa and DentaQuest USA Insurance Company, Inc. Care is provided through Iowa’s … Read More
Now in its 27th year, the poll reveals the Tooth Fairy has visited more than 8 in 10 homes (83%) across the country, an increase from 78% in 2024. This is welcome news, as nearly one-quarter of children (23%) consider … Read More
Adventureland’s Helping Hands Foundation has established a new endowed scholarship for residents in the School of Dental Medicine’s pediatric dentistry residency program — a vital field that advances children’s health across Long Island and beyond. Adventureland is a family-friendly amusement … Read More
Artificial intelligence, virtual reality and robotics are becoming some of the most innovative technologies in dentistry, and leaders are looking ahead at their potential. Three dental executives recently joined Becker’s “Dental + DSO Virtual Event” to discuss these technologies and … Read More
Dentists Choice announces it insured 8,000 dentists in its first 150 days by leveraging Counterpart’s Agentic Insurance™ platform. This represents coverage for nearly 4% of the estimated 202,304 dentists practicing across the United States, highlighting the significant unmet need for … Read More
About one-third of Americans have not visited a dentist in more than a year, according to a new report from Cigna Healthcare. Cigna’s 2025 “Dental Trends” report highlights the link between oral health and mental health as well as the … Read More
The State of Texas has sued Eli Lilly, claiming that the pharma “offered illegal incentives” to healthcare providers, pushing them to prescribe blockbuster GLP-1 drugs Zepbound and Mounjaro. In a prepared statement on Tuesday, Attorney General Ken Paxton alleged that … Read More
The Wisconsin Dental Association is calling on the state’s Department of Justice to monitor an insurance company’s purchase of dozens of dental offices, citing potential conflicts of interest that could impact patient care. TMJ4 first reported on those concerns last … Read More
The American Fluoridation Society opposed recent actions taken by federal officials to move away from community water fluoridation in the U.S. In April, the Environmental Protection Agency said it will “expeditiously review” new information on the potential health risks of … Read More
West Texas Oral Facial Surgery in Lubbock was hit with a data breach affecting more than 11,000 individuals. The practice said it experienced a network disruption May 29. An investigation determined that an unauthorized third party may have acquired certain … Read More
The American Dental Association will be implementing $20 million in budget cuts in an effort to balance its budget and recover from deficit spending. The ADA said Aug. 7 that its Board of Trustees approved its 2025 budget in July. … Read More
TORONTO, Aug 8 (Reuters) – Sun Life Financial’s (SLF.TO), opens new tab shares plunged as much as 8.5% on Friday, a day after the Canadian insurer said it would miss a 2025 profit target for its dental business in the … Read More
