The American Dental Association is seeking volunteers for its workforce ambassador program to help address workforce shortages. Launched by the ADA Council on Dental Practice, the program seeks to increase the sharing of information and best practices among member dentists … Read More
Dr. Selina Fuentes Gutierrez — a Laredo native and practicing general dentist in San Antonio — has been nominated for the 2025 Texas New Dentist of the Year Award by the Texas Academy of General Dentistry. “Being nominated for the … Read More
PLANO, Texas — Dr. Jerrett Rosenborough goes by Dr. Rose. He’s also known as the rapping dentist. In his chair, smiles may start with teeth, but they become breakthroughs. “You have to know how to serve because a lot of … Read More
Susan Putthoff, DDS, of Kerrville, has been nominated by the San Antonio Academy of General Dentistry for the organization’s Texas Dentist of the Year award. This award is considered the most prestigious honor a Texas dentist can earn, a spokesperson … Read More
Sixty years ago this week, President Johnson fundamentally changed the American health care system by signing into law Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare and Medicaid remain far from perfect today, but it’s hard to find an achievement that has so directly … Read More
Scaling for long-term growth, advancing medical-dental integration and preparing for Medicaid cuts are top of mind for dentists, dental executives and industry leaders during the second half of the year. The 22 leaders featured in this article are speaking at … Read More
The ADA and several other dental groups have expressed support for a bill that seeks to strengthen the scientific basis behind federal water fluoridation regulations. The coalition sent a letter July 31 to Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II, D-Mo., in support … Read More
Texas is the most uninsured state in America, and now, with new federal policies taking effect and pandemic-era benefits winding down, the number of Texans without health care coverage could grow. Across the state, families who rely on Medicaid or … Read More
The ADA and several other dental groups have expressed support for a bill that seeks to strengthen the scientific basis behind federal water fluoridation regulations. The coalition sent a letter July 31 to Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II, D-Mo., in support of the … Read More
The ADA compiled a three-page document outlining President Donald Trump’s budget reconciliation bill’s impact on dentists and dental practices through provisions relating to tax policy, student loans and state Medicaid programs. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, H.R. 1, passed … Read More
Dentists’ overall confidence in the U.S. economy, their individual practices and the dental care sector continues to decline, according to a new report from the American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute. In the ADA’s “Economic Outlook and Emerging Issues in Dentistry” report … Read More
lmost 1.8 million Americans have been disenrolled from Medicaid health coverage in Texas in the last two years, according to data by KFF, a nonprofit health policy research and news organization. These Americans have lost their health insurance as part … Read More
Workforce shortages have led to a wide range of issues for the dental industry, including dentists having to perform more hygiene services, practice closures and long wait times for patients. In the American Dental Association’s most recent “Economic Outlook and … Read More
Through cutting-edge continuing education, curated learning experiences and a focus on team-based care, SmileCon 2025 will equip dentists and their teams with skills and strategies to thrive in an evolving industry. “At SmileCon, every attendee will find value,” said Shane … Read More
Five new documents are available from the American Dental Association’s Standards Program for review and comment by Aug. 31. Proposed ANSI/ADA Standard No. 47-2 for Dentistry — Stationary Dental Units and Dental Patient Chairs — Part 2: Air, Water, Suction … Read More
Texas’ already-strained health care system is bracing for deeper challenges when federal Affordable Care Act and Medicaid cuts go into effect as soon as next year, bringing fears of hospital closures, longer wait times and negative health outcomes. But in … Read More
Several bills have been introduced to Congress this year to expand access to dental care and enhance insurance coverage. Here are seven pieces of legislation to know: 1. The Protect Our Treatment for Enamel, Erosion and Tooth Health Act, or … Read More
As Congress examines the future of the Medicare Advantage program, ADA leaders are calling for targeted reforms to ensure that seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans receive meaningful access to dental care. In a July 22 letter to congressional subcommittees … Read More
Staffing shortages have become one of the greatest challenges facing the dental industry, and there currently seems to be no end in sight. Dental practices have consistently found dental assistants and hygienists two of the most challenging roles to recruit … Read More
The CMS Innovation Center plans to hire a string of new employees as it plans to roll out several new payment models. The move comes four months after HHS, CMS’ parent department, cut about 5% of the agency’s workforce, Politico … Read More
Artificial intelligence is already reshaping diagnostics in dentistry, but researchers at UT Health San Antonio and the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) are now exploring how AI could help evaluate and optimize dental composite materials. Their goal: to … Read More
WASHINGTON — Up to 1.7 million Texans are expected to lose their health insurance through coming changes to the Affordable Care Act marketplace under Republicans’ tax and spending megabill, according to an analysis by health policy experts — a serious … Read More
Several dental practices and clinics have shut down this year due to financial constraints as the industry battles inflation, increased wage demands and other economic pressures. Here are five dental offices that have closed down this year due to financial … Read More
Operation Smile, a global nonprofit deeply committed to closing the gap in surgical and health care access, announced today that for the fifth year, Align Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALGN), a leading global medical device company that designs, manufactures, and sells … Read More
The ADA submitted formal recommendations to the Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, in response to its request for information on reducing regulatory burdens in health care. In a July 14 letter to Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., … Read More
The dental economy could experience additional headwinds in the coming months, according to a new report from the American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute. The ADA’s “State of the U.S. Dental Economy” report for the second quarter of 2025 shows … Read More
ADA leaders are urging lawmakers to reauthorize and invest in federal dental workforce programs, citing their critical role in expanding access to oral health care — particularly in rural and underserved communities. In a July 15 letter to the House … Read More
Here are seven federal government and policy updates from the last 30 days: 1. The American Dental Hygienists’ Association said the newly enacted federal budget could lead states to remove dental benefits from Medicaid. 2. The Association for Dental Safety … Read More
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., has introduced legislation to roll back some of the Medicaid changes that he had voted for in the recently signed One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Five things to know: 1. Mr. Hawley’s bill would repeal the … Read More
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — At the La Tiendita food pantry, ABC13 met Moses. Wheelchair-bound for 40 years, he’s confused about what the new law means for him. “Taking Medicaid away,” he told ABC13. “All the assistance we get, it’s going … Read More
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — At the La Tiendita food pantry, ABC13 met Moses. Wheelchair-bound for 40 years, he’s confused about what the new law means for him. “Taking Medicaid away,” he told ABC13. “All the assistance we get, it’s going … Read More
MetLife has agreed to change its recoupment policy after the American Dental Association sent a letter in April seeking clarification of its practices. The ADA had received reports of the insurance company reducing, or “offsetting,” payments owed to dentists to … Read More
Dental Group Orthodontics in Dumas, Texas, will permanently close its doors Aug. 5. The practice announced the closure in a Facebook post, recommending that patients continue their care at its office in Amarillo, Texas. A reason for the closure was … Read More
September 29 – 30, 2025 // Hyatt Regency, Chicago Why Attend ENGAGE, NETWORK AND LEARN 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 … Read More
Dental industry leaders are preparing for what may be some harsh consequences of the recently enacted federal budget bill. President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act July 4. The bill is expected to increase the national debt … Read More
Getting braces is a rite of passage for many children and some adults, but it can strain families’ budgets. Texas A&M University College of Dentistry in Dallas offers lower cost orthodontic treatment for children, teens and adults, and spots are … Read More
The American Dental Association has released its latest edition of “Fluoridation Facts” to help combat fluoride misinformation. The free e-book highlights 80 years of research and practical experience that support community water fluoridation. With a Q&A format, the guide details … Read More
The Association for Dental Safety has launched a new organization to provide clinical guidelines and best practices after the CDC’s oral health division was eliminated in a round of federal layoffs. The CDC’s oral health division was shuttered earlier this … Read More
Sen. Angela Alsobrooks has introduced a bill that would expand coverage of dental, hearing and vision care under Medicare and Medicaid. Four notes: 1. The Medicare and Medicaid Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act of 2025 would require Medicare to … Read More
As dental suppliers learn to adapt to price fluctuations brought on by ongoing tariffs, dental practices may also have to make some changes to remain successful. Jeff Cellucci, chief strategy officer at MB2 Dental, recently spoke with Becker’s to discuss … Read More
