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
Dental professionals are optimistic that growing enrollment in dental hygiene programs and increased retention rates will help alleviate workforce shortages in the field. But others say more work is needed before further improvements can take place. Enrollment in dental hygiene … Read More
Expanding scope-of-practice for dental hygienists, assistants and therapists, updating the dental insurance and reimbursement space and strengthening the dental workforce pipeline are just a few of the policy changes that dentists and dental service organization executives want to see implemented. … Read More
Richmond-based Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry received a $5 million gift from the Delta Dental of Virginia Foundation. The $5 million will be used for the university’s new dental school building, which will expand clinical capacity, improve training for … Read More
The University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry has launched an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency in partnership with UI Health Mile Square Health Center, a federally qualified health center serving underserved communities. The 12-month program, accredited by the … Read More
Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas have developed a technology that could make it possible for dentists to produce permanent 3D-printed zirconia restorations in a single day. Zirconia is considered the gold-standard material for permanent dental work because … Read More
A slew of new dental and dental hygiene students attending Texas A&M University College of Dentistry on Gaston Avenue recently received their wings — or rather, their white coats. This annual White Coat Ceremony symbolizes stepping into the dental profession … Read More
Children’s hospitals have spent the past year bracing for the fallout from roughly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts included in a sweeping spending bill that President Donald Trump signed into law last year. Now the federal government has proposed additional … Read More
Advocates are pushing for stricter dental regulations in Texas after a four-year-old patient’s death, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Aug. 20. Six notes: 1. Aithana Arriaga died of a drug overdose in April at Cuddle Kids Dental Care in Fort … Read More
The global DSO market is projected to grow from $190.7 billion in 2026 to $368.5 billion by 2030. The Business Research Company released its Dental Services Organization Market Report for 2026 Aug. 18, detailing the trends driving growth in the … Read More
Researchers in the School of Dental Medicine received the 2026 Military Health System Research Symposium Award for Excellence, Outstanding Research Accomplishment Award for their work in developing a multifunctional biomaterial platform for combat casualty care—uniting hemorrhage control, tissue regeneration, and … Read More
WAUKESHA — Thousands of children across southeast Wisconsin lack access to dental care — and one local nonprofit is asking the community to play tooth fairy. Community Smiles Dental serves more than 4,000 children each year, providing exams, cleanings, fillings, … Read More
The largest data breaches in dentistry from the last three years have affected more than 25 million patients. Here are 10 dental data breaches with the highest number of individuals affected: 1. DentaQuest: 15,000,000 2. Managed Care of North America … Read More
The end of enhanced federal premium tax credits in late 2025 sent 2026 health costs soaring. According to KFF, ACA Marketplace premium payments more than doubled on average this year — up about 114%, from roughly $888 to nearly $1,904 … Read More
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association has published a white paper arguing that dental hygienists should have self-governance, not just self-regulation. The profession’s current model allows for partial oversight but not enough authority to ensure access to preventive care, according to … Read More
Dental public health education programs have seen a 17% decline in enrollment since 2021, according to new data from the American Dental Association. The ADA recently released new data showing enrollment trends for dental education programs in the U.S., including … Read More
Digital dentistry has changed what is possible in the dental practice. Intraoral scanning, chairside workflows, 3D imaging, cloud-based collaboration, and integrated treatment planning have all helped redefine how teams diagnose, communicate, and deliver care. Yet, for many practices, the biggest … Read More
Align Technology Inc. has presented 12 research grants to universities worldwide under its Fifteenth Annual Research Award Program. “Research and clinical evidence continue to be at the core of advancing science, which furthers innovation and clinical treatments,” said Dr. Mitra … Read More
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has finalized a rule making permanent in regulation the exemption from beneficial ownership information reporting requirements for U.S. companies, delivering the permanent relief the ADA had sought for dental practices. The Financial Crimes Enforcement … Read More
BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey’s Division of Insurance announced today that nine health and dental insurance carriers will return $14.5 million to hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts consumers through rebates required under the state’s health and dental insurance laws. 8.4 … Read More
Researchers are studying regenerative dentistry, a field focused on helping teeth repair themselves using special cells and proteins instead of relying on synthetic materials like traditional fillings. “Today’s fillings work well, but they don’t last forever. Many people need them … Read More
House Republicans are casting a new analysis from the Department of Health and Human Services as vindication of one of the most contested pieces of last year’s spending law, seizing on the finding that Medicaid financing curbs in the One … Read More
An orthodontic practice in McAllen, Texas, has closed without warning, according to an Aug. 7 report from KRGV News. The landlord of the office posted a notice stating that the tenant, Senan Orthodontic Studio, had failed to pay rent, leading … Read More
