Hourly earnings for dental office staff have increased by 23% since 2021, according to the American Dental Association’s “State of the U.S. Dental Economy” report for the second quarter of 2026. The ADA recently released its “State of the U.S. … Read More
New patient acquisition is the top driver of dental practice growth, according to a recent analysis of more than 8,500 dental practices. Consistent new patient acquisition is the strongest predictor of long-term dental practice growth, outperforming case acceptance, treatment completion … Read More
SUFFOLK, Va. — Virginians may be waiting longer for routine dental appointments as the Commonwealth faces a shortage of dental hygienists. It’s a workforce gap that dental leaders say is limiting access to preventive care. The Virginia Dental Association estimates … Read More
Dental practice owners continue to deal with various staffing challenges that have made it more difficult to operate, including talent shortages, increasing wages and low retention rates. Six dental industry professionals recently spoke with Becker’s about the workforce challenges facing … Read More
Untreated cavities send thousands of young children in the United States to emergency departments each year. Because hospital doctors usually cannot repair the underlying dental problem, some children continue to suffer from pain and infection, while others eventually need surgery … Read More
A U.S. judge ruled in favor of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID), finding that the South Dakota State Board of Dentistry’s advertising rule is unconstitutional because it violates the First Amendment right to free speech. The AAID and … Read More
Dental and vision benefits administrator DentaQuest is notifying millions of people that their personal and dental health information might have been stolen in a data breach. The incident was discovered on May 20, and DentaQuest’s investigation determined that the hackers … Read More
Insurance claim denials have become a costly and growing challenge for healthcare providers across Texas. In recent years, Texas saw some of the highest claim-denial rates nationally. One study found that nearly one in five claims under Texas marketplace plans … Read More
Dental reimbursement rates have failed to keep pace with the cost of running a dental practice for decades, and the gap has reached a breaking point, according to Thomas Allen, DDS, dental director of Old Farm Dental in Salt Lake … Read More
The ADA led a coalition of dental organizations in support of federal legislation that would make dental and oral health services a required benefit for adults enrolled in Medicaid, saying the proposal would help protect access to care for millions … Read More
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the future of dentistry, many clinicians are exploring how their skills can translate into careers beyond direct patient care. To help guide that transition, Dental AI Solutions has launched From Chairside to AI, a … Read More
Bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Action for Dental Health workforce grant program advanced in the House on July 20 and was introduced in the Senate on July 23, with support from the ADA. In comment letters to House and Senate … Read More
More than 400 children from youth organizations across Middle Tennessee recently received free dental screenings, dental care, oral health education, new shoes, books, and more during the fifth annual Kids Dental Day at First Horizon Park. Hosted by Delta Dental … Read More
The high cost of receiving a dental education has changed the way graduates approach their livelihood after graduation, with some choosing to not pursue a residency program or following a different career path than previous generations. According to the Education … Read More
WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (IL-02) and Representative Mike Simpson (ID-02), a former dentist, celebrated the House passage of their bipartisan bill, H.R. 2001, the Action for Dental Health Act. The Bipartisan Action for Dental Health Act supports organizations and … Read More
Newswise — Renato M. Silva, DDS, MS, PhD, an internationally respected clinician-scientist, educator, and academic leader, has been selected to serve as dean of UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry, effective September 30, 2026. Melina R. Kibbe, MD, UTHealth Houston president … Read More
Leaders, educators and advocates are among this year’s recipients of the ADA 10 Under 10 Award. The ADA New Dentist Committee chose the honorees for demonstrating excellence and inspiring others in science, research and education; practice excellence; philanthropy; leadership; and … Read More
These forward-thinking companies are meeting today’s dental and hygiene challenges with fresh ideas and solutions. An anonymous panel of professionals scored submissions on their impact—everything from improving clinical care and ergonomics to boosting efficiency and best practices. Innovation is thriving … Read More
CARBONDALE, Ill. (KFVS) – Little Egypt Pediatric Dentistry hosted its annual Free Dental Day, where 50 children received free dental care. Children ages 12 and under in need of a dental examination and necessary X-rays attended the event between 8 … Read More
On June 1, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), published the Interim Final Rule with Comment (CMS-2454-IFC, hereafter referred to as the IFR) “Medicaid Program; Community Engagement Requirement for Certain Individuals” as required by the 2025 Budget … Read More
The American Dental Association opposes Delta Dental of California’s policy to begin charging dentists for paper checks and Aetna’s move away from paper checks for noncontracted providers. This action is in direct conflict with ADA policy, and the ADA believes … Read More
The history of dental standards in the U.S. dates back to World War I, when the military needed to buy large quantities of dental materials to address the “woeful state of soldiers’ teeth.” In 1917, the surgeon general of the … Read More
The dental industry is facing a variety of challenges straining the workforce, but positive developments from the last few months are giving practice owners and DSO executives hope for a brighter future. Here are eight updates leading to optimism and … Read More
HHSC names key leadership appointments to lead the agency’s Chief Counsel Division, and guide Texas Medicaid and CHIP Services. Nycia Deal will serve as chief counsel for HHSC, effective Sept. 1, moving into the position previously held by Karen Ray. … Read More
Nearly 80% of dental school graduates take out loans to pay for dental school, according to data from the Education Data Initiative. The Education Data Initiative provides information on dental school costs and debt in the U.S. Data shows that … Read More
On-the-job training can be overwhelming for both dental assistants and practices, but a new online course is here to help prepare assistants for their first day. On July 6, the American Dental Association and Immersify — an artificial intelligence-powered learning … Read More
Massachusetts legislators have sent Gov. Maura Healey a new budget that includes a higher cap on Medicaid dental services than previously proposed, WBUR reported July 1. Five notes: 1. Earlier this year, Gov. Healey proposed implementing a $1,000 annual cap … Read More
Across Illinois, people on Medicaid are finding out the hard way that having dental coverage is not the same thing as getting an appointment. As dentists retire or quietly stop taking public insurance, routine cleanings and even urgent procedures are … Read More
Nevada has expanded its dental coverage for adult Medicaid recipients, 2 News Nevada reported July 1. The expansion gives more than 374,500 patients coverage for preventative and diagnostic services for the first time, including cleanings, fillings and exams. Adult recipients … Read More
The ADA Health Policy Institute has launched a new series of articles that provide concise but detailed analyses of key trends impacting the dental market. HPI Perspectives leverages the latest data from HPI and other sources to offer insights on … Read More
Federal investments through two U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) programs — the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) and Teaching Health Center Planning and Development (THCPD) programs — are funding community-based dental residency programs designed to recruit … Read More
This month, dental professionals spoke with Becker’s about leadership, economic challenges, workforce shortages and more. Here is what seven dental professionals told us in June: The decisions dental leaders can’t afford to get wrong Hamza Asumah, MD. Director, Operations of … Read More
Large numbers of children — including nearly 191,000 in Texas — are dropping off the Medicaid rolls, even though Congress’ Medicaid overhaul didn’t change kids’ eligibility. Why it matters: Children without insurance are less likely to receive checkups, preventive care … Read More
Texas will recover nearly $34 million from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP under a settlement resolving allegations that the drugmaker used an illegal kickback scheme to influence prescriptions covered by the state’s Medicaid program. The settlement requires AstraZeneca to pay $33,998,000 to … Read More
The history of dental standards in the U.S. dates back to World War I, when the military needed to buy large quantities of dental materials to address the “woeful state of soldiers’ teeth.” In 1917, the surgeon general of the … Read More
As exciting as going to university may be, it can be expensive — more so for those studying medicine and dentistry. Enrolment in dental school has never been higher. During the 2025–26 academic year, 28,925 students were enrolled in predoctoral … Read More
The ADA released a report summarizing results from a two-year, six-state pilot aimed at increasing dentist participation in Medicaid and expanding access to oral healthcare for beneficiaries. The report, “Increasing Medicaid Participation in Dentistry: A Blueprint from a Six-State Pilot … Read More
A large number of dental employees have either recently changed jobs or are considering changing jobs in search of higher pay and more benefits. But rising labor costs are putting a strain on dental practice owners already struggling with financial … Read More
Partnership Health Center, a network of community health clinics in Montana, will end dental services at Seeley-Swan Medical Center due to financial challenges, KPAX reported June 23. The group recently sent a letter to patients stating dental care will no … Read More
The ADA is backing legislation that would help establish and expand primary care team education centers, citing the need to strengthen the dental workforce and improve access to care in underserved communities. In a June 23 letter to Sen. Tim … Read More
