Nearly 200 children received free dental care Feb. 6 during the ADA Foundation Give Kids A Smile national kickoff in Houston — an appropriate start to National Children’s Dental Health Month. 2026 marks the 24th year of the program, which … Read More
The Health Access Hero Awards application and nomination process is now open for 2026 grants and individual recognitions. Each year, Sun Life U.S. and DentaQuest, part of Sun Life’s dental business, recognize organizations and change-makers strengthening their communities with programs … Read More
Maine lawmakers are considering an emergency proposal to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for pediatric dentists who perform work on patients under anesthesia. Six notes: 1. HP1438 states that Maine currently does not fully reimburse for dental services requiring anesthesia, which … Read More
The American Dental Association Foundation (ADAF) is officially kicking off Give Kids A Smile ® (GKAS) 2026 at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry, marking 24 years of transforming children’s lives through this access-to-oral-health-care initiative. What began as a local grassroots … Read More
President Donald Trump signed a $1.2 trillion bipartisan spending bill Feb. 3, ending the partial government shutdown. The House and Senate approved the FY 2026 funding package, which provides full-year funding for the Department of Health and Human Services and … Read More
The Florida House of Representatives has passed a bill authorizing the creation of dental therapists in the state, according to a Feb. 5 report from Florida Politics. House Bill 363 allows dental therapists to administer local anesthesia and nitrous oxide, … Read More
Houston County’s mobile dentist clinic just received another full year of funding. During the Jan. 13 Board of Commissioners workgroup meeting, Jordan Knoke and Bri Ceaser from the Public Health and Human Services office told the board they received a … Read More
Dentists are largely satisfied with their work despite a growing number of challenges facing the industry, according to Dentalpost’s 2026 Dental Salary Survey Report. Dentalpost’s annual report highlights various industry trends, including with workforce, salary, and practice management. Dentalpost surveyed … Read More
Dentists in several states have begun advocating for dental loss ratios after a momentous year for payer legislation in 2025. Here are seven updates on DLRs for dental leaders to know: 1. Eighteen states passed a total of 37 dental … Read More
Deadline: February 13, 2026 The American Dental Association is seeking volunteers to contribute to Oral Health 2050, a strategic initiative aimed at establishing a roadmap for dentistry’s next 25 years. “As ADA president, I began asking where we want dentistry … Read More
Civic engagement has always mattered, but for dentistry the stakes are rising. From insurance reform and access to care to workforce shortages and reimbursement, many of the issues that shape day-to-day practice are decided in city halls, state legislatures and … Read More
Everything is bigger in Texas, hair, trucks, steaks, but it shouldn’t be bad teeth. Apparently, that is bigger in Texas as well. Texas isn’t bigger when it comes to dental health. You might want to run and brush your teeth … Read More
A Tyler dental company has announced the date for its 21st annual Free Dental Day, continuing its tradition of improving access to essential dental treatment. Smith Dental Care, located at 5400 New Copeland Road in Tyler, will offer free cleanings, … Read More
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities in our Borderplex often face financial challenges and limited access to providers when trying to get the dental care they deserve. To help address this need, the Hunt School of Dental Medicine, with support … Read More
With a goal of strengthening collaboration and communication between specialty organizations and the ADA, representatives from across all the recognized dental specialties, as well as the Academy of General Dentistry, came together virtually in January for the inaugural meeting of … Read More
Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare could face up to a $1.4 billion financial impact from policy reforms and uncertainty in 2026. HCA CFO Mike Marks said on the company’s Jan. 27 earnings call that HCA expects an earnings before interest, taxes, … Read More
Ahead of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee’s joint day of hearings Jan. 22 with chief executive officers of several large health insurance companies, the ADA submitted a comments letter urging lawmakers to … Read More
Some of the top priorities dentists have planned for their practices in 2026 include adding staff and dropping out of insurance networks, according to new data from the American Dental Association. The ADA released its “Economic Outlook and Emerging Issues … Read More
Dentist Day is observed on March 6, and Dentist Day 2026 offers an important opportunity to recognize the professionals who work tirelessly to protect our oral health. Dentists do far more than fix teeth — they play a crucial role … Read More
As states begin budget debates for state fiscal year (FY) 2027, many states are facing a more tenuous fiscal climate. Slowing revenue growth and heightened spending demands coupled with anticipated federal Medicaid cuts under the 2025 reconciliation law, changes to … Read More
Thirteen percent of dentists recently reported to the ADA that they will likely sell or consider closing their practice this year. The ADA released its “Economic Outlook and Emerging Issues in Dentistry” report for the fourth quarter of 2025, highlighting … Read More
DALLAS (KDAF) — Texas residents spend slightly above the U.S. average on dental care, according to new analysis by Thorncrest Dental. The report found that residents annual spending on dental care averages $397, comprising 3.30% of their total expenditures. This … Read More
Each February, National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM) brings thousands of dedicated professionals, healthcare providers, and educators together to promote the benefits of good oral health to children, their caregivers, teachers and others. Extending the 2025 theme, NCDHM resources celebrate … Read More
Insurance issues, the workforce shortage and increasing costs are some of dentists’ top concerns for their practices at the start of 2026, according to a survey from the American Dental Association. More than half of respondents said low insurance reimbursements … Read More
Newswise — EL PASO, Texas — People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in our Borderplex often face financial challenges and limited access to providers when trying to get the dental care they deserve. To help address this need, the … Read More
Faculty shortages in dental schools may be threatening institutional stability and student success, underscoring the need for targeted retention strategies. The study was published recently in the Journal of Dental Education. Strategies such as inclusive cultures, fair compensation, and leadership … Read More
Gov. Greg Abbott is directing state officials to investigate Medicaid fraud in Texas. Abbott sent a letter on January 16, ordering the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the Office of Inspector General to launch an investigation into Medicaid … Read More
Ahead of the unveiling of the 2026-2027 state budget, more than 50 groups have joined together in support of preserving essential dental care across the state. Last year, lawmakers stayed a $1 billion cut to the program for one year, … Read More
DentaQuest, part of Sun Life U.S., today announced a $30,000 contribution to the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics. The donation supports the college’s Geriatric and Special Needs Dentistry Program, which addresses complex challenges related to aging … Read More
The average nominal hourly wage for dental assistants has increased from $9 per hour in 1990 to $24.20 per hour in 2024, according to data from the American Dental Association. The ADA’s Health Policy Institute collected compensation data for both … Read More
The forerunner of what’s now Texas A&M University College of Dentistry opened 120 years ago in Dallas with the mission of educating dentists to provide quality care to patients in North Texas and beyond. That includes providing an array of … Read More
The average nominal wage for dental hygienists has increased from $18.40 in 1990 to $47.80 in 2024, according to data from the American Dental Association. The ADA’s Health Policy Institute collected compensation data for both full-time and part-time dental hygienists … Read More
Colorado, Oklahoma and Alabama have seen the largest increases in DSO-affiliated dentists between 2015 and 2024, according to data from the American Dental Association. The ADA recently released data on the dentist workforce, including demographics, workplaces and retirement trends. The … Read More
Central Texas dentists have been feeling the effects of a nationwide shortage of dental hygienists, facing difficulties filling vacant positions to serve a growing number of patients. A 2019 study by the Texas Department of State Health Services projected that … Read More
With the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and the rise in tariff-driven operational costs, the dental mergers and acquisition (M&A) landscape is shifting in ways that practice owners can’t afford to overlook. While valuations remain strong … Read More
States have major decisions to make in 2026 about the social safety net and taxes in the aftermath of a sweeping law President Donald Trump signed last year. The federal government is shifting more responsibilities to states over the next … Read More
Private equity groups have begun to play a much larger role in dentistry over the years as the industry continues to consolidate and practice owners face growing financial pressures. Several DSOs gained private equity funding in 2025 to fuel future … Read More
General practice dentists have seen declines in revenue and income over the last few years as expenses have increased, according to data from the American Dental Association. The ADA recently released data on the dentist workforce, including demographics, workplaces and … Read More
New recommendations from the American Dental Association confirm that dental imaging should only be ordered when clinically necessary to minimize both patients’ and dental professionals’ exposure to radiation. Published jointly Jan. 5 in the January issue of The Journal of … Read More
Here are six new dentistry-related laws going into effect this year: Editor’s note: This list is not exhaustive. 1. A teledentistry law aimed at improving dental care access and addressing provider shortages in Georgia took effect Jan. 1. House Bill … Read More
