Executives leading the largest for-profit health systems — Tenet Healthcare, HCA Healthcare, Community Health Systems and Universal Health Services — addressed upcoming federal policy risks tied to Medicaid and ACA subsidies during their third-quarter earnings calls. The prospect of reduced … Read More
Brett Kessler, D.D.S., spent the early hours of Oct. 24 on a run to the Lincoln Memorial to watch the sun rise over the Washington Monument. He took time to think about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a … Read More
Workplace culture has become a consistent focal point among dental organizations in recent years as factors like pay and benefits become less important to employees. DSOs and dental practices have made this shift to grapple with ongoing workforce shortages, particularly … Read More
WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In response to the growing national shortage of oral health professionals, Planet Smilez is building a pathway for future providers. They believe through early exposure, hands-on learning, and mentorship for students from educationally and … Read More
Beginning Oct. 29, Painted Sky Dental will begin providing accessible, high-quality dental services to residents of Archuleta County through a mobile pop-up clinic located inside the Archuleta County Public Health Department. This innovative, place-based approach brings oral health care directly … Read More
I recently had the pleasure to sit down with three dental industry leaders to discuss their views on tariffs and how they will impact our industry from the viewpoints of a dentist, dental dealer, and dental manufacturer. Joining me were … Read More
Dental professionals from around the country came together Oct. 23 during SmileCon 2025 to assemble 500 health and comfort kids for underserved veterans in the Washington, D.C. area. The Social Impact Hub in Dental Central filled up as volunteers packed … Read More
One of dentistry’s most anticipated events of the year is here. SmileCon 2025 returns Oct. 23-25 in Washington, D.C., promising a mix of education, celebration and connection for thousands of dental professionals across the country. This year’s event, held at … Read More
In rural Minnesota communities, 25% of dentists are over 65 years old compared to 15% in urban areas, creating concerns around replacing an aging rural dentistry workforce. With its mission to educate and train Minnesota’s healthcare workforce, the University of … Read More
Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing modern healthcare—and dentistry is at the forefront of that change. By 2030, AI is expected to transform everything from diagnostics and treatment planning to patient communication and practice management. This transformation won’t replace dentists. Instead, it … Read More
Dr. Partha Mukherji, assistant professor in comprehensive dentistry at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry in Dallas, teaches dental students treatment fundamentals. However, his passion is advocating for the needs and interests of present and future general dentists. That dedication … Read More
In a groundbreaking development poised to transform dental care, researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas have pioneered a highly innovative method for manufacturing zirconia dental restorations using 3D printing technology. This breakthrough enables the production of permanent, all-ceramic … Read More
Here are six states working to address the dental industry’s workforce shortages through legislation and programs: 1. The Maine legislature passed a bill creating a new pathway for prospective clinicians to earn an adjunct dentist license. 2. The authorization of … Read More
The ADA Practice Institute is launching a new resource aimed at helping dentists deliver care to Medicaid patients while maintaining financial viability. Recognizing that Medicaid participation often presents significant operational and reimbursement challenges, the Medicaid Financial Sustainability Toolkit: An Operational … Read More
Dental practices are continuing to experience a “fiscal squeeze” brought on by rising prices and lower demand for care, according to an update from the ADA Health Policy Institute on the state of the dental economy for the third quarter … Read More
UnitedHealthcare’s Mid-Atlantic CEO Joseph Ochipinti called out two healthcare groups for their “cynical” contract negotiation strategy in an Oct. 6 statement. Mr. Ochipinti specifically drew attention to Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins Medicine and Fulton, Md.-based Capital Women’s Care, a large mid-Atlantic … Read More
Governor Greg Abbott has announced significant appointments to the State Board of Dental Examiners, which is tasked with the regulation of dental and dental hygiene practice within Texas. The board will now be chaired by Bryan Henderson, II, D.D.S., who … Read More
The ADA Health Policy Institute recently released the results of its annual state of the US dentist workforce “based on the latest data from multiple sources.” The report takes an in depth look at four areas: who makes up the … Read More
GRAPEVINE, TX, UNITED STATES, October 6, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ — CDCA-WREB-CITA selected Mission of Mercy Texas as the charitable partner for the second annual Dental Testing & Regulatory Summit and Educators Conference. The five-day event brings together four major dental organizations, … Read More
Dental hygienists and dental assistants continue to be the most challenging roles for dentists to recruit, according to the American Dental Association’s “Economic Outlook and Emerging Issues in Dentistry” report for the third quarter of 2025. The ADA’s Health Policy … Read More
AUSTIN – Attorney General Ken Paxton issued the following statement slamming the Texas Medical Association (“TMA”) for its anti-scientific undermining of new federal guidelines from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (“ACIP”) regarding childhood COVID-19 vaccinations. Despite this radical shift, … Read More
Dental practices are continuing to face rising costs and lower demand for care, according to the American Dental Association’s Economic Outlook and Emerging Issues in Dentistry report for the third quarter. The report shows that dentists’ economic confidence has declined … Read More
Austin Community College is aiming to meet a growing demand for dental hygienists in Central Texas through an expanded dental hygiene clinic. ACC officials celebrated the opening of the newly renovated space at the ACC Eastview Campus with a ribbon-cutting … Read More
McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, says $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts and $500 billion in Medicare spending are main issues dividing political parties over a threatened government shutdown at midnight. During a call with reporters … Read More
Dental practices are continuing to experience a “fiscal squeeze” brought on by rising prices and lower demand for care, according to an update from the ADA Health Policy Institute on the state of the dental economy for the third quarter … Read More
Dental leaders across the U.S. are voicing a mix of concern, adaptation and cautious optimism as staffing shortages continue to reshape practices, patient access and the future workforce. Here’s what five dental leaders have told Becker’s recently about the state … Read More
The year is 1905. At the turn of the century, Dallas led the Southwest’s book, drug, jewelry and wholesale liquor market plus the world’s inland cotton market and the manufacture of saddlery and cotton-gin machinery. Businessmen were trying to grow … 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
Every day for nearly 18 years, Alessandra Fabrello has been a medical caregiver for her son, on top of being his mom. “It is almost impossible to explain what it takes to keep a child alive who should be dead,” … Read More
A Trump-appointed federal judge has struck down a U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rule about how states can provide funding for their share of Medicaid costs, according to multiple outlets. U.S. District Judge Jeremy Kernodle in Tyler, … Read More
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
