By: Dr. Ethan Kerns During my junior year at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, I vividly recall an assignment in which we were asked to rank our preferences for clinical rotations outside the dental school. One listing quickly caught my attention: a Community Health Center in Colorado that provided comprehensive oral health services to low-income and vulnerable populations. At the time, I had never heard of a Community
By: Shelly Fava, MS, CMP, CAE In much of this issue, we’ve been focusing on the MDDS’s past and how we got to where we are today. It’s important to know our history and to honor those who built MDDS into the strong and vibrant community we all know now. However, it’s equally important to talk about the future and where we’re going in organized dentistry. The ADA is currently
By: Dr. Rahim Karmali Dentistry stands at a crossroads, where the gleam of titanium implants casts a shadow over the humble, yet resilient, natural tooth. Over the past two decades, implants have transformed restorative care, boasting 10-year survival rates of 93-97%. But in our enthusiasm for this modern marvel, have we begun to sideline the time-honored craft of saving teeth? THE SHIFTING PARADIGM: IMPLANTS VS. PRESERVATION The surge in implant
By: Ms. Erin Breen In March 2025, Colleen Lampron became KIND’s Executive Director. With over 25 years in oral health access and public health, she is committed to translating knowledge into practice for healthier, happier lives. Throughout her career, Colleen has made significant contributions to the field, including: Serving as the National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA) Executive Director and Quality Improvement and Innovation Consultant, where she helped Federally
By: Amanda Jozsa, DDS A typical day in dentistry can be full of twists and turns. While so much can be out of our control with what patients bring to us, our response is within our control. Great customer service is not only the foundation of patient care but also an empowered place for our team to be focused. Instead of waiting to see what the day throws at us,
By: Deesha Bhaumik, PhD, and Marko Vujicic, PhD The American Dental Association Health Policy Institute (HPI) is a thought leader for critical policy knowledge about the U.S. dental care system.1 We are a group of health economists, statisticians, and health services researchers dedicated to being the premier source for credible data and research on critical issues facing the dental care system. Our data is used to inform dental policymakers at
Cosmetic dentistry has revolutionized the way we think about dental care. It’s not just about maintaining oral health anymore—it’s about enhancing appearance and boosting self-confidence. From teeth whitening to Invisalign braces, these innovative treatments can completely transform your smile. But what are the real benefits of cosmetic dentistry, and why are so many people choosing to invest in a smile makeover? This blog dives into the top 10 advantages of
Smoothies seem like the ultimate healthy breakfast—packed with fruit, protein, and vitamins. But here’s the catch: many smoothies are loaded with hidden sugars that can wreak havoc on your teeth. At Neaville Family Dentistry in Searcy, AR, Dr. Keith Neaville helps patients understand how their favorite drinks may be affecting their smiles. If your go-to morning smoothie is secretly working against your teeth, it might be time for a few
Tooth pain can catch anyone off guard. That sharp jolt when enjoying a hot coffee or the sudden sting from a cold treat is more than just uncomfortable—it’s your body’s way of telling you something is going on inside your mouth. Understanding what causes tooth pain and how to respond can make all the difference in keeping your smile healthy and comfortable. Pain in your teeth can come from many
For this week’s video clinical tip, courtesy of CDOCS, Dr. Farhad Boltchi takes readers through an in-depth look at flapless dental implant surgery so you know when to incorporate this procedure and when to avoid it. “Now in our CDOCS implant workshops, we get a lot of questions regarding when to do flapless implant surgery, because that is obviously something very attractive and very easy, both for the implant surgeon
A small intestine neuroendocrine carcinoma (SI-NEC) metastasized to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in a man. The case report, which is believed the first reported case of its kind, was published on March 11 in the Journal of the American Dental Association. This case shines a light on how vital it is to consider metastasis in the differential diagnosis of TMJ pain in patients with neuroendocrine carcinoma, the authors wrote. “To
Dental practice closures during COVID-19 led to a rise in emergency room (ER) visits for dental problems in children, according to researchers from the New York University (NYU) College of Dentistry. Even after New York dental offices reopened in May 2020, ER visits for dental problems remained elevated among Medicaid-enrolled children. Families with young children struggled to access dental care, adding strain to overwhelmed hospitals, according to a press release