Category Archives: Policy

The ethical dilemma of infectious disease disclosure for dentists

In July 1990, the Florida Department of Health reported a possible transmission of HIV from a dentist to five of his patients.1 Though it was unclear if actual transmission of the virus actually occurred, this incidence caused much controversy and worry within dental community.2,3 At the time, health care providers were to follow the CDC’s “Recommendations for Preventing… Read More »

Dentist shares personal story in advocating for Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act

Editor’s note: The American Dental Association is proud to announce that the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (ELSA), H.R. 1916, the week of April 4. The ADA has been lobbying this issue for years alongside our colleagues at the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) as well as many other… Read More »

Making strides towards dental health equity

Dental health equity remains a pipe dream for many Americans. Those people who live in poverty, rural areas, and those in certain ethnic/racial minorities and gender typically experience higher barriers to care than most. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 10% of people living in rural America have less access to dental services than… Read More »

New dentists can change dentistry

Young people are the heart of society. They are the leaders and architect of the future in any field and the more important the field they lead, the higher their responsibilities are. There is no doubt that today’s dentistry does not look the same as it did 50 years ago, and our generation faces more challenges than previous… Read More »

Returning to a new normal

As many states continue to extend social distancing measures, many people are asking, “When will things finally return to normal?” I’m here to tell you things should never return to normal as they were before — and that’s OK! As health care providers, it is our job to improve. It’s our job to innovate. It’s our job to… Read More »

Free webinar: Science and skills for talking about the HPV vaccine

A free ADA webinar scheduled for late September is tied to rising oral cancer rates due to human papillomavirus and the role that dentists can play in its prevention and promotion of the HPV vaccine. Say What? Science and Skills for Talking About the HPV Vaccine will stream Sept. 25 from noon to 1 p.m. Central time. The… Read More »