Dental Public Health and Education Commons^™

N Y State Dent J March 2026

The New York State Dental Journal

In the March 2026 issue, the reader will find the following feature articles:

• Pebbly Gingival Nodule in an Older Male
• Extraction of Teeth or Root Tips from Underneath Fixed Partial Denture Abutments or Pontics
• Successful Regenerative Endodontic Therapy of an Immature Dens Evaginatus Mandibular Second Premolar with Apical Periodontitis

This issue includes regular columns with regional news impacting the New York membership including editorial and perspectives columns, legal, association activities, component news, continuing education opportunities, and classifieds.

Dr. Deb Peters: Opening Doors As The Ada’S New Speaker, Debra Peters, Christopher J. Smiley

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This interview profiles Dr. Deb Peters, the first female speaker of the ADA House of Delegates. Dr. Peters shares her vision for making the ADA more accessible, transparent, and responsive to its members. She discusses her leadership philosophy, emphasizing listening and mentorship, and explains how effective governance can lead to significant real-world impacts, such as the removal of taxes on dental prosthetics. Dr. Peters also outlines her goals for modernizing the House of Delegates process, including the creation of a "Resolution Dashboard" to help members track policy progress.

The Clear Custom Matrix Technique For Class Ii Light-Cured Composites, James C. Hamilton, Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This clinical article details the Clear Custom Matrix Technique (CCMT), an innovative method for placing posterior composite restorations. The technique uses a pre-operative PVS impression to act as a die, reforming unset composite to precisely match the tooth's original anatomy. The author provides a step-by-step guide, demonstrating how the method saves chair time, reduces the need for finishing and polishing, and eliminates the air-inhibited layer. The article also discusses matrix selection, layering techniques, and troubleshooting common clinical challenges to achieve highly accurate and aesthetic results.

Dentistry Is The Life For Me, Michelle C. Dziurgot

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

In this editorial, the author reflects on her long career in dentistry and shares recent experiences with practice management and technological upgrades. She details the challenging but successful process of renegotiating PPO contracts to improve reimbursement rates and the financial benefits of moving to a more efficient office space. The author also highlights the clinical benefits of new equipment, such as a hand-held X-ray unit, and expresses her continued passion for the profession. The piece serves as both a personal reflection and an encouragement to colleagues to find joy and efficiency in their practices.

Restoring Trust: A Fair Chance At A Bright Smile And The Human Side Of School-Based Dentistry, Rubin Sorrell Ii, Mph, Dds

Journal of the American College of Dentists

The Fair Chance at a Bright Smile (FCAABS) program represents a humanistic, community- centered approach to dentistry that redefines access, education, and dignity in oral health. Developed and refined through a year-long pilot partnership with the San Francisco Unified School District, FCAABS integrates preventive dental care, oral health education, and career exposure for students from pre-kindergarten through high school. This manuscript argues that beyond clinical outcomes, FCAABS reveals a deeper truth: oral health is intrinsically social, emotional, and moral. It examines the program through the lens of the humanities and ethics, exploring how narrative, empathy, and cultural context inform both …

J Am Coll Dent 2026 92 2a

Journal of the American College of Dentists

This special issue of the Journal of the American College of Dentists responds to a growing but long-underrecognized demand for humanities and ethics in dental education, practice, and scholarship. It emerges from the work of the National Collaborative on Humanities and Ethics in Dentistry (NCHED), a multi-institutional partnership formed in 2023 to address the persistent exclusion of dentistry from broader health humanities conversations. Through national webinars and scholarly collaboration, NCHED has demonstrated substantial interest in ethical reflection, historical analysis, narrative inquiry, and the arts as essential to understanding oral health and dental care. The unexpectedly strong response to the call …

Integrating Music Therapy Into Dental Clinics For Whole Person Care, Dana Osterling Benoit Mba, Mt-Bc, Nisreen Al Jallad Dds, Ms2, Shasha Cui Ed.D. Mba, Mandy Fraser, Gaelen Mccormick Mm1, Rosemary Oliva Obi Ms, Lcat, Mtbc1, Adela Planerova Dds, Ms2, Madeline Vinolus Mt-Bc1, Angela Valeria Perez Pita Dds, Ms2

Journal of the American College of Dentists

This case study describes the integration of a board-certified music therapist into two specialty dental clinics at the University of Rochester Medical Center’s Eastman Institute for Oral Health. Initiated in collaboration with the Eastman Performing Arts Medicine Center, the effort reflects a humanistic and biopsychosocial approach to dentistry that leverages music therapy to reduce anxiety, improve patient experience, and support better clinical outcomes.

Before implementation, monthly interdisciplinary planning meetings were held, bringing together dental faculty, research and administrative staff, and the music therapy team. These meetings built a shared understanding of each clinic’s unique patient population, workflow, and clinical priorities, …

J Mich Dent Assoc February 2026

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Each month, the Journal of the Michigan Dental Association delivers news, information, and features about Michigan dentistry to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200+ members. It remains the main publication reaching Michigan dentists and is available worldwide through ADA Commons.

The February 2026 (Volume 108, No. 2) issue of the Journal is published in a digital format to provide updates and insights for Michigan's oral health community and MDA members. Print editions occur every other month beginning with January.

This issue includes feature articles on Risk Management and 2025 Servant Leadership as well as a clinical reprint …

Endorsed Programs News, Reva Darling

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This Endorsed news section outlines several financial and operational resources endorsed by the MDA to support dental practices. It highlights practice financing through Bank of America, significant savings on credit card processing with Best Card, and AI-driven marketing trends via ProSites Additionally, the news features the MDA Medicare Educational Seminar and wealth management services offered by DBS Investment Advisers. These programs are designed to enhance practice efficiency and provide professional guidance for dentists at all career stages.

How The Dental Workforce Personifies Servant Leadership, William Chase Dds, Maom

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This feature article explores various leadership styles, identifying servant leadership as the most relevant model for dental professionals. The author connects servant leadership to emotional intelligence (EI), detailing how traits like empathy, self-awareness, and active listening empower clinicians to build trusting patient relationships. By dedicating themselves to high standards of care and maintaining respect for patients, dental teams personify trusted providers. The feature encourages dentists to view themselves as leaders and oral health counselors.

Let’S All Give Kids A Smile, Michelle C. Dziurgot

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This editorial highlights the Give Kids a Smile program, focusing on the professional and moral imperative for dentists to provide charity care to underserved children. The author shares her personal experience hosting a day of volunteer dental services, providing exams, X-rays, and cleanings to families lacking insurance or Medicaid access. The piece serves as a call to action for dental offices to give back to the community, stressing that helping those in need fulfills the core purpose of the dental profession.

Shingles: A Case Report, Michele White Dds, Ryan Vahdani Dds, Mha, Gary Frey Dds, Ben Warner Ms, Dds, Md

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This case report details a 58-year-old male who presented at a dental urgent care clinic with oral pain and a facial rash. The report identifies the condition as shingles (herpes zoster), caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus. It explores the clinical presentation, differential diagnosis—distinguishing it from Ramsay Hunt Syndrome and Bell’s palsy—and emphasizes the importance of early antiviral treatment. Furthermore, the source highlights the role of dental practitioners in identifying infectious diseases and promoting vaccination. It serves as an educational tool for medical and dental clinicians to enhance collaborative care and expedite treatment through better recognition of shingles …

American Dental Association And Academy For Sports Dentistry Announce Collaboration To Advance Oral Health And Athlete Safety

New Orleans Dental Association News

Article announcing a new collaboration between the American Dental Association (ADA) and the Academy for Sports Dentistry (ASD) on as-yet undecided initiatives that could include educational opportunities and broader professional awareness of sports dentistry topics among current and future dentists.

Michigan Oral Health Coalition - A Great Cause, Chris Gorecki Dds

Journal of the Macomb Dental Society

This article features a monthly column from the Macomb Dental Society Executive Director, Dr. Christopher Gorecki.

The article enumerates how "timely access to coordinated dental care makes a meaningful difference." In it Dr. Gorecki highlights the ways in which local specialists and the Michigan Oral Health Coalition (MOHC) pursue optimal oral health for all Michigan residents—especially those who face barriers to care.

Observation, Analysis, Compassion, William J. Maloney Dds, Pgcertmed, Facd

Journal of the American College of Dentists

Drawing on examples from literature, art, and history, this article argues that optimal health care rests on a triad of observation, analysis, and compassion. Referencing physician-writers and keen observers such as Anton Chekhov, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Leonardo da Vinci, the discussion illustrates how careful attention to the human condition enhances diagnostic insight and ethical care. In the context of unprecedented global migration and strained health care systems, clinicians are challenged to move beyond technical competence toward a deeper understanding of patients’ fears, cultural barriers, and dignity. At the intersection of careful observation, thoughtful analysis, and genuine compassion, the highest …

Long-Lasting Impact Of Public Health Dentistry, Michal Herman Dds, Facd

Journal of the American College of Dentists

This article reflects on the enduring impact of public health dentistry through the author’s 25-year professional journey serving underserved and marginalized communities. It examines persistent barriers to equitable oral health care, including workforce shortages, inadequate insurance coverage, racial disparities, and limited access in rural and low-income populations. Drawing on experiences in nonprofit and community dentistry, the article highlights the importance of mentorship, advocacy, leadership, and community engagement in addressing oral health inequities. It argues that public health dentistry represents a form of professional altruism grounded in service and social responsibility, and calls on dental professionals to expand access, support workforce …

J Am Coll Dent 2026 92 3

Journal of the American College of Dentists

The Journal of the American College of Dentists (JACD) publishes scholarly articles, editorials, essays, and reflections addressing the ethical, professional, and social dimensions of dentistry. The Journal serves as a forum for advancing ethics, professionalism, leadership, and excellence within the dental community. By fostering dialogue across disciplines and perspectives, JACD provides readers with insights that encourage ethical, professional practice, lifelong learning, and service to the public, reinforcing dentistry’s commitment to advancing oral healthcare and the common good.

J Am Coll Dent 2026 92 2b

Journal of the American College of Dentists

This special issue of the Journal of the American College of Dentists responds to a growing but long-underrecognized demand for humanities and ethics in dental education, practice, and scholarship. It emerges from the work of the National Collaborative on Humanities and Ethics in Dentistry (NCHED), a multi-institutional partnership formed in 2023 to address the persistent exclusion of dentistry from broader health humanities conversations. Through national webinars and scholarly collaboration, NCHED has demonstrated substantial interest in ethical reflection, historical analysis, narrative inquiry, and the arts as essential to understanding oral health and dental care.

The unexpectedly strong response to the call …

Unpacking And Re-Imagining Dental Ethics With Anti-Oppressive And Interdisciplinary Praxis, Eleanor Fleming Phd, Dds, Mph, Ficd, Facd

Journal of the American College of Dentists

Dental ethics are assumed to be neutral in their intent. With a social contract grounded in liberalism and assumptions centering whiteness, the resulting ethics reinforce hierarchy, otherness, and inequities. Because concepts and practices are rarely neutral, dental ethics is embedded with biases, which results in it falling short of the demands of the 21st century and exacerbating health inequities rather than supporting efforts for health justice. This manuscript invites the reader to reflect critically and re-imagine dental ethics using anti-oppressive and interdisciplinary praxis. For the improvement of public health, the narrowing of inequities, and a functioning oral health system, the …

How Dentists Can Remain Advisors Of Merit To Their Patients, Daniel L. Orr Ii, Dds, Ms (Anesth), Phd, Jd, Md, Facd (Nevada Section Chair)

Journal of the American College of Dentists

This article examines how members of the dental profession can sustain their longstanding reputation as trusted advisors amid declining public confidence in major institutions. Grounded in ethical principles, informed consent, and professional self-regulation, dentistry has historically ranked among the most trusted professions. The discussion explores challenges to credibility, including media scrutiny, concerns about anesthesia safety, controversial treatment hesitancy, and debates over community water fluoridation. Emphasizing the concept of the “advisor of merit,” the author argues that continued trust depends on truthful communication, transparency about risks, respect for patient autonomy, and freedom from conflicts of interest in clinical and public health …

Empathy And Human-Centered Leadership In Community Health Center Dental Clinics, Pamela S. Alston Dds, Mpp, Facd

Journal of the American College of Dentists

A person-centered approach, with empathy toward patients, can improve satisfaction among both patients and dental health professionals. A dental director with a human-centered leadership style can improve the well-being of oral health team members. This article describes the role that empathy, a core value of humanism and professionalism, plays in accomplishing these improvements in community health center dental clinics. This article also describes the risks of empathy, as experienced by the author in her role as a dental director and practitioner, as well as documented in the literature. It further focuses on dental directors’ human-centered approaches to supporting oral health …

Generational Differences In Dentistry And Dental Practice, Ellen Lee Dds, Brian Chin M.B.A., Hazel Hong, Daranthea Atmadja, Jong Soo Lim, Jamie Chen, Chloe Lin, Chloe Naeun Kim

The New York State Dental Journal

Society is composed of workers from different generations. These include the Silent Generation, or Traditionalists, Baby Boomer Generation, Generation X, Millennials and Generation Z. Generation Alpha will join the workforce in the next decade. The way each generation has approached dentistry depends on available materials and technology, as well as contemporary societal values. In addition, major historical events and the state of the economy may have been and are contributing factors in how each generation practiced or practices dentistry.

Hiv Screenings In Dental Settings Feasibility, Challenges And Opportunities, Leander Nguyen, Melissa Yap, Ezzard Rolle Dds, Alison Newgard Dds

The New York State Dental Journal

Integrating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening into dental settings presents a valuable opportunity to enhance early detection and reduce transmission rates. Dentists regularly interact with at-risk populations and can use rapid oral fluid tests, which are noninvasive and reliable. Studies show that both dental professionals and patients are generally receptive to this practice, though barriers remain, including cost, provider training and concerns about scope of practice. Implementing structured education, clear protocols and interprofessional collaboration can support widespread adoption. Overall, dental HIV screening holds promise as a feasible and impactful public health intervention.

J Mich Dent Assoc January 2026

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Each month, the Journal of the Michigan Dental Association delivers news, information, and features about Michigan dentistry to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200+ members. It remains the main publication reaching Michigan dentists and is available worldwide through ADA Commons. The January 2026 (Volume 108, No. 1) issue of the Journal is published in a print format to provide updates and insights for Michigan's oral health community and MDA members. Print editions occur every other month beginning with January.

This issue includes feature articles on Pediatric Dentistry and 2025 Life Membership recipients.

Regular monthly contributions include:

• Editorial …

N Y State Dent J June 2026

The New York State Dental Journal

In the June/July 2026 issue, the reader will find the following feature articles:

• HIV Screenings in Dental Settings: Feasibility, Challenges and Opportunities
• Oral Myeloid Sarcoma
• Generational Differences in Dentistry and Dental Practice

This issue includes regular columns with regional news impacting the New York membership including editorial and perspectives columns, legal, association activities, component news, continuing education opportunities, and classifieds.

Impact In Action: Your Michigan Dental Association Foundation, Anne Berquist

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

The Michigan Dental Association (MDA) Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit, works to promote better dental health and support the future dental workforce through educational scholarships. The Foundation’s impact is increasing yearly, evidenced by a 42% increase in scholarship awards in 2024, providing $44,000 to 15 recipients. It also provides grants to statewide organizations delivering dental care to uninsured, impoverished, and underserved populations, awarding $141,500 in 2025. A high-profile program is the biannual Michigan Mission of Mercy (MOM), which provided over $1.1 million in donated care in Flint in 2024. Support is generated through various fundraisers, including the Year-End Fundraising Campaign.

Articulator Volume 31, Issue 4

Metro Denver Dental Society Articulator Magazine

The 4^th Quarter 2025 of the MDDS Articulator Magazine offers a preview of the 2026 Rocky Mountain Dental Convention, taking place January 22–24 in Denver. The collection spotlights RMDC speakers and the future of dentistry, from the rise of AI and the shift toward integrated whole-health care to the hidden challenges of chronic illness, and a commitment to preserving natural dentition. The articles challenge dental professionals to rethink assumptions, embrace interdisciplinary collaboration and adopt more personalized and evidence-driven approaches to care.

Mda At Your Service: A Deaf Person Wants To Become My Patient, Rachel Sinacola Dds, Ms

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

The column clarifies that under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), dental offices must provide auxiliary aids or services for patients with hearing impairments, which may require a professional interpreter paid for by the dentist in complex visits. Members are encouraged to notify the MDA about practice/life changes (e.g., address changes or caseload shifts) to ensure proper benefits and dues discounts. New associates are strongly urged to utilize the MDA resource for contract review, which offers a 10% discount with Kerr Russell Attorneys. Additionally, the MDA Store provides free Labor Poster Packets, fulfilling state and federal employer requirements.

N Y State Dent J November 2025

The New York State Dental Journal

In the November 2025 issue, the reader will find the following feature articles:

• "Attitudes of New York State Pediatric Dentists Toward Treating Hasidic Patients"
• "A Qualitative Assessment of the Role of Dental Specialists in U.S. Opioid Epidemic"
• "Revolutionizing Dental Operatories"
• "An Update on Non-Cigarette Nicotine-Containing Products and the Periodontal Patient"

This issue includes regular columns with regional news impacting the New York membership including: editorial and legal columns, association activities, component news, continuing education opportunities, and classifieds.

J Mich Dent Assoc November 2025

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Each month, the Journal of the Michigan Dental Association delivers news, information, and features about Michigan dentistry to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200+ members. It remains the main publication reaching Michigan dentists and is available worldwide through ADA Commons.

The November 2025 (Volume 107, No. 11) issue of the Journal is published in both hard copy and with a digital-only format to provide updates and insights for Michigan's oral health community and MDA members. Print editions will resume in November.

The November issue focuses on membership along with a reprinted clinical article on the Oral Manifestations …