Category: Opinion & Editorial

The American Dental Association Board of Trustees met March 6–8 to review the Association’s financial progress, governance initiatives, membership strategies and operational priorities. The Board selected Nader A. Nadershahi, DDS, MBA, EdD, as the next executive director of the ADA, effective March 23. The Board also expressed its sincere ... [continue reading]

The stories we tell ourselves about dentistry — and the people who embody them — always shape our future.  How do we choose our heroes in an age of noise? Walk into any dental office and you’ll see them: the framed diplomas, the photographs of mentors, perhaps a quote from a pioneer in the field or a renowned motivational speaker. These ... [continue reading]

Dr. Kara Morris set me up for this column with her warning about the inevitability of artificial intelligence in our lives in the January-February issue of “ODA Today!”1 (Well, I think it was her … but as she says, you never know these days!) The larger challenge for us in our care of patients in today’s health world is filtering fact ... [continue reading]

As oral health professionals, we are committed to delivering care that is grounded in the best available evidence. Clinical practice guidelines play a critical role in that commitment. They translate research into actionable recommendations that help clinicians, patients and policymakers make informed decisions, which improve health ... [continue reading]

“The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.” – Plato It doesn’t take a very deep conversation about the ODA’s advocacy efforts before someone will mention the historic increase in Ohio Medicaid dental reimbursement as well as passage of what we termed (with affection?) the “non-covered ... [continue reading]

I’ll admit it — when the news came through that Winter Storm Fern would be shutting down schools, businesses and much of central Ohio, I felt something I hadn’t experienced in years: pure, childlike excitement. After nearly 40 years in dental practice, I should probably be more measured in my response to weather disruptions. Yet there I was, ... [continue reading]

It has been almost a month since my mother passed from this world. Immediately I️ felt this loss of innocence as my biggest cheerleader and protector was no longer present. Every column I️ would write, she would say on the phone “send it to me.” Every recorded webinar she would insist on having the link so she could send it to her friends. ... [continue reading]

The question caught me off guard. After a long day in our clinic in the rural town of Xenocoj, Guatemala, one of the local dentists approached me with genuine curiosity. We had just finished treating dozens of patients alongside 12 dental students from Ohio State, and he wanted to know: “How are the patients you’re seeing here different ... [continue reading]

“I can’t spend the rest of my life asking if this is AI or not.” – unknown Authenticity and automation are two words with similar etymologic origin, “autos” deriving from the Greek word for “self.”  Both words could apply to the conversation at hand regarding AI in dentistry and to AI in our broader lives. One could say that ... [continue reading]

Here at the threshold of 2026, I find myself reflecting on what truly makes a dental practice thrive. It’s not just the latest technology in our operatories or the expanded scope of our services. It’s something more fundamental, more human. The most successful practices I know share a common thread: they trust their teams to use their best ... [continue reading]