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Don Deems, DDS, FAGD, PCC, offers advice on how to handle oral cancer when it strikes closest – one of your patients.

Congratulations to our soon-to-be 2021 dental school graduates! AGD Exclusive Benefits partner Dentist’s Advantage helps you start off your career right by offering professional liability insurance at no cost. Insurance is a must-have to practice, and now you’ll be covered without the extra expense.

When Alvin S. Berger, DDS, FAGD, retired in 2002 after a 41-year career in dentistry, his life did not become any less rich or fulfilling. He shared his experiences with AGD Impact in hopes of guiding and inspiring others as they move through their own professional journeys. Read this month's Member Spotlight.

While pharmaceutical interventions may help manage the stress that precipitates bruxism, some of these agents induce bruxism as an adverse effect. Read General Dentistry’s latest Pharmacology column for a discussion on medications that can induce bruxism and how to manage such cases.

On March 30, AGD sent a letter to Rachel L. Levine, M.D. congratulating her on being confirmed by the Senate to serve as the 17th Assistant Secretary for Health for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

On April 9, the nearly 100-member Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) announced five key policy recommendations the lawmaker group is advocating to be included in President Biden’s proposed American Jobs Plan.

The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote on and pass the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (H.R.1195). The legislation directs OSHA to issue a safety and health standard that would require certain health care and social service sector employers to implement workplace violence prevention plans.

AGD and other members of the Organized Dentistry Coalition recently sent a letter of support to Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) for the Ensuring Kids Have Access to Medically Necessary Dental Care Act (S.448).

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month. As part of AGD Impact’s annual recognition, the April issue includes stories that examine oral cancer from a global to a very personal level. “Oral Cancer Research Around the Globe” chronicles the most cutting-edge advancements in the fight against oral cancer.

Applications for the 2021 Distinguished Service and Humanitarian awards, which recognize exceptional achievements and contributions to the dental profession, are now open. Please consider nominating a fellow colleague by Monday, May 31.

Myofascial pain is a chronic condition that may mimic tooth pain. A new column in General Dentistry addresses this common disorder and reports a case in which a severe, persistent pain was reduced to virtually nothing when the patient received multidisciplinary treatment.

AGD2021 course registration is now open. Courses can fill up quickly, so don’t wait to register. Educational offerings range from advanced hands-on education to clinical and practice management lectures.

Each time you refer a colleague to join AGD , you both receive $50 in Referral Rewards. “By recruiting colleagues to join AGD, I’ve not only lowered my membership renewal cost, I’m also helping my fellow dentists,” said Filippo Marchello, DDS, MAGD.

This is your last chance to secure early bird pricing for AGD2021. Whether it’s the top-notch education or unique location you’re most excited about, AGD2021 is set to deliver an experience that lives up to its billing as the premier meeting for general dentists.

This month, AGD Impact recognizes April as Oral Cancer Awareness Month with stories that examine oral cancer from a global to a very personal level. The issue also covers the current state of stem cell research as it relates to dentistry and previews everything Austin has to offer AGD2021 attendees this summer.

Tooth autotransplantation is the movement of a tooth from its socket into another socket within the same patient. A new case report in General Dentistry discusses a successful tooth autotransplantation in a patient with diabetes mellitus, demonstrating how this conservative approach may be utilized.

AGD is working to address the most pressing issues faced by our members as we advocate to government entities for general dentists. On March 26, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) urged the Biden administration and his fellow Democrats to include the expansion of Medicare benefits to cover dental, vision and hearing services in addition to lowering the eligibility age from 65 to 55 or 60 in the next infrastructure bill.

The AGD Foundation will make oral cancer screenings available Friday, June 11, during AGD2021 at the Austin Convention Center for scientific session attendees and at the Fairmont Austin Hotel for hotel employees.

This month, AGD Podcaster Wes Blakeslee, DMD, FAGD, talks with one of his patients, Tom Zarra, an oral cancer survivor. This story highlights the importance of the interactions between dentists and their patients during oral cancer treatment.

AGD sent a letter of support to Representative Karen Bass (D-CA) on March 25 for her bipartisan legislation, the Foster Youth Dental Act of 2021 (H.R.1794).