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Check out AGD Impact’s feature story this month, which explores the ins and outs of the invisible dental services organization (DSO), a type of DSO that offers nonclinical administrative support services to dental practices while allowing them to retain their name and branding.

On July 22, 2025, the U.S. House Committee on Ways & Means, Health and Oversight Subcommittees held a joint hearing entitled, Medicare Advantage: Past Lessons, Present Insights, Future Opportunities.

On July 14, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its Calendar Year (CY) 2026 proposed rule for the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). In the proposed rule, CMS proposed changes to the physician payment conversion factor and included other key updates that impact primary care and Medicare services.

From July 17th through 19th Dr. Gordon Isbell, DMD, MAGD and AGD staff attended the Annual Meeting of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). ALEC is a national organization of state legislators dedicated to free markets, limited government and federalism.

Dr. Jane F. Martone was honored at the 2025 Convocation Ceremony in Montréal on July 12. Martone’s remarkable career spans nearly three decades of private practice and dental education, where her tireless dedication to teaching and advancing oral implantology has earned her widespread respect and admiration.

Nearly 14.2 million Americans suffer from serious mental illness (SMI). A new study in General Dentistry used data from a U.S. dental school clinic to examine oral healthcare disparities experienced by people with SMI and suggest a more integrated approach to care.

To achieve your Fellowship, Mastership, or Lifelong Learning and Service Recognition during the AGD2026 Convocation Ceremony in Las Vegas, all requirements must be completed and applications must be submitted on or before Dec. 31. Need help fulfilling the required CE? Search the AGD CE Directory or Online Learning Center.

In part two of our Convocation feature, four more awardees share what drove them to pursue Fellowship, Mastership or LLSR honors — and offer advice for others aiming to achieve these prestigious milestones.

The days of placing an ad on Indeed or the local job board and finding an employee in a few weeks are gone. Dentists need to be more creative with finding employees, and even more competitive when it comes to having a job that potential employees will fight for.

Recently, AGD Podcast Series host Dr. George J. Schmidt spoke with Dr. Michael J. Melkers, an expert in restorative care, and Dr. John Chao, inventor of the pinhole surgical technique (PST™), a minimally invasive, scalpel-free, suture-free method for treating gingival recession.

Marketing budgets can vary widely depending on your practice goals, growth stage and location, but that doesn’t mean you have to guess. AGD Impact columnist Jackie Ulasewich Cullen says the key is treating marketing as a strategic investment — not just another line item.

Don’t worry! The Fall Fellowship Review Course and Exam will take place Sept. 26–28 in Chicago. Premium Plus members receive a 20% discount on the review course. To help prepare in the meantime, download the Study Guide Supplement 2016-2020 along with the Annual Study Guides.

AGD is working to address the most pressing issues faced by our members as we advocate to government entities for general dentists.

As a thank-you for attending AGD2025, attendees are eligible to access a complimentary Self-Instruction quiz worth 2 CE credits. Log in to the AGD Online Learning Center and search “GD549” or “Velos Self-Instruction” to locate the quiz — no promo code required.

AGD Impact spoke to several of this year’s recipients and asked about their motivations, their strategies for tackling the requirements of these awards and their advice for other general dentists who are pursuing these marks of professional recognition.

On July 9, 2025, the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee is scheduled to vote on the nomination of Dr. Susan Monarez to serve as Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed into law a reconciliation bill that enacts significant changes to federal health care programs and tax policy. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) passed the U.S. Senate on July 1 with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the tie-breaking vote before being passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on July 3 by a vote of 218-214.