Bettina D. Laidley, DMD, FAGD
Regional Director, Region 1 

Bettina D. Laidley, DMD, FAGD, represents Region 1, which includes Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. She is currently serving as the chair of the regional directors. For the last six years, Laidley has served as regional director and expects to complete her second term in 2019. Prior to this position, she served as president of Vermont AGD, and delegate and alternate for the region.

Her graduation from Tufts Dental School in 1972 was followed by two years as a lieutenant in the Commissioned Corps of the Indian Health Service in New Mexico and Arizona. During her service, she joined AGD to continue her education and fill in any gaps in her dental training, preparing her for her 40-year career in general dentistry. While earning credit toward her Fellowship, which she received in 1987, she advocated for Vermont on the legislative level through AGD Advocacy training. Laidley believes AGD gave her the tools and training to make a difference in her constituency, where she practiced for 37 years.

In 2011, she achieved emeritus status during the annual meeting in San Diego.

Her mission as regional director is to cement closer ties within the states and prepare a succession plan, so new and committed members can carry on the important work of representing general dentists and their continued education in the region.

In her spare time, Laidley enjoys hiking, family, friends and occasional travel to places like Lesotho, Africa, Ecuador and Vietnam to volunteer with other compassionate medical specialists.

Her advice to new graduates and current members alike is: “Get involved, make a difference for your patients, your colleagues and your profession. Join a family of like-minded people who value continued education for your entire career, and develop the most amazing friendships along the way.”