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

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition caused by respiratory disturbances at night with sleep fragmentation, which can lead to hypoxia and inflammation. The effects of OSA can be particularly harmful for the pediatric population, leading to potential issues in neurobehavioral development, obesity, growth failure, bed-wetting and tooth wear. As members of the healthcare team, dentists can change patients’ lives by screening for and, in some cases, treating pediatric OSA.

On Dec. 8, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an announcement for an urgent recall of two lots of Teligent Pharma Lidocaine HCl Topical Solution USP, 4% - 50 ml. Dentists should stop using product from lots 16345 and 15594 immediately.

Select the AGD membership plan that best fits your current needs. Becoming a Premium member keeps you on the path to becoming a more well-rounded professional. Becoming a Premium Plus member gets you the most free CE, discounts on Fellowship course and study materials, and free early bird registration to AGD2022.

When Chung-Lei Kao, DMD, MAGD, earned her Mastership award in June 2021 at AGD’s annual Convocation Ceremony, it did not mark the end of her educational journey. She emphasizes a thirst for knowledge in her work as equally as excellent clinical skills and patient care.

Winter break doesn’t usually mean a break on the pocketbook, unfortunately. Luckily, the savings students get through AGD can help. Whether it’s online shopping discounts for last-minute gifts or trying to trim your auto or renter’s insurance expenses, there are plenty of deals available through the Exclusive Benefits program.

AGD’s special CE offer ends Dec. 31. Access and download your 14 free on-demand webinars for 2021 before the year ticks over to 2022. Topics include sleep apnea, oral surgery, sports dentistry and much more. Taking full advantage of this offer represents over $900 in savings.

The American Heart Association has not updated its guidelines for determining whether antibiotic prophylaxis should be used to prevent infective endocarditis in cardiac patients undergoing invasive dental procedures since 2007. More recent studies suggest refinements to those guidelines, however, that would significantly impact contemporary dental practice.

On November 30, H.R.1550, the Promoting Resources to Expand Vaccination, Education and New Treatments for (PREVENT) HPV Cancers Act of 2021 was passed unanimously by the U.S. House of Representatives.

Following the release of the Senate's Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 spending bill proposals, AGD sent a letter to leaders of relevant House and Senate funding subcommittees to reaffirm support for funding critical oral health programs.

On December 8, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to unanimously pass AGD-backed legislation, the Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act of 2021 (H.R.4555). The legislation resulted from a multi-year AGD advocacy initiative and considerable collaboration with AGD's allies in Congress.

This month, AGD Impact features the personal stories of three dentists and the lessons they plan to take from the pandemic. The issue also contains a feature on the dentist’s role in screening and treating pediatric obstructive sleep apnea along with a Self-Instruction exercise worth 1 CE credit.

Make your referral list and check it twice to ensure any colleagues you referred to AGD this year join before midnight on Dec. 31.

There are a lot of endodontic file systems — and enough styles and philosophies on canal shaping — for any practitioner to feel like they’ve treated their patients well. AGD Impact Testing the Tools columnist Ross Isbell, DMD, MBA, recently reviewed these instruments.

There are only a few weeks left to apply to receive AGD Fellowship, Mastership or LLSR in 2022! All applications must be received or postmarked by Dec. 31.

Many theories have been proposed to explain sialolithiasis development, but few consider the role of saliva. A new case report in General Dentistry suggests that the synergism of microbiota, biofilm and salivary dynamics plays a fundamental role in the architecture of sialoliths, creating a cyclic sialolithic mineralization.

AGD Podcast host Wes Blakeslee, DMD, FAGD, talks with Richard Madow, DDS, this month about important considerations for moving your practice forward. Madow outlines smart steps members should take to improve the experience for current patients and help recruit new patients.

This Giving Tuesday, support the AGD Foundation's Annual Appeal. The Foundation seeks to raise awareness of, increase early detection of and ultimately prevent oral/oropharyngeal cancer — all while empowering you as a general dentist.

The dental profession has endured the pandemic and, in doing so, learned many valuable lessons. Wellness experts Eric S. Studley, DDS, and Ivy D. Peltz, DDS, MSEd, PhD, MAGD, provide tips to mitigate stress related to future unplanned practice disruptions.

Select the membership plan that best fits your current needs as a dentist. Premium membership keeps you on the path to becoming a more well-rounded professional. Interested in attending AGD2022 and receiving the most free CE possible along with discounts on Fellowship-related study materials? Consider a Premium Plus membership.