AGD members gathered in Chicago for AGD’s Advocacy Conference to share best practices in advocacy and legislative outreach to expand the organization’s impact with state and federal legislators.

The AGD Foundation's Electronic Silent Auction is opening soon. All donations will be used to support efforts to prevent oral/oropharyngeal cancer.

Eric M. Block, DMD, CAGS, FICOI, FICD, shares part two of a three-part series on introducing clear aligners in your practice. This section focuses on how to decide on a clear aligner system, get the team on board and put practice systems in place.

One of the greatest honors of my life is my service to AGD as its president. It is through this lens that I am truly grateful to the leaders who elected and supported me and to the AGD members.

Make your life easier while studying for the AGD Fellowship Exam by downloading the Study Guide Supplement 2008-2015. This master study guide contains 400+ questions, answers, critiques and references. It’s the perfect resource to help you refresh your knowledge ahead of the exam.

Read the November/December issue for new research across subject areas, including a pilot study on the effectiveness of machine learning for detecting oral potentially malignant disorders, two different articles on community water fluoridation, an analysis of dental erosion as indication of gastroesophageal reflux disease and more.

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

The risk of malpractice claims and lawsuits are enough to scare any dentist. That’s why we offer all AGD new graduates and residents professional liability insurance from Dentist’s Advantage at no cost. No tricks — it’s just one of the treats of AGD membership.

Registration for AGD2023 opens tomorrow, Nov. 1. AGD’s scientific session is back at Caesars Palace for the first time since 2017. Take advantage of the early bird registration rate: Premium Plus members receive FREE registration, and Premium members enjoy discounted pricing for a limited time!

Sign up for AGD’s three live webinars in November. Get started with “Complete Dentures Revisited,” presented by Maj. David Lalande, DMD, FACP, FRCDC, this Thursday, Nov. 3. Reserve your spot for this webinar along with the rest of the November lineup.

Even if having an associate or partner in your practice is years away, it’s never too early to think about the process and what you can do to prepare. Don Deems, DDS, FAGD, PCC, gives important parameters for having exceptional communication from the start of your professional relationship.

AGD Impact’s November issue looks at the effects of inflation and provides insights and tips to help general dentists during this challenging time. Don’t miss other important stories on clear aligners, website accessibility, wellness and legal matters, just to name a few, as well as one Self-Instruction exercise.

When I first began college, I remember talking to a nursing professor about the importance of finding a mentor. Then I started working as a nurse, and the older nurses talked about how they had mentors and learned from them. After that, I began dental school, and each of my professors spoke about the importance of mentorship. It was at that point in my D1 year that I thought, “Maybe I should find a mentor.”

Eric M. Block, DMD, CAGS, FICOI, FICD, was on the verge of burnout. He was tired of doing the same kind of dentistry day in, day out. Learn how he revitalized his passion by adding clear aligners to his practice.

Production is not just a number, but a compilation of many actions, systems and services. And, just like any other business statistic, there are proven methods to increase it. Roger Levin, DDS, provides examples of opportunities that every dental practice should consider when creating production plans.

AGD’s year-round membership app offers you a way to stay connected with other members, access information and membership benefits, and receive important notifications. Use your AGD username (not email address) to log in.

AGD Podcast host Wes Blakeslee, DMD, FAGD, and dental coding expert Greg Grobmyer, DDS, discuss coding strategies, updates for 2022 and 2023, documentation practices, and opportunities for managing insufficient documentation.

The clear aligner treatment landscape has become ultracompetitive. A dental practice wanting to capitalize on the opportunity to offer clear aligners or one looking to boost the number of clear aligner cases it treats should implement a comprehensive marketing strategy to attract the right kinds of patients.

Show your commitment to exceptional oral care by pursuing the Fellowship or Mastership awards or LLSR. To get recognized at AGD2023 in Las Vegas, July 19–22, all requirements must be completed, and applications must be submitted and postmarked, on or before Dec. 31, 2022.

Ralph A. Cooley, DDS, FAGD, has long been involved with AGD. In addition to his current role as a member of the Legislative & Governmental Affairs Council, he represents AGD and the interests of general dentists in two additional organizations. He spoke with AGD Impact about his path to involvement.