This week we talked to four members about what receiving their Fellowship, Mastership and Lifelong Learning and Service Recognition (LLSR) awards in 2020 meant to them and why they encourage other members to set this goal for 2021.

Bruce L. Cassis, DDS, MAGD, took over as AGD president in the midst of a global pandemic that has severely impacted public health as well as the financial health of dentists and professional associations like AGD.

What better way to give back to our profession and our patients than with a gift to AGD? As you consider your year-end charitable contributions, the AGD Foundation Board of Directors invites you to lead by example through supporting the Foundation’s 2020 Annual Appeal.

AGD wants to help our student members over winter break with special savings like online shopping deals for last-minute gifts, plus shipping discounts. Or, help yourself to offers on auto and home insurance and discounted student loan rates.

The AGD Foundation is dedicated to expanding its reach for the prevention and treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers. Your donation can help raise awareness and save lives. We need your help today.

Find the perfect fit for your dental team by using AGD’s Career Center, an easy-to-use platform for posting employment listings and searching for eligible candidates. Receive state-of-the-art services to manage applications, set search alerts, receive valuable reporting and more.

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

Still shopping for the holidays? By shopping on Amazon, you can help the AGD Foundation increase awareness of oral cancer and promote the importance of early detection. For each eligible purchase you make at AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to the AGD Foundation.

AGD2021 is a meeting you won’t want to miss. Whether you’re eager to attend some of the finest dental CE in the world provided by incredible speakers, excited to explore Austin, Texas, or looking forward to catching up with colleagues at a socially distanced networking event, AGD2021 has something for everyone.

If you’ve referred colleagues to join AGD, now’s a good time to follow up and make sure they join before the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31. Send your colleagues the application to join with a note wishing them success in the new year and encouraging them to become AGD members.

Distinguishing true panoramic images from ghost images is a crucial skill that may help avoid unnecessary surgical intervention. This article describes cases of a giant sialolith and tonsillolith, each of which appeared bilaterally due to ghost images, and discusses their clinical and radiographic characteristics.

This year saw millions of patients falling ill to COVID-19, a lack of availability and reliability in COVID-19 testing, dental clinic closures, and a spike in stress-related oral health conditions.

AGD is providing members with relevant updates on COVID-19 vaccine authorizations in the United States. It is expected that at least two vaccines (from Pfizer and Moderna) will have received emergency use authorization by the end of December and that the Trump administration will begin distribution for priority groups as determined by each state.

In this collaboration between AGD and the American College of Dentists, Na’eel Cajee, DMD, MTS, urges dentists to focus on presenting dentistry as an essential service for the public good rather than as a business in times of crisis.

It takes courage to invest in marketing when there is so much uncertainty. However, it is precisely these times when you should stay visible to your target audience because it’s an opportunity to overtake your competitors. AGD Impact columnist Jackie Ulasewich Cullen explores how you can use marketing to grow your practice during this tumultuous time.

The newest issue of AGD Impact includes a three-part story on how dentists can help themselves and their practices recover from 2020 by assessing their mental health, finances and infection control equipment.

Don’t let this amazing opportunity fall into the mix of other Cyber Monday deals! Today is your last chance to be entered into the drawing. Register for AGD2021 today, Nov. 30, by 11:59 p.m. CST, to be entered into a drawing to win airfare for two to AGD2021 in Austin, Texas.

Each month, AGD Impact’s Testing the Tools column looks at products to help you in your practice.

Visit AGD virtually at booth No. 2349 during the Greater New York Dental Meeting for your chance to be entered into a drawing to receive an iPad Air (valued at $599.99) and view the latest information on our offerings and specials. Have a question? This is a great opportunity to get answers directly from an AGD representative.

The AGD Foundation is seeking nominations for candidates to serve on the 2021–2023 board of directors. If you are interested in joining AGD’s philanthropic initiative by supporting oral cancer prevention and other programs, submit your name for consideration, or nominate a fellow member. Nominations are due to the AGD Foundation Governance Committee at foundation@agd.org by April 15, 2021.