This Week at AGD

The process, called Orthotropics, or mewing, claims that if you consistently position your tongue in a particular way, you will be able to get a more defined jaw line. To many patients, the results might seem too good to be true. But is there any truth to these social media claims?

Can’t make it to Austin? AGD is bringing back Facebook Live coverage for AGD2021! Our coverage includes unparalleled access to all the can’t-miss education offerings, social events and exhibitor demonstrations along with attendee interviews.

AGD President Bruce L. Cassis, DDS, MAGD, responded to a recent article in U.S. News and Kaiser Health News (”Why Your Dentist May Seem Pushy”). “Unfortunately, attacks on our profession like this can set us back from providing the essential care our patients and communities need and deserve,” said Cassis.

The electronic platform allows participants to bid from anywhere on their phone or laptop. The auction is open to all AGD members, friends and family members and will remain open until June 12 at 8 p.m. CDT.

This year, there will be no onsite registration at AGD2021 in Austin, Texas, so be sure to register for the meeting and courses by 5 p.m. CDT on June 8. Can't make it to Austin? Take advantage of the AGD2021 Lecture-Only Hybrid Package.

AGD reminds general dentists that the recent changes to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mask guidance for fully vaccinated people do not apply to healthcare settings such as dental offices. Dentists should continue to consult the "CDC Guidance for Dental Settings" and follow CDC and state screening recommendations when patients arrive at their offices.

This month, AGD Impact examines the impact service-based debt relief programs have on new dentists and the communities they serve. The issue also breaks down the DIY orthodontic craze Orthotropics, or mewing, that has gone viral on social media, and a special feature highlights four 2021 FAGD and MAGD recipients.

Early detection of oral and oropharyngeal cancer is essential to improving treatment options for individuals who are diagnosed with this disease. According to the American Cancer Society, about 54,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with oral and oropharyngeal cancer this year.

Are you working toward earning your AGD Fellowship? For a limited time, all Study Guides (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020) and the Study Guide Supplement (2008–2015) are discounted. The Study Guides are now $50 each (previously $96), and the Study Guide Supplement is now $199 (previously $299). These discounts end May 31.

For practice owners, managing your business operations and staying in front of patients are as important as ever. AGD wants to help you stay on top by providing special discounts on a variety of insurance and financial services and practice management products to meet the needs of your business.

One of the biggest problems facing dental practice owners is staffing. While this problem is not new, applicant pools have become even smaller since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Eric S. Studley, DDS, and Ivy Peltz, DDS, MSED, PhD, MAGD, talk about how to keep your dental staff members on board.

Scientific knowledge and technical skill are not the only qualities dental professionals need to do their jobs well. Narrative medicine is an emerging competence that encourages providers to appreciate empathy and its role in patient care.

AGD2021 is just around the corner — are you aware of all the offerings the AGD Foundation will have in Austin? The AGD Foundation will host free oral cancer screenings, New Dentist Lounge activities and the AGD Foundation Silent Auction.

Fear of the dentist is among the top reasons adults cite for avoiding the dentist. Every patient is unique, and individual dentists may develop their own strategies to help fearful patients, but there are several best practices to help put these patients at ease. (One Self-Instruction CE credit available.)

While the popularity of e-cigarettes continues to rise, the evidence against these products as a healthy alternative to tobacco smoking — or a safe tobacco cessation tool — continues to mount. The latest installment of General Dentistry’s literature review series outlines current and concerning research on the effects of e-cigarette use.

If you’re a new graduate, you’ve hopefully already enrolled in the complimentary malpractice coverage from our Exclusive Benefits provider Dentist’s Advantage. So why not take the next step and recommend it to your fellow graduates? The coverage lasts from the day of enrollment through April 30, 2022.

AGD is working to address the most pressing issues faced by our members as we advocate to government entities for general dentists. AGD joined the American Association for Dental Research May 5 along with other dental and healthcare stakeholders in releasing a letter of support to Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy, MD, MBA, urging the prompt release of the 2020 Surgeon General's Report on Oral Health.

The Daily Grind’s most recent blogger, Michael R. Gradeless, DDS, FACD, survived a sudden cardiac arrest and spent much of his recovery reading and thinking about retirement, work, family and our purpose in life.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), has announced a new program covering costs of administering COVID-19 vaccines to patients enrolled in health plans that either do not cover vaccination fees or cover them with patient cost-sharing.

COVID-19 has had a profound impact on the next generation of dentists and the educational institutions responsible for training them. The dental school application process, graduation and everything in between have been forced to adapt to the reality of the pandemic. While some changes might fade once the pandemic is over, others might be here to stay.