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Wes Blakeslee, DMD, FAGD, a New Jersey general dentist, has been selected to serve as AGD associate editor. Blakeslee previously served on the advisory board for General Dentistry and is the host and creator of the AGD Podcast Series.

As part of AGD Impact’s April Oral Cancer Awareness Month coverage, we would like to include brief summaries of what AGD constituencies are doing to promote oral cancer awareness and prevention.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently provided an update on the authorized dosing schedules for COVID-19 vaccinations. The FDA is underscoring the importance of receiving COVID-19 vaccines according to how they’ve been authorized by the FDA.

Your role as an associate dentist may have you feeling stretched thin and stressed out. That’s why AGD has put together a collection of discounts to help you out. Whether it’s personal, financial or insurance related, we have options to fit your lifestyle.

Help a colleague start 2021 off right by inviting them to join AGD. By spreading the word about the value of AGD membership, you’ll earn $50 in Referral Rewards coupons that can be used toward your dues renewal for each of your colleagues who joins. Submit your referrals online.

AGD is working to prepare for the 117th Congress and identify how this year’s changes will impact general dentistry. We are continuing our outreach to legislative and regulatory leaders and working to respond to member needs throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced last week that Paroex® Chlorhexidine Gluconate Oral Rinse USP, 0.12% by Sunstar Americas has been recalled due to microbial contamination. Dentists in possession of these products should stop using and dispensing immediately.

Your team is your biggest asset, and when you care and nurture that asset, it will grow beyond what you thought was possible. Don Deems, DDS, FAGD, PCC, known as The Dentist’s Coach®, shares his favorite approaches to achieving your goals.

In the latest issue of AGD Impact, we asked dentists of varying backgrounds to weigh in on setting new goals.

Spokespeople serve as subject matter experts on behalf of AGD

AGD Members- Before reading this week's Capitol Connections, please take a moment to review the following information regarding a product recall alert:

The U.S. Senate recently voted on December 22 to pass the Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act (H.R. 1418), a bill to repeal the antiquated McCarran-Ferguson antitrust exemption granted to the health insurance industry decades ago.

On December 28, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC provided updated examples of its definition of "healthcare personnel (HCP)" that it recommends be among those offered the first doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

The 117th Congress officially began on January 3, which will reset the legislative docket and entail members of Congress introducing new legislation and reintroducing many bills that were not enacted into law over the last two years.

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

The latest issue of AGD's peer-reviewed journal is now available online. The issue includes an analysis of fluoride levels in commercially available tea in the United States, a discussion about prescribing prophylactic antibiotics for third molar surgery, a study of the impact social media may have on oral hygiene habits and much more.

AGD Executive Director Max Moses, JD, CPA, MBA, announced his retirement from AGD earlier this year. He has served as executive director since early 2018, and he leaves full-time employment at the end of this year. Moses led the organization during COVID-19 challenges, maintaining the organization’s focus during closures, regulatory changes and virtual meetings.

Resource page details state distribution protocols and state-by-by distribution details.

Letter petitions for COVID-19 relief

Congress passed a $1.4 trillion "omnibus" government funding package for fiscal year (FY) 2021 on December 21, after several delays due to pending negotiations on the latest COVID-19 relief bill.