This Week at AGD

Connecting with people we know casually can lead to new opportunities. You might be an AGD connection for colleagues you see between patients or at meetings. From Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, if they join for 2027, you’ll both earn $50 in Referral Rewards, and they’ll get the rest of 2026 free.

Coverage this month includes an examination of how AI is reshaping judgment, trust and accountability in dentistry; ways to maximize your hygiene department for practice growth; what dentists need to understand about treating survivors of sexual assault; a look at the kaizen approach to mindfulness; and columns on dental school external rotations, AI and dental marketing, the ethics of AI use, and tips to grow your practice.

Congenital granular cell epulis (CGCE) is a rare benign tumor affecting newborns. If the mass impedes the infant’s feeding or respiration, surgical excision is the treatment of choice. However, CGCE usually stabilizes, and clinical monitoring may be appropriate.

AGD is heading to the ADA Scientific Session, Oct. 8-10! Visit booth #208 to connect with our team and learn how membership supports your practice.

Whether you’ve already completed the requirements or are nearing the finish line, your hard work deserves national recognition. Plan your final steps and submit an FAGD, MAGD or LLSR application by Dec. 31 to walk the stage at AGD2027 in Chicago.

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

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently released new webpages emphasizing the importance of professional supervision and in-person evaluation for prescription clear aligner treatment, resources that AGD supports. The new materials underscore key patient-safety principles that AGD has long advocated.

For the first time, the AGD Fellowship Review Course and Exam will take place at the Greater New York Dental Meeting. Join us Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 at the Javits Convention Center for 16 CE hours, comprehensive exam prep and testing.

AGD has signed on to a letter calling on Congress to pass the REDI Act (S. 942/H.R. 2028), a bipartisan bill that would restore interest deferment on federal student loans for physicians and dentists during residency and internship training.

This month, AGD Impact Testing the Tools reviewer Ross Isbell, DDS, MBA, a general dentist in Gadsden, Alabama, evaluated three products shaping daily practice.

Some of the emotional tolls of dentistry include the relentless pursuit of approval, achievement and perfection. AGD Impact Wellness columnist Maggie Augustyn, DDS, FAGD, details her decision to leave behind external validation; grieve an old identity; and embrace stillness, self-love and simplicity. Through this shift, she finds freedom, health, presence and a truer sense of self.

Nominations for AGD Impact’s “10 Dentists to Watch” will close at the end of today! Hurry to nominate a talented young dentist who’s doing extraordinary things.

Transillumination highlights opacities, cracks and other surface defects in enamel. A literature review in the latest issue of General Dentistry covers this and other minimally invasive strategies for diagnosing and treating developmental enamel defects.

Help shape the future of dentistry by participating in DentalPost's 2027 State of the Dental Industry Survey. Your responses will contribute to valuable insights on compensation, workforce trends, practice growth and retirement projections. The findings will be published in the 2027 State of the Dental Industry Salary & Practice Growth Report.

Know someone who should be part of AGD? Through Sept. 30, your referral gets 50% off dues, and you’ll earn $50 in Referral Rewards when they join. It’s a simple way to help a colleague discover the value of AGD — and get rewarded for making the connection.

Stop dreading complex endodontic appointments. On Friday, Oct. 16, join Dr. Brett E. Gilbert at AGD headquarters in Chicago for a practical, hands-on workshop designed to overhaul your clinical confidence. Earn 6 participation CE credits, and gain techniques you can apply immediately Monday morning.

Last year brought a new tax bill with substantial changes. As year-end approaches, it’s time to get serious about your tax planning. Learn what you can be doing now to prevent any springtime sticker shock.

To receive your FAGD, MAGD or LLSR at AGD2027, July 8–10, all requirements must be completed, and applications submitted by Dec. 31. Need assistance crossing the finish line? AGD has the resources available to make your goal a reality.

Registration for the 2026 Fall Fellowship Review Course and Exam, taking place Sept. 25–27 in New Orleans, ends this Friday! Don’t miss this important step to becoming recognized as an AGD Fellow while earning 16 hours of CE during the two-day review course.

In the latest podcast, host Dr. George J. Schmidt interviews Dr. Brett Gilbert about best practices for endodontic treatment. Gilbert shares insights on case selection; when to refer to a specialist; and how factors like patient comfort, psychology and ability to open can be just as important as tooth anatomy.