This Week at AGD

The recruiter leaderboard is lighting up with friendly competition. Encourage colleagues to join AGD by Sept. 30 to lock in half-price dues, and you’ll earn $50 in Referral Rewards per new member and rise in the referral ranks.

If you’re aiming to earn your Fellowship, Mastership, or Lifelong Learning and Service Recognition in time for AGD2026 at Caesars Palace, now’s the time to take action. All requirements and your application are due by Dec. 31, 2025.

Firegang Dental Marketing, AGD’s newest member benefit provider, helps dentists attract new patients, grow revenue and build rewarding practices. AGD members receive $1,000 off Practice360 onboarding and up to $1,000 in AGD annual dues covered each year as a Firegang client.

If you’re ready to demonstrate your commitment to lifelong learning and clinical excellence, now is the perfect time to pursue your AGD Fellowship. Earning your Fellowship distinguishes you as a dentist who values education, professional growth and the highest standard of patient care.

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

The American Dental Association Foundation is now accepting applications for two award programs that support the next generation of professionals and researchers. These awards recognize individuals committed to advancing oral health and expanding access to care.

AGD Impact columnist Dr. Clayton Sorrells has been sharing his journey from student dentist to new practice owner. In this month’s issue, he writes about the progress he’s made in year two, the challenges that came with it and the things he still needs to work on.

Your patients want paying to be simple. Your practice wants it to be affordable. AGD’s newest benefit provider, MPACT, delivers both, with waived setup fees, a free processing terminal and included virtual terminal. Secure, patient-friendly solutions save time and reduce costs.

Many dentists fixate on their practice overhead. Dr. Roger P. Levin has experience reviewing hundreds of practice financial reports, and overhead is typically not the main factor why doctor income is not higher. Read about other practice management factors to tweak in order to increase practice profitability.

A new case series in General Dentistry presents two unusual cases of osteoporotic bone marrow defect (OBMD), each initially regarded as a cystic lesion with corticated margins. Clinicians should be knowledgeable about various radiologic presentations of osseous disorders of the jaws, including OBMDs.

AGD Podcast Series host Dr. George J. Schmidt spoke with Angela Davis Sullivan, CEO and founder of Adaptive Dental Solution, on building a thriving dental practice. He also discussed AGD’s role in advocating for dental codes with Drs. Ralph Cooley and Arlene O’Brien.

Strengthen your understanding of essential dental topics at AGD’s Fall Fellowship Review Course. This two-day event in Chicago provides up to 16 CE hours and strategic preparation for the Fellowship Exam. Build momentum toward your FAGD, and join peers on the same professional journey.

In her latest column, Dr. Maggie Augustyn discusses ways she is adjusting her mindset to live in the here and now. She describes the joy she is finding in shifting her mindset from wanting the next big thing to appreciating the micromoments.

Preparing for retirement is one of the most daunting tasks that young dentists face when they first start practicing. By taking appropriate steps at each stage of their careers, dentists will be able to track their retirement strategy throughout the years and ensure a financially independent lifestyle when they decide to stop working.

To be recognized at the AGD2026 Convocation Ceremony at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, all requirements and an application are due by December 31, 2025. AGD has the resourcese to make your goal a reality.

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

Leading effective conversations during bilingual pediatric dental appointments is a difficult task. A qualitative study in General Dentistry investigates the challenges and conflicts faced by dental providers and interpreters, offering clinicians new perspectives on these difficult encounters.

AGD authored a letter addressed to the U.S. Secretary of Defense urging the Department of Defense to maintain current water fluoridation levels on U.S. military bases overseas. The letter highlights the essential role fluoridated water plays in protecting the oral health of service members and their families.

Various internet articles and pop psychology pieces use generational labels to attribute certain general characteristics to entire generations, but how true are these assumptions? Can dentists rely on any of these stereotypes when they evaluate potential job candidates, especially those from Generation Z? If not, what information should they base decisions on?

Early bird registration closes tomorrow, Aug. 12, for the Case Acceptance Mastery Series at AGD headquarters in Chicago. Secure your $400+ savings and earn 7 CE hours while gaining essential tools to increase revenue and patient trust.