This Week at AGD

AGD Impact regularly features a Testing the Tools column with practical reviews of some of the latest dental products. This month, reviewer Dr. Ross Isbell, a general dentist in Gadsden, Alabama, tested a one-step solution for buffering local anesthetics, a burr for soft tissue and a high-quality dental-grade glycerine.

Check out this month’s member spotlight featuring Dr. Alexandra Otto, a board-certified pediatric dentist and nationally recognized speaker and leader in the dental community. She shares why membership in AGD and staying on top of her skills as a general practitioner are important to her as a pediatric dentist.

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

Unlock proven techniques to boost case acceptance and patient trust at the AGD Headquarters in Chicago. This in-person course offers practical strategies and up to 7 CE credits. Save over $400, and elevate your communication skills for better outcomes. Limited spaces available.

Check out AGD Impact’s feature story this month, which explores the ins and outs of the invisible dental services organization (DSO), a type of DSO that offers nonclinical administrative support services to dental practices while allowing them to retain their name and branding.

Dr. Jane F. Martone was honored at the 2025 Convocation Ceremony in Montréal on July 12. Martone’s remarkable career spans nearly three decades of private practice and dental education, where her tireless dedication to teaching and advancing oral implantology has earned her widespread respect and admiration.

To achieve your Fellowship, Mastership, or Lifelong Learning and Service Recognition during the AGD2026 Convocation Ceremony in Las Vegas, all requirements must be completed and applications must be submitted on or before Dec. 31. Need help fulfilling the required CE? Search the AGD CE Directory or Online Learning Center.

Nearly 14.2 million Americans suffer from serious mental illness (SMI). A new study in General Dentistry used data from a U.S. dental school clinic to examine oral healthcare disparities experienced by people with SMI and suggest a more integrated approach to care.

In part two of our Convocation feature, four more awardees share what drove them to pursue Fellowship, Mastership or LLSR honors — and offer advice for others aiming to achieve these prestigious milestones.

The days of placing an ad on Indeed or the local job board and finding an employee in a few weeks are gone. Dentists need to be more creative with finding employees, and even more competitive when it comes to having a job that potential employees will fight for.

Recently, AGD Podcast Series host Dr. George J. Schmidt spoke with Dr. Michael J. Melkers, an expert in restorative care, and Dr. John Chao, inventor of the pinhole surgical technique (PST™), a minimally invasive, scalpel-free, suture-free method for treating gingival recession.

Marketing budgets can vary widely depending on your practice goals, growth stage and location, but that doesn’t mean you have to guess. AGD Impact columnist Jackie Ulasewich Cullen says the key is treating marketing as a strategic investment — not just another line item.

Don’t worry! The Fall Fellowship Review Course and Exam will take place Sept. 26–28 in Chicago. Premium Plus members receive a 20% discount on the review course. To help prepare in the meantime, download the Study Guide Supplement 2016-2020 along with the Annual Study Guides.

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

As a thank-you for attending AGD2025, attendees are eligible to access a complimentary Self-Instruction quiz worth 2 CE credits. Log in to the AGD Online Learning Center and search “GD549” or “Velos Self-Instruction” to locate the quiz — no promo code required.

AGD Impact spoke to several of this year’s recipients and asked about their motivations, their strategies for tackling the requirements of these awards and their advice for other general dentists who are pursuing these marks of professional recognition.

Today is your last chance to register for AGD2025 at the lowest rate. Choose from dynamic lectures and 30+ hands-on courses covering clinical excellence, wellness, practice growth and more. Learn from top experts, and earn valuable CE in an engaging, high-impact setting.

Reel in colleagues to join AGD through Sept. 30 with the perfect bait to catch their interest — 50% off AGD dues. For every colleague who joins, you’ll earn $50 in Referral Rewards as you climb the recruiter leaderboard.

Explore the latest dental products and technologies at the AGD2025 Exhibit Hall. Shop trusted vendors, find new solutions, and earn two free AGD2026 lecture courses when you spend $2,500 onsite. Don’t miss this chance to learn, save and set yourself up for future success — all in one place.

AGD authored a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth 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.