Our cover story this month tackles dental school loan debt and the many financing and payback options available to students and dentists. Also in this issue is a feature story on the Air Force’s Maxillofacial Prosthetics Fellowship Program.

Earn 8 free CE credits, and gain insight into the issues shaping oral health policy. Join AGD’s Virtual Advocacy Conference, Nov. 21–22, to explore how collaboration strengthens dentistry’s impact and learn how AGD continues to advocate for you. There’s still time to register.

Expand your clinical expertise this November with AGD live webinars. Earn CE while exploring topics such as occlusal medicine, orofacial pain and fixed prosthodontics, all led by expert instructors. Browse all offerings, and stay current and confident in your clinical practice.

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

All Fellowship, Mastership, and Lifelong Learning and Service Recognition applications are due Dec. 31. Apply today to ensure your achievements are honored at AGD2026’s Convocation Ceremony. This is your opportunity to showcase your commitment to excellence in general dentistry and celebrate your professional milestones on a national stage among peers and leaders.

Have you registered for AGD’s free Virtual Advocacy Conference? Earn 8 CE hours while gaining valuable insight into oral health issues at the state and federal levels. Explore how collaboration drives effective advocacy, and learn about AGD’s critical work to represent and protect members.

Master the art of case acceptance with strategies that enhance patient confidence and team performance. AGD’s upcoming Case Acceptance Mastery Series in Chicago will help you streamline communication, increase treatment acceptance and strengthen profitability. Earn 7 CE hours, and develop skills that immediately impact your practice.

"My term as AGD President concludes in November, as we prepare for the installation of Dr. Marc Worob at the AGD Annual Meeting. Looking back since being elected vice president in 2022, this journey has been truly life changing. While it hasn't always been easy, I am incredibly proud of the progress we have made as an organization. Our core goal was to evolve the AGD to be more responsive to the needs of our members today, and every strategic choice we made spoke directly to that intention."

Autoimmune blistering diseases such as mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) can present concurrently with malignancies. In the September/October issue of General Dentistry, Turkstani et al. describe how incidental findings during examination of a patient with MMP led to a diagnosis of mantle cell lymphoma.

At AGD’s free Virtual Advocacy Conference, Nov. 21–22, you’ll earn 8 CE hours while hearing directly from leaders about pressing legislative and regulatory issues affecting dentistry. Discover how collaboration strengthens advocacy and how you can play a role in protecting the profession and those you serve.

AGD members now have exclusive access to Insperity and its Fortune 500–level human resources (HR) solutions, United States–based support and comprehensive benefits. Since 1986, Insperity has helped businesses grow by reducing administrative burdens, lowering liability and enhancing benefits. Simplify your HR, and give your practice the support it deserves.

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

“Green” and “holistic” are two buzzwords in the health industry in recent years, and they primarily focus on the sourcing and implementation of products that naturally occur or protect nature in some way. While often used interchangeably because there is a significant crossover in these categories, there are important nuances between the two.

AGD will be at ADA SmileCon Oct. 23–25! Stop by booth No. 762 to meet our team, get your questions answered, and discover how AGD supports your career. Existing members can grab exclusive swag, and new members will receive a Crest iO6 bundle.

Learn proven communication and case presentation techniques that turn “maybe” into “yes.” Gain practical tools to reduce cancellations, improve scheduling, and boost your bottom line at AGD’s Case Acceptance Mastery Series in Chicago, March 6, 2026. Earn 7 CE credits, and return ready to elevate every patient conversation.

Earn 8 free CE hours at AGD’s free Virtual Advocacy Conference, Nov. 21–22. This two half-day event offers updates on key state and federal oral health issues. Strengthen your advocacy skills, understand how decisions impact your practice, and learn to make your voice heard in dentistry’s future.

Social media is flooded with quick-fix dental tricks — from charcoal toothpaste to do-it-yourself veneers. But, as dentists, we must stress to patients: Shortcuts often lead to permanent damage. Eric G. Jackson, DDS, MAGD, FICOI, FASD, FICD, FADI, breaks down the latest viral hacks and explains why a visit to the dentist is always a safer bet.

Looking for your next opportunity or planning your next career move? Don’t forget to take advantage of the AGD Career Center. Members can search exclusive job postings, post résumés, and access tools to strengthen their skills in interviewing, networking and career-planning.

This month’s Member Spotlight highlights what Sep Pouresa, DMD, FAGD, has learned from working with famous patients in his Beverly Hills cosmetic dentistry practice. He also highlights how he achieved AGD Fellowship less than five years after graduating from dental school.

Whether you’re a student, resident or new to practice, navigating risk is part of building your career. “Risk Ready: A New Dentist’s Guide to Real-World Challenges” is an Oct. 21 virtual event designed to help you understand how your benefits come into play — from malpractice and insurance to loan strategies.