A proposed amendment to Arizona’s oral preventive assistant (OPA) law could weaken educational standards by bypassing CODA accreditation. Dental hygienists are being urged to speak up before the bill advances.

As states like Nevada consider lowering dental hygiene academic requirements, the University of Pittsburgh is taking a different approach by expanding access to care while maintaining educational rigor. A new Regional Training Center in…

West Virginia University is testing a new thermoplastic aligner material that uses shape memory technology to move teeth more efficiently. These advanced, customizable clear aligners promise the comfort, convenience, and precision today's…

Researchers at Tufts University have developed a novel dental implant designed to reconnect with the body’s nerve system, offering the potential for true sensory feedback. Paired with a less invasive surgical technique, this innovation…

Emerging research links a less diverse oral microbiome to higher rates of depression, suggesting that the mouth may offer diagnostic clues to mood disorders. This insight adds to the growing evidence connecting oral and systemic health,…

A new study reveals dental procedures may contribute to microplastic (MP) contamination in the clinic environment and potentially in patients. From denture soaking to resin grinding, the release of MPs and their toxic effects are raising…

In a scathing guest editorial in the Nevada Globe, Scott Finley warns that Nevada’s SB 495 would let untrained assistants perform dental hygienist duties under the guise of innovation. He asserts the bill is backed by corporate interests…

Political gatekeeping at the Department of Veterans Affairs is drawing fire from clinicians and researchers after top officials ordered authors to seek approval before publishing in scientific journals. The move threatens transparency in…

Nevada’s bid to let dentists “train” hygienists on the job would gut education standards and put patients at risk—critics urge lawmakers to scrap the plan and defend quality care.

Nearly 72 million American adults lack dental insurance — nearly three times more than those without health coverage. The 2024 SOHEA survey exposes critical disparities tied to income, age, and race, revealing how fragmented coverage fuels…