October 02, 2026
6 headlinesFrom health to hygiene, sometimes, you find out everything you thought you knew was a lie, thanks to the internet. A while back, the dentists of Reddit were asked to share the dental hygiene “myths” that more people should know, and you may be guilty of some serious mistakes. Here’s what they had to say.
Orca Dental AI, the leading provider of cloud-based, AI-powered dental imaging solutions, today announced a strategic partnership with Planet DDS / Cloud 9, the leading cloud-based practice management solution for orthodontic and specialty practices.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the best-known treatment for sleep apnea, a disorder that raises the risk of high blood pressure and other health problems. A new study suggests that using a mandibular advancement device (MAD) is just as effective as CPAP for reducing blood pressure in people with sleep apnea at risk for cardiovascular disease.
Invisalign manufacturer Align Technology was recently listed as one of the best employers in the world by Forbes. Forbes “World’s Best Employers” 2026 list was created in partnership with Statista using surveys of more than 300,000 employees in over 50 countries.
The largest DSOs are largely owned by various private equity firms that have helped fuel the companies’ technology investments and network expansions. Here is the ownership structure for the 10 largest DSOs in the U.S., according to the most recent publicly available transactions and Medix data.
Optum Serve will be the dental care administrator that will build, manage and maintain a robust national network of licensed dental providers and practitioners. The network is scheduled to be fully implemented within a year of the contract award and will include general and specialty dental care, preventive dental services and pharmacy support. Additional award information is available at SAM.gov.
Dental Intelligence, a practice management software company, has agreed to settle a proposed class-action lawsuit for $5.75 million. The lawsuit, filed in March 2025, accused the company of collecting patient information and sharing it with Google without patients’ consent in violation of federal and state privacy laws.
DEXIS™, a global leader in dental imaging, intraoral scanning, and diagnostic software, today unveiled a coordinated wave of innovations across its connected ecosystem. Spanning hardware, software, cloud, education, and services, this portfolio advancement reflects DEXIS’ commitment to helping clinicians work with greater clarity, confidence, and efficiency throughout the imaging workflow.
Although artificial intelligence often gets credit as the trend that will define dentistry’s future, some executives aren’t so sure. Some say the real advantage over the next few years will come from somewhere else entirely.
Cloud Dentistry announced the results of its State of the Dental Industry 2026 Report, revealing a fundamental shift in how dental practices build their workforce. Eighty-four percent of responding offices cited finding qualified employees as their top hiring challenge, but it is no longer just about improving recruiting and hiring practices. Dental practices must also engage qualified professionals in the ways they prefer to work to retain employees.
The American Dental Association is warning that proposed U.S. Education Department changes to accreditation rules could disrupt dental education, licensure and the workforce pipeline, according to a Sept. 22 news release from the ADA.
ESCONDIDO, Calif. (KUSI/ FOX 5) — Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stopped in Escondido Wednesday morning to announce a new $51 million pilot program that will expand dental programs and access for children with disabilities.
The ADA is making its voice heard on Capitol Hill. Ahead of a Sept. 15 hearing for the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, the ADA submitted a statement for the record expressing strong support for H.R. 1521, the bipartisan Dental and Optometric Care Access Act, or the DOC Access Act.
MegaGen, a leading provider of innovative dental implant solutions, today announced the launch of its new BLUEDIAMOND ZYGOMA Implant® system at the 2026 North America Scientific Meeting (NASM) Symposium, taking place September 18-19 at the Swissotel Chicago. Designed for patients with severe maxillary atrophy and limited bone volume for conventional implant placement, the BLUEDIAMOND ZYGOMA system provides clinicians with graftless treatment options while addressing the unique mechanical, biological, and prosthetic challenges associated with zygomatic implant therapy.
Independence (Mo.) Surgery Center will open Oct. 14. as the region’s first dental surgery center built specifically to serve Medicaid patients who need dental surgery under anesthesia, according to an email shared with Becker’s. The physician-led, single-specialty ASC was created by local dentists to address a shortage of facilities equipped to provide this kind of care, particularly for children who can face monthslong waits for treatment.
Planning your meeting calendar for the next 18 months? This guide covers every major dental trade show and conference from late 2026 through 2027 — dates, venues, and what each meeting does best — so you can decide where your CE dollars and your team’s time will earn the most back.
UNC Adams School of Dentistry is holding a free event to provide dental care to veterans. The event will be held on Nov. 13, 2026, between 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. People who are interested can fill out an online form at https://unc.az1.qualtrics.com/
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Veterans and active-duty military members will have two opportunities this fall to receive free dental care in western South Dakota. Orchard Meadows Family Dental & Denture Clinic will offer free services Oct. 5 in Spearfish and Nov. 6 in Rapid City as part of Freedom Day USA, a national program recognizing veterans and active-duty service members.
Those who are passionate about dental care and oral health wax poetic about their water flossers, electric toothbrushes and tongue scrapers, but did you know that there’s a type of chewing gum that can help to improve your oral health? Xylitol gum is having a moment, and with good reason.
Intelibly®, the dental technology platform connecting patients to providers through trusted partners, today announced a strategic relationship with DenteMax®, one of the largest dental network management companies in the United States. Through this relationship, DenteMax will integrate Intelibly’s FinderCONNECT map and “Book NOW” scheduling button into its find-a-dentist tool, giving members of DenteMax’s client partners a faster, easier path to appointments with in-network dentists.
SOUTHERN TIER, N.Y. (WBNG) — Progressive Dental NY is hosting its 31st annual Doctors With a Heart Day on Saturday, Sept. 19, providing free dental care to community members.
A ransomware gang has claimed responsibility for an alleged cyberattack on eAssist Dental Solutions.
TWO RIVERS – After Oct. 31, Two Rivers residents will no longer have fluoride added to their drinking water after the City Council voted to discontinue the longtime dental health program.
President Donald Trump recently signed a resolution that extends federal agency funding at fiscal year 2026 levels through Dec. 11, including several programs that support oral health, dental research and the dental workforce.
PARIS, Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Today, in Paris, James Dyson revealed an entirely new way to clean your teeth. The Dyson CameraJet™ is the only toothbrush with a camera powered by Gap Optical Targeting™ to identify gaps between teeth and precision-floss while you brush.4 Gap Optical Targeting™ analyzes 28 live images per second to identify and target gaps between teeth in real time, triggering a precision jet burst of mouthrinse where it is needed.
For many Detroit families, a trip to the dentist isn’t just about the appointment – it’s about getting there in the first place. Covenant Community Care is tackling both problems at once with a mobile dental team that travels directly into schools, churches, and community centers across the city.
YUTAN, Neb. (WOWT) – The Nebraska VA wrapped up its fourth annual Veterans Mission of Mercy dental event, providing free dental care to hundreds of Nebraska veterans and their families at the National Guard office in Yutan.
The U.S. currently has 7,980 dental professional shortage areas, according to new data from the Health Resources and Services Administration. The HRSA updates its dashboard showing data on health workforce shortage areas Sept. 1. The dashboard shows that 12,656 practitioners are needed to fill shortage areas in the U.S. Nearly 76 million people are living in HRSA-designated dental professional shortage areas.
Trust AI recently launched its RCM Hub, a fully staffed revenue cycle operation built into its Isaac PracticeOS platform. The RCM Hub is designed to give solo and independent practices the same insurance infrastructure available to large DSOs, at $299 per month with no additional RCM fee, according to a Sept. 1 news release.
Roseville, Minn.-based Park Dental Partners is actively investigating a data breach that may have exposed patient information. The DSO identified unauthorized access to its computer network Aug. 28, according to an 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission Sept. 1. The company said it promptly activated its incident response protocols and engaged external cybersecurity and forensic specialists. The organization is working to determine the nature and scope of the breach, including whether patient or protected health information was accessed.
Massachusetts is requiring insurers to return $8.4 million after failing to meet the state’s 83% Dental Loss Ratio standard. Could this first-of-its-kind move signal a broader shift in how dental insurers are held accountable—and what might it mean for dentists and patients nationwide?
Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas have developed a technology that could make it possible for dentists to produce permanent 3D-printed zirconia restorations in a single day. Zirconia is considered the gold-standard material for permanent dental work because of its strength and durability.
An NIH-funded research team led by Dr. Margherita Fontana of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry set out to test silver diamine fluoride for treating severe early childhood tooth decay. The team enrolled 830 children between the ages of one and six years old with severe early childhood caries including at least one cavity. The children were treated with either silver diamine fluoride or a placebo at the start of the study and then again at six months. They received check-ups at the start of the study and then at three, six, and eight months. Silver diamine fluoride was effective at stopping tooth decay.
LumenStim, a beauty and wellness technology company recognized for its home-use phototherapy innovations, recently announced that its highly anticipated peroxide-free at-home teeth whitening system has been approved to launch on Kickstarter. The upcoming campaign introduces a new approach to oral care: seamlessly integrating advanced whitening technology into the daily sonic brushing routine.
The University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry has launched an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency in partnership with UI Health Mile Square Health Center, a federally qualified health center serving underserved communities. The 12-month program, accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, is the college’s seventh academic program, according to an Aug. 24 news release.
Community Dental Care, a nonprofit dental clinic with five locations in Minnesota, has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit stemming from a cyberattack that affected 134,903 patients, ClaimDepot reported Aug. 24. Community Dental Care launched an investigation after becoming aware of unauthorized activity in its computer system in December 2024
A group of implantologists has launched a DSO dedicated to restorative dentistry. Implant Centers of America, led by CEO Rodman Rodriguez, aims to support dentists in providing minimally invasive, accessible dentistry, according to the company’s LinkedIn page.
New York University currently has the highest enrollment of dental students, according to data from the American Dental Association. There were 28,925 students enrolled in U.S. dental schools for the 2025-26 academic year. Here are 10 dental schools with the highest enrollment during the 2025-26 academic year:
NEW YORK, NY — It’s official: the first students at Yeshiva University’s new College of Dental Medicine (YUCDM) are in their seats, classes are underway and a new era in New York City dental education has begun.
To better prepare tomorrow’s dentists to meet future patient needs, West Virginia University School of Dentistry students are learning and practicing in a newly renovated and expanded state-of-the-art facility at the only dental school in the Mountain State.