Category: Opinion & Editorial

As oral health professionals, we are committed to delivering care that is grounded in the best available evidence. Clinical practice guidelines play a critical role in that commitment. They translate research into actionable recommendations that help clinicians, patients and policymakers make informed decisions, which improve health ... [continue reading]

“The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.” – Plato It doesn’t take a very deep conversation about the ODA’s advocacy efforts before someone will mention the historic increase in Ohio Medicaid dental reimbursement as well as passage of what we termed (with affection?) the “non-covered ... [continue reading]

I’ll admit it — when the news came through that Winter Storm Fern would be shutting down schools, businesses and much of central Ohio, I felt something I hadn’t experienced in years: pure, childlike excitement. After nearly 40 years in dental practice, I should probably be more measured in my response to weather disruptions. Yet there I was, ... [continue reading]

It has been almost a month since my mother passed from this world. Immediately I️ felt this loss of innocence as my biggest cheerleader and protector was no longer present. Every column I️ would write, she would say on the phone “send it to me.” Every recorded webinar she would insist on having the link so she could send it to her friends. ... [continue reading]

The question caught me off guard. After a long day in our clinic in the rural town of Xenocoj, Guatemala, one of the local dentists approached me with genuine curiosity. We had just finished treating dozens of patients alongside 12 dental students from Ohio State, and he wanted to know: “How are the patients you’re seeing here different ... [continue reading]

“I can’t spend the rest of my life asking if this is AI or not.” – unknown Authenticity and automation are two words with similar etymologic origin, “autos” deriving from the Greek word for “self.”  Both words could apply to the conversation at hand regarding AI in dentistry and to AI in our broader lives. One could say that ... [continue reading]

Here at the threshold of 2026, I find myself reflecting on what truly makes a dental practice thrive. It’s not just the latest technology in our operatories or the expanded scope of our services. It’s something more fundamental, more human. The most successful practices I know share a common thread: they trust their teams to use their best ... [continue reading]

No, I won’t talk at all about Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and fluoride, Tylenol, or vaccinations! We have enough goofy stuff going on in our world that trumps his dangerous antics. Am I right or wrong on these? NIL and college sports. Really? Am I missing something or is college football nothing more than a minor league or “NFL lite?” What ... [continue reading]

After nearly four decades in dentistry, I’ve learned something counterintuitive: we spend far too much time perfecting yesterday’s decisions and not nearly enough time imagining tomorrow’s possibilities. As we close out 2025, many of us are doing what comes naturally — analyzing the year behind us! Scrutinizing our numbers, evaluating ... [continue reading]

A few months ago, during the ODA Annual Session meeting, several of us, who were going to be ADA delegates, were asked to assemble in a small meeting room at the Hilton for an announcement. Dr. Tom Paumier addressed the anticipating group. It was here he officially announced that, after the urging by several of his colleagues and the encouragement ... [continue reading]