Category: Opinion & Editorial

Last week, I sat in seat 21A on a United 777, somewhere over the Pacific, watching my brother-in-law fly his last flight. Mark Sheehy has been flying for 40 years. He served the first part of his career in the Air Force, flying combat search and rescue missions in the MC-130, and retired as a colonel in 2012. He spent 36 years flying for United ... [continue reading]

In the medical and dental world of education, the end of June brings about news of post-graduation plans. From anticipated one-year fellowships to associateship contracts, the one thing that we rarely hear about is the start-up dental practice right out of dental school. Now what is interesting is that this perspective is a little different from ... [continue reading]

A May 4, 2026 NYTimes article entitled, “A Cavity Doesn’t Always Need a Filling” talks about the variation in our profession’s assessment of the need to restore a hole in a tooth or cavity (or “carie” which always makes me think of a football statistic).1 Dentists interviewed by the author, Erik Vance, provided a range of explanations ... [continue reading]

What do we own? It’s a simple question, but it quickly gets complicated. If you own a piece of land and a heavy rain washes the topsoil downstream, can you go and retrieve it? Legally, that soil was yours. But practically, ownership didn’t protect it, and it won’t bring it back. You can own the deed to the land and still lose what ... [continue reading]

I’ve been learning Spanish. It started as practical preparation for a return mission trip to Guatemala — a chance to connect more deeply with patients and staff, to offer more than a gloved hand and a smile, to actually speak to the people I’m hoping to serve. The app I’m using is genuinely helpful. The lessons are well-structured, the ... [continue reading]

I’m not a space exploration superfan. But maybe I should be. I grew up a few miles from the birthplace of Neil Armstrong.  I loved the movie “Hidden Figures,” and in a bit of a stretch, my preferred airport is the John Glenn International right here in Columbus. The majority of what I know about modern-day space exploration is gleaned from ... [continue reading]

The American Dental Association Board of Trustees met March 6–8 to review the Association’s financial progress, governance initiatives, membership strategies and operational priorities. The Board selected Nader A. Nadershahi, DDS, MBA, EdD, as the next executive director of the ADA, effective March 23. The Board also expressed its sincere ... [continue reading]

The stories we tell ourselves about dentistry — and the people who embody them — always shape our future.  How do we choose our heroes in an age of noise? Walk into any dental office and you’ll see them: the framed diplomas, the photographs of mentors, perhaps a quote from a pioneer in the field or a renowned motivational speaker. These ... [continue reading]

Dr. Kara Morris set me up for this column with her warning about the inevitability of artificial intelligence in our lives in the January-February issue of “ODA Today!”1 (Well, I think it was her … but as she says, you never know these days!) The larger challenge for us in our care of patients in today’s health world is filtering fact ... [continue reading]

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]