AAE Represents at the AADB Mid-Year Meeting

On April 12-13, 2024, staff from AAE attended the American Association of Dental Boards 2024 Mid-Year Meeting in Rosemont, Illinois, with the aim of strengthening the Association’s ties with state dental boards and exploring opportunities for collaboration.

The first day comprised educational sessions and updates on key issues, including discussions on dental workforce shortages, the AADB Dental & Dental Hygiene Compact, and the regulation of spa dentistry. Participants unanimously recognized the urgency of tackling the growing dental workforce shortage and deliberated on the possibility of augmenting accreditation requirements for dental assistants in light of this challenge and the escalating inflation costs affecting dental practices. Additionally, presentations on spa dentistry shed light on how dentists are utilizing therapeutic procedures like Botox and dermal fillers to enhance patients’ oral health, and the regulatory frameworks governing these practices across various state dental boards. The concluding day of the meeting featured small group round table discussions and regional caucus sessions to delve into local issues pertinent to state dental boards.

AAE staff engaged in extensive discussions with AADB leadership regarding the imperative of destigmatizing mental health and fostering increased access to treatment for struggling dentists. This crucial matter stands as a primary advocacy focus for the AAE Practice Affairs Committee – a sentiment effectively conveyed to the AADB. Staff emphasized concerns about the perceived strictness of state dental board regulations, which can discourage dentists from seeking vital mental health care due to fears of practice closures and other repercussions. AADB leadership appreciated AAE’s involvement in the Mid-Year Meeting and reaffirmed its dedication to enhancing mental health support in the dental community.