American Dental Therapy Association

08/21/2026

08/20/2026

What an incredible !

More than 100 attendees, exhibitors, and sponsors and partners came together in Detroit for Rooted and Rising: Dental Therapy Education, Identity & Opportunity.

Over three days, dental therapists, students, educators, advocates, employers, and oral health leaders connected, learned, celebrated, and helped shape what comes next for the profession. We are-together, rooted in community- defining the future of dental therapy.

We are incredibly grateful to every attendee, speaker, exhibitor, sponsor, partner, volunteer, and ADTA leader who made this conference possible.

We are Rooted and Rising — and we can’t wait to see where we go next.

08/19/2026

On World Humanitarian Day, we’re reminded of something simple but powerful: health care is about people. 🌎

And oral health is part of that story.

A healthy mouth can affect how we eat, speak, learn, work, and live—but access to oral health care is still not equally within reach for every community.

Dental therapists are one part of building a workforce that can help bring high-quality oral health care closer to the people and communities who need it.

Today, we recognize those working to make care more accessible, more equitable, and more human.

Because health is human—and oral health is no exception.

08/18/2026

Strong advocacy helps turn possibility into progress. Congratulations to Dr. Frank Catalanotto, recipient of the 2026 ADTA Advocacy Award, recognizing his leadership and dedication to advancing public policy and legislation that strengthen dental therapy and promote oral health equity.

08/17/2026

The ADTA is closed today, Monday August 17, 2026 as we all recover from the amazing week we shared together in Detroit last week.

Thank you for your patience in our response times as we return back to our regular schedule.

ADTA regular business hours are Monday-Thursday 7am-6pm AK, Friday limited hours.

Thank you for your continued support!

08/17/2026

The future of dental therapy is bright! Congratulations to Julie Dirth, recipient of the 2026 ADTA Emerging Leader Award. Julie’s leadership, initiative, and dedication are already making a meaningful impact on the profession and the communities it serves.

08/15/2026

🎒Back-to-school checklists are getting longer—but there’s one thing worth making room for: a healthy smile.
A healthy mouth can help children feel comfortable, confident, and ready to learn. But for many families, getting timely dental care isn’t always easy.
That’s why access matters. Dental therapists are an important part of the dental care team, helping bring preventive and routine dental services closer to the communities that need them.
As students head back to the classroom, let’s make oral health part of getting ready for a healthy and successful school year. 🦷📚

08/14/2026

Innovation moves the dental therapy profession forward. This year, ADTA is proud to recognize Gentle Dental with the 2026 Innovation Award for its creative, forward-thinking approach to advancing dental therapy and improving the delivery of oral healthcare. Congratulations!

08/14/2026

A randomized clinical trial recently published in JAMA Pediatrics evaluated the effectiveness of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for arresting severe early childhood caries.

After eight months and two applications, 50% of lesions treated with SDF were arrested, compared with 17% receiving placebo.

This research adds important evidence supporting SDF as a minimally invasive approach to caries management—particularly relevant for dental therapists and other providers caring for children in communities where access to restorative dental care may be limited.

The findings also reinforce an important point: SDF is a valuable tool, but close monitoring and continued care remain essential, as half of the lesions treated with SDF did not arrest.

Congratulations to Dr. Margherita Fontana and colleagues on this important contribution to the evidence base supporting effective, accessible oral health care. Thank you to your team!

This randomized clinical trial assesses the efficacy of 38% silver diamine fluoride vs placebo for arresting active cavitated dentin caries lesions in the primary dentition of US children with severe early childhood caries.

08/13/2026

Congratulations to Chairwoman Whitney Gravelle, recipient of the 2026 ADTA Community Access Award! Her commitment to expanding equitable access to oral healthcare exemplifies the impact dental therapy can have in communities across the country. We were honored to recognize her this week at the .