When we think about the legacy we hope to leave—not just as dentists, but as leaders—we’re guided by one shared responsibility: To make dentistry the very best it can be, now and for the future.

That means leading with purpose, uniting our profession around a common mission, and showing up, especially in moments of  change.

We are living through a new era politically, socially and across the entire healthcare landscape. Technology is accelerating new possibilities. New models of care are emerging. Generational shifts are reshaping the dental workforce. And momentum is building to  integrate oral health with primary care.

But even as these opportunities take shape, challenges remain.

Our core values are being tested. Proven public health measures like fluoridation are under attack. Dentistry is too often left out of  healthcare policy. Dentists are facing workforce shortages, rising costs, insurance barriers and mounting student debt. And nearly half of Americans go without dental care each year, revealing deep and persistent gaps in access.

So, how do we move dentistry forward?

We lead. We unite in purpose. And we build a future rooted in the mission, vision and values our profession stands for.

That’s where our advocacy comes in. Advocacy is core to the ADA’s mission and one of our most important responsibilities in shaping a better future for dentistry and the communities we serve.

LEADING WITH PURPOSE THROUGH ADVOCACY
This year marked a pivotal moment for organized dentistry on the national stage. For too long, oral health has been left out of  insurance coverage, public policy and broader health care conversations. But this year, we made our presence known.

As a new presidential administration began shaping its health agenda, we stepped up to meet the moment. For the first time in recent memory, the conversation around oral health rose to the level of the President of the United States. In April, we joined fellow ADA  leaders at the White House to advocate for the integration of oral health into the national healthcare agenda.

We highlighted evidence-based strategies centered on prevention, nutrition, and wellness, focusing on issues like community water  fluoridation, workforce development and the need for increased funding to expand access to care.

The conversations included experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Centers for Medicare and  Medicaid Services (CMS), and our own ADA Forsyth Institute (AFI), reinforcing a shared understanding: Oral health is health. And  dentistry is critical to building a healthier America.

STANDING UP FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY
That momentum carried throughout the year as we defended longstanding public health measures and promoted economic  sustainability for dental practices.

We continued our strong defense of community water fluoridation¹, and as misinformation threatened proven science, we responded by launching the ADA Fluoride Ambassador program, offering grassroots advocacy tools, and successfully defeating 16 anti-fluoridation proposals in states including New Hampshire, Louisiana, Texas and Tennessee.

In Connecticut, we celebrated a major win when the state enacted legislation to preserve water fluoridation at the optimal level of 0.7 mg/L. And in July, Dr. Kessler testified before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), urging continued access² to fluoride  supplements, a vital resource for communities without fluoridated water.

We fought to preserve federal leadership in oral health. As the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services underwent  administrative restructuring, we advocated³ to maintain the Chief Dental Officer role within CMS.

We also stood firm on economic issues. When tariffs threatened to raise the cost of dental supplies and equipment, we partnered⁴ with the Dental Trade Alliance (DTA) and the National Association of Dental Laboratories (NADL) to urge the Administration to roll them back. And thanks to our collective advocacy and the grassroots power of our members, we helped⁵ prevent harmful tax provisions in the House version of H.R.1 and secured a full restoration of the Pass-Through Entity Tax (PTET) deduction in the Senate, a critical win for small business owners.

A YEAR OF CONSISTENT, POSITIVE ACTION
Our advocacy didn’t stop there. We kept pace in statehouses and on Capitol Hill, tackling key issues including insurance reform, access to care, educational debt and workforce development.

In the spring, we joined more than a thousand dentists, dental students and specialty partners for ADA Dentist and Student Lobby Day⁶ in Washington, D.C., meeting with lawmakers to elevate dentistry’s voice and advocate for change.

We fought to fix our broken dental insurance system with a unified national advocacy agenda, giving state societies⁷ the resources to pursue bold insurance reforms.

This year, we supported the introduction of Dental Loss Ratio (DLR)⁸ legislation in 14 states, three of which (WA, MT and ND) have now enacted laws, with ND setting a 75% DLR. We championed the DOC Access Act to protect⁹ provider autonomy and celebrated the enactment of more than 361 prodentistry insurance laws across all 50 states from 2018 through 2025.¹⁰

We advocated for long-overdue reforms to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).¹¹ We’re working with state dental societies to ensure lawmakers and regulators understand how some insurers misuse ERISA to bypass state laws, especially around  non-covered services and assignment of benefits.

In Medicare and Medicaid conversations, we’ve remained a strong voice. We’re advocating¹² for a Medicare dental benefit that is sustainable, adequately funded, and avoids placing additional financial and administrative burdens on providers. We also continue to support¹³ Medicaid expansion and push for improved dental coverage for pregnant women, children and individuals with disabilities.

Our push for prevention continues. We advocated for expanded coverage of prevention-based services¹⁴ – fluoride treatments,  sealants and regular periodontal care – as well as behavior modification consults like tobacco cessation, diet and oral hygiene instruction. Thus, reducing the burden of disease, improving quality of life and supporting medical-dental integration goals.

And with workforce shortages straining practices nationwide, we’re working to address the gap. The ADA Health Policy Institute  reports¹⁵ that more than one-third of dentists are actively recruiting hygienists or assistants, with nearly 90% saying it’s extremely  difficult. That’s why we’ve pushed for funding through the Action for Dental Health Act and have supported the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact,¹⁶ which streamlines licensure portability across more than 10 states.

Science fuels our advocacy. And this year, we invested in innovation that is reshaping the future of care.

The ADA Forsyth Institute17 is leading some of the most exciting advances in oral-systemic health, from tissue regeneration¹⁸ to  precision diagnostics. And with the launch¹⁹ of the ADA Living Guideline Program, the first and only living clinical practice guideline  program dedicated to oral health, we’re ensuring that care decisions are informed by the most current science in real time.

A CALL TO LEAD TOGETHER
The challenges ahead are real. But so is our resolve.

At the ADA, we are building something that will last for generations. A stronger, more connected profession. A more integrated healthcare system. And a healthier nation that recognizes the power of oral health to transform lives.

But we cannot do it alone. We need every member to see advocacy as part of their calling. To show up for their profession. To raise their voice when it matters most. Because when we lead with purpose and when we lead together, there’s nothing this profession can’t achieve. And we’re honored to lead it with you.

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Dr. Brett Kessler, a general dentist in Denver, is president of the American Dental Association. He has served in numerous  leadership roles, including Colorado Dental Association President (2014-2015) and ADA delegate (2008-2019). A graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry, he is also an endurance athlete, husband and father of four.

Dr. Richard Rosato, an oral surgeon in Concord, NH, is the president-elect of the American Dental Association. In addition to being a past president of the New Hampshire Dental Society, he’s served on various ADA committees, councils, and task forces,  later representing District One on the ADA Board of Trustees from 2019-2023. The married father of three is a graduate of Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.