From ASDA

Advocacy Month

All November, we’ve been celebrating Advocacy Month! It’s not too late to participate—sign up for ASDA Action Alerts to participate in the remaining text challenges.

Also, keep an eye out for and participate in your chapter’s special advocacy events this month.

ICYMI: Donut Forget to Vote Challenge

Over 1,400 ASDA members participated in the Donut Forget to Vote Challenge by registering to vote. The top 3 chapters with the highest percentage of participation are:

1st place: Lincoln Memorial

100% chapter participation

2nd place: A.T. Still University (Kirksville, MO)

53% chapter participation

3rd place: South Carolina

42% chapter participation

Advocacy Certificate Program

Don’t forget to submit your points for the Advocacy Certificate Program! You can earn points for attending your chapter or district’s advocacy events, sending a letter to your legislator, and even signing up for ASDA Action Alerts. Earning 8 points before Annual Session (Feb. 28) will guarantee your custom ASDA Advocacy Certificate. The member with the most points will also be awarded the Excellence in Advocacy Award.

Learn about more ways to earn points and submit them here.

Molar Bear

After 8 years of advocacy work, the Molar Bear has decided to retire with 50 ASDA chapters around the U.S. Thank you to all the chapter leaders who requested and picked up their Molar Bear at NLC!

Don’t forget to share your adventures in advocacy with the Molar Bear on social media by tagging @dentalstudents and using #ASDAadvocacy.

From Washington

2024 Election Results

The 2024 general election was held on Tuesday, November 5.

This year, the United States elected the 47^th President Donald J. Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Congress also elected 1/3 of senators, who will serve 6-year terms, and all 435 voting members of the House of Representatives, who will serve 2-year terms. All federal representatives will begin their terms on Monday, January 20, 2025.

Four dentists were re-elected to Congress: Dr. Jeff Van Drew (NJ-2), Dr. Mike Simpson (ID-2), Dr. Paul Gosar (AZ-9), and Dr. Brian Babin (TX-36).

Several states also held elections for governors, secretaries of state, state senate and house seats, judges, ballot referendums, and more. Visit usa.gov for more information about state and local elections.

From the States

Dental Licensure Reforms Aim to Reduce Stigma Surrounding Mental Health

Dental boards and associations across the U.S. are looking at dental licensure through the lens of mental health advocacy. Currently, many states include questions and language on dental licensure applications that can be stigmatizing to individuals who have previously suffered from mental health and substance misuse issues.

In 2023, the ADA Council on Dental Practice launched a pilot program to assess potentially stigmatizing language on dental licensure applications in Florida, New Jersey, and Wisconsin.

The Texas State Board of Examiners, Virginia Dental Association, Iowa Dental Association and Iowa Dental Board, Minnesota Board of Dentistry, Oregon Dental Association, and North Dakota Dental Association are leading the way in eliminating “have you ever…” questions on licensure applications and focusing instead on questions that assess the current ability of applicants to practice dentistry.

There are also several efforts to include accompanying outreach and recovery resources for questions pertaining to limitations to practicing dentistry from mental health or substance misuse disorders.

A workgroup from the council’s Dental Team Wellness Advisory Committee is currently reviewing recommendations to determine the next steps in working with state boards to mitigate the barriers mental health issues may impose on dental practice.

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