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Bits and Bites – September 2026
The new school year is in full swing at Texas A&M College of Dentistry, and that includes a host of faculty promotions and new hires and important happenings. Dr. Reginald Taylor was promoted from associate professor in orthodontics to professor. He’s also director of predoctoral orthodontics and was recently accepted ...
Smiles we remember: Dr. Jun-Young Cho
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of former faculty member Dr. Jun-Young Cho, who died Wednesday, Sept. 2. Cho joined the faculty as an instructor at what was then Baylor College of Dentistry in 1968. He was appointed an assistant professor in 1972 and named an associate professor in 1977. He retired in 2022 after more than 50 years of dedicated service to the dental school.
Deadline to apply for the next dental class is Oct. 1
Students recently headed back to class for the current academic year, but Texas A&M College of Dentistry is looking ahead as deadlines approach for the dental Class of 2031 and the dental hygiene Class of 2029. Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service’s admissions portal for dental students closes Oct. 1, meaning all applicants for the dental Class of 2031 must submit all materials to be considered. Interviews began earlier this month.
Cheers: Best and worst beverages for teeth
The beverages we choose quietly shape the health of our smiles. Some drinks strengthen and protect teeth, while others slowly wear away enamel – the outer white part that keeps teeth strong, bright and resistant to cavities. Many popular beverages contain high acidity, said Dr. John Safar, clinical faculty at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry in Dallas. When acidity lowers the pH in the mouth, enamel begins to dissolve. “Research shows that enamel starts to weaken below pH 5.5, and many commercial drinks fall between pH 2 and pH 4 – a range where erosion accelerates rapidly,” Safar said.
Tooth travelers: Students sharpen their skills on dental mission trips over the summer breaks
A busy dental student scheduled to graduate next May, few would fault Mackenzie “Kenzie” Bankes for heading to Jamaica for a few lazy days to enjoy sandy beaches and misty mountains. But those and even dances to the Caribbean island’s famous reggae beats had to wait. Bankes and fellow Texas A&M University College of Dentistry students traveled Aug. 1-8 on a dental mission trip to St. Elizabeth Parish and its Helping Hand Dental Clinic in the southwestern part of the country. Working with the nonprofit Christian Medical & Dental Association, they provided oral hygiene education, cleanings, fillings and tooth extractions to more than 600 underserved residents rebuilding after Hurricane Melissa last year.
White coats: Symbols of new students’ commitments
They studied hard and aced their entrance exams and interviews to gain admission to dental school or the dental hygiene program. Then, 134 students who are part of Texas A&M College of Dentistry's Dental Class of 2030 and Dental Hygiene Class of 2028 gathered together Aug. 7 to don their white coats. It's an annual tradition called White Coat Ceremony.