Featured
Plemons named 2026 Texas Dentist of the Year
Dr. Jacqueline M. Plemons, clinical professor in periodontics and the inaugural executive director of external affairs at Texas A&M College of Dentistry, was named 2026 Texas Dentist of the Year by the Texas Academy of General Dentistry. She was chosen from among 16 nominees, and the award is considered among the most prestigious honors a Texas dentist can earn. Plemons and other honorees were recognized Friday at the Texas Academy Awards ceremony during the Lone Star Dental Conference in Austin. Read More
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. Read More
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. Read More
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. Read More
Partnering to save a smile
Like many 9-year-olds, Xavier Quintero Altuve’s summer vacation involves playing with friends, watching television and maybe hanging out at a pool. Great opportunities for grins. But Xavier has more reasons to smile. His healthy mouth is a gift from Texas A&M College of Dentistry in Dallas and partner Metrocrest Hospital Authority in Carrollton. Read More
Plemons nominated for Texas Dentist of the Year
Dr. Jacqueline M. Plemons, clinical professor in periodontics and the inaugural executive director of external affairs at Texas A&M College of Dentistry, was recently selected as an at-large nominee for Texas Academy of General Dentistry’s Texas Dentist of the Year Award. There are 16 nominees, and the award is considered among the most prestigious honors a Texas dentist can earn. Plemons and other honorees will be recognized Sept. 18 in Austin, when the winner is announced at what is billed as Texas Academy Awards during the Lone Star Dental Conference. Read More
Giving back: New graduates become leaders of summer programs that helped them succeed
Drs. Britni Duffie, program aide in student affairs at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry in Dallas, and Dawn Miller McElroy, formerly a program aide, smile when someone mentions they’re new Class of 2026 dentists. They worked hard to earn dental degrees, and both have gold stars in perseverance. Read More
College of Dentistry’s new website launches today
As part of its longstanding commitment to both educate dentistry’s professionals of the future and provide top-quality oral healthcare in North Texas, Texas A&M College of Dentistry in Dallas launched its redesigned website today. Texas A&M University College of Dentistry includes easy-to-find patient information, additional oral health resources, updated biographies, and more user-friendly contact information. Read More
Taylor accepted as a Fellow of the American Dental Education Association Council of Deans
Dr. Reginald Taylor, associate professor and director of predoctoral orthodontics at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry in Dallas, was recently accepted into the American Dental Education Association Council of Deans Fellowship Program for 2026-27. The program helps future leaders succeed as deans or other high-level university administrators. Taylor is A&M Dentistry’s first Fellow of the council. Read More
Smile, you’re in demand: Dental hygienists find a friendly job market but limited benefits
Meet your next dental hygienists. The 30 newest graduates of Texas A&M College of Dentistry’s dental hygiene program earned both their dental hygiene pins and diplomas last month. They are now days away from their first opportunity to receive state licenses – golden tickets to enter a career so in demand that nearly two in five dentists surveyed nationwide reported their practices didn’t have adequate numbers of dental hygienists. Read More