Recent Posts
Aggie triple crown: Mom’s degree dreams come true
Cristina Flores-Villarreal sent her sons, Gueriel and Eduardo Mendes-Flores, to Texas A&M University in College Station, like many proud Aggie parents, full of hopes and dreams for their futures. And she celebrated when each received a bachelor’s degree and went to law school. “From a young age, I made sure they understood that college wasn’t optional; it was the next step,” she said. “I couldn’t give them everything financially, but I could give them vision, discipline and belief in themselves.” Now it’s her turn.
Shaping the future of health care: Making dentistry safe for service animals
Graduation Day at Texas A&M College of Dentistry in Dallas is May 25, and participating in all the pomp and circumstance with the 27 graduates of the dental hygiene program is one who has been with the class since the beginning. Fozzie, a 5-year-old standard goldendoodle and full-time service dog, will accompany owner Cora Owens as she receives her bachelor’s degree. Yet it’s Fozzie who provided professors with a valuable education on maintaining a learning environment for students while also creating a safe situation for the dog.
Providing a dose of dental care
Texas A&M College of Dentistry students provided dental screenings May 3 as part of UT Southwestern's 20th annual community health fair Carnaval de Salud at T.J. Rusk Middle School in Dallas. Dr. Martha Alvarez supervised four third-year dental students. The dental students are Nichols Baldetti, Leslie Bich Linh Nguyen, Henan Teklu and Vivian Liu.
Tips for applying to dental school
Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service opened to students May 1 this year. Here is Texas A&M University College of Dentistry’s information and advice to predental students hoping to enter the Class of 2030.
5 surprising foods to eat for a healthy smile
Carrots, celery and apples are known teeth-friendly foods that scrub away plaque, stimulate saliva production and help fight against bad breath and decay. However, eating them every day is dull unless you’re a rabbit. In honor of National Show Your Smile Month in May, Texas A&M University College of Dentistry in Dallas suggests five surprising foods that keep teeth and gums healthy. Consider it a spring gift for your mouth.
Spence named head of recruitment and admissions
Dr. Alicia Spence was named director of recruitment and admissions at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry March 17, after more than a decade in various teaching and administrative roles at her alma mater. Spence was tapped as interim director in 2024 and served on the admissions committee for several years. Dr. Ernestine Lacy, associate dean of student ...
A day in their scrubs: Bryn Martin
Meet Bryn Martin, fourth-year dental student, who will join the Navy as a commissioned officer with the rank of lieutenant after graduation May 25. She’s doing so through the Health Professions Scholarship Program. The interview was edited for length, flow and clarity. Hometown: I live in Allen now, so I commute pretty far. I went to Lovejoy High School in Lucas. When did you first consider dentistry as a career? I’ve always been interested in health care. My uncle is a dentist, and I ended up shadowing him for a whole summer in Tucson, Arizona, and saw his impact on patients. It was amazing, people coming in crying about their situations. (He was) not just a dentist to them…. (He was) able to help them like a therapist, almost. They walked out so much happier than before.
Full of honors
Soon-to-be graduates of Texas A&M College of Dentistry's dental hygiene program were honored recently for their accomplishments. The received pins and awards, marking the end of their courses and the beginning of their careers. They are entering the profession at a time when there's strong job security and competitive compensation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that demand for dental hygienists will grow 9% from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all professions.
Helping the community
Second-year dental hygiene students from Texas A&M College of Dentistry participated in Dallas YMCA's Healthy Communities Day April 19 in Oak Cliff. Tori Layne Moss and Allante Nichols provided oral health information to more than 200 children and their families at Moorland YMCA.
Recruiting future dental professionals
About 130 students attended a recent recruitment event at Texas A&M College of Dentistry. The dental college hosts tour days so predental students may tour the campus with dental students, learn about the admissions process and ask questions.
College of Dentistry maintains maxillofacial cone beam CT accreditation
The Imaging Center at Texas A&M College of Dentistry in Dallas recently earned re-accreditation from the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission for maxillofacial cone beam computerized tomography operations. A maxillofacial CT scan takes a series of X-ray images of the teeth, jaw and surrounding structures and uses the images to reconstruct multiplanar and 3D views
Ryan earns graduate research award
Dr. Daniel Patrick Obelenis Ryan received the Clinical Graduate Student Research Award April 16 from Texas A&M College of Dentistry for his thesis research. Ryan, a periodontics student, studied the use of a non-incised minimally invasive flap procedure in conjunction with Emogain MI compared to traditional scaling and root planing.