Recent Posts
Two dental hygiene students earn scholarships
Two students in Texas A&M College of Dentistry's dental hygiene program received scholarships this month. First-year dental hygiene student Kleesha Bevans received the IDEA Student RDH Scholarship from Texas Dental Hygienist's Association, while second-year student Megan Fletcher won the 2025 Dr. Janice DeWald Scholarship from Dallas Dental Hygienists' Association, the final year the scholarship will be given.
Candy lover’s regret? Save your smile
Admit it. You spent much of the last few days secretly rummaging through your children’s remaining Halloween candy, searching for your favorite chocolate bars, caramels and lollipops. Some of you even stocked up on discounted candy after Halloween and ate an entire bag of mixed candy while watching TV.
Three College of Dentistry faculty members honored for promotions
In a special ceremony this week at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, Drs. Jayne Reuben, Nina Ray and Simmi Patel received recognition for their faculty promotions.
A lasting gift: Remembering those who donated for anatomical education
Texas A&M College of Dentistry faculty, students and staff took time out Oct. 20 on campus to remember and recognize the 25 people whose bodies were donated last year for dental college students' anatomical education. Each person and their families gave a gift to science so dental students could learn for the benefit of future patients.
Dental students take first and second in New Orleans
Texas A&M College of Dentistry third-year dental students Jessica Vu and David Qin placed first and second, respectively, in the poster research competition Speaking Well at the Speak Easy at the annual American College of Prosthodontics meeting Oct. 22-25 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Henderson tapped to chair the state’s dental board
Dr. Bryan Henderson II, a dentist anesthesiologist and adjunct professor in Texas A&M College of Dentistry’s Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, was recently appointed chair of the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners by Gov. Greg Abbott. The board regulates the practice of dentistry, dental hygiene and other dental-related professions.
Have no fear: Garlic is good for teeth and gums
Garlic is believed to ward off vampires – at least in folklore. But even Dracula would love garlic’s oral health benefits. Allicin, the same sulfur compound that makes breath smell bad after someone eats garlic, helps kill harmful bacteria that cause plaque buildup and gum disease. Dr. Luz Mendoza, program manager of public health sciences at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry in Dallas, said allicin, released when garlic is chopped, crushed or chewed, inactivates essential metabolic enzymes in bacteria and interferes with its ability to form biofilm that leads to oral diseases.
Dental assistants’ scope of care is broad and growing
Numerous accounts of dental assisting’s roots as a profession credit New Orleans dentist C. Edmund Kells with employing his wife in 1885. So helpful was her work that he soon hired the first full-time assistant, Malvina Cueria, a teenager, in his practice. While it may seem unimportant today, two women working in a dental office was revolutionary in the late-19th century. Convention dictated that women didn’t receive dental treatments without spousal permission, but the presence of two women in Kells’ office offered comfort and security to many women in his community. Kells’ helpers were so popular, other dentists soon advertised that “ladies in attendance” were working in their practices for the safety of female patients.
Dental students show their skills and compassion
Dental students from Texas A&M College of Dentistry participated in the 13th annual Dentistry with a Heart event, hosted by Park Cities Rotary at the Agape Clinic. The community outreach initiative provided free dental care — including extractions, fillings, and cleanings — to 26 patients from the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center and Agape Clinic.
Cancer and children’s teeth: Advice for parents
When a child enters a cancer battle, families rarely consider how treatments will affect teeth. However, life-saving measures, particularly chemotherapy and radiation, have immediate and future consequences on oral health. Dr. Carolyn A. Kerins, associate professor and graduate program director in the pediatric dentistry department at Texas A&M College of Dentistry in Dallas, said a dental visit should be scheduled before treatment starts. The dentist needs to ensure the child’s teeth and gums are stable and eliminate any potential sources of infection, including cavities.
College of Dentistry shares ways to avoid bad breath
Proper brushing twice a day and thorough flossing at least once daily are known to help keep the mouth clean and prevent bad breath. In recognition of National Dental Hygiene Month in October, Eric Fox, clinical assistant professor in the dental hygiene program at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry in Dallas, offered these additional tips to ward off bad breath:
College of Dentistry celebrates its 120th anniversary
More than 100 faculty, staff, students and alumni in cowboy boots and finery gathered Oct. 3 to mark Texas A&M University College of Dentistry’s 120th anniversary with a Boots and Burs celebration. The name is a nod to the college’s Texas roots and recognition of the dental profession – a bur being a dental tool. Proceeds from the event support expanding access to adult and pediatric dental care for underserved communities, scholarships and other initiatives.