dental students
Providing dental care in Denton
Third- and fourth-year Texas A&M College of Dentistry dental students from the Student for the Light Society traveled to Denton on March 28 to provide dental extractions to patients at First Refuge Ministries' dental clinic. The clinic emphasized compassion and meeting urgent dental needs for those who often face significant barriers to care. Read More
Showing their prowess
Students and faculty represented Texas A&M College of Dentistry March 4 through March 7 at the annual Academy of Osseointegration Meeting in Washington, D.C. The academy is a global dental implant organization of more than 5,000 members from 70 countries. Read More
Practicing for the unthinkable
Many people don't think about it, but dentists are among those to respond when disasters happen. Texas A&M College of Dentistry dental students received a crash course in disaster preparedness Feb. 27 when they participated in the 18th annual Disaster Day. Organized by Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Disaster Day is the nation's largest student-led, interprofessional emergency response simulation. More than 600 students from across Texas A&M Health took part in the exercise in College Station, where they practiced their emergency response skills. Read More
Passing the drill: Baby boomer dentists bid goodbye, allowing young dentists’ smiles in the spotlight
Disco on FM radio was cool. “Grease” ruled the box office. That’s when Dr. Michael Plunk opened his eponymous dental practice in June 1978 in East Dallas’ Casa Linda neighborhood. “We weren’t dependent on insurance plans, PPOs, like corporations are,” he said. “It was about relationships, long-term relationships.” Fast forward to 2026, and Latin music is popular on Spotify playlists. “Pegasus 3” is this year’s highest-grossing film so far. Plunk officially retired last year, taking with him nearly half a century of memories. His farewell isn’t unique. A large share of dentists aged 60 and older left the workforce between 2017 and 2024. The retirement surge is slowing, but the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute in 2025 projected that most baby boomer dentists will age out of the workforce by the late 2020s. Stepping up is a rapidly growing pool of younger national talent. Dentists under 45 are poised to reshape the profession. There’s more. Read More
Howdy, Chancellor Glenn Hegar
Texas A&M College of Dentistry welcomed Texas A&M System Chancellor Glenn Hegar on Feb. 24 to visit the dental hospital in Dallas. Hegar toured the general practice and specialty clinics in the Clinic and Education Building. He took the opportunity to meet with students and staff. Read More
Giving kids healthy smiles
Texas A&M College of Dentistry joined the Dallas County Dental Society Feb. 6 for its annual Give Kids a Smile hosted at L.P. Cowart Elementary School in Dallas. GKAS is a long-standing community service initiative organized by DCDS to increase access to oral health education and dental care for children in the Dallas area. Read More
Dr. Lily T. García, dean, and students receive American College of Prosthodontists awards
Texas A&M College of Dentistry was in the spotlight recently as Dr. Lily T. García, dean, and dental students Jessica Vu and David Qin each received awards at the 55th Annual Session of the American College of Prosthodontists in New Orleans. Read More
Honored for excellence in community service
Fourth-year dental students Austin Bond and Youngju Oh at Texas A&M College of Dentistry in Dallas recently received Texas Mission of Mercy Awards. Each student was recognized for active participation in Texas Mission of Mercy's oral health events and for their commitment to community engagement and service. Read More
Helping create healthier smiles
Texas A&M College of Dentistry participated in the Third Annual Agape Clinic Health Fair, a community outreach event Oct. 25 dedicated to serving the predominantly uninsured, low-income and Hispanic population in Dallas-Fort Worth. It was at East Dallas Christian Church. Read More
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. Read More