News

Rural Kids on Medicaid Get More Fillings and Fewer Cleanings, New 2026 Study Finds

A June 2026 University of South Carolina policy brief finds rural children on Medicaid need more fillings and crowns than city kids, …

Vitana Pediatric Dental Partners Lands New Growth Capital From Saratoga Investment Corp: What It Means for Families in 10 States

Vitana Pediatric & Orthodontic Partners has added Saratoga Investment Corp as a new debt financing partner alongside Live Oak Bank, backing further …

Dentsply Sirona and Smile Train Mark 7,000th Cleft Surgery for Children on World Cleft Awareness Day

On World Cleft Awareness Day 2026, Dentsply Sirona and Smile Train announced their five year partnership has enabled 7,000 cleft surgeries for …

Burbank's Free Back to School Fair Adds Dental Screenings for Families on August 1, 2026

A coalition of more than a dozen Burbank nonprofits is hosting a free back to school fair on August 1, 2026, with …

AACI's Free Back to School Health Fair Brings Dental Screenings to San Jose Families on August 8, 2026

AACI's free Back to School Health Fair on August 8, 2026, in San Jose offers dental screenings and fluoride treatment to an …

California Delays 1 Billion Dollars in Medi-Cal Dental Cuts Until 2027: What It Means for Families

California's new state budget postpones nearly 1 billion dollars in proposed Medi-Cal Dental cuts until July 2027, keeping current reimbursement rates in …

Hello Kids Toothpaste Lawsuit: What the Lead and Mercury Claims Mean for Your Family

A federal lawsuit alleges Hello Kids toothpaste flavors Dragon Dazzle and Fluoride Free Fresh Watermelon contain lead and mercury far above EPA …

Houston's Mayor's Back 2 School Health Fair Brings Free Dental Screenings to 20,000 Students on August 1, 2026

The City of Houston's Mayor's Back 2 School and Health Fair returns August 1, 2026, at the George R. Brown Convention Center …

Dallas Mayor's 30th Annual Back to School Fair Brings Free Dental Screenings to Families on August 7, 2026

The Dallas Mayor's Back to School Fair marks its 30th year on August 7, 2026, offering free dental screenings, vision exams, and …

Little Rock's Free Back to School Health Fair Adds Dental Screenings for August 1, 2026

The Little Rock School District's August 1 back to school health fair at Little Rock Southwest High School will include free dental …

New Federal Loan Caps Hit Dental Students in 2026: What $280,300 in Average Debt Means for Family Access to Care

New $50,000 a year federal loan caps replaced Grad PLUS loans for dental students on July 1, 2026, right as average dental …

Record Crowd at an Illinois Free Dental Day Shows How Many Families Are Racing to Meet the State's School Exam Rule

Little Egypt Pediatric Dentistry in Carbondale, Illinois drew its largest-ever crowd for Free Dental Day on July 18, 2026, providing an estimated …

CPSC Recalls Over 253,000 Silicone Pull-String Teething Toys in 2026: What Five Recalls Mean for Your Baby

Five separate CPSC recalls in 2026 have pulled over 253,000 silicone pull-string teething toys after 73 choking and respiratory-distress reports. Here is …

National Health Center Week 2026 Runs August 2 to 8: Where Kids Can Get Free or Low-Cost Dental Care Before School Starts

National Health Center Week 2026 runs August 2 to 8. Community health centers nationwide are using the week to open extra pediatric …

Dental Hygienist Pay Hits $98,100 in 2026, but the Shortage Could Mean Longer Waits for Your Child's Cleaning

New federal wage data puts the national median pay for dental hygienists at $98,100 a year, yet only 60 percent of dentists …

Alaska Dentist Charged With Medicaid Fraud After a Child's Seizure: What Parents Should Know

Alaska prosecutors have charged Soldotna dentist Joseph Mirci with nearly 84,000 dollars in Medicaid fraud, including an allegation involving an 8 year …

Does the Fluoride Varnish at Your Child's Checkup Actually Work? What the 2026 Evidence Shows for Families

As families book back to school checkups and the national fluoride debate rolls on, here is what the strongest evidence actually says …

Tongue-Tie Surgery in Babies Is Surging, but Most Referred Infants May Not Need It: What a 2026 Consent Case Means for Parents

Infant tongue-tie release procedures have climbed sharply in the US, yet studies show most referred babies improve with feeding support alone. A …

Free Dental Exams, Sealants, and Fluoride Varnish for Kids at the July 25 West Sacramento Back to School Fair

Fluoride-Free Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste Is Taking Over the Kids' Aisle in 2026: What the Evidence Actually Shows

Fluoride-free hydroxyapatite toothpaste has flooded the children's aisle in 2026. Peer-reviewed studies suggest it can remineralize early cavities about as well as …