In remarks made at the launch of a major health initiative to improve the health of Michigan residents, Gov. Rick Snyder today highlighted the connection between good oral health and overall health, and praised several oral health initiatives sponsored by the dental profession as part of his plan to make Michigan residents healthier.

A Howell man doing business as Accent Denture Center in Howell has been barred from treating patients after a judge found him guilty of illegally practicing dentistry. The Michigan Dental Association filed the lawsuit to stop Douglas Sowkin, who is not a licensed dentist, from practicing after receiving numerous complaints from patients.

Major improvements in the dental safety net will not occur until national and state leaders place a greater value on oral health, according to the American Dental Association's report, "Breaking Down Barriers to Oral Health for All Americans: Repairing the Tattered Safety Net."

Michigan must get serious about meeting the oral health needs of its most vulnerable residents by creating a coordinated system to address the problem, Michigan Dental Association President Connie Verhagen, D.D.S., M.S., said today.

Good news! The Healthy Kids Dental Program will be expanding to cover four additional counties in Michigan, bringing the number of Healthy Kids Dental counties up from 61 to 65 of the 83 counties in the state.

The Michigan Dental Association has received some calls and e-mails regarding the recent closing of the Allcare Dental and Dentures offices in Michigan. Here is an update and information if you or someone you know was  a patient at an Allcare Dental office.

The Michigan Dental Association supports the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel's call for continued research into amalgam fillings, while reassuring dental patients that the FDA's official position remains that amalgam is safe and effective. 

Gov. Jennifer Granholm on Sept. 30 signed a series of budget bills, which  include restoration of adult dental Medicaid. Under the $14 billion Department of Community Health budget, adult dental coverage has been restored along with podiatry and vision care for Medicaid patients in Michigan.

Looking to help more Michigan residents get access to dental care, the 30-member Michigan Access to Oral Health Care Work Group today issued a first-of-its-kind report outlining concrete strategies to help make sure people aren’t forced to go without dental care. The report, “A United Voice for Oral Health,” was prepared by Lansing’s Public Sector Consultants and reflects the thinking of the broadest group yet assembled to tackle the access problem.

Filming of four new Michigan Dental Association TV ads took place June 30 and July 1 at various locations around metro Detroit and should begin airing in mid-August, according to Dr. Curles Colbert, chair of the MDA Committee on Public Relations. Building upon the "Want a Healthy Body? Start with a Healthy Mouth" campaign, the new series of ads new ads also feature a message strongly urging patients to schedule and keep regular dental appointments to prevent more serious oral and health complications.