Expansion of the Healthy Kids Dental Program by four counties has been postponed until Feb. 1, 2012, according to the Michigan Department of Community Health’s Medical Services Administration.

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. 

Click here to find a list of community dental programs that accept Medicaid or offer other assistance.  The Michigan Dental Association does not have a list of private practice dentists that may be accepting Medicaid.  If you have questions on your dental benefits coverage, please contact the Medicaid Patient Hotline at 800-642-3195.

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.

Once again the  Michigan Dental Association Coloring Contest proved to be an event kids, teachers and dentists alike look forward to each year.  Congratulations go out to the winners of the 2010 contest, held in February in conjunction with National Children’s Dental Health Month. Have a look at all the budding artists in this year’s crop of winning entries.

February is the American Dental Association’s National Children’s Dental Health Month, designed to raise awareness among families and policymakers about the importance to children of good oral health habits. The month also kicks off for the eight straight year with the national health outreach event, Give Kids a Smile Day! More than 1,500 local children throughout Michigan will receive free dental treatment in private dental offices, dental schools, and community health centers as part of “Give Kids a Smile” day.

The 17th Annual National Children’s Dental Health Month MDA Coloring Contest takes place now through March 5, 2010. The contest is open to Michigan children in grades K-6. Prizes will be awarded in all age groups, including $100 U.S. Savings Bonds to first-place winners! A printable version of the coloring contest and application form are available for download by following the link below.

The Michigan Dental Association today condemned the needless death of a mentally impaired woman from northern Michigan who was unable to have her dangerously infected teeth extracted before the state’s July 1 cutoff of adult dental Medicaid benefits.

Michigan’s Donated Dental Services Program was honored at the state Capitol June 9, 2009 for providing $10 million in dental care to thousands of Michigan’s elderly, disabled and disadvantaged citizens. Donated Dental Services has helped 3,755 people over the past 14 years who otherwise never would have received care.

The 2009 Michigan Dental Association Coloring Contest proved again to be a popular activity among children around the state, as more than 2,800 entries were submitted for this year's contest. The contest takes place each February in conjunction with National Children’s Dental Health Month. Have a look at all the budding artists in this year’s crop of winning entries.

Peter Vanderkaay, Michigan’s own 2008 and 2004 Olympic gold medal swimmer, recently unveiled a dental health education campaign during an event at a Royal Oak Elementary School. The event was held in conjunction with Children’s Dental Health Month, which is designed to raise awareness about the importance of good oral health habits. Vanderkaay said he hopes that children will take his message and incorporate it into their daily routine, remembering the link between oral health and overall wellness.

Halloween doesn’t have to be a scary time for your children’s teeth and gums, as long as smart choices are made about the treats your kids eat.  MDA President Dr. Joanne Dawley says that a little extra candy on Halloween shouldn’t be a problem; you just don’t want to allow your children to eat too much. Read on for healthy Halloween tips.

School is back in session and that means it's time for fall sports. You may not realize this, but the mouth is the most commonly injured area of the body in contact sports. Protect your student athlete and minimize the possibility of injury by purchasing a mouthguard.

It's never too early to start teaching the importance of oral health care. That's why the Michigan Dental Association has put together a special section for teachers containing a variety of fun activities and helpful information to spread the word about proper oral health care.

Fall is usually the time of year when employers offer open enrollment periods for dental plans. Do you know how to make an educated decision about a dental plan? Are you comfortable with the terminology you read? If you are confronted with dental plan options, the Michigan Dental Association can help you understand the sometimes complex area of dental benefit plans.

As a member of the Michigan Dental Association, your dentist has committed to uphold the ethical standards of the profession. The Michigan Dental Association, through its professional peer review system, stands ready to help you straighten out and solve any dilemmas between you and your dentist. MDA members believe it is their responsibility to safeguard the public's oral health through their unique Peer Review system.

Michigan Dental Association dentists will be turning out in force across the state of Michigan on Friday, Feb. 2, to provide free dental services to low income.

Community water fluoridation is a simple, inexpensive, safe and effective way to prevent decay in children and adults. It benefits people of all ages and socioeconomic groups, especially those without access to regular dental care. The U. S. Centers for Disease Control called community water fluoridation one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.