As we move further into 2025, I want to take a moment to reflect on the progress we’ve made together, the challenges we continue to face, and the important work that lies ahead. Dentistry is evolving rapidly, and so is our Association.

In my last newsletter I discussed the association management system (AMS) transition and how we had fallen short of our initial promises. In March, a third-party AMS assessment identified significant issues that further validated concerns. At the ADA, we are committed to making things right and we have made great strides and improvements. We are continuing to work hand-in-hand with our states to meet our goal of a stable, standardized system that fully supports our membership processes.

As you may know, the ADA has been exploring innovative ways to increase membership. To that end, the Membership and Engagement Model pilot was launched in 2024 with five pilot states. The pilot’s aim is to modernize the membership experience, lower cost barriers, and explore new strategies for engagement. New dues structures and value-added packages have been deployed in these states. At our April meeting, the ADA Board voted to pause the onboarding of new states into the pilot. It is still too early in the program to fully assess the impact this pilot has had in membership retention and this will allow for more time for analysis. This will also allow for more system stabilization within our AMS before introducing more elements into the system.

An exciting collaborative agreement has been reached with the American Academy of Private Dental Practice (APDP) and the ADA. The APDP is a community of dentists dedicated to advancing private practice through relationship-based care, peer support, and leadership development and the APDP has a wealth of resources and expertise in this field. Through this collaboration with the APDP, the ADA will enhance its support of dentists in private practice with relevant resources, training opportunities, and practice management tools. This collaboration is still in process, but I encourage you to watch for more in the coming months.

Fluoride has been a hot topic across the country and if your practice is like mine, you’ve had an increase in questions from your patients about its safety. The ADA has provided a public facing site that can serve as a resource for you and even your patients if they are interested. Although sometimes the discussion can become disheartening, I encourage you to continue to educate and inform your patients and communities as the need arises. The ADA will continue to advocate for the health of the public and to evaluate the validity of emerging evidence and research. Our communications team has been incredibly busy, and in Q1 2025, the ADA was cited in more than 6,000 news articles.

Our advocacy team has been extremely busy with the start of the 119th Congress and the new presidential administration. The ADA has been actively working on ERISA reform, supporting community water fluoridation, and is working hard to preserve adult dental Medicaid. Although there have been many reductions in workforce in relation to dentistry in the federal government, a big win for the ADA and dentistry was the preservation of the CMS Chief Dental Officer position. An opportunity for collaboration with the federal government is on sugar reduction in our diets. As dentists, we know the effects that sugar and processed foods have on our oral health and sugar reduction will be even more important if community water fluoridation disappears.

There’s no doubt that we are navigating complex times, but I believe deeply in the strength of our profession and the resolve of our members. Thank you for your continued dedication, insight, and partnership. Together, we are building a stronger ADA and a healthier future for our patients and communities.

Sara Stuefen, DDS

District 10 Trustee, American Dental Association

Vice-Chair, IDA Legislative Committee

Vice-Chair, IDPAC