American Dental Association President, Dr Brett Kessler Pulp Podcast Ep 5

🎙️ The Pulp Podcast | Episode 5: A Conversation with ADA President Dr. Brett Kessler
Hosted by Dr. Allen Ali Nasseh, Dr. Anne Koch, and Dr. Parsa Shahidi

In this insightful and timely episode, we sit down with Dr. Brett Kessler, current President of the American Dental Association (ADA), to explore the present and future of dentistry in America.

We cover:
• 💸 The changing funding landscape of the ADA
• 💧 The controversial debate over community water fluoridation
• 🍭 The ADA’s stance on sugar, nutrition, and oral health
• 🧠 Fighting misinformation online, including shout-outs to Andrew Huberman
• 🤖 The emerging role of AI in preventive dentistry
• 💰 Deep dive into the dental insurance system, Medicaid funding, and reform battles like the ADA’s lawsuit against Delta Dental
• 🏫 The crisis of rising dental school tuition, potential models for education reform, and how we can still attract the best and brightest to dentistry
• 🧘‍♂️ Dr. Kessler’s personal journey, mental health strategies for young dentists, and what keeps him optimistic about the profession’s future

🔑 Whether you’re a student, practicing dentist, or policy-watcher, this episode offers a masterclass in dental policy, innovation, and professional resilience.


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#Dentistry #AmericanDentalAssociation #DentalPodcast #FluorideDebate #DentalInsurance #DentalEducation #MentalHealth #ADAPresident #DrBrettKessler #AIinDentistry #ThePulpPodcast #AllenAliNasseh #AnneKoch #ParsaShahidi #DentalReform #DentalSchoolCosts #FutureOfDentistry

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(02:42) How is changing funding landscape affecting the ADA administration?
(05:59) Fluoride in Water
(11:04) Stance against Sugar and cavity causing foods
(12:11) Is ADA doing anything against sugar?
(13:19) What to do about the Sugar problem?
(14:29) How to fight misinformation on the internet?
(16:42) Cochrane Review Study on Fluoride and paradox of choice
(18:37) US vs. EU. Vs. Canada
(19:44) What's the main positions to weigh out on the Fluoride debate?
(22:44) Sealant and the idea of avoiding that "first filling!"
(23:05) The Economy of that first Filling!
(24:32) The use of A.I. as a preventive measure.
(25:19) Who do Pediatricians stand with on the Fluoride topic?
(25:50) Dr. Kessler to the US administration on Fluoride
(26:40) Nothing is a poison and Everything is a poison!
(27:53) Message to Andrew Huberman!
(28:20) State of Dental Insurance from ADA perspective
(28:52) Discussing Private and Public Dental Insurance
(30:18) Less than 6% of people on dental insurance reach their max benefits!
(31:05) Dental Loss Ratio
(32:45) Changing the 100% - 80% - 50% Insurance coverage formula
(33:01) Changing Insurance Caps
(33:53) How can insurance reform be done faster?
(34:09) Taking Delta Dental Insurance Co. To Court
(35:04) Amicus Brief Sent to Supreme Court
(35:54) Medicaid Funding being challenged
(38:01) The Long, infinite game
(38:57) Dental insurance is only a benefit, not insurance
(40:33) Will technologizing dentistry reduce access to care?
(42:36) Technology will increase efficiency of care
(43:36) How has DSO model changed access to care?
(47:32) how can schools manage cost of tuition?
(48:04) visited 25 schools but we can't direct CODA.
(49:09) Is tuition hikes by schools just supply and demand?
(50:24) Should Tuition be degree based rather than semester based?
(51:13) Unintended consequences of higher tuitions
(52:54) fewest people entering college in 2027
(53:37) Open positions in 6 year Oral Surgery programs
(55:20) Making the fourth year of dental school a residency year.
(56:26) education must change and evolve in the age of A.I.
(57:30) How do we attract the best and the brightest to come to dental school?
(58:48) The Golden Age of Dentistry is now!
(01:01:56) Dentistry is the highest cost of education
(01:03:12) Any regrets being a dentist?
(01:07:14) Dr. Kessler's personal journey
(01:09:06) Any advice for mental health of young dentists?
(01:11:56) Dentists need their body for performance.