As a dental student, it can be difficult to see all the sides of dentistry. Students become so focused on balancing the didactics with developing the necessary hand skills, as well as the community service that there can almost be a “tunnel vision”. While these aspects of dental school are crucial, students can sometimes forget another side to dentistry; the advocacy. Going into dental school, I had heard about ASDA and thought it was just another organization that provided advice to students and gave opportunities for service and networking. I had no idea that ASDA plays such an important role in legislation and the rights of students. “The organization strives to inform students about the issues impacting their profession and provides opportunities to advocate for their rights as future dentists” (ASDA.org).
Here are a couple questions that some may have about advocacy, and I know I had when starting dental school:
- Why should I care about legislation in dentistry? As I mentioned previously, when going into dental school, politics and legislation aren’t usually high on the list of priorities. However in reality, it is these laws that control so many aspects of what a dentist can do and cannot. It is important to advocate for what you believe in if there is something that doesn’t seem right. This will only lead to the betterment of our profession as a whole and the patients we serve.
- Will I actually make a difference? I feel like with any legislation, people always ask themselves if there will be any resultant change. However, if everyone that thought this replaced it with the mindset that you can be that one person that does make a difference, big impacts would occur. Dentists and dental students from all over the country meet in Washington, D.C. annually for Lobby Day to encourage Congress to pass dental related legislation.
This past year was quite eventful for ASDA and advocacy, but here are a couple major topics: Dental Student Debt, and Vaccinations.
According to ADEA, “the average debt per graduating senior in 2020 was $304,824” (ADEA.org). Such a high level of debt can seriously impact a newly graduated dental student and limit their choices for a career path. Overall, ASDA has the goals of reducing student loan interest rates, providing refinancing options and giving students scholarships and loan forgiveness opportunities. In March 2022, many dental students and dentists went to Washington, D.C to lobby two bills that addressed this issue. One bill was called the Student Loan Refinancing Act. This would allow borrowers to refinance student loans more than once, which would allow students to take advantage of the lower interest rates. The second bill was called the Resident Education Deferred Interest Act. This would allow dental and medical students to defer their student loans, interest free during their time in residency. Both of these bills not only benefit students while they are in school, but have major benefits after school in residency and beyond.
Overall, it is always important for dental students to understand the importance of vaccinations and to advocate this to their patients. However, with the Covid-19 pandemic and how it has affected our country, vaccination knowledge is more necessary than ever. As dental students and healthcare providers, we play a large role in educating patients through evidence based medicine about the benefits of vaccines. As part of ASDA’s H-11 policy, it encourages dental schools to incorporate vaccine administration as part of their curriculum as well as administering vaccinations in the clinic. ASDA’s 1-3 policy is in support with the CDC’s guidelines for vaccinations. It recommends that dental schools encourage patients to follow vaccine guidelines and urges schools to educate patients on a scientifically-proven basis that vaccines are safe and effective.
-Michael Luu, UConn ’25
ASDA: District 1 