Here are five federal updates Becker's has reported on since Oct. 30:

Maryland legislators have introduced several bills and have more planned to improve dental care in the state, The Southern Maryland Chronicle reported Jan. 15.

The Rhode Island State Department of Health issued a cease and desist order to Waleska Melgar to stop practicing dentistry in the state without a license.

The Washington Dental Quality Assurance Commission indefinitely suspended the license of Jasmine Caminos, a dental assistant in the state.

James Rolfe, DDS, recently extended the operating hours of his dental urgent care center in Santa Barbara, Calif., the Santa Barbara Independent reported Jan. 12.

Here are four recent dental company closures Becker's has reported on since Dec. 8, including dental practices, labs and more. 

Pacific Northwest Implant Studio and General Dentistry in Eugene, Ore., led by Matthew Byrne, DDS, has shut down unexpectedly, leaving patients without care, according to a Jan. 11 report by ABC affiliate KEZI.

Here are 11 dental school updates that Becker's has reported on since Nov. 28: 

Newly formed Haven Dental, founded by Charles Wei, DDS, opened its first practice location.

First Choice Dental, which operates 11 dental clinics throughout Wisconsin, suffered a cybersecurity incident.

Two DSOs that added practices in Georgia and four other dental industry updates that Becker's has reported on since Dec. 8: 

A Pennsylvania dentist was recently sentenced to up to 23 months in prison for sexually assaulting patients, ABC affiliate WNEP reported Jan. 11.  

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp recently proposed putting $178 million toward construction of a dental school at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Atlanta News First reported Jan. 10. 

Harmony Dental Center of Leesburg (Va.) will move into a new practice location in May.

The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine's main dental clinic is temporarily closed following flooding, according to a Jan. 9 report by riverbender.com.

Pennsylvania had a negative net migration of new dentists from 2019 to 2022, with a net migration rate of -9%, according to the American Dental Association. 

Harold Slavkin, DDS, former director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and dean of the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of the University of Southern California, died Dec. 22 at the age of 85.

Bill Sasser, DMD, has received the American Dental Association's 2024 Humanitarian Award.

Here are 10 oral surgery updates Becker's has reported on since Oct. 19:

The Washington Dental Quality Assurance Commission and Shawn Keller, DDS, agreed to restrictions of his dental license.