One of the AAP’s core value states that the Academy “advocates for the specialty within organized dentistry, dental education, and non-dental legislative bodies.”
These efforts can take many forms including partnerships with allied organizations, financial support for legislation, developmental programs, systems of recognition, the sharing of research, and much more.
The list below contains a quarterly update of how your membership strengthens the AAP and the periodontal profession.
2023- Summer
JOP and CAP Editor-in-Chief Appointment
Following an intensive search, Dr. Effie Ioannidou has been appointed as the new Editor-in-Chief (EIC) of JOP and CAP. She will assume her position on July 1, 2023. Dr. Ioannidou currently serves as professor and interim chair of the Division of Periodontology at the University of Connecticut and will be moving later this summer to the University of California San Francisco to chair the Department of Orofacial Sciences. Dr. Ioannidou has played many important roles as a clinician scientist and leader throughout her career, and she brings a deep passion for scientific publishing and knowledge dissemination to the position of EIC. An in-depth introduction to Dr. Ioannidou and her vision for the AAP’s journals will be shared in Periospectives and other AAP media in the coming weeks.
Young Investigators
Duties of the Task Force on Future Science include identifying ways to align periodontics with current and future trends and innovation in science and research. This includes consideration of how the Academy can engage new and young scientists, recommending a strategy for the Academy to define the scope of its scientific programs, and evaluating opportunities that would engage the broader health community and other relevant stakeholders. The task force identified the inclusion of young investigators as a priority in the scientific work of the AAP. Young investigators are able to provide a new generational voice while benefiting from mentorship and leadership development in the AAP.
Membership Recruitment and Rewards
The Membership Recruitment and Rewards pilot program will launch on Sept. 1. It will include two tiers of rewards for members who recruit new residents and periodontists to the Academy.
Tier 1
Recruit 1 new member
50% off one-year AAP membership renewal
Tier 2
Recruit 2 or more members
Complimentary, one-year active membership
Strategic Planning Committee
The Strategic Planning Committee met in-person on Friday, April 14 and Saturday, April 15. The committee discussed and deliberated on the Academy’s future strategic plans including drafting the six objective plan for 2024. As the first objective of the Academy is providing exceptional member value, this committee’s work is directly related to demonstrating how the AAP puts the needs of members first.
Educator Workshop New Format
Last year, the Education Committee changed the format of the educator workshop at the AAP’s Annual Meeting from disconnected courses over two days to one full day of content for predoctoral and postdoctoral educators. The new format focuses on the needs of educators by focusing on relevant topics that apply to predoctoral and postdoctoral educators, as well as breakout sessions that are specifically designed for either predoctoral or postdoctoral educators. The workshop will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is sponsored by Philips Oral Healthcare. This session is complimentary, but an advanced ticket is required. More information on the sessions can be found here.
International Osteology Symposium
As part of the AAP’s vision to be a collaborative partner in achieving optimal oral health, the AAP hosted a special session during the International Osteology Symposium, Apr. 27-29, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain.
The session State of the Art Soft Tissue Management Around Teeth and Implants included:
- Soft-tissue management around implants presented by Dr. Giulio Rasperini, Italy
- Microsurgery and sutures for soft-tissue management presented by Dr. Diego Velasquez, U.S.
- Alternatives to the gold standard for mucogingival procedures presented by Dr. Todd Scheyer, U.S.
Conversely, the Osteology Foundation has worked with the AAP and AAP Foundation to host a session at the AAP’s 2023 Annual Meeting in Austin on Thursday, Nov. 9 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.:
EV12: AAP/AAP Foundation/Osteology Foundation Regeneration Symposium: The Past, Present and Future of Bone Augmentation.
This session is complimentary, but an advanced ticket is required.
Elections
The AAP election cycle started Jan. 1, 2023, and goes on until June 30, 2023. A privilege of Active and Life Active membership is the opportunity to vote in the AAP elections. Candidates work hard to provide the membership with their goals and future vision for the Academy through their CVs on perio.org, three-EOC approved emails, and ballot book information. You can find more information about the Academy’s elections and candidates here.
District Town Halls
The District Town Halls are a unique way for members to connect with their District Trustees in an informal environment. The Town Halls create space for grassroots discussion and foster the AAP community. To hear about the latest Town Halls and learn more about the next one so you can get involved, read the “District Town Halls – Taking Ownership of Your AAP Membership” Perio Pulse blog.
Economist Report
AAP members Dr. David Okano, Dr. Chris Richardson, and Dr. Purnima Kumar were interviewed for an Economist impact report bringing awareness of gum disease to a national audience. The report outlines the importance of preventing gum disease and the detrimental effects gum disease can lead to, as well as the current status regarding disparities in oral health care—and what needs to happen on a legislative level to combat this.
2023- Spring
The AAP’s Leadership, Engagement, Action, and Development (LEAD) Program
The AAP is currently accepting nominations for the 2023 Leadership, Engagement, Action, and Development (LEAD) Program to be held in Chicago on Sept. 22-23. The LEAD Program is an exclusive two-day program designed to identify leaders in periodontics, cultivate the necessary skills to ensure success, and inspire a commitment to advance the profession. Topics to be covered at the LEAD Program include opportunities within organized dentistry; clinical, practice, and scientific leadership; effective community outreach, and professional relationship development. We are looking forward to another successful program this year, thanks to the support of the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation. The nomination deadline is March 31, 2023. The nomination form and criteria for the program can be found here.
ADA Code Maintenance Committee
The ADA’s Code Maintenance Committee meets each March to review submitted applications to edit or add CDT codes. The AAP holds a seat on this committee, serving with other dental specialties, insurance carriers, government agencies, and the ADA. The committee discusses each application and determines whether to accept the change or addition to the CDT code set.
New JOP/CAP Editor-in-Chief
The Academy launched a comprehensive search for a new Editor-in-Chief (EIC) of JOP/CAP earlier this year and a special member task force will interview candidates in March and make its recommendation to the Board of Trustees. The new Editor-in-Chief will rely on the strong foundation retired EIC Ken Kornman established for both journals while contributing a fresh, innovative perspective to AAP’s esteemed publications.
AAP-Sponsored Resident Luncheon
The Academy sponsored a Resident Luncheon with the Florida Association of Periodontists. Residents of Nova Southeastern University and the University of Florida attended the annual event, where they received the opportunity to ask the periodontists questions and learn more about the field (and enjoy a free lunch!).
AAP Connect Enhancements
A new carousel was added to the home page in AAP Connect to provide more content for users. The carousel links members to new content including the Advocacy Corner, New Periodontist Corner, and AAP Connect Tutorial Videos.
AAP Dental Hygiene Engagement Initiative
Planning for the AAP Dental Hygiene Engagement Initiative is underway! The Initiative, which will include a Dental Hygiene Study Club Program and Dental Hygienist Recognition Program, aims to educate dental hygienists about the important role of periodontists in collaborative care and position AAP members as leaders and mentors in their local communities. The Dental Hygiene Engagement Initiative will utilize widespread efforts targeted at hygienists, such as the Dental Hygiene Symposium at the 2023 Annual Meeting and other targeted outreach in addition to ready-to-use member resources as part of the Study Club Program. As an incentive for dental hygienists, those who attend an AAP member-hosted dental hygiene study club or other AAP activity will be eligible for the AAP Dental Hygienist Recognition Program. Through this program, they can earn continuing education credit and achieve different tiers of AAP recognition. Stay tuned for more information about this exciting project.
ASDA National Leadership Conference
The American Student Dental Association’s (ASDA) National Leadership Conference takes place every fall and is an opportunity to speak with hundreds of D1, D2, and D3 students about a career in periodontics. A periodontal resident volunteers and assists AAP staff by answering students’ questions about applying to a residency program, periodontal procedures, and/or the experience the resident has had so far with the specialty.
CEOC Meeting: Feb. 24 – 26
The Continuing Education Oversight Committee (CEOC) met on Friday, Feb. 24 through Sunday, Feb. 26. They planned the Continuing Education content for the 110th Annual Meeting in San Diego, from Oct. 31 – Nov. 3, 2024, at the San Diego Convention Center.
Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act
In February, the Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act was reintroduced in Congress. The AAP chose to support this bipartisan, bicameral bill aimed at curbing the rise of oral disease and related illnesses through prevention education. Learn more about how the AAP is advocating on behalf of periodontology through our Advocacy Resources page.
REDI Act
The AAP supports H.R. 4122/S. 3658, the Resident Education Deferred Interest Act (REDI Act), which would allow medical and dental residents to defer payments on their federal student loans — and delay the point at which interest begins to accrue — until after completing residency.
2022- Fall/Winter
The Academy’s participation at ISPRD 2022 and EuroPerio10
The AAP once again returned to Quintessence Publishing’s International Symposium of Periodontics & Restorative Dentistry (ISPRD), June 9-12, 2022. AAP staff was on hand promoting membership and administering continuing education. In addition, the AAP also had a booth presence at the EuroPerio10 meeting, June 15-18, 2022, in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Panacea banking solutions for AAP members
This winter, Panacea Financial partnered with the AAP to provide preferred doctor-centric banking services to AAP members nationwide. Panacea is a financial services company created for doctors, by doctors that provides tailored product offerings and service delivery designed specifically for physicians, dentists, and veterinarians throughout their career. For more information, please visit www.perio.org/for-members/perio-perks-programs/.
The AAP’s Leadership, Engagement, Action, and Development (LEAD) Program
Each year, the AAP holds its Leadership, Engagement, Action, and Development (LEAD) program. Periodontists who have been recognized as up-and-coming leaders in periodontics come together for an interactive three days of learning, discussion, and networking. In Fall 2022, 17 participants enjoyed discussion sessions with some of the most respected thought leaders in the specialty to focus on leadership development. The AAP is proud to support the participants on their journey to become the next generation of leaders in periodontics.
The publication of the 2022 Best Evidence Consensus (BEC) on Biologics in Clinical Practice
In Dec. 2022, the AAP published its “best evidence consensus” (BEC) panel proceedings on the topic of biologics in clinical practice. The BEC meeting brought together a panel of 20 experts to discuss the efficacy of biologics in root coverage and gingival augmentation therapy, the treatment of periodontal infrabony defects, alveolar ridge preservation/reconstruction, and implant site development. Read more about the complete BEC proceedings in the Dec. 2022 issue of the Journal of Periodontology (JOP).
Corporate support to provide more free and lower cost webinars
The AAP continues to work with corporate partners to create more free and low cost webinars for members. Sponsored by Noris Medical, “The Role of Zygomatic Implants in Periodontal Practice” webinar was held to examine the indications for zygomatic implants, review the anatomy pertinent for zygomatic implants, and gain the technique for safe placement of zygomatic implants. Sponsored by Philips Oral Health, the “Demystifying Implant Disease” webinar was held to teach attendees to incorporate techniques for at-the-chair and anti-inflammatory biofilm control, as well as low impact surgical methods for decontamination, degranulation, and decortication.
Educator Symposium held at the 2022 Annual Meeting
The AAP held its first ever in-person, all-day Educator Symposium at the AAP Annual Meeting in Phoenix on Wednesday, Oct. 26. The event was attended by approximately 120 pre- and postdoctoral educators.
AAP Hour
With support from Philips Oral Healthcare, the Academy introduced AAP Hour. AAP Hour is an interactive session held for residents to learn from and interact with a master clinician. Residents are given direct access to the guest speaker after reviewing pre-recorded case presentations. Topics from 2022 included, “Management of the Extraction Site: From evidence to clinical practice,” “Peri-implantitis Risk Factors and Therapeutic Outcomes,” and “Immediate Implant and Provisionization: What Have We Learned From the Past 25 Years?” with guest speakers Dr. Gustavo Avila-Ortiz, Dr. Dwayne Karateew, and Dr. Joseph Kan, respectively. Guest speakers answered residents’ questions during these live virtual events.
The Match Program
The AAP is a sponsoring organization for the Match for advanced training programs in periodontology. The Match has been in place since 2018 and is perceived as the standard for matching applicants with programs in advanced dental training and medicine. There are currently 43 periodontal residency programs participating in the Match. For more information about the Match and a list of participating programs, please visit the National Matching Service website at https://natmatch.com/dentres/directory/perio.html.
The Academy’s participation in the ADA’s House of Delegates meeting
Each year, the AAP hosts an annual breakfast in conjunction with the ADA House of Delegates meeting. AAP members who are ADA Delegates and Alternates are invited to attend. During the breakfast, resolutions pertinent to the specialty of Periodontology and any additional relevant topics are discussed. The goal is to educate Delegates and Alternates on resolutions that may affect Periodontology. Officers have provided testimonies during the Reference Committee hearings to speak in favor of or opposing relevant resolutions.
The AAP’s support of the Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) ballot measure in Massachusetts
On Sept. 1, 2022, the Academy received an alert to support the Massachusetts Ballot Initiative that would establish a medical loss ratio (MLR) for all dental plans in the state. Academy representatives attended an Organized Dentistry Coalition meeting discussing more about this campaign. The AAP Trustees sent communication to their constituents supporting this initiative, including information about directly contributing to this campaign between Sept. 28 and Oct. 3. The Board of Trustees authorized a donation of $10,000 to the Massachusetts Dental Care Providers for Better Dental Benefits Committee for the purpose of supporting Massachusetts Ballot Question 2.
