Nationally recognized experts deliver continuing education at annual conference focused on improving dental education standards

• More than 300 educators from 55 oral health programs participated
• Industry-leading presenters shared innovative approaches to dental education
• Technological advancements for 2026 examination cycle unveiled

GRAPEVINE, Texas (November 24, 2025) – The American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX), a leading organization for dental licensure testing, hosted its annual ADEX Educators Conference at the Gaylord Texan on October 18, 2025, bringing together more than 300 dental educators from 55 oral health education programs across the country. The event, which coincided with the annual Dental Testing & Regulatory Summit, provided a platform for collaboration, continuing education, and insights into examination updates for the upcoming year.

The conference attracted approximately 175 dental hygiene educators and 125 dental educators who participated in specialized continuing education sessions led by nationally recognized experts. The gathering reinforced ADEX’s commitment to advancing dental education standards and ensuring competent dental practitioners nationwide.

“Dental educators play a vital role in upholding the highest standards of care for the future of the dental industry,” said Alexander Vandiver, CEO of the ADEX. “This conference creates a collaborative environment where educators can share best practices, gain insights into examination processes, and ultimately better prepare students to meet the evolving needs of patients across the country.”

The event featured two continuing education sessions from industry-leading educators. Dr. Kimberly Fasula, Director of Interprofessional Education at Chicago Medical School, presented “From Tooth to Toe: Integrating Dentistry with Medicine.” Additionally, Dr. Wendy Woodall and Dr. Wenlian Zhou from the Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine at Texas Tech University of Health Sciences delivered their course, “Navigating the Transition to Entrustable Professional Activities in Dental Education.”

Dental hygiene educators participated in a panel discussion highlighting critical topics including student mental health and resilience, faculty calibration, and the changing profession of dental hygiene. The panel featured experts from diverse educational institutions: Amber Brazile from Columbus Technical College, Renee Nelson from Greenville Technical College, Harold Jennings from Plaza College, Brenda Armstrong from Utah Tech University, and Brandi Mazzarella from Phoenix College.

Presentations by Shayna Overfelt, Senior Director of Educational Programs & Exam Quality Administration, provided dental hygiene educators with insights into 2025 candidate performance and updates for 2026 ADEX Dental Hygiene Examinations. For dental educators, Dr. Benjamin Wall, Director of Examinations, and Ms. Hannah Vannoy, Director of Application Development, detailed technological advancements for candidates and previewed changes for the 2026 examination cycle.

The ADEX Educators Conference continues to serve as a vital connection between examination development and educational institutions, ensuring alignment between licensure requirements and educational curricula. This collaboration supports ADEX’s vision to be a nationwide and international resource in the development, innovation, and administration of competency assessments for dental health professions.