2025 Recap: Advancing Dentistry Together

As we reflect on the past year, the New Jersey Dental Association recognizes the momentum built through shared purpose and collective action. Throughout 2025, NJDA remained focused on strengthening the dental profession, advancing oral health statewide, and delivering meaningful value to our members. By expanding educational opportunities, enhancing member support, and engaging in thoughtful advocacy on issues affecting dentistry and patient care, the Association continued to serve as a strong and trusted voice for New Jersey dentists.

Thank you for your commitment to NJDA and for the many ways you contribute to the strength of dentistry in New Jersey.

Here's what we accomplished together in 2025!

January

• NJDA and the Association Member Trust, our partner in providing member health plans, issued a 1.5% dividend to groups in good standing as of December 31, 2024.
• Dentists in their first 10 years of practice packed YESTERcades Retro Arcade in Red Bank for a complimentary Happy Hour. Check out the 2026 schedule of social events for new dentists HERE.  
• NJDA’s efforts to eliminate New Jersey Sales and Use Tax on personal consumer hygiene products advanced as the Governing Board of the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement approved modifications creating the oral-health categories needed to move the issue forward.

February

• Give Kids A Smile, the ADA’s signature outreach event, provided free dental care at nearly 100 locations across New Jersey.
• NJDA launched the Workforce Lead Directory, supported by the Delta Dental Foundation—a new tool to help connect dental hygienists and assistants seeking employment with NJDA members.
• NJDPAC hosted the Women in Dentistry Meet & Greet at the home of NJDA President Dr. Elisa Velazquez.

March

• The NJDA Bylaws Task Force was formed to update the Association’s Bylaws and hosted informational Zoom meetings to address member questions regarding proposed revisions.
• Torch Dental, a leading technology platform for dental supply discovery, ordering, and spend management, officially joined the NJDA PERKS Program as a preferred supplier.
• Building on the success of the New Dentist Meet Ups held in the fall, NJDA continued the program into 2026!
• NJDA unveiled a revamped Community Water Fluoridation webpage at njda.org to provide updated national and state-level resources.
• The New Dentist Committee hosted a Spring Happy Hour at Circle Bowl & Entertainment in Ledgewood. Check out the 2026 schedule of social events for new dentists HERE.
• Bipartisan legislation was introduced to exempt sales tax on essential oral-hygiene items, including powered and manual toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, and more.

April

• Asteto Dent Labs, a full-service lab serving dentists in New Jersey, was announced as the newest PERKS Provider.
• The ADA launched its redesigned Find-a-Dentist tool, a marketing resource that helps prospective patients locate ADA member dentists.
• NJDA announced details for the Career Kickstarter series—a combination of dinner events, a career expo, digital resources, and more—designed to prepare early-career dentists for success. Check out the 2026 schedule of social events for new dentists HERE.
• New Jersey dentists and dental students joined more than 1,000 others from around the country in Washington, D.C. for the annual Lobby Day
• NJDA relaunched the Collaboration of NJ Dental Associations as a way to bring leaders from state-wide membership associations together in search of common solutions. 

May

• NJDA held its Annual Convention in Bridgewater, NJ, on May 16–17—the first time in the Association’s 150+ year history that the conference was held in central New Jersey. The weekend included the NJDA Celebration and the House of Delegates meeting.  Learn about the 2026 Convention and Celebration HERE.  
• Dr. Amit Vora, a periodontist from Edison, NJ, was installed as the 156th President of the New Jersey Dental Association. He is the Association’s first Indian-American and first foreign-trained dentist to serve as NJDA President.
• Twelve distinguished dentists received the 2025 NJDA Member Recognition Awards, selected by their local dental societies for meaningful contributions to organized dentistry.
• The New Jersey Dental Political Action Committee unveiled its bold new logo.

June

• The New Dentist Committee introduced the Early Career Roadmap, a digital checklist for dentists in their first few years of practice in New Jersey.
• NJDA’s Compliancy Series concluded, with member-dentists earning required HIPAA, OSHA, and DEA MATE Act training.
• NJDA launched new Action Alert emails, supported by an updated advocacy platform, enabling dentists to easily engage with elected representatives on key issues.
• The New Jersey Dental Foundation partnered with TeamSmile and Colgate to provide dental care to students at the LPGA Classic in Galloway

July

• NJDA announced that the 2026 Annual Convention will take place May 1–2 in Bridgewater, NJ.
• NJDA hosted Cocktails & Career Conversations, an event for early-career dentists to explore career pathways in a relaxed setting. Check out the 2026 schedule of social events for new dentists HERE.
• NJDA partnered with the Greater New York Dental Meeting (November 2025) to provide four free CE courses for NJDA members and opportunities for NJ local societies to host GNY speakers at their fall meetings.

August

• NJDA collaborated closely with the State of New Jersey Department of Health to produce the first-ever New Jersey Oral Health Conference.

September

• NJDA President Dr. Amit Vora, President-Elect Dr. Antoinette Tauk, CEO Reva Brennan, and Director of Advocacy & Health Affairs Orville Morales visited the Mercer Dental Society to launch the 2025–26 NJDA Leadership Tour. View Remaining Leadership Tour Dates HERE.
• NJDA introduced Colleague Connect, a recruitment initiative that allows non-member dentists to experience NJDA’s Leadership Tour.
• The New Dentist Committee hosted the first of three Happy Hour events planned for the 2025–26 term. Check out the 2026 schedule of social events for new dentists HERE.
• NJDA’s Licensure Requirements Series concluded with more than 1,300 dentists earning state-mandated CE.
• NJDA announced that transcripts for NJDA-hosted CE courses are now available in members’ ADA accounts.
• NJ Word of Mouth, a podcast hosted by Orville Morales, NJDA’s Director of Advocacy & Health Affairs, debuted on NJDA OnDemand.

October

• NJDPAC hosted its annual Golf Classic, held at Forsgate Country Club for the first time.
• Horizon Day at NJDA, a full day of programming on coding and insurance, saw full in-person attendance with hundreds more participating virtually.
• NJDA announced that the Workforce Lead Directory, supported by the Delta Dental Foundation, will be free for all dentists in 2026.
• NJDA, in partnership with the State of New Jersey, restarted the NJ State ID Team through a full day of forensic dentistry training at NJDA Headquarters.
• Registration opened for Give Kids A Smile, NJDA’s largest community outreach initiative, scheduled for February.
• The My Career My Community program for Rutgers School of Dental Medicine students, presented by TDIC, launched for the 2025–26 academic year.
• A delegation of 16 member-dentists represented New Jersey at the ADA House of Delegates and SmileCon in Washington, DC.

November

• NJDA hosted its first-ever Diwali Celebration at NJDA Headquarters to begin a series of cultural awareness events.

December

• NJDA’s New Dentist Committee hosted the first Mouth Matters event at NJDA HQ with early career dentists hearing from NJ lawmakers and policy experts