The American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) hosted the ADEX Educators Conference at the Gaylord Texan on October 18, 2025, with participation from more than 300 dental educators representing 55 oral health education programs. The event was held in conjunction with the Dental Testing & Regulatory Summit and included collaboration, continuing education, and information on examination updates for the upcoming year.
Approximately 175 dental hygiene educators and 125 dental educators attended continuing education sessions led by nationally recognized experts. According to Alexander Vandiver, CEO of the ADEX, “Dental educators play a vital role in upholding the highest standards of care for the future of the dental industry. 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.”
Two continuing education sessions were presented by Dr. Kimberly Fasula, Director of Interprofessional Education at Chicago Medical School, who delivered “From Tooth to Toe: Integrating Dentistry with Medicine,” and by Dr. Wendy Woodall and Dr. Wenlian Zhou from the Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine at Texas Tech University of Health Sciences, who presented “Navigating the Transition to Entrustable Professional Activities in Dental Education.”
Dental hygiene educators participated in a panel discussion covering student mental health and resilience, faculty calibration, and the changing profession of dental hygiene. Panelists included 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.
Shayna Overfelt, Senior Director of Educational Programs & Exam Quality Administration, presented information for dental hygiene educators on 2025 candidate performance and updates to the 2026 ADEX Dental Hygiene Examinations. For dental educators, Dr. Benjamin Wall, Director of Examinations, and Ms. Hannah Vannoy, Director of Application Development, outlined technological advancements for candidates and previewed changes for the 2026 examination cycle.
