‘Together we’re creating that future’

Richard J. Rosato, D.M.D., addresses House of Delegates

Richard J. Rosato, D.M.D., began his address to the ADA House of Delegates Oct. 27 with a hockey analogy. He is, of course, a former hockey player and a die-hard Boston Bruins fan.

“There’s wisdom in the game. The puck moves fast. The angles change. The game never slows down. You can’t chase where the puck is. You have to skate to where it’s going,” Dr. Rosato said. “Right now, in dentistry, the puck is moving faster than ever.”

Dr. Rosato, of Concord, New Hampshire, assumed office as the 162nd ADA president at the close of the House of Delegates meeting in Washington, D.C., Oct. 28.

He detailed the struggles of the ADA over the past year and the challenges the Association has faced from the outside: workforce, technology, AI, a changing health care landscape, to name a few.

“Membership has declined since 2007. And when membership declines, so does the revenue that fuels our advocacy, our science, and our ability to serve. As a membership organization, that forced us to look elsewhere: to nondues revenue opportunities,” Dr. Rosato said. “Some of those investments worked. Others strained our finances. Some came with scrutiny — and rightfully so.”

To work to overcome these challenges, Dr. Rosato presented the pillars of his presidency. The first is unity of purpose.  

“Our mission must remain our North Star — helping dentists succeed and advancing the health of the public we serve,” Dr. Rosato said. “And I’ll say this clearly: politics has no place in the room. We’re the Tooth Party.”

His second pillar is continuing to foster a culture of listening. Dr. Rosato encouraged respect of the dental specialties and encouraged the ADA to work with the state dental societies to create a mutual understanding of how to move forward successfully.

Dr. Rosato also discussed the importance of sanctifying the relationship between the patient and the dentist. The Council on Ethics, Bylaws & Judicial Affairs released a white paper — at the suggestion of Dr. Rosato — that identifies several areas where the ethical tradition between the patient and dentist may be at risk and provides an ethical framework for making clinical decisions.

“That relationship is the foundation of our profession, and it is being tested by new practice models, outside pressures, and technologies that encroach on clinical decision-making. Many dentists feel their clinical autonomy is under attack,” Dr. Rosato said.

 Wellness for providers and patients is also a focus of Dr. Rosato’s. He talked about the devastation he felt after hearing one of his 18-year-old patients took his life shortly after Dr. Rosato saw him for a routine consultation.

“I believe dentists have a role to play in confronting the mental health crisis facing our nation,” Dr. Rosato said. “That means learning to recognize warning signs, coordinating with physicians and mental health professionals, and training our teams to create trauma-informed, compassionate environments. 

 Dr. Rosato’s last pillar is to look to the future; specifically, 25 years ahead. This year, the Board adopted a resolution to create a task force to explore the feasibilityofdeveloping a new Future of Dentistry report. Dr. Rosato wants to look at how dental care will be delivered and paid for, wellness, dental education and what role AI and technology will play in how dentists practice.

“If we want our members to thrive in the future, we must start living in that future now — anticipating change, preparing for challenges, and creating what comes next,” Dr. Rosato said. “Twenty-five years ago, none of us could have imagined AI-supported diagnostics, digital workflows, or the kinds of care models we see today. Now it’s our turn to shape the next 25 years — and what better place to do that than here, in Washington, D.C.”

 Dr. Rosato concluded with a lesson he learned from his father: perspective changes everything. Ask three people the work they do and you’ll get three different answers.

 “The work is the same — but the purpose makes all the difference. That’s what this profession is about. The belief that every effort, every day, adds up to something bigger: helping people live healthier, happier lives,” Dr. Rosato said. “That’s why I chose this profession, and it’s why I raised my hand to serve in this role. I traveled the country, heard from leaders and members, and you put your trust in me. And today, I see this presidency as full of possibilities for dentists and patients — now and in the future. And together, we’re creating that future.”