Workforce Challenges, Overburdensome Regulations, Mail-Order Orthodontic Concerns, and Student Loan Debt Remain Top Issues of Interest  
  
The annual AAO Public Policy Survey is an opportunity for AAO members to share feedback on key issues, workforce challenges, grassroots actions, and more. The results provide crucial insight into the top advocacy issues and challenges facing orthodontists. 

Thank you to all AAO members who completed the 5th annual AAO Public Policy Survey (open November 24, 2025 – January 16, 2026). Your feedback is important and is used to inform AAO data-driven policy priorities in Washington, DC and across the United States and Canada. 
 
The 2026 survey results show that the majority of AAO respondents are concerned about specialty advertisement laws and protecting the orthodontic specialty, mail-order orthodontic patient health and safety concerns, and protection against overburdensome regulations on small businesses.   
  
Challenges associated with private equity-based consolidation of healthcare practices, workforce shortage issues, and student loan debt also remained priority issues on the survey this year, and the AAO is closely monitoring policy action on these topics across the United States.   

Specialty Advertising Emerges as Number One Member Priority 
In its first appearance on the Public Policy Survey, specialty advertising and protecting the orthodontic specialty was selected as the number one advocacy priority by AAO members.  
 
Since 2016, the AAO advocated with state dental boards, legislators, and regulators in over 20 states across the country to preserve truth-in-advertising standards related to specialty recognition. The AAO has consistently advocated that dentists who advertise themselves as specialists should have completed a CODA accredited postdoctoral specialty education program of at least two years and meet recognized specialty credentialing standards.   

Through the AAO’s Legal and Advocacy team and the Component Legal Support Fund, the AAO has supported state-level efforts to address proposed changes to specialty advertising regulations and defend standards that help patients understand the differences in education, training, and credentials among dental providers. These efforts have included submitting regulatory comments, providing legal and policy analysis, participating in dental board hearings, and working alongside state orthodontic organizations on legislative and regulatory initiatives.  

The AAO is renewing and expanding its engagement on this issue. We are actively engaged in or monitoring conversations on this topic in Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Colorado, and Montana. You can view the AAO’s one-pager on truth-in-advertising laws here.    

Mail-Order Orthodontic Patient Health and Safety Concerns Remain Top Member Priority 
 AAO members continue to rank mail-order orthodontic patient health and safety issues as a top priority at both the state and federal levels. In 2023 Nevada became the first state to require an in-person examination prior to orthodontic treatment. Since then, AAO Advocacy efforts for patient health and safety have continued and in-person examination requirements are now required in nine states: Nevada, Florida, Illinois, Utah, West Virginia, Georgia, Texas, and South Carolina.  
  
At the federal level, similar conversations are gaining momentum, and the AAO Advocacy team, in conjunction with our federal partners at Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, are excited to share that we anticipate federal teledentistry legislation being introduced this year.   
  
Workforce Shortage and Student Loan Debt Continue as Top Priorities  
The AAO continues to advocate for solutions to workforce challenges. Efforts have successfully concluded or are ongoing in Michigan, California, Maryland, Utah, and Ontario.   

Orthodontic residents and recent graduates prioritized student loan debt as a top priority. The AAO launched the AAO Student Loan Debt Resources website, created specifically to support orthodontic residents and early-career orthodontists as they navigate the challenges of student loan debt and evaluate options for repayment. Visit AAOinfo.org/StudentDebt to learn more.  

The AAO continues to grow its advocacy innovation and influence on a range of policy issues at the federal and state levels. The Public Policy Survey helps AAO Advocacy anticipate future work and positions on relevant, timely issues that could impact AAO members, as we move through the 119th Congress and state legislative sessions.   

The AAO is deeply committed to patient health and safety through orthodontic care provided by qualified specialists. Our mission — to advance the art and science of orthodontics through education, advocacy, and research — has never been more important.   

Please help support AAO Advocacy priorities now by making your contribution to the AAOPAC now. It only takes a few minutes to complete your contribution now at AAOPAC.org, using your e-mail address associated with your AAO membership (All U.S Citizens and permanent residents are eligible).  
 
Your contribution will help your constituent region in the Race to 10! Learn more here: AAOPAC – Race to 10 Tracker   

Our AAOPAC Pillars of Giving are working and the AAO’s bipartisan advocacy influence continues to grow through member grassroots engagement. Your grassroots voice and AAOPAC support make all the difference!