Ohio: AAO Opposes Proposed Rollback of Specialty Advertising Protections
For several years, the AAO, in partnership with the Ohio Association of Orthodontists (OAO) and the Ohio Dental Association (ODA), has been actively engaged in protecting Ohio’s strong specialty advertisement laws for patient health and safety. Most recently, the AAO lodged formal opposition to proposed changes to Ohio’s specialty advertising regulations that could weaken longstanding patient protections related to specialty recognition.
The proposal, currently under consideration by the Ohio State Dental Board, would rescind Ohio’s existing specialty designation framework that relies on CODA accreditation and instead allow dentists to advertise themselves as specialists if they identify the certifying board or organization recognizing them as such. The AAO, OAO, and ODA believe these changes could create confusion for patients and weaken standards that help the public understand the education and training behind dental specialty credentials.
With support from the AAO Component Legal Support Fund, the AAO is working closely with local AAO Ohio lobbyists Aaron Ockerman and Isaac Northrup of Ockerman Consulting, and David Battocletti, of Government Advocates, to execute a comprehensive advocacy strategy opposing the proposal. The AAO participated in the Ohio State Dental Board’s Interested Parties stakeholder meetings in 2024 and 2025, submitting two formal comment letters to the Board outlining concerns with the proposed changes and urging the Board to preserve existing specialty advertising protections. AAO staff and AAO members have also attended and participated in the Board’s public hearings alongside Ohio orthodontists to reinforce the importance of maintaining truthful advertising standards.
You can read the AAO’s most recent letter to the Board and CSI, ardently opposing these regulations and supporting patient protections, here. Thank you to the continued support and leadership in Ohio, including Dr. Henry Fields, Dr. Katrin Kramer, and Dr. Kevan O’Neill, and Ohio National Advocacy Network volunteer leaders Dr. Phil Beckwith (Component Advocacy Liaison), Dr. Dale Anne Featheringham (AAOPAC Captain), Dr. Raurie Petrich (State Legislative Captain), and Dr. Tommy Lau (Resident Captain).
“The Board should not place that burden on patients,” writes Adam Braundmeier, AAO General Counsel, in the letter to the Board. “The purpose of professional advertising regulation is to prevent misleading claims before they influence patient choice.”
The rules are currently being reviewed by both the Board and CSI. The AAO remains engaged in this effort. AAO member engagement is critical to effective advocacy, and over 50 Ohio orthodontists and other specialists mobilized to participate in the rulemaking process through AAO grassroots advocacy that provided an opportunity for AAO/OAO members to provide public comment to the Board and the Ohio Common Sense Initiative (CSI), which will be reviewing the proposed changes and stakeholder feedback. If you are an Ohio member and are interested in getting more involved, please consider registering for the 2026 Ohio Lobby Day in conjunction with the GLAO 100th Anniversary meeting on October 22, in Columbus, OH.
The AAO’s Advocacy Efforts Continue in Michigan: AAO Opposes Proposed Rescission of Specialty Advertising Rules
Ohio is not the only state where the AAO is actively engaged in specialty advertising. The AAO is working closely with the Michigan Association of Orthodontists (MAO) to oppose a proposal in Michigan that would rescind the state’s specialty advertising rules.
Unlike Ohio, where the proposal originated with the state dental board, Michigan’s proposed rule changes are moving forward at the direction of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) as part of a broader administrative rules review process. The Michigan Board of Dentistry has expressed opposition to eliminating the specialty advertising provisions, and public comments submitted during the rulemaking process have similarly urged the state to preserve these important patient protections.
The AAO and MAO submitted joint comments opposing the proposal, emphasizing that specialty advertising standards help ensure patients receive accurate information about a provider’s education, training, and qualifications. The AAO and MAO, including MAO lobbyist, Kevin McKinny, in addition to the Michigan Dental Association (MDA) and the Council of Michigan Dental Specialties (CMDS), continue to support regulations requiring dentists who advertise themselves as specialists to have successfully completed a CODA-accredited postdoctoral specialty education program, the nationally recognized standard for dental specialty education recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
The AAO believes removing these requirements would weaken Michigan’s specialty licensure framework and make it more difficult for patients to distinguish between dentists who have completed advanced specialty training and those who have not. Maintaining clear and enforceable specialty advertising standards promotes transparency, supports informed patient decision-making, and helps preserve the integrity of specialty recognition.
Parallel to ongoing regulatory efforts, the AAO, MAO, MDA, and CMDS are advocating for bipartisan legislation to restore stronger specialty advertising protections in Michigan. Michigan House Bills 4593 and 4594 have passed the House of Representatives and now await hearings in the Senate.
The legislation follows 2020 regulatory changes by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs that weakened the state’s specialty advertising rules after a lawsuit settlement. Those changes removed longstanding restrictions on specialty advertising, allowing dentists to advertise themselves as specialists in unrecognized areas without completing accredited specialty education. The AAO and MAO support the legislation because it would restore stronger, enforceable standards that promote transparency and help patients distinguish between dentists who have completed CODA-accredited specialty training and those who have not.
The AAO remains appreciative of the support and coordinated, collaborative effort of MAO President Dr. Mamoon Siddiqui; Dr. Nathan Thomas, MAO Liaison to CMDS; Dr. Fatima Ahmed and Dr. Schott Schulz, AAOPAC Board, GLAO; Matt Solak, MAO Executive Director; the Michigan National Advocacy Network and leadership of Dr. John Monticello, Component Advocacy Liaison; Dr. George Bork, State Legislative Captain; and Dr. Jashleen Bedi, AAOPAC Captain. Together, their work on behalf of the AAO and in collaboration with Michigan member advocates made a measurable impact.
Why Truth in Specialty Advertising Matters
Truth-in-advertising laws help patients understand the education, training, and credentials of the providers from whom they seek care. The AAO supports laws and regulations requiring dentists who advertise themselves as specialists to have successfully completed a CODA-accredited postdoctoral specialty education program of at least two full-time years. CODA is the only dental accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for dental specialty education.
Research continues to demonstrate why these protections matter. A 2020 survey found that 73% of respondents believed a dentist advertising as a specialist had completed an accredited residency program, while 70% said they would be less likely to seek care from a provider if they learned that provider had not completed advanced specialty training. A separate American Medical Association study found that patients are often uncertain about whether healthcare services are being provided by appropriately qualified professionals.
Ohio and Michigan are the latest examples of the AAO’s longstanding commitment to protecting specialty recognition. Since 2016, with the support of the Component Legal Support Fund, the AAO has worked with constituent organizations, legislators, state dental boards, and regulators in more than 20 states to preserve truth-in-advertising standards. These efforts have included legal and policy analysis, regulatory comments, testimony before dental boards, legislative advocacy, lobbying support, strategic communications, and grassroots mobilization.
This work also reflects the priorities of AAO members. In the 2026 AAO Public Policy Survey, “Specialty advertising laws and protecting the orthodontic specialty” was included as a response option for the first time and ranked as the AAO members’ top public policy priority. The Ohio and Michigan advocacy efforts are one example of how the AAO is translating member feedback into meaningful action.
The AAO remains actively engaged on specialty advertising issues in additional states, including Wisconsin, South Dakota, Colorado, and Montana. As states continue to revisit specialty advertising regulations and national organizations advocated for weaker specialty standards, the AAO will continue working alongside AAO members to protect patients through truthful advertising, preserve recognition of orthodontic specialty education, and provide the legal support, strategic communications, and grassroots advocacy resources needed to respond effectively.
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 in this new FY26-27 fiscal year by making your contribution to the bipartisan AAO Political Action Committee (AAOPAC). 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
