Tufts University School of Dental Medicine

08/18/2026

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon sheds light on the most prevalent dental injuries caused by sports and how mouthguards can help.

Inside:
What to Do When an Athlete Experiences Dental Trauma
Prevention Tips for Kids

07/31/2026

Thank you Quang for your leadership in delivering care that expands our students academic experience and results in patient-centered care.
We care for all of you.

“When I started seven years ago, it was just two representatives answering and triaging phone calls. I had a clear goal: build a centralized call center from the ground up. Today, I supervise seven full time and two part time representatives who support incoming and outgoing calls for all 12 dental clinics.

We handle 400 to 500 calls—sometimes up to 600—a day, everything from appointment requests to questions from patients who don’t know where to begin. We also make outbound calls to patients who submit online requests or to current patients to schedule appointments. Much of our work involves asking the right questions, to guide patients to clinics that best fit their needs.

Before Tufts, I worked in call centers in finance, banking, and healthcare, starting right out of college and gradually moving into leadership roles. What’s kept me in this field? The people. I enjoy the team dynamic, helping agents succeed, and talking with patients—especially those who’ve struggled to find affordable dental care. Hearing how grateful patients are for the opportunity to receive care here is incredibly rewarding. At the same time, we’re helping students gain experience they need to become practitioners.

The dental school was a new world for me. Learning the terminology and the clinics (and how each clinic operates) took time, but it also allowed me to build strong relationships with clinic managers, deans, directors, staff, and students. That collaboration is what makes this place feel like a community, even within such a large institution.

Change is constant, whether it’s marketing campaigns to promote our new Tufts University Dental Care Center brand, increased patient volume, or initiatives like the SMILE project to improve scheduling efficiency. I encourage my team to stay open-minded and adaptable, and to embrace new responsibilities that broaden their skills, deepen their knowledge, and support their professional growth. That mindset keeps the work meaningful and engaging.”

—Quang Nguyen, senior call center supervisor, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine

is a series of personal stories shared by members of the Tufts community.

[📸: Alonso Nichols/Tufts University]

06/26/2026

We are proud to celebrate one of our own!

Congratulations to Iolanda Gomes, Radiology Dental Assistant at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, on being recognized as a recipient of this year’s Tufts Distinction Awards.

The Distinction Awards honor faculty and staff whose work reflects Tufts’ core values of leadership, innovation, customer service, integrity, collaboration, respect for diverse perspectives, and support for inclusion.

Iolanda’s impact is felt every day across our community. Whether helping students strengthen their radiographic technique, supporting image imports, or generously sharing her expertise, she consistently shows up with dedication, patience, and care. Her contributions often happen quietly—but they leave a lasting impression.

This recognition reflects the positive difference Iolanda makes for our students, patients, and colleagues.

Congratulations, Iolanda, and thank you for all you do for the Tufts community.

06/26/2026

06/24/2026

We’re excited to welcome a new cohort of future healthcare leaders to campus as Mini Dental School begins.

This year’s program brings together 48 high school students from 20 U.S. states and territories, along with participants from Canada and Spain—our broadest geographic reach yet. Massachusetts leads representation, followed by Texas, Florida, and California, with students also joining us from across the country and internationally from Montreal and Pozuelo de Alarcón.

We’re also excited to welcome 49 Mini Medical School students for a simulated workshop in our Simulation Clinic, where they’ll gain hands-on exposure to dentistry alongside our student teaching assistants.

Mini Dental School participants will take part in immersive experiences across both dental and medical education, including:

🦷 Simulation Clinic Experience
Students will explore dentistry through hands-on activities and mentorship from current students.

🧠 Anatomy Lab Exploration
Participants will engage in guided learning experiences that include sheep brain and pig heart dissections and opportunities to examine select human specimens.

🏥 Simulation Center Rotation
Students will be introduced to foundational clinical skills such as taking vital signs, intubation techniques, and IV insertion.

Programs like Mini Dental School create opportunities for meaningful learning, mentorship, and discovery—helping students explore the many pathways within oral health and healthcare professions.

06/23/2026

A gum graft may be known for improving smiles, but its benefits go far beyond aesthetics.

As more people become aware of the impact of gum recession, gum graft procedures are becoming increasingly common. According to Tufts University School of Dental Medicine’s Dr. Natalie Jeong, gum grafts help protect exposed tooth roots, reduce sensitivity, prevent further recession, and support long-term oral health.

In this interview, Dr. Jeong explains what causes gum recession, how gum grafting works, recovery expectations, and why early intervention can often prevent the need for surgery.

🔗 Read more: https://now.tufts.edu/2026/06/16/getting-long-tooth-maybe-its-time-gum-graft

06/22/2026

Tufts University School of Dental Medicine is sad to share the passing or Charles Millstein, D62, A96P, A10P. Dr. Millstein spent his professional career as a practitioner in Cambridge, MA, and as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Endodontics at TUSDM. Dr. Millstein had a real passion for the history of dentistry.

Over his life, he has written over 50 articles, conducted countless interviews and produced many videos on the subject. He served as Historian for the Massachusetts Dental Society and the Tufts University Dental Alumni Association (TUDAA). Dr. Millstein’s contributions to honoring the past of dentistry will serve as foundational work for future historians and practitioners.

Services will be held on Tuesday, June 23 at 11:00 a.m. at Temple Beth El, Concord Ave., Belmont MA.

06/12/2026

What if AI could help public health professionals better understand the communities they serve?

That question is at the heart of the upcoming Connecting Sectors, Connecting People: Tufts Public Health for Critical Impact symposium, where experts will explore how artificial intelligence can help identify patterns across health, housing, transportation, nutrition, and environmental factors to support stronger public health decision-making.

For Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, public health has always been about connecting people and building partnerships that improve lives. Led in part by Associate Dean for Community and Global Affairs Thanos Zavras, the symposium highlights TUSDM’s commitment to bringing together diverse voices and disciplines to address complex health challenges and create meaningful impact in communities.

🔗 https://now.tufts.edu/2026/06/01/using-ai-connect-dots-public-health

06/11/2026

The D94 legacy is still going strong. 💙🦷

Thirty years after graduation, members of Tufts University School of Dental Medicine’s Class of 1994 are leading organized dentistry at the state, national, and institutional levels—all while staying connected to the classmates who helped them through dental school.

From lifelong friendships to lasting impact, their story is a reminder that the Tufts community extends far beyond graduation.

🔗 Read more: https://now.tufts.edu/2026/06/08/class-leaders-how-friendship-and-tufts-education-shaped-class-1994

05/20/2026

Too many good memories not to share. 🎓 Tap to celebrate the brilliant new dentists of TUSDM!