An Alabama dentist who was recently convicted of sexually abusing patients and staff is now appealing his sentencing, NBC affiliate WVTM reported April 4. 

From new residency programs to leadership appointments and funding updates, here are 18 dental school updates Becker's has covered since Jan. 12: 

A Virginia dentist is retiring after 40 years in the dental industry, the Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal reported April 4. 

A dentist in Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. retired following 37 years of practicing dentistry, according to an April 3 report by Grosse Pointe News.

An Alabama dentist was recently sentenced to 180 years in prison for sexually abusing patients and staff, WBMA reported April 3.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently reassigned a dental fraud investigation to State Attorney Brian Kramer, Florida Daily reported April 2. 

The University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry is piloting an after-hours dental clinic to increase accessibility for patients. 

Four dental leaders have repeatedly made Forbe's annual billionaires list, showing a combined net worth of $16 billion for 2024.

A Straumann Group shareholder was added to Forbes Billionaires 2024 list.

ABQ Pediatric Dentistry in Albuquerque, N.M., is changing ownership, as Spencer Tasker, DMD, is taking over the practice.

Two higher education institutions have recently been faced with setbacks during the process of opening dental schools.

Several dental practices shut down during the first quarter of 2024 due to financial challenges, restructuring opportunities and other reasons.

Batesville, Ark.-based Lyon College received $15 million in federal funding to help open its planned dental school.

The Feb. 21 cyberattack on Change Healthcare has highlighted areas in healthcare and dentistry that need more attention and innovation.

Burke, Va.-based Northern Virginia Oral, Maxillofacial and Implant Surgery experienced a security breach that may have affected patient data.

The manager of a dental clinic in Houston admitted to failure to pay taxes withheld from employee wages.

Gentle Dental, a subsidiary of Inglewood, Calif.-based DSO InterDent, has closed an office in Seattle, West Seattle Blog reported March 28. 

Staff recently evacuated from a Florida dental practice March 28 after a fire broke out, TCPalm reported. 

Phoenix-based Risas Dental & Braces recently experienced a data breach that may have involved the protected health information of its patients. 

A dental practice in Austin, Texas, was impacted by a fire potentially caused by the explosion of a pressurized gas canister, according to a March 27 report by NBC affiliate KXAN.