This editorial from 1931, written at the front end of the Great Depression, gives us much to contemplate.1 After all, as members of the dental profession, we continue to have a public to serve emerging from the Covid-19 Pandemic. We are entrusted by society with the right to self-regulate.
The beauty of dentistry and medicine, in general, is the ever-present evolution and growth of evidence-based practices guided by novel understanding. The advancement of knowledge allows our “practice” of the healing arts, to be refined continuously to better serve our patients and customize treatment modalities for maximized efficacy in rendering patient care.
Often, public perception in dentistry is that of concern for cavities, broken teeth, and missing teeth. In light of what our patients can see or perceive, there is a silent menace that goes undetected and, in many cases, is overlooked or under-emphasized.
Urgent Alert: Suspicious and Harmful Mail Targeting Houston-Area Dental Offices
Mar 23, 2026
The Texas Dental Association (TDA) has been made aware of a concerning situation affecting dental offices in the Greater Houston area.
Several practices have reported receiving disturbing messages through the U.S. mail containing harmful content related to dentist suicide rates.
What To Do If You Receive One of These Messages
If you or your office receives a message of this nature:
Contact local law enforcement immediately
Notify TDA by reaching out to Interim Executive Director Lee Ann Johnson at ljohnson@tda.org
Protecting Your Practice and Team
The safety of you and your team is our top priority.
We strongly encourage all dental offices to:
Use extreme caution when handling suspicious mail or packages
Inform and brief your team members about this situation
Report any suspicious items to local law enforcement right away
Mental Health Support Resources
We recognize that this situation may be distressing. If you or anyone on your team needs support, please know that help is available.
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (available 24/7, free and confidential)
