On November 5th, Texas Governor Greg Abbott injected new life into the state's dental oversight, appointing Lois Palermo and reappointing Danielle Franklin, D.D.S., and Raymond L. Wiggins, D.D.S., M.D., to the Dental Review Committee, with their terms slated through February 1, 2031, the Office of the Texas Governor announced. The trio will serve on informal settlement conference panels scrutinizing contested cases against licensed dentists, tasked with determining the suitability of informal case resolutions and advising on complaints and allegations.
The committee reflects a varied expertise; Palermo, hailing from League City, brings her experience as a dental hygienist alongside active membership in both state and local Dental Hygienists’ Associations and plays a significant role as a board member of the Potter’s Smile, her educational foundation resting on an Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene from Del Mar College and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Houston. Likewise, Franklin, from Dallas, owns Sunflower Dental and boasts a robust portfolio of community engagement that includes a stint as past president of the Oak Cliff Dental Study Club and service on the boards of local theaters and educational foundations, her academic journey culminating with a Doctor of Dental Surgery from TAMU College of Dentistry, after a Bachelor's in Biomedical Science from TAMU.
Completing the appointments, Wiggins, from Katy, exemplifies the multi-disciplinary practitioner with credentials in both dental and medical fields, his status as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon complemented by an impressive array of fellowships and diplomates in his specialty areas, not to mention past roles in various professional dental organizations, his educational tapestry woven with threads from Southern Methodist University, TAMU College of Dentistry, the McGovern Medical School at UT Health Science Center, and even a Master of Divinity from Regent University.
Governor Abbott has announced appointments to the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners, which oversees dental standards and practices across the state. The appointees bring experience from clinical practice, academia, and community service. According to the Governor’s Office, the appointments aim to maintain professional standards and ensure the quality of dental care in Texas. The newly appointed members are expected to assume their roles immediately and serve according to the board’s established term guidelines.
