The New Mexico Dental Association (NMDA) would like to thank New Mexicans for saying yes to the Bond C question on Tuesday’s ballot. Bond C authorized the issuance of general obligation bonds for health care facility improvements throughout the state. Included in the bond was $7 million in funding to plan, design, construct, equip and furnish facilities for dental residency programs statewide. Currently, the University of New Mexico (UNM) Health Sciences Center Division of Dental Services offers a one year postdoctoral Advanced Education General Dentistry Residency opportunity. Students gain real-world clinical experience, oftentimes treating special needs populations or those with limited access to professional oral health care. The NMDA is committed to improving access to dental care for all New Mexicans as well as access to those New Mexicans choosing dentistry as a profession. In addition to the needed capital improvements to the facilities, this funding will literally lay the groundwork to parallel UNM’s BA/MD curriculum with a similar BA/DDS program for pre-dental college students to earn a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree. The NMDA supports efforts that aim to enhance dental education, increase student enrollment, and ultimately place more practicing dentists throughout the state. As a profession, dentistry has a long legacy in New Mexico. The NMDA is gearing up to celebrate its 100th Anniversary this year; however, some reports suggest our state still ranks relatively low in the number of per capita dentists. Investment in dental infrastructure and instruction is critical to creating and keeping new dentists, as well as growing existing practices and public health centers. Similarly, oral health is critical to the overall well-being of our communities. Thanks again to those voters who joined with their dentist in voting for Bond C during this important election. It was a vote for a healthy future and brighter smiles for New Mexico.