Linda C. Niessen, DMD, is clinical professor in the department of public health sciences at Baylor College of Dentistry-Texas A&M University System in Dallas and serves on staff at the Veteran's Affairs Medical Center in Dallas. She currently serves as vice-president for clinical education for Dentsply International. A noted lecturer and writer, Niessen is the author of a textbook on geriatric dentistry titled Geriatric Dentistry: Aging and Oral Health. Niessen is a recipient of the American Dental Association's Geriatric Dental Health Award for her work on providing dental care to people with Alzheimer's disease.
Niessen hosts Dental Health Check a weekly syndicated television news report on dental health. Originating on WFAA-TV, Dallas's ABC affiliate, Dental Health Check is the only syndicated dental news report of its kind in the country and reaches more than 1 million people weekly.
Niessen has served as president of the American Association of Public Health Dentistry, the American Association of Women Dentists, and the American Board of Dental Public Health, the certifying board for the specialty of public health dentistry. She is a member of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry and a Fellow in the American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists, and the American Association of Hospital Dentists. She is on the Board of Directors of Dental Health Programs Inc. located in Dallas.
She is a graduate of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and received her public health degree at the Harvard School of Public Health. In addition, Niessen earned a master's degree in public policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.