Better Methods for National Oral Health Message Urged
Better Methods for National Oral Health Message UrgedA representative of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) appeared April 1 before a national think tank to propose the value of developing a national message highlighting the importance of oral health.Full development
Better Methods for National Oral Health Message Urged
A representative of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) appeared April 1 before a national think tank to propose the value of developing a national message highlighting the importance of oral health.
Full development of the message would be included as part of the actions of a broad study conducted by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies titled An Oral Health Initiative.
The study seeks new ways to increase public awareness of the important relationship between good oral health and good systemic health while recommending ways to improve access to oral health care.
ADHA Executive Director, Ann Battrell, MSDH, carried the ADHA’s message before an ad hoc consensus committee of the IOM. She emphasized that the important relationship between oral and systemic health and the efficacy of prevention need to reach the public at large using a variety of media avenues including social networking. She asserted that the ADHA wants to improve its ability to work with other organizations to disseminate these health messages to Americans.
Battrell also used the opportunity to emphasize the role dental hygienists play in delivering oral health care services and educating patients about oral health.
An Oral Health Initiative will move forward under a 15-member multi-disciplinary committee that includes dentists, dental hygienists, nurses, physicians, experts in epidemiology and heath promotion, and patient advocates.
The final reports and recommendations from An Oral Health Initiative will be issued in mid-2011.
Source: American Dental Hygienists’ Association
