applauds the Institute of Medicine (IOM) for its careful research into access

to oral health care in America, as documented in  Improving

Access to Oral Health Care for Vulnerable and Underserved Populations, a

report released this week.  Through

programs that positively affect the oral and overall health of Americans across

the entire age spectrum, OHA is committed to doing its part to see that the

health and dental care is very much about creating opportunities for all

Americans to benefit from the innovative research, technology and practices

that prevent disease—both oral and systemic–and enable our country to be

healthy and productive,” said Dr. Caswell Evans, Jr., Associate Dean

for Prevention and Public Health Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of

Illinois, Chicago, who served on the report committee. ”But it doesn’t end

there.  Understanding how and why our

diverse population experiences oral disease is vitally important, as is

ensuring adequate and appropriate care for Americans of all ages, health

literacy levels, and cultural backgrounds. 

A one-size-fits-all approach will not work if we are determined to end

including Dr.  Evans, a member of OHA’s

Board of Directors, recommends providing oral health services in a variety of

settings and allowing dental professionals to practice to the full extent of

their training in various settings, both in and out of the traditional dental

office. OHA’s Smiles Across America® program does just that by supporting

school-based sealant programs for children who might not otherwise have access

reimbursement rates for dental providers and that dental coverage should be

extended to adult Medicaid beneficiaries, while also streamlining

administrative procedures. OHA fully supports these recommendations, which

would increase access to care for children who already have dental coverage

through Medicaid and bring new coverage to adults and older adults with

diversity among the dental health workforce, to bring cultural competency and

engagement to our populations who suffer the greatest disparities in accessing

collaborating on a  national level with

partners who represent diverse constituents, we hope to help support a future

where racial background is not determinant of access.,” said Beth Truett,

President and CEO, Oral Health America. 

“We welcome the findings of this report as a roadmap for creating

America’s mission is to change lives by connecting communities with resources

to increase access to oral health care, education, and advocacy for all

Americans, especially those most vulnerable.