ADA News

San Francisco—The Association offered recommendations to the National Academies' Institute of Medicine July 27 to "rebuild the dental public health infrastructure and ensure optimal oral health for all."

It was the Association's third testimony this year at public hearings convened by the Institute of Medicine www.iom.gov on oral health policy. The IOM, a health advisory arm of the National Academy of Sciences, has undertaken a two-part study specific to national oral health policy and invited Association testimony on relevant issues.

ADA President Ron Tankersley testified March 4 ADA urges IOM to include practicing dentists at an IOM hearing on access to care and President-elect Raymond Gist March 31 ADA testifies on oral health initiative on a potential national oral health initiative.

The Association also testified at a July 27 public hearing, at IOM invitation, on expertise and technical assistance needed in health centers to create efficient, effective and productive oral health programs. The audio testimony  and related Q&A are posted at the IOM Committee on Oral Health Access to Services Web page www.iom.edu/Activities/HealthServices/OralHealthAccess/2010-JUL-27.aspx.

"It is important that the Institute of Medicine get the best information the profession can offer toward these studies and the eventual recommendations these committees will make on oral health policy," said Dr. Gist. "A private practice perspective is vital to their decision making process. We appreciate the opportunity to testify throughout this process and thank the IOM for extending the invitations. We stand ready to advise the Institute of Medicine on oral health policy."

The separate IOM panels convened public hearings on their respective two-year studies early in 2010.

The access study will assess the current U.S. oral health system of care, explore its strengths, weaknesses and future challenges, describe a desired vision for the oral health system, and recommend strategies to achieve that vision.

An IOM ad hoc consensus committee will explore ways to increase public awareness of the relationship and importance of good oral health to good physical health, promote prevention and improve oral health literacy to health providers and the public, and recommend ways to improve access to oral health care http://www.iom.edu/Activities/HealthServices/OralHealthInitiative.aspx.

At the July 27 San Francisco hearing, Dr. Steven P. Geiermann, senior manager for access, community oral health infrastructure and capacity for ADA's Council on Access, Prevention and Interprofessional Relations, presented the Association testimony.

In a related activity, the Washington, D.C.-based IOM will host a workshop Sept. 13 on "Health Care Reform and Future Workforce Needs: Addressing the Needs of Racial and Ethnic Minority Patients." Key Obama administration health officials are among the invitees.