Expect More of the American Dental Association and its State Dental Constituents

"Expect More of the American Dental Association and its State Dental Constituents" Common sense policy recommendations by the U.S. Surgeon Generals and other oral health organizations are not implemented by the American Dental Association. Specifically, the need for change in ADAs existing ill-fated and outdated polices currently in place on workforce issues. More diversity is needed on state dental boards for oversight of improved consumer protection and meeting oral healthcare needs; better and logical decisions in continued education requirements, expanded duties, and jurisprudence. The acknowledgement of more intrinsic connections between the mouth and the rest of the body should involve a medical doctor on all state dental boards. The dental board should consist of no more than two dentists, one medical doctor, public health specialist and three ordinary citizens. We need dental hygienists at schools and public health facilities. We need independent practices for dental hygienists so they can have the freedom to work independently on the public health level providing services where needed, especially for oral health education in the early years of the public school systems. We need dental therapists/dental health aide therapists for extended hands on dental procedures through dental teams working convalescent/retirement facilities, prisons, and Indian reservations. We need more rural community health/dental clinics including mobile dental units traveling to rural areas, to include oral healthcare providers. Let denturists do the removables; freeing up dental chairtime for children, emergency, and restorative care. Gary W. Vollan L.D. State Coordinator, Wyoming State Denturist Association, www.wysda.org