Comments by American Dental Association President Dr. Ron Tankersley On the Pew Center on the States’ report
‘The Cost of Delay: State Dental Policies Fail One in Five Children’

CHICAGO, Feb. 23, 2010—”We welcome the Pew organization to our longstanding fight to improve the lives of American children by helping more of them enjoy the good oral health that too many of them now lack. Pew’s presenting its information in the form of a report card makes it easy for anyone to understand that too many kids in too many states are suffering. And we face huge challenges in changing that.

“Even in states to which Pew awarded an A, countless children lack access to dental care and suffer as a consequence. These children are just like your children. Except these children can’t eat or sleep properly, can’t pay attention in school, can’t even smile, because of untreated dental disease.

“We don’t agree with everything in the report. But certainly, it highlights some of the major policy areas that the American Dental Association and state dental societies have advocated for years—things like increased Medicaid funding, school sealant programs and community water fluoridation. It also highlights the urgent need for reliable routine data collection so that policies are well-informed and kids are not left suffering.

“The report does omit some policy areas that we believe are equally important to improving children’s access to care. For instance, some states have innovative programs—like student loan forgiveness and tax incentives—to help dentists establish practices in underserved areas or practice in community health centers. And when it comes to fixing Medicaid, money is a huge issue, but it isn’t the only issue. Patients and parents need oral health education to help them take care of themselves and their families to prevent disease. Many of them need additional services, like transportation, in order to be able to get to dental appointments. If Medicaid did a better job of these things, treatment costs would decrease, because we would be preventing more disease and treating less.

“The ADA and state dental societies have a long history as the nation’s leading advocates for oral health. ADA members donated some $2.16 billion in free care to disadvantaged children and adults, both as individuals and through such programs as Give Kids A Smile and Missions of Mercy, in 2007 alone. But we’re the first to admit that we can’t do this alone, and charity is no substitute for an effective, equitable oral health delivery system. We’re grateful for assistance from the Pew Center and others who are willing to lend a hand in what undoubtedly will remain a long, tough fight.”

Give Kids A Smile (GKAS) is the ADA’s major oral health outreach program, launched to encourage parents, health professionals and policymakers to address this important health issue. “We all know that a one-day event is not a delivery system and cannot solve the ongoing problem of untreated dental disease,” stressed ADA President Ronald L. Tankersley, D.D.S. “It is important that policymakers at the federal and state level strengthen dental provisions in public health programs to help put children on the road to good oral health.”

At the various sites, GKAS dental volunteers will provide educational materials, screenings and, where possible, free dental care such as cleanings, X-rays and fillings.

“Although many children will benefit from the services provided through Give Kids A Smile, our concern is for the countless others who continue to suffer from untreated dental disease,” said Dr. Tankersley. “We will continue to advocate for a larger and lasting way, through public policy, to ensure that kids who have been falling through the cracks in our delivery system receive the attention they need.”

The American Dental Association recommends that dental visits begin no later than a child’s first birthday to establish a “dental home.”

Despite everything we know about importance of oral health to overall health, people’s self-esteem and to their employability, state and federal policies continually sell dental care short.

•  Most states spend two percent or less of their Medicaid budgets on dental services.
•  Only 16 states offered substantive coverage for adult Medicaid enrollees in 2007.
•  An estimated 164 million work hours are lost each year due to oral disease.

The American Dental Association is committed to improving the nation’s oral health through public education and through legislative advocacy to strengthen funding for dental services provided through public health programs.
Together, we can work to improve America’s oral health and give all of us something to smile about.

The level of education and clinical training required for a dental degree, and the high academic standards of dental schools are on par with those of medical schools, and are essential to preparing dentists for the safe and effective practice of modern oral health care. Most dental students have earned Bachelor of Science degrees or their equivalent, and all have passed rigorous admission examinations.
• First two years - students must complete such same curriculum as other medical students biomedical science courses as anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology, immunology and pathology.
• Second two years - coursework focuses on dental clinical practice, diagnosing, and treating oral diseases.
• After earning their undergraduate and dental degrees (8 yrs. for most) dentists continue their education and training and some achieve certification in one of nine recognized dental specialties.
• Upon completing their training, dentists pass rigorous national written examination, state, and/or regional clinical licensing exam to practice. As a condition of licensure, they must meet continuing education requirements for the remainder of their careers, to keep them up to date on the latest scientific and clinical developments.

Advanced Education in General Dentistry provides emergency and multidisciplinary comprehensive care in multiple environments and care for patients with special needs (5–6 years program)

Advanced General Dentistry Education Programs in Dental Anesthesiology delivers pain control services for emergency and comprehensive, multidisciplinary care in hospitals, dental offices and surgery centers (6 yr. program)

Advanced General Dentistry Education Programs in Oral Medicine Act as primary care providers for patients with chronic, medically-related conditions of the oral and maxillofacial region (6 yr program)

Advanced General Dentistry Education Programs in Orofacial Pain Provide interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary health care to patients with orofacial pain (6 yr. program)

General Practice Residency Emphasis on care of patients with complex health conditions or special needs, hospital dentistry and coordination with other health providers (5–6 years program)