Closing the
‘dental divide’
Closing the ‘dental divide’ to reduce
the numbers of adults and children
with untreated dental disease is the
aim of “Action for Dental Health:
Dentists Making a Difference,” a
campaign started in 2013 by the
American Dental Association (ADA).
One year later, in 2014, the ADA
proudly reported to Congress that
the grassroots effort has taken
root in every state. The ADA urged
officials, health policy organizations,
community leaders and other
interested stakeholders to join us
in bridging the dental divide and to
support the Action for Dental Health
Act (H.R. 4395). The three-pronged
approach focuses on:
•p
roviding care now to people
who suffer from untreated dental
disease
This includes grants to create
emergency room referral programs,
expand care for the elderly
in nursing homes, encourage
dentists to contract with Federally
Qualified Health Centers, increase
health protections and simplify
administration under Medicaid,
expand community water
fluoridation, increase the number
of Community Dental Health
Coordinators and strengthen
collaborations with other health
professionals and organizations.
Startling facts about the state of oral
health in the United States, the most
technologically advanced country in
the world:
• T ooth decay is the most chronic
illness among school age children
causing 51 million lost hours of
school per year (and rising at
alarming rates)
• s trengthening and expanding the
public/private safety net
• 2
5% of children have untreated
tooth decay; 50% among children
from low-income families
•b
ringing disease prevention and
education into communities
• I n 2010 only 40% of children from
low-income families saw a dentist
Nonelderly adults
• 25% have untreated tooth decay;
40% of those from low income
families
• By the end of 2014, more than 181
million Americans will not have
seen a dentist for at least a year;
22% will not have seen a dentist in
more than 5 years
Elderly – Medicare eligible adults
• Medicare does not provide for
routine dental care. An adult
beneficiary will need to purchase
dental coverage with high-cost
sharing for treatments
• 25% of adults with Medicare have
no natural teeth—many with
nutritional deficiencies
Lutheran Medical Center Dental Medicine
PostDoctoral DENTAL RESIDENCY PROGRAMS ANNUAL REPORT 2013-2014
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