Academy of General Dentistry Joins National Coalition Urging Congress to Protect Federal Oral Health Programs
The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) has joined a coalition of leading
dental organizations in urging members of the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee
on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies to
maintain federal funding and support for critical oral health programs.
In a joint letter, the organizations emphasized that oral health is closely
linked to overall health, citing connections to conditions such as
cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and pregnancy complications. The coalition
warned that proposed cuts to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS) could weaken prevention, research, and access-to-care efforts nationwide.
The letter calls for sustained investment in key agencies, including the
National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial
Research, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Oral
Health, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services.
According to the coalition of oral health organizations, oral disease
continues to impose a significant burden, contributing to millions of lost
school and work hours annually and billions in economic losses.
The organizations also stressed the importance of preserving workforce
development programs and maintaining leadership roles, such as a Chief Dental
Officer within CMS, to ensure oral health remains integrated into federal
health policy.
AGD joins multiple national organizations in advocating for continued investment to strengthen the nation’s oral health infrastructure and improve health outcomes for all Americans.