Response Directed to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

CHICAGO (Feb. 12, 2019)—The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) recently submitted public comments to the U.S. Surgeon General through the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) regarding the anticipated 2020 Surgeon General’s Report on oral health. The AGD’s statement pledged support for efforts to revisit oral health in the U.S. and proposed areas of content for inclusion in the report. 

The AGD, in its comments, focused on a few areas the association identified as most pertinent to addressing the current state of oral health, and how these issues impact patients and practitioners. They include:

• Oral Health Across the Lifespan—AGD supports the practice of scheduling a child’s first dental appointment at the eruption of their first tooth, usually around six months of age, or before their first birthday. As Americans age, they should be encouraged to continue receiving regular oral health checkups. Major barriers to quality healthcare for seniors include affordability, transportation, and activation to obtain dental care. Caregivers, friends and family members are encouraged to assist with an oral health plan. For seniors, AGD supports market-based, private insurance solutions for dental benefits intended for the Medicare population.
• Effect of Oral Health on the Community, Overall Wellbeing and the Economy—AGD is an advocate for improving oral health literacy and recommends that it be a focus of the 2020 report. Patients should have access to and be able to comprehend basic information and services to make appropriate oral health decisions.

• Special Topics: Including Addiction and Substance Use Disorders and How They Negatively Impact Oral Health—AGD supports efforts to decrease the use of opioids for acute pain control. In addition, AGD recommends that collaborators for the 2020 report address the harmful effects of sugar on oral and systemic health.

• Oral Health Integration and the Workforce—AGD does not support the claim that there is a dentist shortage in the U.S. However, AGD does agree that there is a maldistribution of dentists. The association opposes the delivery of advanced surgical and irreversible procedures performed by anyone other than a licensed dentist.

• Emerging Technologies and Promising Science to transform Oral Health—AGD continues to support the funding of research and collaborative efforts that contribute to improving oral health in the United States. The AGD supports the continued funding of NICDR.

In July 2018, the U.S. Surgeon General’s office announced plans to commission a new report on oral health. The first report was published in 2000. Last month, during a webinar, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome M. Adams for the first time publicly charged the committee of individuals and organizations compiling the report to:

• describe and evaluate oral health and the interaction between oral health and general health throughout the lifespan;
• consider the advances in science, healthcare, integrative and social influences to articulate new directions for improving oral health and oral health equity across all communities.

Read AGD's comments, or learn more about the compilation of research and input for the report by viewing the saved recording of the webinar.  

About the Academy of General Dentistry

The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) is a professional association of more than 40,000 general dentists dedicated to providing quality dental care and oral health education to the public. Founded in 1952, AGD is the largest association for general dentists in the world and serves the needs and represents the interests of general dentists. For more information about AGD, visit, www.agd.org.