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.

Read the letter here.