The raging debate over dental care in America. Where does the industry fit in?

July 2, 2012
Proofs editor Kevin Henry says the dental industry can’t just sit back and say, “Well, that’s going on in Maine and I live in California so it doesn’t affect me.” This is being branded as a “national crisis,” which means it affects all of us.
Kevin Henry, Cofounder, IgniteDA.net

"Sure I wave the American flag. Do you know a better flag to wave? Sure I love my country with all her faults. I'm not ashamed of that, never have been, never will be." -- John Wayne

Later this week, our country celebrates its 236th birthday. Sure, there are days when she shows her age. Yes, there are plenty of problems. Absolutely, there are an infinite number of things that can be improved, but I believe most of us who live in the United States feel blessed that we are part of such a great nation.

One of the issues rearing its head lately within our great country is the subject of dental care for the general population. Of course, it’s a topic that has been around for quite some time, but three recent happenings are:

* A recent PBS Frontline special (you can watch by clicking here) brought our industry into the spotlight in some ways that may make you shake your head.

* The dental needs of America have certainly caught the attention of Capitol Hill as well, as you can see from this video from Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

* Many emergency rooms around the country are trying to figure out what to do with all of the people who show up with dental emergencies.

These are more than just blips on the radar. We can’t just sit back and say, “Well, that’s going on in Maine and I live in California so it doesn’t affect me.” This is being branded as a “national crisis,” which means it affects all of us. Perception is reality, my friends.

I think the dental industry is one of the most generous groups of people on our planet. I know so many of you give so much to causes such as the Dental Lifeline Network, the Oral Cancer Foundation, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and so many others. In the coming days, I urge you to be generous with your questions to your customers. Ask them what they think about all of this. Are they concerned? Is it affecting their perceptions of dentistry? You might be surprised with the answers.

"We must always remember that America is a great nation today not because of what government did for people but because of what people did for themselves and for one another." -- Richard Nixon

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