SACRAMENTO, California--The July 2011 issue of Journal of the California Dental Association examines issues relating to the dental workforce and overcoming barriers to care that are in the forefront of a national debate to address oral health disparities that impact 30 percent of the population. This number is estimated at 10 million Californians (82 million nationwide).
This is the third issue of the Journal devoted to the controversy about addressing barriers to care, which includes information on a new dental team member, the community dental health coordinator, as well as ideas about the importance of children’s oral health needs and the ADA’s response to some proposed solutions to the reduction of barriers to accessing oral health care.
Ideas are also presented about the dentist’s role as a professional in the context of a societal contract and the need to work toward risk assessment, management ,and prevention of caries rather than focusing on surgical intervention.
“As dentists, we have an important role to play in determining how disparities in oral health care are addressed. There is not one simple answer to solve the problem,” said Kerry K. Carney, DDS, editor-in-chief of the Journal. “The future of dentistry should be shaped by those who practice it.”
This July 2011 publication sets the stage for a discussion of how dental workforce innovations might address barriers to oral health care in the U.S. An article titled “Getting Help for Children: The Need to Expand the Dental Workforce” explores how access barriers brought to national attention 10 years ago by the U.S. Surgeon General remain a challenge today, and that new thinking and approaches may be necessary in order to expand care to children who need it.
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The forum also features “CDHC, a Possible Change Agent Promoting Access to Care,” an article about the ADA’s pilot program aimed at training community dental health coordinators to expand the workforce and alleviate some of the problems associated with access to care.
“Breaking Down Barriers to Oral Health for All Americans: The Role of Workforce,” a statement from the ADA, is the first in a series offering the ADA’s vision of “a healthier, more productive nation,” enabled by breaking down the barriers that impede or prevent millions of Americans from enjoying good oral health.
In addition, an article titled, “Society Expectations and the Profession’s Responsibility to Reform the Dental Workforce to Ensure Access to Care for Children,” explores the inter-relationship of three concepts: the meaning of profession, societal expectations, and reform of the dental workforce. These are concepts with points of concurrence but also elements of tension.
“CDA continues to believe that an evidence-based approach to these issues and a robust discussion by the profession will be positive for both the profession and the public,” Dr. Carney said.
The Journal of the California Dental Association is a monthly peer-reviewed scientific publication that informs dentists about scientific advances, matters of general interest and new products. Two prior issues, January and February 2011, were dedicated to the barriers to care controversy and can be found at cda.org/publications.
For more information, visit cda.org.
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