AGD applauds proposed U.S. oral health initiative

The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) is giving two thumbs up to the recent introduction of the Oral Health Initiative Act of 2008 by Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). The bill, S. 3064, proposes the establishment of a multifaceted approach to oral healthcare through the creation of an expert oral health working group to assess existing U.S. oral health programs and recommend improvements.

"Dental disease presents a very serious problem for our children, particularly those from lower-income families," said AGD president Vincent Mayher, D.M.D, M.A.G.D. "This working group should look closely at all federal oral healthcare programs and make recommendations for improvement to ensure that no child is without dental care." The working group would also develop programs to improve the oral health of and prevent dental disease in children, Medicaid-eligible adults, and other vulnerable populations who are among those Americans at highest risk of dental disease.

The AGD will be issuing an action alert this week to its members, urging them to send letters to their senators asking them to support this measure, according to Janet Kopenhaver, AGD's Washington lobbyist. Cosponsorship of the bill will be a component of the AGD Scorecard of the 110th Congress, to be issued at this session's adjournment, she added.