Our Work
Oral Health America improves public health by eliminating oral disease, especially for our most vulnerable citizens, by educating and empowering communities to provide access to care, and advocating for policies that create oral health parity.
OHA is working to serve, educate and empower the overall oral health of the American Public through Access, Education, and Advocacy.
ACCESS
Dental caries (tooth decay) is the most common chronic childhood disease nationally affecting 53 percent of 6-8 year olds and 84 percent of 17 year olds. Oral Health America’s Smiles Across America® program is increasing community access to preventive and restorative dental care for over 115,000 children in eight regions of the country. We are close to reaching our goal of providing 1,000,000 dental sealants to 225,000 children by 2010.
EDUCATION
Most adults are unaware of the role that infectious bacteria can play in tooth decay according to a public opinion survey commissioned by Oral Health America in 2008. In 2009, Oral Health America’s messages to the American public about the importance of self care, regular dental visits, and healthy food choices in maintaining good oral and overall health have appeared in news sources reaching over 170 million people.
ADVOCACY
For every American that lacks medical insurance, approximately two lack dental insurance. Only about one third of children covered by Medicaid obtain dental services each year. Oral Health America is advocating for the mouth to be included as one of our nation’s healthcare priorities, and is working in partnership with other oral health leaders to educate policymakers about disparities in access, social and economic equity, workforce, and effective community-based interventions.
Read more about our Programs, Advocacy, and Campaign for Oral Health Parity below.
PROGRAMS
Oral Health America is a pioneer in conducting programs and initiatives with
a proven track record of raising awareness and affecting change. Each has successfully
started at the national level and gained support from public, private and voluntary
partners at the state and local level.
Smiles Across America (SAA)
Increasing community access to dental care for over 115,000 elementary school children annually who qualify for the USDA free or reduced school lunch program.
SAA National Product Donation Program
America’s Promise Partner, delivering donated dental product— 800,000 dental sealants, fluoride varnish, toothbrushes & toothpaste —to hundreds of community and school oral health programs nationwide. Download Application Form (PDF)
National Periodontal Disease Project
Sponsoring educational symposia and media outreach to increase interaction between medical and dental care providers in managing and treating periodontal disease in older Americans.
National Spit Tobacco Education Program (NSTEP)
Educating youth about the risks of smokeless tobacco use via in-school presentations, the sale of 20,000 educational materials annually and outreach to 200,000 parents and children at the Little League Baseball World Series.
Campaign for Oral Health Parity
Advocating for policies that create oral health parity for over 100 million Americans without dental insurance and those who are unable to advocate for themselves.
ADVOCACY
Dear Oral Health Advocate:
With the National Consumers League, American Dental Education Association, and Dental Health Foundation, we encourage your organization to sign an open letter addressed to the U.S. Congress, urging a sensible approach regarding the treatment of dental disease and oral health within our health care system. Please help us prevent dental disease and promote oral health by agreeing to lend your support. If you organization would like to be included on the letter, please print, complete and return the confirmation form by August 15 to Melissa Hoebbel, by email: melissa@oralhealthamerica.org or fax: (312) 836-9986. We will be delivering the letter at the beginning of September in time for appropriations hearings on Capitol Hill.
Sincerely,
Beth Truett
President and CEO
Oral Health America
Oral Health America's NEW Policy Statement
As the public’s advocate for oral health, Oral Health America believes that any comprehensive reform of the U.S. health care system must:
Provide universal coverage including oral health coverage and access to high-quality, cost-effective oral health care services
Encourage universal participation
Read Oral Health America's New Policy Statement on
Oral Health and Healthcare Reform
Oral Health America's talking points for healthcare reform
Oral Health America Dental Survey 2009
Speak up for Oral Health!
At recent visits with Congressional offices on Capitol Hill, Oral Health America learned that members are not hearing from their constituents about oral health as part of the health reform debate.
Take the time today to call their offices, send an email, send a letter, or stop by their local offices for a visit. They care about what you have to say!
Find a list of your elected officials here: http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml
State the following:
1) Health reform must guarantee coverage for all Americans and access to high-quality, cost effective oral health services.
2) Oral health benefits should include diagnostic, preventive, basic restorative, and primary oral health care services necessary to prevent disease and promote oral health, and eliminate pain, suffering and infection.
3) Any entity established to make recommendations on coverage, quality, prevention and access must include an oral health expert, and must make recommendations on oral health for all Americans.
4) Oral health is essential to overall health. Oral diseases are common, and impact our nation's productivity and healthcare costs.
If you have not contacted your Senators and Representative(s), make this your number one goal during vacation.
Share your experience in contacting them with us at info@oralhealthamerica.org. We look forward to hearing from you!
CAMPAIGN FOR ORAL HEALTH PARITY
The Campaign for Oral Health Parity is an innovative communications initiative
placing oral health on equal footing with other health care needs, and promoting
access to care for all Americans. Campaign strategies include the release of state-by-state
report cards and targeted media campaigns to bring oral health disparities to
the attention of opinion leaders, policymakers and the public.
Go here to see recent press releases..
Oral Health America issued a new oral health report card for Kansas, which shows that the state is making notable strides in addressing oral health disparities. The report was released by Oral Health Kansas on January 14, and received media coverage throughout the state.
(See below for instructions on how to download Adobe Acrobat Reader)
"A for Effort: Making the Grade in Oral Health" gives nine "A for Effort" grades to eight states, and Extra Credit to six states that are making important strides in advancing the Surgeon General's National Call to Action to Advance Oral Health.
(See below for instructions on how to download Adobe Acrobat Reader)
"A State of Decay: The Oral Health of Older Americans" examines
the lack of access to care for our nation's seniors through private dental insurance
and Medicaid. The national grade is a D.
(See below for instructions on how to download Adobe Acrobat
Reader)
The nation's oral health grade is a C for the second year in a row, reflecting
stalled progress in advancing oral health and oral health care for all Americans.
While our nation is gripped by world events, health needs, including oral health,
are slipping through the cracks.
(See below for instructions on how to download Adobe Acrobat
Reader)
The nation's grade of a C (versus a C- in 2000), does reflect new national
energy to improve oral health. It signifies hope for the future, but also underscores
the widespread unmet needs that have not changed in a year's time.
(See below for instructions on how to download Adobe Acrobat
Reader)
Acrobat Reader
You will need Acrobat Reader in order to open the PDF file of the report card.
Click on the Acrobat Reader icon below to download the program for free from the
Adobe website if you are having problems opening the report card file.
For more information about the report card, or to order a text version, call
Oral Health America at 312-836-9900, or e-mail liz@oralhealthamerica.org. |
