A Year of Special Opportunity

By Teran J. Gall, DDS, and
Stephen B. Corbin, DDS, MPH

Based on the images and words on the cover of this Journal issue, you undoubtedly have deduced that something special is going on. This issue is a theme issue, which is not precedent-setting in itself; special issues of the Journal of the California Dental Association have been devoted in the past to such things as implants, halitosis, and managed care.

Article copyright 1998 Journal of the California Dental Association.
Photographs copyright of the authors.

But this issue is not about new clinical techniques, disease, or the financing and administration of dental care. This issue is about a new approach to addressing some of the most challenging problems in preventing oral disease, promoting health, improving access to care, and making dental practice more personally rewarding for dental professionals. The climate is right for these efforts because concern for oral health has gained a higher profile over the past several years. It has even drawn the attention of former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, who has said "You're not healthy without good oral health."

Over the past year, leaders of the California Dental Association have met several times with leaders from Oral Health America to discuss opportunities for collaboration. OHA, formerly known to many of us as the American Fund for Dental Health, has been striking a noteworthy profile, both nationally and at the state and local levels, in helping dentistry to deliver both the message and the opportunity for good oral health to increasing numbers of Americans. OHA's mission is to "develop resources for the improvement and promotion of the oral health of the American people." Among its strategic objectives is to "Enhance the involvement of the dental profession, dental industry, and public and private sectors as essential partners in promoting and optimizing oral health in America." These are purposes to which CDA subscribes.

CDA has been aware of OHA and its good works for many years, but it is only recently that the opportunity and need for closer collaboration and the value-added potential of such a partnership has become apparent. Dr. Bruce Lensch, a CDA past president and current chairman of OHA's Board of Directors, cites the new partnership as "one that was too good to pass up for both CDA and OHA, given the opportunities to improve the health of Californians." Current CDA President Kenneth Lange attended the September 1997 Oral Health 2000 National Consortium meeting in Atlanta to assess firsthand the specific collaborative opportunities between CDA and OHA. Subsequently, the CDA House of Delegates passed Resolution 56-1997H:

Resolved, that the California Dental Association recognize and embrace the goals and objectives of Oral Health America as set forth in the directives of Oral Health 2000/Healthy People 2000, and be it further

Resolved, that CDA, its component societies, and its members at large rise to this challenge set forth and become active participants in community or in-office activities in response to this challenge, and be it further

Resolved, that CDA, its component societies, and its members at large cooperate in gathering pertinent data needed to verify the Oral Health 2000 goals, and be it further

Resolved, that this principle be incorporated in the association's Policy Manual, under the section entitled, "CDA Administrative Policies, General Policies/Position Statements."

This action paves the way for closer collaboration between OHA and the CDA on program initiatives of great importance to CDA member dentists and the people of California. OHA brings a variety of initiatives that it is advancing through local action in many states and communities through partnering with dental associations and other groups. These include programs that have been developed directly by OHA and others that OHA has advanced through resource support and promotion. Examples of the former include the National Spit Tobacco Education Program, Oral Health 2000 National Consortium, and National Sealant Alliance. More recent additions include the Partnership for Tobacco Cessation and the Dental Enterprise Zones National Demonstration Program. Sponsored programs include Special Olympics, Special Smiles; the National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped; and Kids in Need of Dentistry.

This issue of the Journal focuses on several areas that are important to OHA and CDA. Special Olympics, Special Smiles; spit tobacco prevention and cessation; and dental sealants are treated in original scientific articles. These issues are just three of many that organized dentistry and practicing dentists, hygienists, and assistants must become more fully aware of when given the opportunity to provide patient education. This need not occur only in clinical confines but also in the community in venues such as health fairs, civic service organizations, schools, and churches. Understanding of dental and oral disease is useful only when disease prevention programs and techniques are put to use. This issue of the Journal is meant to reinforce our charge as oral health professionals.

Accompanying these original scientific articles are advocacy pieces from Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of Special Olympics International; former Major League baseball player and announcer Joe Garagiola; and Olympic silver medalist Matt Ghaffari. These celebrities have recognized the value of working with OHA to achieve their personal and organizational objectives. CDA anticipates working directly with OHA in 1998 and the years ahead to advance these and other initiatives in California. One item to mark on your calendar is the Sixth National Oral Health 2000 Consortium and Nevin Lecture in Dental Administration to take place in San Diego, Sept. 11-13, 1997. CDA is cosponsoring this exciting meeting, which features such prominent individuals as Joe Garagiola, Dr. Gordon Christensen, and Dr. Donald Mayes.

It is important to recognize at the outset, though, that California is not a vacuum into which new programs are to be introduced. These is a rich tradition of local action and volunteerism among CDA member dentists individually and within programs that contribute to the health and well-being of Californians on a continuing basis.

Highlights from selected and representative efforts from CDA member and component activities will be discussed. Although they are not nearly inclusive of all the extraordinary and commendable efforts that exist in California, they do allow the reader to understand what is occurring in the community dental public health arena. Perhaps these articles will issue a call to action upon many more providers.

Community leaders and health professionals may further utilize these articles to demonstrate the viability of such endeavors in these communities, which may in turn catalyze such activities in their own. For example, the Children's Dental Health Center in San Diego was started as a grassroots effort by members of the San Diego County Dental Society in 1952 and is thriving and expanding today. In Santa Cruz, Dientes! Community Clinic was a vision of a few determined dentists who, in 1955, solicited seed money from the Monterey Bay Dental Society, which in turn allowed them to leverage matching funds from local business and government. That facility, through some trials and tribulations, has similarly done exceedingly well and is expanding to meet that community's needs.

A major theme in both these successful endeavors has been the establishment and nurturing of community collaboratives. Commitment to the cause can and should go beyond the dental health professional. Community participation can be a vital and necessary source of people, funding and recognition. For those of us who have experienced community participation in these ventures, we have found them not only to be essential for the aforementioned, but also for the sense of ownership and commitment that result.

As you see, these is a solid basis for success in improving the oral health of Californians, consistent with our nation's goals. CDA's new partnership with OHA can only serve to move us closer to these goals on a much expedited timetable.

Authors
Teran J. Gall, DDS, is the director of special projects for the California Dental Association.
Stephen B. Corbin, DDS, MPH, is vice president for professional relations and institutional advancement for Oral Health America.