A new article collection in the CDA Journal geared specifically for California dentists urges them to implement medical-dental integration to help the state meet public health goals set by Healthy People 2030. Established in 1980 by the Department of Health and Human Services, Healthy People sets evidence-based, measurable goals every decade to improve the overall health of U.S. populations.
“This is very much a collection prepared by and meant for California’s oral health practitioners who know what it’s like to live in and serve the population of this state,” says guest editor Wai-Yin Chan, MS, DMD, MPH, in the collection introduction.
Articles in “Healthy People 2030: The Role of the Dental Practitioner” focus on three areas dentists can impact the most in California: obesity, oral cancer and increasing access to oral health services. These topics will prime dentists to address the shifting needs of the state’s population, Dr. Chan says.
Chan also says oral health practitioners can move the needle toward HP 2030 goals by incorporating medical-dental integration into their practices to build a bridge between oral and overall health. Chan, a public health pediatric dentist, became a proponent of medical-dental integration after attending a dental school that was integrated with a medical school.
She believes that when dentists and oral health practitioners work together to help patients achieve their best overall health, “the burden of disease is lifted, long-term outcomes improve, the cost of health care goes down for everyone.”
Article highlights
Obesity: The Role Dentists Play in Reducing the Prevalence of Obesity in Children, Adolescents, and Adultsshows dental professionals how to counsel patients about the risks of obesity and the detrimental effects of drinking sugar-sweetened beverages. Read the article to earn C.E. credit.
Opportunities to Address Healthy People 2030 Dental Care Access Challenges in Californiaprovides resources to help dentists improve the state’s overall health and well-being and meet Healthy People 2030 goals.
Oral Health Practitioners’ Role in Advancing Healthy People 2030 Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancer Detection and Prevention Goals explores ways oral health practitioners can reduce the burden of disease from OOPC across California. Read the article to earn C.E. credit.