The latest research showcases that more needs to be done’ to increase access to health care that will help reduce disease. The Association urged Congress to encourage the public-private partnerships forming in Indian Country so that there is an increased in advance the oral health of Native Americans.
There are several oral health issues affecting American Indians and Alaska Natives as has been observed. The Obama administration has recommended increased funding for the IHS Division of Oral Health.
The ADA believes more needs to be done to improve access to dental care and reduce oral disease among American Indians and Alaska Natives. Congress is debating over government spending and House hearings are the first step toward approving next year’s Indian Health Service appropriation.
The ADA and its constituent societies in Indian Country have tried to reach out to as many Native Americans and reaching out advanced dental care to them. The Arizona and New Mexico Dental Associations has been established the ADA’s Native American Oral Health Care Project to address the imbalance in access to quality oral health care among Native Americans.
The ADA President Dr. Raymond Gist met with tribal leaders, health directors and policy makers to discuss the development of a complete approach for improving oral health care in Indian Country. The discussions centered around how to recruit American Indians into the dental professions.
Dr. Gist discussed improving access to dentures for the community elders and supporting oral health care prevention strategies for the youth.
The ADA has also supported similar efforts between tribes in the Aberdeen area and the North and South Dakota Dental Associations. This has shown results of the efforts that were put in.
The findings of the committee were that the level of early childhood caries among Native American children has reached epidemic proportions. In fact, it is as much as 25-50 percent of preschool children have such extensive caries that requires full mouth restoration under general anesthesia, compared to less than 1 percent for non-native American children.
The ADA highlights the needs and successes of the Indian Health Service dental and is committed to working with the IHS and the tribes to forcefully reduce the disparity of oral disease and care that currently exist in Indian Country.