Private practice dentists are making a phenomenal difference to the overall oral health research agenda with their questions. This was shared by the top official of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research at a town hall meeting that was held on April 25, 2011
The questions that were raised at the meeting are important and pivotal for dental practitioners in their everyday meeting with patients. They also bring dental professionals together and work as part of a dental practice research network. This was said by said by Dr. Isabel Garcia, the dental institute’s acting director and it was observed that most of the questions are raised by the dentists. The network consists of 700 dental practices across the country and more than 30 studies that was undertaken with 30,000 patients.
The importance lies in being able to provide the right amounts of knowledge that improves clinical care as was stated by Dr. Garcia at the first of a proposed series of town hall meetings of the Friends of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. The event was held at the University of Maryland Dental School.
The research thus conducted was different as it is able to create an environment where it is real and go on to generate answers to important questions in the dental community.
As an example of research that impacts patients quickly, Dr. Garcia said was pointed to an highly effective to use fluoride varnish once or twice yearly on very young children. These kinds of research will show that the right kind of information can be used for the benefit of the patients right away.
Dr. Garcia noted that like Dr. Rizk explained, we are beginning to understand all the different kinds of microorganisms in the oral community and the interaction with one another. Those people engaged in health care are deeply troubled by the inequities and inequalities that exist based on background, gender, race and social status in the patients as was observed by Jay Perman, M.D., president of the University of Maryland in Baltimore and a practicing pediatric gastroenterologist.
On the whole, health disparities are significant between one population and another as was noted. There are several factors that contribute to health disparities. Many different populations are affected by disparities including racial and ethnic minorities, residents of rural areas, women, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities. The final discussion was around how to endorse dentists as primary care givers.