Knowledge is Power: The Alliance, Oral Health Literacy and Health Equity

By Ralph Fuccillo, 
President DentaQuest Foundation,
Founding Board Member, U.S. National Oral Health Alliance

The U.S. National Oral Health Alliance completed its Third Leadership Colloquium this June 6 and 7 in San Francisco. The conversations focused on the area of Oral Health Literacy as a pathway to health equity.

It was a little over one year ago that the Alliance was launched as a new nonprofit focused on a new way of collaborating to engage people to learn and listen together.  One year and three leadership colloquia later, the Alliance is becoming the platform its founding board envisioned -- engaging diverse stakeholders from across the U.S., finding common ground through respectful dialogue that makes it possible to identify opportunities to create solutions together for improved oral health for vulnerable populations across the United States. The Alliance has set a wonderful table. It is logical and thoughtful and it happens because we work together.

Over 120 professionals from many backgrounds participated in San Francisco. We heard memorable contributions on oral health literacy from individuals at the forefront of oral health care delivery, education, marketing, and policy development, including Dr. Francisco Ramos Gomez of UCLA School of Dentistry and the Native American Health Center; Karina Alcala, Pediatric Dental Project Manager at the Native American Health Center; Alison Cusick, Program Manager at Washington Dental Service Foundation; Dr. Man Wai Ng, of Children’s Hospital Boston and the Early Childhood Caries Collaborative; Carrie Gordon, Vice President of Government Affairs for the California Dental Association; Captain Arlene M. Lester, DDS of the Office of Minority Health, Region IV, of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and Gary Price President and CEO of the Dental Trade Alliance.

Alice Horowitz, PhD, from the University of Maryland School of Public Health, one of the founders of the health literacy movement, started the meeting with a challenge: our efforts to increase quality, reduce costs and disparities, and promote health equity will not succeed unless we also include science-based oral health education appropriate to the understanding and languages of vulnerable groups. “We know how to prevent cavities with fluoride and sealants; we must use patient-centered prevention and risk-based management,” she said.

Dr. David Resnick, CEO of HIVDent and Director of Oral Health for Grady Health Services in Atlanta reflected on his life experiences at the forefront of treating patients with HIV/AIDS. The challenges of oral health literacy are often bigger than anyone in the room, but we must remember to meet people where they are, he said. David framed health literacy as a multi-dimensional concept that demands we use our minds, hearts, eyes and ears, as well as medical/dental and psychosocial knowledge. How does one communicate an oral health message to people who have so many serious issues going on in their lives? Knowledge is Power. We have to find opportunities to increase the understanding of those we serve. We can reach out with knowledge and kindness and that does make the world a better place for them.

Reflecting on their experiences around health literacy, participants at this Third Leadership Colloquium discussed what it will take to lay the groundwork in any community for health literacy, to prevent future pain and unnecessary suffering. The group then broadened its view and looked at the nation and what it will take to move the nation forward.

Unifying messages were developed at the conclusion of this Colloquium. They are being published in a colloquium summary that will be posted to the Alliance website (www.USAllianceforOralHealth.org) by the end of summer and will also be offered as a foundation for developing a national oral health plan.

ADA to support NYC Mayor Bloomberg’s Soda Ban

By Dr. Doyle Williams

Mayor Bloomberg’s recent announcement that he aims to ban the sale of sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces throughout New York City sparked a nationwide controversy as people questioned whether he was going a step too far in the fight against obesity.

While a majority of New Yorkers disagree with the ban, the American Dental Association applauded the Mayor for his bold action.

The ADA has long been an active opponent to soda consumption. In 2000, it opposed contractual agreements between schools and soda manufacturers that influence consumption patterns and promote increased access to soft drinks for students.

Sugary beverages and foods can lead to a multitude of dental problems, like cavities and gum disease, which could otherwise be prevented by practicing a healthier diet. As more children consume more soda throughout the day, it is crucial that we start to cut back on foods and habits that are harmful to our oral health.

Tobacco, Cancer and Oral Health

By Doyle Williams

Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States, and unfortunately, we see the dangers of it all too often in the dentistry field.  Despite the warnings, education and community outreach, tobacco use in the US has been steady, and is increasing globally.  The Institute of Medicine is holding a workshop next week in Washington DC with health leaders from around the country to examine the impact of policies and programs to reduce tobacco use and to promote collaboration among the cancer community and others to implement strategies to eliminate tobacco use.

Oral cancer is most commonly caused by tobacco use, so to see the health community come together to discuss this issue is a promising step.  Smokeless tobacco and cigarettes contain at least 28 cancer-causing chemicals, and can cause cancers of the mouth, lip, tongue, pancreas, and even voice box, esophagus, colon and bladder.  If you’re a tobacco user, be sure to inform your dentist, so they can perform a thorough exam to check for oral cancers. But the most important thing you can do is quit.

Even if you’re not a tobacco user, be sure to ask your dentist for an oral cancer screening- it can happen to anyone!

How to Find the Right Dentist

By Dr. Doyle Williams

All too often we hear from patients that they haven’t been to the dentist in years because they weren’t able to find one they liked or trusted.

Finding the right dentist can be hard, but it’s a crucial step towards good oral health.

First, comfort plays an essential role in finding the right dentist. It’s important that a dentist makes you feel at ease so you can ask questions about your care and you trust the dentist to perform procedures.

This is especially important when looking for a pediatric dentist.  If children develop good dental habits when they’re young, they’re more likely to continue to practice good oral health later in life.

You will find dentists are either a DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine) or DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery). Both apply to general dentists and refer to the same training programs.

Convenience is also an important part of choosing the right dentist. If you choose a dentist who has office hours that are compatible with yours and whose location is convenient, it will be easier to make and keep appointments. For example, in Massachusetts, DentaQuest’s Oral Health Center, our model dental office, has extended hours and a staff of general dentists, pediatric dentists, periodontists, endodontists and orthodontists.

Choosing a dentist who will understand your dental benefits is also important. Check your dental benefits company’s website to find the right dentist for you in their network.

Dental diseases are almost 100% preventable; having a good dentist who is experienced in preventive care is important. If you work together with your dentist and make regular appointments, you can maintain excellent oral health.

Self-Healing Teeth

By Dr. Doyle Williams


There’s exciting news on the dental research front!  Scientists at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry have come up with a new dental filling that kills bacteria and regenerates teeth harmed by cavities.  The research team still has to finish conducting tests before the fillings are approved for general use, but this innovation sounds especially promising.

As you know from reading this blog, cavities are a bacterial infection. After your dentist drills out the infected area, there are always some residual bacteria hanging around in this non-sterile environment of the mouth. These bacteria can cause more cavities down the road (which is why dental care professionals are so adamant about having you brush and floss-- to keep your mouth as bacteria-free as is possible). The new fillings have an antibacterial ingredient that will kill the left-over bacteria. They also stimulate healing of the affected tooth which causes a new healthy layer of tooth beneath the filling. And since these new fillings are supposed to last longer than traditional fillings, they should help you keep your teeth healthier longer.

New developments like this work at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry are always exciting for us to see. They are making it possible for dental care professionals to find early decay and fix it before it progresses to become a bigger and more painful problem. Our DentaQuest Oral Health Center, is using this new scientific knowledge to help their patients to reduce the level of the decay-causing bacteria in their mouths. Instead of just placing fillings after decay has already progressed to a cavity, they use other measures, like changes in diet, fluoride varnish, healthy sugars like xylitol or protective sealants, to stop early decay, help the tooth heal without any drilling, and then make it more resistant to future decay.

DentaQuest is committed to this prevention-focused approach to better oral health.

Mothers- The Key to Good Health

By Dr. Doyle Williams

Dear Mom,

We at DentaQuest want to take a moment to recognize you for all you do for your family’s health-- and especially for oral health.  

Moms (and dads!) can be key to their children’s healthy hearts, healthy bones and healthy smiles.

Moms are often the gatekeeper to their family’s wellbeing -- making sure there are clean clothes and healthy meals. Scheduling and keeping track of all those appointments for the dentist, the doctor, and more.

There are studies that show that the choices a mother makes --from the beverages she drinks to the foods she buys and even where she keeps the family snacks -- may dramatically affect her family’s nutrition, long-term health, and risk for chronic disease.

Mom’s healthy habits are just as important for her children as they are for her.  When moms set the example for good oral health, her kids will have a good example to follow.

So, we’re extending a heartfelt thank you to all Moms because they insist that their children brush and floss twice a day-- even when they are tired and cranky, and because they drive the kids to dental appointments—even when they don’t want to go, and who are conscious about their own health, because its important to have healthy moms setting a good example for the whole family.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week

By Dr. Doyle Williams

Last week was Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week, organized by the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance.  Though we say it over and over, it can’t hurt to remind everyone again about the importance of getting screened for oral cancer.

The signs of possible oral cancer lesions in your mouth include both “raised” and “sunken” lesions, changes in coloration, hardening lesions and lesions that bleed easily. If you have any of these symptoms for more than two weeks, please see your dentist about them.

The survival rate for oral cancer is very good if it’s detected early, so don’t forget to ask your dentist for a screening at your next visit.