Dental News - ADHA backs oral health program that serves primary care providers

Dental Tribune USA

Tue. 27 May 2014

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NEW YORK, N.Y., USA: The American Dental Hygienists’ Association’s board of trustees recently announced its formal endorsement of the Smiles for Life Oral Health Curriculum. Smiles for Life provides free online resources to primary care providers with the mission of promoting oral health as a vital component of overall health.

ADHA supports this resource, recognizing that the free curriculum offers opportunities for clinicians to learn about and prioritize oral health as well as to partner effectively with each other.

Since 2005, Smiles for Life has grown into the most comprehensive oral health curriculum available to primary care professionals, offering courses free of charge thanks to the National Interprofessional Initiative on Oral Health (NIIOH). With courses on child, adult and geriatric health, oral care during pregnancy, and proactive risk management, the program strives to offer informed and relevant information in a format that is easily digestible and accessible across multiple platforms.

Today, the curriculum has been incorporated into many residency programs across the nation. Tens of thousands of physicians, nurses, physician assistants and other professionals have used the materials to enrich their clinical understanding of oral health issues and form partnerships for the benefit of their patients.

The curriculum also enables a wider network of health professionals to access quality oral health information and education at no cost. This greater awareness has the potential for increased collaboration between health professionals and, ultimately, improved oral health outcomes for the public.

“ADHA understands how essential collaborative partnerships are to linking oral health and total health,” said ADHA President Dr. Denise Bowers. “Smiles for Life gives current and future health care professionals a strong foundation in oral care and is committed to maintaining relevancy in a changing health care landscape.”

ADHA joins the numerous organizations that have endorsed the efforts of Smiles for Life, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Dental Association, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

(Source: ADHA)

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