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Wednesday, November 24, 2010
New Dental Plan Would Improve Health of New Mexicans
By Dr. Robert J. Manzanares And Sasha Gilbert
President, N.M. Dental Association President, N.M. Dental Hygienists' Association
In 2001, the surgeon general issued a report stating that people are never completely healthy unless they also enjoy dental health.
Medical studies have shown a direct relationship between oral health and overall health. The same types of bacteria found in dental gum disease are also found in some types of heart disease.
Direct relationships also exist between oral health disease and diabetes, pre-mature births and other serious health conditions.
Because of this connection, the New Mexico Dental Association along with the New Mexico Dental Hygienists' Association are committed to improving the oral health of all New Mexicans.
New Mexico, like every other state in the nation, is unique in its profile. Every state is different with respect to jobs, poverty levels, geographic range, cultural diversity, government dynamics and taxes as well as many other areas. Problems of various types may be common to many or all states in our country, but the solutions to these problems must be unique and specific for each state, because of our many differences.
Caring for the many people who do not or cannot receive regular dental care, for whatever reason, are the people in our focus.
Over the last two and a half years, the dental association teaming with the hygienists association, as the liaison committee, have developed a solution with a workable and sustainable plan to address this access to dental care issue. We sought and incorporated input from various state agencies and concerned individuals. We need your help and theirs to activate this plan. It is a plan that reaches out to people who have not been reached before.
The plan offers quality, complete dental care delivered by a member of the dental team and overseen by a dentist.
The intent of the plan is to improve the efficiency of the dental team, focus on increasing oral health education, utilize community outreach and provide the coordination and facilitation of dental care in many communities.
To accomplish these goals, one of the first steps will require the establishment of two new positions in the dental team: the clinical dental health coordinator and the expanded function dental assistant. These new positions require a change to the Dental Health Care Act. Please call your legislators and ask them to support this liaison committee bill in the coming legislative session.
Please contact the dental association at 505-294-1368 for more information on the bill, the plan and how you may help.
Our goal is to have healthier New Mexicans provided by the best-educated professionals.
Our plan has the potential to reach thousands of New Mexicans who have not been reached before. It has the potential to create healthier communities — orally, physically, psychologically, socially and economically. Our planning has been based on credible science. It offers a sound, sustainable solution that ultimately benefits all New Mexicans, by having a healthier state.
It is not a quick fix, it is not a dream; it is possible. Help us help New Mexico. Working together, great things are possible.
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