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HHS Agencies Join American Association for Dental Research to Promote Healthy People 2010 Oral Health ObjectivesThe federal government and the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) have formed a strategic partnership to promote the elimination of disparities in oral health, particularly those related to tooth decay, periodontal (gum) disease, and oral cancer. In a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on Tuesday, May 6, the AADR and the federal co-lead agencies for the Healthy People 2010 focus area on Oral Health pledged to support a major effort to achieve three critically important objectives. These are to reduce tooth decay in children and adolescents, reduce periodontal disease in adults, and increase the percentage of adults whose oral cancer lesions are diagnosed at the earliest stage. “Partnerships such as this one are critical if we are to achieve the objectives set forth by Healthy People 2010,” said Richard H. Carmona, MD, MPH, FACS, former Surgeon General and Acting Assistant Secretary for Health. “We look forward to working with AADR to achieve objectives related to reducing oral disease, particularly in those groups that are at high risk, such as people with low income. People in the public health community are guided by the findings of both biomedical and behavioral research studies to develop innovative and effective strategies for improving people’s health.” The Surgeon General noted that there has been a high level of interest in promoting oral health since publication in May 2000 of Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General. More recently, in April 2003, Dr. Carmona participated in the release of A National Call to Action to Promote Oral Health, which cited the need to “build the science base and accelerate science transfer” as a specific action area. AADR is a nonprofit organization with more than 4,500 members whose mission is to advance research and increase knowledge for improving oral health, supporting and representing the research community, and facilitating communication and application of research findings. Under this partnership agreement, AADR will
“The AADR is committed to reducing oral health disparities and increasing the oral health literacy of health professionals, policymakers, and the public,” said AADR President Kenneth J. Anusavice, PhD, DMD. “This MOU offers us an ideal opportunity to align our efforts with those of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. We plan to use our publications and our communications network to promote awareness of the Healthy People 2010 objectives and to encourage researchers to design their studies with a view to reducing the burden of tooth decay, periodontal diseases and oral cancer.” In addition to Dr. Carmona, those signing the MOU with Dr. Anusavice were Elizabeth Majestic, MS, MPH, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health (Disease Prevention and Health Promotion), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Charles W. Grim, DDS, MHSA, Interim Director, Indian Health Service; Dennis Williams, PhD, MA, Deputy Administrator, Health Resources and Services Administration; Janet Collins, PhD, MS, Deputy Director, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and Lawrence A. Tabak, DDS, PhD, Director, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health. For more information about federal initiatives on oral health and the American Association for Dental Research, visit the following Web sites:
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