The American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) applauds the new Oral Health in America: Advances and Challenges report released by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) on December 21, 2021. This report comes twenty years after the groundbreaking Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General.
The first surgeon general’s report on oral health alerted Americans to the full meaning of oral health and its importance to general health and well-being. This new report echoes that oral health is integral to the overall health and well-being of all, but focuses on the advances made since 2000. The report details that through research and policy changes over the past 20 years, there have been substantial advances in the understanding and treatment of oral diseases and conditions.
The challenges outlined in this report include that many people of all ages and demographic backgrounds still have chronic oral health problems and lack access to care. Other challenges include the impact of substance misuse, mental health conditions, and of course the COVID-19 public health crisis on oral health. Among the calls to action, the report calls for a strong research enterprise dedicated to improving oral health.
The report’s section on Emerging Science and Promising Technologies to Transform Oral Health summarizes that “training, support, and mentorship of more oral health scientists and academics are needed to ensure a robust workforce who can extend and effectively use the advances in science that are so critical for delivering care in the changing landscape of oral health.”
In concurring with that call to action, AADOCR President Jacques Eduardo Nör stated, “While great progress has been made, many old and new challenges still exist. Innovative dental, oral, and craniofacial research is critical for addressing the challenges outlined in this report. It is our research that will help advance health and well-being today and for many years to come.”
About AADOCR
The American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) is the leading professional community for multidisciplinary scientists who advance dental, oral, and craniofacial research. Previously the American Association for Dental Research, the 3,000-member organization connects the scientific community of professionals who champion research that contributes to overall health and well-being.
Learn more at www.aadocr.org.
FEATURED IMAGE CREDIT: Nick Fewings on Unsplash
