Private sector response to improving oral health care access.
Despite vast improvements in the oral health status of the United States population over the past 50 years, disparities in oral health status continue, with certain segments of the population carrying a disproportionate disease burden. This article attempts to describe the problem, discuss various frameworks for action, illustrate some solutions developed by the private sector, and present a vision for collaborative action to improve the health of the nation. No one sector of the health care system can resolve the problem. The private sector, the public sector, and the not-for-profit community must collaborate to improve the oral health of the nation.
Council on Access, Prevention and Interprofessional Relations, American Dental Association, 211 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. campbellc@ada.org
Robinson
Lindsey A
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D000288:Administrative Personnel; D000328:Adult; D000571:American Dental Association; D002648:Child; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003729:Dental Care; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D054584:National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (U.S.); D017149:Private Sector; D055818:Public-Private Sector Partnerships; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms; D014146:Training Support; D017664:Uncompensated Care; D014481:United States; D014838:Volunteers