What is the oral health industry’s role and responsibility in addressing racism in our country?

“In contrast to other disciplines (public health and medicine for example), dentistry as a discipline has been relatively quiet in the space of anti-racism,” said Eleanor Fleming, PhD, DDS, MPH, FICD, assistant dean for equity, diversity, and inclusion at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. “This special issue in many respects fills a void and offers a strategic path forward for dental public health using the lens of anti-racism.”

What adjectives would you use to describe the oral health system? Traditional? Effective? Reliable?

One adjective that often gets left out of the conversation: innovative.

“There is a lack of innovation in oral health in a couple of ways,” says Kirill Zaydenman, MS, vice president of innovation at our for-profit subsidiary CareQuest Innovation Partners. “One is that dentistry has not kept pace with change in other industries that have been undergoing digital transformation. The other is within public health — it’s a hugely underserved market.”

CareQuest Institute’s grantmaking efforts focus on five cross-cutting strategies: health and racial equity, social determinants of health, community-centered measurement, learning and capacity building, and innovation in oral health.

Why those five areas?

By Kelly Schroeder, RDH, MS

Like many of you, becoming a health care professional, specifically a dental hygienist, was a dream job for me. The small-town practice I worked for really cared about their employees, patients, and the community. For many years as a clinical dental hygienist, I felt I had found my purpose.

I loved my job and my patients, but like every good love story, there was a dark side.

How is America’s oral health?

It’s a challenging question, especially when you consider all the potential sources of information. Is the best answer based on behaviors and experiences in dental offices and communities across the country? Or is it better to look at knowledge, like how much a person understands about the connection between their oral health and overall health? Or perhaps perception would provide the best insight — the value of oral health in one’s life or confidence in a particular smile.

For Pareesa Charmchi Goodwin, hearing people’s stories, hearing how she can help, is a gift.

“I am fortunate to have built relationships with community leaders and people we advocate for,” she says. “I am honored and humbled when people trust us with their stories and ask for advice on navigating the system. And unfortunately, there is no shortage of these stories.”

Dr. Kelly Tanner knew from a young age she wanted to be a dental hygienist. Today, as the CEO of Next Level Dental Hygiene and Ascend Health Partners, she provides dental organizations and hygienists with support and educational tools to develop leadership skills and accelerate careers in oral health care.

By Myechia Minter-Jordan, MD, MBA, Senior Advisor and former President and CEO of CareQuest Institute for Oral Health

Uncertainty. Anticipation. Fear.

These are just a few of the emotions that run through the minds of almost every expecting parent. And for many expecting Black parents, those feelings are more acute.