2001 Annual Meeting

9th Annual Meeting 

Oral Disparities and The Hispanic Population:
A Framework for Action in Response to the Surgeon General's Report

The 2001 Annual Meeting was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The meeting attracted a record number of attendees. Close to 200 practicing professionals, faculty and students gathered to consider the questions rising from the 2000 Surgeon General’s Report on Oral Health.

Kathleen Alvarez, RDH, BS, 2001-2002 President, conducted this year’s Opening Ceremonies bring announcements of new programs and acknowledgments of our 9th Annual Meeting Committee, our supporters and the long distance our Association has come in little more than 10 short years.

Ms. Alvarez also announced the inclusion in the registrant’s packets of an excerpt of the Surgeon General’s Report which has been tailored to include all information specific to the Hispanic population. This 16 page publication contains available information on the oral health status of this population. Copies of this report are available to interested parties from the national office of the Hispanic Dental Association (800-852-7921).

HIGHLIGHTS The program was kicked off with an introduction by Caswell Evans, Jr., DDS, MPH, who provided a background of the Surgeon General’s Report and how it confirmed the disparities impacting the Hispanic population, followed by the Keynote Speaker, James J. Crall, DDS, ScD who discussed “Challenges and Opportunities to Enhance Oral Health in the Hispanic Population.”

• The Opening Ceremonies were followed by a discussion on “Dental Caries: Concept Diagnosis, Risk Assessment, Prevention and Treatment Approaches.” Norman Tinanoff, DDS, discussed the integration of medical and restorative approaches to treating dental caries in primary teeth. Saskia Estupiñan-Day, DDS described Atraumatic Restorative Treatment.
   
• The Relationship Between Oral Health and General Health and Well-being as it applies to the Hispanic Population” was the next session. As health care professionals, dentists and dental personnel must have a clear understanding of general medical principles. General knowledge of medical principles among dental professionals is essential given the demographic changes in the United States. To address the interrelationship between general health and oral health, this session invited  nationally known lecturers to speak about cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and infectious diseases as they relate to the oral health of the general population and Hispanics. Dr. Raul I. Garcia, discussed the oral infection, heart disease, and stroke connection. Dr. Paul A. Moore  presented on periodontal disease and its connection with diabetes, with a particular emphasis on the findings in the Hispanic population. Dr. Joan Phelan lectured on various infectious diseases and the implications in the practice of dentistry. 
   
•  “The Burden of Oral Cavity and Pharyngeal Cancer in the Hispanic Population” was discussed on Saturday. Remy Blanchaert, Jr. MD, DDS discussed Cancers of the Oral Cavity and Pharynx. Early Detection, Risk Factors. He pointed out that oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer in white males in the U.S. and fourth among black males. Each year approximately 30,000 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed. These cancers account for the death of just over 8,000 people every year.

Carlos F. Salinas, DMD, moderator and speaker for this panel discussed “Genetic Syndromes of the Head and Neck Associated with Cancer.” He pointed out that the privileged position of the dentist could save the life of a patient, since on many occasions the oro-facial changes precede cancer lesions in other apparently unrelated parts of the body system. Next, Gloria Gridley, MS, of the National Cancer Institute, discussed The Role of Dietary Factors in the Etiology of Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer. She stated that “The protective effect of fruits and vegetables was not due to any specific nutrient and was confined to those consumed raw (most commonly avocados, mangoes, bananas, oranges and tomatoes), not cooked or canned. … However, cancer risk also decreased with increased body mass (high quartile OR=0.3, CI 0.2-0.5, p for trend <0.0001). The protective effects of greater body mass and consumption of raw fruits and vegetables are consistent with previous, mostly hospital-based, studies. These findings support public health efforts to increase the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables to protect against cancer.”

• Our Lunch and Learn Panel Discussion focused on “Barriers that Affect Achieving and Maintaining Oral Health among Hispanics.” Gustavo D. Cruz , DMD, MPH moderated a panel comprised of Clemencia Vargas, DDS, PhD, Maria Rosa Watson, DDS, MS, MPH and Mr. Edward Martinez. The panel’s charge was to examine some of the cultural, social political, behavioral and environmental barriers to adequate access to oral health care as well as utilization of dental services.

Dr. Vargas presented information on number of dental visits, unmet dental needs, dental insurance coverage and reasons for not visiting a dentist, specifically addressing Hispanics as compared with other groups.

Dr. Watson and Mr. Martinez presented examples of two innovative local oral health programs designed to overcome barriers by including community input, integrating oral health to primary care and expanding the availability of culturally competent and accessible services as well as community education.

• “BUILDING AN EFFECTIVE HEALTH INFRASTRURE THAT MEETS THE ORAL HEALTH NEEDS OF THE HISPANIS COMMUNITY” was the afternoon focus. Ramon Baez, DDS, MPH moderated this important panel. The distinguished panelists presented the approaches of their respective organizations are using to meet oral health needs.

Karla J. Girts, BSDH, RDH, Past President of the American Dental Hygienists Association, stated that the ADHA is working to improve access to care to underserved populations by promoting the prevention role dental hygienists' play in oral health. The United States graduates 6,000 dental hygienists each year and in the future will outnumber dentists. Expansion of the role the dental hygienists have in serving the public will create more accessibility to preventive services. Norman S. Braveman, PhD, on behalf of NIDCR, stressed the importance of building an infrastructure for oral health care based in research. Through evidence-based treatment, sound decisions on future oral health care and its accessibility can be greatly enhanced. Research leads to research development of the workforce and thus to community access to oral care services.

Victor A. Sandoval, DDS, MPH, past president of the American Dental Education Association, emphasized recruitment, enrollment and retention. The DAT is only predictive of the first year of dental school. To have successful recruitment and retention of dental students, other non-cognitive predictors of success need to be taken into consideration for applicants. These predictors may include community service, leadership and bilingual skills. The workforce should reflect the community it serves, which is not the current status in dental schools. A program for retention utilizing peer tutors to help those in need should be part of a dental school program. Ronald D. Bushick, DDS, past president of the Pennsylvania Dental Association, discussed a paper he wrote that focuses on the future of dentistry and offers possible solutions to developing an infrastructure for oral health care. He urged that we make a united and concentrated effort in the political arena. By developing a relationship with governing bodies, effective lobbying for oral health and the legislative changes needed can occur.

Aidee Nieto-Herman, DMD MScD, past president of the HDA, related the work done at Tufts and Harvard dental schools with mentorship programs. This program is designed to encourage young minority students to pursue their education for a dental career. The program follows the student through their education. Dr. Nieto-Herman presented research which demonstrated how successful such a program can be.

“Cultural Considerations in the Delivery of Health Services to the Hispanic Community” was presented by Diana Galvis, RDH,MS, D-4 NYU. Ms. Galvis presented an overview of components that form our understanding of the cultural differences between different groups in our society. Our ideas of a particular culture need to take into account a multitude of aspects: notions of modesty, conceptions of beauty, patterns for handling emotions, conception of self, conception of justice.

We must be able to recognize and deal with beliefs of others if we wish to obtain communication. We also need to put aside ethnocentrism, the notion that one's culture is superior to that of others which can lead to stereotyping.

2001 ANNUAL MEETING SUPPORTERS
National nstitute of Dental and Craniofacial
Research, NIH, Grant number 1 R13 DE14337-01
Colgate-Palmolive Company,
Supporter of Scientific Sessions
Procter and Gamble, Makers of CREST Products, New Professionals/Students Program
Merrill Lynch, President’s Banquet

EXHIBITORS
HDA welcomed the following Exhibitors at the 2001 Annual Meeting:

• AccuBite Dental Supply
• Banco Popular
• Bisco Dental Products
• Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals
• Emery & Webb, Inc./ACE USA
• Merrill Lynch
• National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
• National Oral Health Information Clearinghouse
• Patterson Dental Supply
• Procter & Gamble, Makers of CREST Products
• SCG, Inc. , Gumshield Safety Toothbrush
• Sherman Specialty Co., Inc.
• Sky Financial Solutions
• Texas Association of Community Health Centers
• Ultradent Products, Inc.
• Zoll Dental