Communicating with each other

Most dentists commit their professional lives to improving oral health by providing preventive and treatment services to their patients. In addition, dentists often participate in community, professional or legal activities that promote oral health. This paper describes five ways that dentists have worked with each other and with others to enhance oral health: (1) Dentists working with each other to promote oral health without the use of organized dentistry. Described as an example is the experience of all the periodontists in one city in the USA in providing community education. (2) Dental associations organizing or facilitating groups of dentists and other dental health professionals to develop and implement programmes that promote oral health. Two community-based educational efforts stimulated by the American Dental Association are described. (3) Dental specialty associations encouraging and facilitating specialists to work with other dentists to enhance their knowledge and skills in prevention, treatment and appropriate referral. The American Academy of Periodontology's efforts to teach communication skills to periodontists and diagnosis and treatment skills to general practitioners is cited as an example. (4) Dentists working with physicians and other non-dental health professionals to promote oral health. Integrating dental education into childbirth preparation classes for expectant parents is one instance of an interdisciplinary approach. (5) An individual dentist taking a leadership role to positively influence legislation to regulate a harmful substance. The efforts of one dentist to restrict the sale and promotion of smokeless tobacco are described. Working with other dentists, health care providers and legislators represent alternative ways that dentists have affected the oral health of individuals.