April 2012

Better Health Through Better Philanthropy - Grantmakers in Health

Dental disease is one of the great preventable public health challenges of the 21st century. Labeled a “silent epidemic” by the U.S. Surgeon General, dental disease ranks high in prevalence among chronic health conditions (HHS 2000). While dental disease is a universally prevalent chronic disease, a number of subpopulations are particularly vulnerable, including seniors, children and adolescents, low-income people, minority groups, and people with special health care needs (IOM 2011).

The persistence of barriers to treatment and care has generated new and innovative approaches to increasing access to quality care. A concept gaining traction in many circles is the coordination, and even integration, of oral health into primary care, reversing the traditional divide between medical and dental care that has essentially separated the mouth from the rest of the body. The Grantmakers In Health Issue Dialogue Returning the Mouth to the Body: Integrating Oral Health and Primary Carewill not only reinforce the case for integrating oral health into primary care, but also explore theoretical models for integration and real world applications. The Issue Dialogue will also examine current opportunities in health care reform and existing federal policy for integrating care. Using this information, participants will engage in active dialogue to determine what next steps need to be taken and funders’ roles in supporting this work.

This paper provides key background information, and highlights areas of opportunity for grantmakers.

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