Surgeon general, health officials work to improve oral


health care for black men
By Elizabeth Owens - Scripps Howard Foundation WireLimited
access to dental care has caused black men to have almost twice as
many untreated oral health problems as white men, health care
advocates said.

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June 11, 2004 (AXcess News/SHFW) Washington - Limited access to
dental care has caused black men to have almost twice as many
untreated oral health problems as white men, health care advocates
said Thursday.The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies'
Health Policy Institute released a report titled "Visible
Differences: Improving the Oral Health of African American Males"
at a news conference.

The report detailed the inequity of health
care in the United States and gave policy recommendations for
decreasing the disparity.
Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona said black males, especially
those with low incomes, are a particularly neglected group when it
comes to oral care.The report said 28 percent of white men have
untreated dental decay compared to more than 50 percent of black
men.

Black men also have the highest incidence of oral cancer. Once
they are stricken by oral cancer, their survival rate is lower.
"Oral health is essential to the quality of life," said Dr.
Ronald E.

Inge, an associate executive director with the American
Dental Association.Carmona said the effects of poor oral health not
only inhibit someone's appearance but also his or her ability to
eat and socialize.AdvertisementTo lessen the negative effects of
poor oral health on black men, the report advocates equal access to
health care. Before black males can enjoy the same oral health
benefits as many other Americans, the financial barriers to dental
care must be reduced, according to the report.

"I stand ready to do
whatever is necessary to move this agenda forward," Carmona
said.
Removing these obstructions might include using federal welfare
money to help men who are seeking employment to pay for oral health
care or expanding the dental coverage under programs such as
Medicaid and Medicare, the report said.
The report also calls for national standards that would lead to
improved dental care access for black men as well as efforts to
increase the diversity of the dental workforce.
Carmona said that, although 12 percent of the U.

S. population is
black, only 3.3 percent of U.S.

dentists are black.
Inge said the ADA believes the dental profession should reflect
the population.
Eric Williams, a power forward for the Cleveland Cavaliers, said
blacks need to see a side of dentistry "beyond the pain of getting
your teeth cleaned." Williams is the founder of the Believe in Me
Foundation, which provides education and information about
children's oral health to families.


The Joint Center conducts research and analysis on policy issues
of concern to blacks and other minorities.AXcess News will be
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