[Washington, DC - October 21, 2009]  Health Volunteers Overseas is delighted to announce the launch of its new Oral Health Initiative.  Sponsored by two of the leading professional associations involved in oral health care in the United States, the American Dental Association  and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, this initiative is designed to build upon HVO's current activities in the field of dentistry, dental public health and oral surgery.  This initiative will be co-chaired by Drs. Sally Hewett and David Frost, both long-time HVO members and volunteers. 

"I am pleased that we are launching this new initiative under the leadership of Drs. Hewett and Frost," said Nancy Kelly, HVO's Executive Director.  "By consolidating our efforts under this new umbrella, we will be able to develop more volunteer opportunities, to strengthen the oral health education programs and, ultimately, to expand the impact of our activities.  We look forward to involving other professional societies in this initiative and to strengthening our capacity to meet this unaddressed need for services." 

The importance of oral health care as an element of basic public health cannot be overemphasized. Not only is the mouth part of an initial public impression, but it is frequently the body's first indicator of disease. The US Surgeon General's first report on oral health appeared in 2000 and stated that oral health and general health were inseparable.  Bacteria in the mouth have been connected to premature and low birth weight babies, infections, headaches, earaches, and sinus problems. Gum disease is often linked with diabetes and cardiovascular disease.  Malnutrition contributes to poor teeth and tooth loss often leads to a downward spiral towards malnutrition.  Oral cancer ranks as the eighth most common cancer around the world, and is third in parts of Asia. Each of these problems is difficult, but in the developing world, they are far more so since treatment options may not be available or affordable. 

The World Health Assembly (the governing body of the World Health Organization) in May 2007 concluded that oral diseases "such as dental caries (decay), periodontal disease (gum disease), tooth loss, oral mucosal lesions, oro-pharyngeal cancers, oral manifestations of HIV/AIDS, necrotizing ulcerative stomatitis (noma), and oro-dental trauma, are serious public health problems." Too often, however, the delivery of a basic package of oral health services is compromised by a lack of trained personnel, lack of funding, and the low priority given to oral health by governments, NGOs, and other organizations involved in global health. 

One of the biggest difficulties in oral health is the lack of trained oral health professionals in those areas where they are most needed; about 80% of the world's population is cared for by only 20% of the world's oral health workforce. Conversely, 80% of the global oral health work force is concentrated in those countries with roughly 20% of the global burden of oral diseases. 

Through the training of a variety of oral health care professionals and by emphasizing basic oral hygiene, many health care issues (cleft palate, cavities, gum disease) can be addressed early in life.  The provision of basic oral care can lead to an improvement in general health and quality of life for millions of people around the world without access to such care today.

The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons represents more than 8,500 oral and maxillofacial surgeons in the United States.  AAOMS works to support its members' ability to practice their specialty through education, research, and advocacy.  The American Dental Association is the nation's largest dental association, representing more than 157,000 dentist members. The premier source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public's health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859.

A private, non-profit organization, HVO was founded in 1986 to improve global health through education.  HVO designs and implements clinical and didactic education programs in child health, primary care, trauma and rehabilitation, essential surgical care, oral health, blood disorders and cancer, infectious disease, nursing education and wound management.  In more than 25 resource-poor countries, HVO volunteers train, mentor and provide critical professional support to health care providers who care for the neediest populations in the most difficult of circumstances.

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