The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) and the Academy of General Dentistry Foundation (AGDF) are pleased to announce a $250,000 education-based strategic partnership with OraPharma, Inc., which will provide general dentists with locally accessible, AGD content-approved periodontal disease continuing dental education (CDE) programs.
This partnership will afford dental professionals with access to up-to-the-minute education for dental health professionals on several topics surrounding periodontal disease, including understanding biofilms and a review of research surrounding the potential links between oral and systemic health.
These educational programs will be delivered both in live regional and local programming as well as online coursework by speakers who will be trained on the content. Funding for these programs will be provided in part by a grant from the AGDF made possible by support from OraPharma, Inc.
"We are pleased to partner with AGD in making quality periodontal disease education available to a broad audience of dentists via lectures, teleconferences and online programs," says Michael B. Cavanaugh, OraPharma, Inc.'s executive director of marketing. "AGD's commitment to excellence in continuing dental education and focus on lifetime learning attracted us to partner in this effort."
"This partnership will provide AGD members and the dental profession with a prime opportunity to learn how to help fulfill patients' needs for preventive and pro-active methods to combat gingivitis and periodontal disease," says AGD President Thomas A. Howley, DDS, MAGD. "Accessible, affordable and high-quality educational programs which present effective prevention and treatment strategies to dental professionals are vital to improving oral and overall health."
With the release of the 2000 Surgeon General's Report on Oral Health, it is evident that America is deficient in effective oral health habits, resulting in a number of other significant health challenges. Gum (periodontal) disease is a lead factor in the decline of the nation's health. It is the major cause of about 70 percent of adult tooth loss, affecting three out of four persons at some point in their life.
In recent years, researchers have found a connection between gum disease and coronary vascular disease, which can place people at risk for heart attacks and strokes. In individuals with diabetes, gum disease is associated with poor control of insulin levels. Pregnant women also need to be careful; gum disease can place pregnant women at risk for having low-birthweight babies.
"AGD and OraPharma both recognize that the general dentist is and will remain the key practitioner to help patients understand why periodontal disease occurs and how it can be treated," says AGD Executive Director Gerald "Jay" Donohue, Jr., CAE, CMP. "This partnership will address today's patients' priority needs while giving dentists the education to help them meet their patient's requests."
