Advocacy is an important part of the AGD strategic plan. The AGD strives to be the recognized voice of the general dentists. Being the second largest dental organization in the United States and being the only organization exclusively for general dentists, the AGD is dedicated to represent the best interests of its members.
Access To Care
Many organizations and much of the media have jumped on the bandwagon to tout Access To Dental Care as one of the major problems in our country. Most of those organizations are not led by practicing dentists. The fact is that many dentists have the ability to see more patients but find that the demand is not there. The problem is not a shortage of dentists but it is a maldistribution of dentists. Dentists like any other professional who is running a private practice must practice in an area which will support him/her and allow them to pay their bills and provide for their families.
In many states the reimbursement rate for Medicaid patients is so low that the dentists who see the Medicaid patients do so at a loss because the reimbursement rate does not cover the overhead costs of the practice.
There are many barriers to dental care but the major barrier seems to be a lack of education of the importance of oral health to overall health of the body. Good oral hygiene and regular dental examinations would do much to eliminate the need for most dental treatment.
