Our Goals

Below are our goals, framed by the words of the United States Surgeon General in his 2003 National Call to Action*.

Change Perceptions of Oral Health

“While oral health is extremely important to all Americans … it is not always the focus of much attention. Americans tend to have the perception that oral health is less important than, and separate from, general health.”

Replicate Effective Programs and Proven Efforts

• Integrate Oral Health into Other Health Programs
  “We will need to invite and entice new partners to join us. Partners like social workers, school nurses, and others.  We need … to bridge the cultural divide … from a treatment society to a prevention society.*”
   
  
• Increase Coalitions
  “The burden of oral infections and conditions …. is so broad and extensive that dentists can’t do it alone; hygienists can’t do it alone; surgeons can’t do it alone; government agencies can’t do it alone; and the average person can’t do it alone. It will take all of us working together to make progress in advancing the oral health of this nation.*”
   
• Support Organizations and Systems that Provide Preventive Oral Health Care to Underserved Populations
  “I encourage each of you to determine what you can do to promote oral health and prevention of oral disease in your practices, your employment settings, through professional and community organizations you are part of, and in your own homes.*”

Increase Collaborations
“We have to get out of our silos and sectors and work together…. It takes partnerships to solve public health problems.*”

The Foundation partners with philanthropic colleagues across the United States. We support oral health champions who educate business leaders, health care writers, academicians, government officials.  We convene stakeholders who are working to encourage adoption and evaluation of innovative models that work. The ability to leverage other funding (private and public) multiplies our Foundation’s impact.

*Quotes from: Vice Admiral Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, National Oral Health Call to Action, April 29, 2003.  http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/news/speeches/oralhealth042903.htm