The Governing Council passed a number of new policies at the 2010 138th APHA Annual Meeting in Denver, including a fluoride varnish policy sponsored by the Oral Health Section.
Authored by Amos Deinard and Scott Presson, with extensive Section input, the policy is titled “Fluoride Varnish for Caries Prevention.” The policy makes the following recommendations:
The American Public Health Association urges that:
1. Public health authorities and health care providers establish coordinated fluoride varnish programs in various public health, dental, and medical settings, using appropriately trained personnel to reach those at moderate to high risk for dental caries, as an adjunct to effective public health programs, such as water fluoridation;
2. Public health authorities ensure that appropriate assessments are in place to determine a population’s risk for dental caries and offer fluoride varnish application and education through organized programs;
3. Individuals considered for fluoride varnish application and their parents or caregivers receive age-, culturally and linguistically appropriate oral health anticipatory guidance about caries etiology and prevention, and the role of fluoride varnish and other preventive measures;
4. Federal, state and local government, insurers, and foundations provide financial support and incentives for fluoride varnish programs for all at-risk populations;
5. Federal programs provide financial support for additional fluoride varnish research in populations other than children and alternative delivery settings to improve understanding of efficacy, effectiveness, applicability, program adoption, reach, and cost-effectiveness compared to other topical fluoride and caries prevention regimens.
While the Section reviewed all of the proposed policies, there were several that we followed closely, commented on, and actively supported to assure the concerns of the Section were heard. The policies that were passed by the Governing Council that are especially relevant to the oral health community include:
Health Literacy: Confronting a National Public Health Problem (co-authored by our own Alice Horowitz)
Reforming Primary Health Care: Support for the Health Care Home Model
American Public Health Association Child Health Policy for the United States
Annual Influenza Vaccination Requirements for Health Workers
Securing the Long-Term Sustainability of State and Local Health Departments
The new policies should be posted to the APHA website by the time of this Newsletter, or shortly thereafter. Once finalized, they will be posted at: http://www.apha.org/advocacy/policy/policysearch/
Thanks to our Governing Councilors, Woosung Sohn, and Amos Deinard; and also to Scott Presson, Howard Pollick, and Helene Bednarsh for subbing for Amos when he was unable to travel to the Annual Meeting. Thanks also to Lynn Bethel, our Section Action Board representative, who was co-chair of the Joint Policy Committee that oversees the policy process.