Journal of the Louisiana Dental Association Journal of the Louisiana ...

LDA
lsu school of dentistry
Dr. Henry A. Gremillion
Dean, LSU School of Dentistry
Serving the Greater Good
One of the advantages of attending national
conferences is that we have the opportunity
to gain a broad perspective regarding major issues
that challenge our profession. This happened
recently when I attended meetings in San Diego for
the deans of the 58 dental schools in the United
States. The meetings, sponsored by the American
Dental Education Association (ADEA), provided a
valuable forum at which vital issues were targeted for
meaningful discussion.
One of the primary topics addressed during the
deans’ meeting was access to care in the United States.
While this issue is not new, it was most interesting to
hear the varied opinions on the scope of the problem
and suggested solutions. It was sobering to learn
about shortages in the oral health workforce that
plague our country today.
In Louisiana, 50 of the 64 parishes are designated
as dental health professional shortage areas by the
federal government. In practical terms, this means an
estimated 1.5 million people may not have adequate
access to dental care.
The federal agency that keeps track of health care
data reports that Louisiana needs a minimum of 235
new dentists to address the current shortage. However,
numbers alone don’t tell the whole story. The issue,
far more complicated than just absolute numbers,
is a question of adequate distribution. Last May, the
LSU School of Dentistry graduated 60 new dentists.
The majority stayed in Louisiana and entered general
dentistry practice in five major suburban/urban areas.
The result of this longstanding trend is that much of
rural Louisiana, 85% of the state’s geographic area, is
without sufficient access to dental care.
Adding to the shortage issue is the aging of the dental
workforce. According to the records of the Louisiana State
Board of Dentistry, 27% of licensed dentists are 60 years
and older and 56% are over age 50.
After attending the national meeting, I would like
to share my “take away” message:
Dr. Henry Gremillion, center, at the Wirth Ceremony with first-year
students, from left, Daniel Antee, Jonni Kumar, Joshua Reaves, Colton
Ducote, Blaine Calahan, Bonnie Muro and Vanessa Castillo.
the table all of the interested parties to develop
amicable solutions so that oral health care can
be available for all who desire it,
great that solutions will likely be regional and
not universal, and
recognize the importance of giving back.
On November 19, a special ceremony was held
at the dental school for our first-year dental, dental
hygiene and dental laboratory technology students to
welcome them to the profession. The F. Harold Wirth
Professionalism and Ethics Ceremony was developed
as a means of charging our incoming students to
develop an honor code and publicly pledge to uphold
the highest standards of ethics and professionalism.
Every one of the speakers who addressed the students
during the ceremony talked about the fact that,
year after year, dentistry is one of the most trusted
professions in America. I believe and I trust that as
a profession we will invite everyone to the table and
arrive at a satisfactory solution so that the greater
good will be served.
20 LDA Journal