ADHA Commends FTC Complaint Against South Carolina State Board of Dentistry

Chicago–September 16, 2003–The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) commends the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for its complaint against the South Carolina State Board of Dentistry issued yesterday, alleging that the Board violated federal competition laws.

The FTC complaint states, “The effect of the Board’s action was to deprive thousands of school children—particularly economically disadvantaged children—of the benefits of preventive oral health care services.”

The complaint continues by stating the Board’s action was anticompetitive, contrary to state policy and did not justify its harmful effects on competition and consumers.

“ADHA is pleased with the action of the Federal Trade Commission,” said Tammi O. Byrd, RDH, ADHA president. “ADHA’s paramount goal has always been to increase access to oral health care to the underserved populations across the U.S.”

Indeed, the access issue has been central to ADHA's mission since 1923, representing its commitment to oral health issues and the dental hygiene profession for decades. Dental hygienists could help solve the access crisis in this country if changes were made to increase their capacity to provide oral health care services in more settings outside private dental offices, with less restrictive supervision.

Licensed dental hygienists, by virtue of their comprehensive education and clinical preparation, are well prepared to deliver preventive oral health care services to the public, safely and effectively, without dental supervision.

Aside from holding the position of ADHA’s president, Byrd has initiated individual efforts to increase access to oral health care in her state of South Carolina. She has made considerable financial sacrifices to start a school-based oral health program that has now served more than 48,000 children in 35 school districts in the state.

"Speaking from personal experience, thousands of children in South Carolina do not receive proper oral health care due to disparities in the health care delivery system,” said Byrd.

Dental decay (cavities) is the most common chronic disease of childhood, affecting 50 percent of children by middle childhood and more than 80 percent by late adolescence. Recent studies also show that periodontal (gum) disease continues to plague millions of children, with gingivitis occurring in 50 percent of 4- to 5-year-olds and continuing to increase with age.

ADHA is the largest national organization representing the professional interests of the more than 120,000 dental hygienists across the country.

Dental hygienists are preventive oral health professionals, licensed in dental hygiene, who provide educational, clinical and therapeutic services that support total health through the promotion of optimal oral health.

For more information about ADHA, dental hygiene or the link between oral health and general health, visit ADHA at http://www.adha.org. A copy of ADHA’s access-to-care position paper is available at www.adha.org/profissues/access_to_care.htm and a fact sheet that highlights several key points and statistics is available at www.adha.org/media/facts/access.htm.

- 30 -