Health leaders unite to fight periodontal disease.

Oral Health America has announced the formation of the National Periodontal Disease Coalition that unites providers, insurers, advocacy groups and government agencies in tackling periodontal disease. This effort grew out of a meeting attended by ADAA's President Kristy Borquez, CDA, RDAEF, FADAA, and more than 50 business and professional leaders. The group addressed issues surrounding periodontal disease, an infection that afflicts most adults, but is virtually ignored outside of dentistry.

President Borquez reports that the coalition will work to make Americans start thinking about periodontal disease and its relation to overall health. Attendees at the first of its kind meeting included a diverse array of opinion leaders and decision makers from practices, associations, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, industry, advocacy groups, universities, government agencies, and foundations.

Points of discussion included the state of periodontal disease research; impact on overall health; general recognition, identification and treatment patterns; economic considerations; and public, professional, and business involvement.