The U.S. surgeon general
issued a landmark report in 2000,
Oral Health
in America
, which described the poor oral health of our nation as a “silent
epidemic.” While there have been notable improvements in the oral health of
Americans, oral diseases remain prevalent across the country, posing a major
challenge for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
These dire circumstances could be improved if HHS strengthened its com
–
mitment to oral health, made it a national priority, and partnered with other
stakeholders.
In 2009, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) asked
the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to assess the current oral health care sys
–
tem and recommend strategic actions for HHS agencies. The IOM convened a
committee to explore how HHS can enhance its role as a leader in improving
the oral health and oral health care of the nation.