ADHA Access March 2012 : Page 31

“I have helped raise money and written grants to pay for many of these programs. The problem with grant-driven projects is that when the money is gone the program ends,” Nese said. She is working on a non-grant-driven, self-sustaining, very low-cost preventive oral health program for school children and their parents called “Kids Can Be Cavity Free” (KCBCF). KCBCF emphasizes prevention and requires the parents to pay and take an active role in their children’s oral health. There is even a take-home project for the entire family. KCBCF also educates parents as to the real value of the dental care their children are receiving free or at a very low cost. “For some [people] ‘free’ means there is no value to the service. This is a way of getting them to realize what the rest of us pay for dental services for our children. It is a different approach yet to be proven,” Nese said. She added that many families have lost jobs and health care bene ¿ ts including den-tal bene ¿ ts, creating a greater need for care. She stressed that dental professionals can help by ¿ nding better ways to enhance pa-tients’ at-home preventive oral health care. “Preventive care should come before treatment. If prevention came before treat-ment there would be very little or no need for treatment. Most of the families I serve need a great deal of treatment. Preven-tive health care is health care for the 21st century, which includes new innovative ways to promote prevention,” she said. Nese said that service “is a small way of giving back to those who are not as fortunate… . It matters little whether it is a small gesture or a grand effort, and often the small gestures can make the biggest impact.” Nese strongly emphasized the importance of oral health, especially among children. “Dental disease in children is epidemic and it is preventable. Even though the Surgeon General declared dental disease epidemic in children in 2000, with children of low-income families particularly vulnerable, [12] years later we are still ¿ ghting the ¿ ght and we are no better off. This is the 21st century, a time for new thinking and new ideas… . We give away screenings, À uoride and parent educa-tion, yet free dental treatment programs can go begging for children patients. Despite the tons of educational literature about dentistry and preventive oral health care, families often take only the child in pain to the den-tist, fail appointments and don’t complete treatment. We are doing something wrong,” Nese said. “If we had proven methods for prevent-ing cancer, health care workers and facilities would be inundated, and people would pay almost any price. Cancer is life-threatening, scary and the treatment can be brutal. Yet poor oral health, dental disease and infection can be just the same. Maybe dental disease and infection do not kill or debilitate enough people to give them a high priority. Readers may consider that statement to be upset-ting and shocking, but we need to upset and shock children, parents and the public into action. We need to approach the problem in a new and different way and think differently.” Nese encourages her colleagues to pro-mote and build their knowledge and skills by actively participating in their profession. “Join the association for your future profes-sional career, to make lifelong friends, ¿ nd a job, start a dental care business, or become a leader in public health preventive dental care. Step up and jump in. There are op-portunities in public health and there will be more in the future,” she said. “Promote your expertise; you are the experts in preventive oral health care.” For more information on Nese or her career, please email her at icandu2@gmail. com. This edition of Working was prepared by Mariam Pera. ■ DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF DENTAL HYGIENE DEPARTMENT OF PERIODONTICS AND ORAL MEDICINE The University of Michigan School of Dentistry invites applications for a full-time leadership opportunity as Director of the Division of Dental Hygiene, Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor). Appointment will be at the Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Professor level (clinical or tenure-track), depending on experience and qualifications. Tenure-track position candidates should have current or potential for grant funding. The Division of Dental Hygiene at the University of Michigan is internationally recognized for clinical and academic excellence in the field of dental hygiene. The Division offers an entry-level bachelor’s degree, degree-completion bachelor’s degree and master of science degree, with both on-campus and online options in the degree completion and graduate programs. The Division also provides clinical patient care at the undergraduate and graduate levels, both at the university level and in community-based dental programs. In addition to dental hygiene, the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine comprises the divisions of periodontology, prevention and geriatrics, and oral pathology/medicine/radiology. The Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine offers an exceptional research environment. Departmental research strengths include clinical, translational, and basic research, in addition to behavioral and educational research. Numerous opportunities are also available for collaboration within the dental school and the greater university community. The successful candidate should have a national reputation in the field of dental hygiene, a thorough understanding of all aspects of dental hygiene education at the university level, and demonstrable management and interpersonal communication skills. A strong record of scholarship, teaching, service, and clinical experience are essential. Candidates must have a masters of science degree in dental hygiene or equivalent degree and must be eligible for dental hygiene licensure in the state of Michigan. A Ph.D. or equivalent degree, while not essential, is highly desirable. Faculty practice opportunities are available. Salary will be commensurate with experience and education. Individuals interested in applying for this position should electronically submit a letter of interest along with their curriculum vitae to: Dr. Paul C. Edwards, Chair, Dental Hygiene Director Search Committee c/o Jean Klark at: jklark@umich.edu Review of applications will begin as they are received, but no later than March 31, 2012. The University of Michigan is an EEO/AA employer . access MAR 2012 31

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