The American Dental Hygienists' Association's (ADHA) Board of Trustees has formally endorsed the Smiles for Life Oral Health Curriculum.
Smiles for Life provides free online resources to primary care providers with the mission of promoting oral health as a vital component of overall health. The organization stated that the free curriculum offers opportunities for clinicians to learn about and prioritize oral health, as well as to partner effectively with each other.
Since 2005, Smiles for Life has grown into a comprehensive oral health curriculum available to primary care professionals, offering courses free of charge thanks to the National Interprofessional Initiative on Oral Health (NIIOH). It hosts courses on child, adult, and geriatric health, oral care during pregnancy, and proactive risk management.
Today, the curriculum has been incorporated into many U.S. residency programs. The curriculum also enables a wider network of health professionals to access quality oral health information and education at no cost. This greater awareness has the potential for increased collaboration between health professionals and ultimately improved oral health outcomes for the public, the ADHA noted.
ADHA joins other organizations that have endorsed the efforts of Smiles for Life, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Dental Association, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
