Physician's assistants (PAs) are being urged to become advocates for oral health and partner with dental practitioners to help patients better understand the importance of regular checkups and good dental hygiene.
In an editorial in the June issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Physician's Assistants (Vol. 22:4), Editor-in-Chief Sarah Zarbock wrote:
PAs can have a major impact on the oral health of their patients. If you haven't already, get to know your local dentists and explore ways to develop partnerships. Become more knowledgeable about the relationship of diseases of the mouth to systemic disease. Be a voice for the importance of dental insurance coverage, especially for children. Include, as part of your early intervention efforts, counseling families, identifying high-risk children, and initiating timely dental referrals.
She also recommends that PAs ask themselves: "When was the last time I went to the dentist?"
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