Here are 10 federal updates from the last 30 days that dentists should know:
1. The HHS Department announced May 13 that the FDA would begin removing ingestible fluoride prescription drug products for children from the market.
2. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. voiced his commitment to dental health and discussed his agency’s oral health priorities during a budget hearing with the House Appropriations Committee May 14.
3. The American Dental Association and the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine established the first-ever living clinical guideline program dedicated to oral healthcare.
4. Three dental organizations joined a coalition of groups urging Congress members to oppose cuts to the HHS Department.
5. The National Association of Dental Plans expressed its commitment to expanding access to dental care by urging Congress to allow the public to purchase dental insurance, protecting adult Medicaid dental coverage and continuing tax credits.
6. The American Dental Association released draft standards on cartridge syringes and athletic mouth protectors.
7. The American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine released new guidelines for the use of teledentistry with oral appliance therapy.
8. The American Dental Hygienists’ Association and the International Federation of Dental Hygienists are advocating for the delivery of dental hygiene services exclusively by practitioners who meet certain qualifications.
9. A coalition of more than 200 health professional organizations and research bodies backed the safety and effectiveness of water fluoridation.
10. The American Dental Association urged Congress to support tax policies that support small businesses and to preserve adult Medicaid dental benefits.
