“American dentistry faces a crisis of relevance and sustainability”
from youarewithinthenorms.com
NORMAN J CLEMENT RPH., DDS, NORMAN L. CLEMENT PHARM-TECH, MALACHI F. MACKANDAL PHARMD, BELINDA BROWN-PARKER, IN THE SPIRIT OF JOSEPH SOLVO ESQ., INC., SPIRIT OF REV. IN THE SPIRIT OF WALTER R. CLEMENT BS., MS, MBA. HARVEY JENKINS, MD, PH.D., IN THE SPIRIT OF C.T. VIVIAN, JELANI ZIMBABWE CLEMENT, BS., M.B.A., IN THE SPIRIT OF THE HON. PATRICE LUMUMBA, IN THE SPIRIT OF ERLIN CLEMENT SR., EVELYN J. CLEMENT, WALTER F. WRENN III., MD., JULIE KILLINGSWORTH, RENEE BLARE, RPH, DR. TERENCE SASAKI, MD LESLY POMPY MD., CHRISTOPHER RUSSO, MD., NANCY SEEFELDT, WILLIE GUINYARD BS., JOSEPH WEBSTER MD., MBA, BEVERLY C. PRINCE MD., FACS., NEIL ARNAND, MD., RICHARD KAUL, MD., IN THE SPIRIT OF LEROY BAYLOR, JAY K. JOSHI MD., MBA, AISHA GARDNER, ADRIENNE EDMUNDSON, ESTER HYATT PH.D., WALTER L. SMITH BS., IN THE SPIRIT OF BRAHM FISHER ESQ., MICHELE ALEXANDER MD., CUDJOE WILDING BS, MARTIN NJOKU, BS., RPH., IN THE SPIRIT OF DEBRA LYNN SHEPHERD, BERES E. MUSCHETT, STRATEGIC ADVISORS
‘JUST STANLEY’S MOTHER‘
INTRODUCTION:
A CALL FOR TRANSFORMATION IN DENTAL PRACTICE AND EDUCATION
Dr. Sinkford’s career reflects a core belief: that the profession faces a crucial turning point that demands fundamental change.
Her vision forms the basis of this proposal, which rests on three interconnected pillars of transformation that American dentistry faces a crisis of relevance and sustainability that demands immediate, foundational change.
Confronted by declining enrollment, intense competition from other professions, and a rapidly evolving landscape of patient needs, the models of the past are no longer sufficient.
Policy Pillar 1: Mandating a Holistic Standard of Care
First, we must redefine the role of the dentist from a limited technical expert to a socially responsible health leader.
Second, we need to overhaul our educational system to cultivate these new practitioners.
Third, we must initiate a national effort to diversify and strengthen the professional pipeline, ensuring that talent from all communities has the chance to lead.
This proposal outlines a strategic response, drawing upon the authoritative and pioneering vision of Dr. Jeanne C. Sinkford—the first female dean of a U.S. dental school—to chart a new course for dental education and practice that meets the challenges of the 21st century.
American dentistry faces a crisis of relevance and sustainability that demands immediate, foundational change. Confronted by declining enrollment, intense competition from other professions, and a rapidly evolving landscape of patient needs, the models of the past are no longer sufficient.
This proposal outlines a strategic response, drawing upon the authoritative and pioneering vision of Dr. Jeanne C. Sinkford—the first female dean of a U.S. dental school—to chart a new course for dental education and practice that meets the challenges of the 21st century.
A Blueprint for the Future of American Dentistry: Policy Recommendations Inspired by the Vision of Dr. Jeanne C. Sinkford
Dr. Sinkford’s career articulates a core conviction: that the profession is at a critical inflection point requiring fundamental change. Her vision provides the foundation for this proposal, which is built upon three integrated pillars of transformation.
“..Dentists, she argued, are uniquely positioned to be leaders in public health..”
First, we must redefine the role of the dentist from a narrow technical specialist to a socially conscious health leader.
Second, we must reform our educational framework to produce these new practitioners.
Third, we must launch a national imperative to diversify and strengthen the professional pipeline, ensuring that talent from every community has the opportunity to lead. This expanded mandate requires a foundational diagnostic skillset that enables the dentist to serve as a crucial first line of defense in identifying systemic disease.
Core competencies must include:
• Pharyngeal and Oral Cancer Detection: Serving as a primary sentinel in identifying malignancies of the head and neck.
• Hypertension Screening: Utilizing the routine dental visit to detect high blood pressure, a significant health risk, particularly in urban and minority populations.
• Nutritional and Genetic Counseling: Providing initial guidance and referrals based on an understanding of how diet and genetic predispositions impact both oral and systemic health.
Policy Pillar 2: Cultivating Dentists as Public Health Leaders
In 1972, Dr. Sinkford articulated a bold vision for the modern health professional, describing a dentist who is “politically informed, civically active, community-oriented, and socially conscious.” This is not an extracurricular pursuit but a core professional responsibility. Dentists, she argued, are uniquely positioned to be leaders in public health.
Through their training and daily practice, dentists gain a deeper understanding of disease trends, the complexities of healthcare delivery systems, and the actual cost of care. This specialized knowledge equips them to “champion the health and well-being of the population” they serve. They can and must become effective advocates in shaping local and national health policy, ensuring that comprehensive, quality care is accessible to all, especially the most vulnerable populations.
This expanded mandate is impossible to fulfill without a concurrent revolution in the dental curriculum, which must be re-engineered to produce clinically adept public health advocates.
A CONVERSATION WITH DR. JEANNE SINKFORD DDS., PH.D
ALL WATCHED OVER BY MACHINES OF LOVING GRACE
FOR NOW, YOU ARE
WITHIN
(from the 2019 South Africa tour)
THE NORMS
