American Dental Association Statement on PBS Frontline’s ‘Dollars and Dentists’
The American Dental Association appreciates the mounting media interest in what Surgeon General David Satcher, M.D., famously called a “silent epidemic” of oral disease. Unfortunately, the situation has improved little since Dr. Satcher wrote those words in 2000. The needless suffering caused by untreated dental disease that could have been prevented or easily treated in its early stages is unacceptable. Coverage by PBS’s “Frontline” and other media can increase awareness of this ongoing tragedy and, we hope, the political will to do something about it. We also are concerned, however,