Bahamas Dental Association President’s Message

March 16, 2007 The Bahamas Dental Association is charged with the responsibility of elevating dentistry in the collective conscience of the Bahamian people, and expanding the reach of dentistry to a broader scope of our people, through efforts to improve public education and by lobbying for a National Oral Health Policy.

In accordance with it's first duty, is the launching of the Association’s website, which is designed to be an educational resource for our members as well as the public at large. Whether it is a site used by patients interested in learning more about various oral/dental conditions or procedures prior to a visit with their dental health professional; or one used by high school students completing a project on oral health; whatever the purpose, we believe that it will significantly improve the overall state of oral health in our country.

While we endeavour to raise the public’s dental knowledge, we will inevitably create a more demanding and critical patient population, which will compel us to sharpen our focus on “Raising the Bar in Dentistry”, now and beyond.  Such demands and challenges are welcome, and will ultimately have a profound impact on the value that our people place on their oral health.

The second critical duty of the BDA is to function as a lobby group which petitions the government to institute a comprehensive oral health policy which ensures that all Bahamians, regardless of socioeconomic status, are able to access essential dental health services. This responsiblity works in tandem with the first, since governments can only appreciate the importance of oral health services if there is heightened public awareness about the negative, and sometimes, perilous health outcomes associated with poor oral health.

Our association is committed to succeeding in these efforts. A 2007 comparative study reveals that the Bahamas now has the highest internet penteration per 100 people of any country in the world. With such extensive reach, and in light of our objectives, we recognize that this website is one very positive step in the right direction.

Sincerely,

S. Andre' Rollins, D.M.D.
President
Bahamas Dental Association