The American Dental Association has dropped its opposition to the Alaska Native dental health aides program.

The ADA says dentists are still the best trained to perform services for Alaska Natives. But the group has agreed to a compromise in the Indian Health Care Reauthorization Act to allow the program to move forward.

The compromise requires health aides to consult with dentists before performing certain procedures.

Dental aides are used in rural Alaska Native villages due to the difficultly in securing a full-time dentist.

Get the Story:
Dentists group OK with aides in villages (The Anchorage Daily News 6/30)
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Health Care Bill:
Indian Health Care Improvement Act Amendments of 2005 (S.1057)

Relevant Links:
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium - http://www.anthc.org
American Dental Association - http://www.ada.org

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