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Dr. Steven Adair Joins FORBA Dental Management as Chief Dental Officer
Nationally recognized professor of pediatric dentistry to oversee patient care standards and quality assurance initiatives for Small Smiles’ nationwide network of dental centers
March 7, 2008 - Nashville, TN – FORBA Dental Management the nation’s largest dental practice management company focused on high-quality dental care for underserved communities, today announced that Dr. Steven Adair has joined the company as Chief Dental Officer, where he will lead initiatives to ensure high-quality patient care and oversee efforts to improve the care experience for children and parents at FORBA-managed Small Smiles Dental Centers nationwide.
"FORBA was founded with a commitment to high-quality dental care for children from lowincome families," said Michael Lindley, Chairman and CEO of FORBA, which was acquired in September 2006. "Part of that commitment means we are always striving to improve. Dr. Adair’s leadership will help us ensure that every child and parent has a positive experience when they visit a FORBA-managed dental center."
Dr. Adair is a nationally recognized expert in pediatric dentistry and professor of Pediatric Dentistry at the Medical College of Georgia. He is certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and is a fellow of the American College of Dentists.
He is also editor-in-chief of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and served as a member of the AAPD Board of Trustees from 1998-2001. Dr. Adair is a member of and has served as a consultant to the Commission on Dental Accreditation, the Joint Commission of National Dental Examiners, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Dental Products Panel, and the U.S. Air Force.
"I am proud to join an organization that is committed to the life-long dental health of children from low-income families," said Dr. Adair. "I look forward to leading a network of caregivers who share my commitment to high standards and compassionate care."
Dr. Adair’s appointment follows several recent initiatives launched by FORBA, including:
- Steps to enable more feedback from parents, including establishment of a parent feedback line -- 1-877-302-KIDS -- that allows parents to call and share their experiences regarding the care that was received; and deployment of a parent survey for parents to complete after each visit. Based upon ongoing parent feedback, the company continues to seek ways to improve patient care and comfort.
- Posting and distribution of the Pledge to Children, Families, and Communities in dental centers nationwide, to ensure that FORBAmanaged practices and standards are clear and understood by parents and employees alike.
- For facilities in the Washington, DC area, partnership with the nationally-recognized University of Maryland School of Dentistry through its Division of Pediatric Dentistry to assist with clinical treatment guidelines and continuing education for caregivers.
"We believe that parents play the most important role in their children's dental health, which is why we encourage parents to be involved in the dental care of their children, both at the dentist's office and at home every day," said Lindley. "Our dentists and caregivers are committed to working with parents to help make decisions critical to their child's life-long dental health."
According to the Surgeon General, chronic tooth decay is the most prevalent childhood disease in America, affecting five times more children than asthma. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics indicate that 68 percent of children have decay in their permanent teeth. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) only 25 percent of low-income children nationwide receive adequate dental care. As a result, tooth decay is twice as prevalent in children from low-income families as it is in children from more affluent households.
Each year the FORBA affiliated network of dental centers treats more than 500,000 children -- from "first tooth" to 20 years old -- at 70 dental centers in 22 states. The company has invested more than $70 million since 1995 to build dental centers in low-income communities.
"Kids of all income levels deserve a great smile, but only one in four children in lower-income communities today has access to a dentist," said Lindley. "Because we believe that all children deserve quality dental care, we will continue to invest in underserved communities and look for opportunities to improve patient care."
Contact: Don Meyer
(202) 834-6859
