Dental Services:
oral health is integral part of overall health of children. Dental caries is common chronic diseases with long-term and short-term consequences. The prevalence of dental caries remains greater than 40% among children of 2-5 years old. About 11% of children 2-5 years have one or more primary teeth with untreated caries. Nearly 18% of children aged 6-8 years have one or more primary teeth with intreated caries. About 50%of children aged 6-9 years have one or more missing, decayed, filled teeth. Of all demographic groups, the children are prone to have oral health disparities.
The lowered dental utilization rate among children and barriers in accessing oral health services are contributing factors for higher disparities among the children of low socioeconomic communities.
The Non-Hispanic black children are found to have a rate of untreated dental caries twice than other communities. The barriers in accessing the dental services:
1) Lowered dental provider- population ratio
2) Lack of Transportation services and child care services.
3) Lack of Affordable community dental programs
4) Cultural barriers and Health Beliefs.
5) Low socio-economic status.
Our aim is to deliver "Oral Health care for All Children". We offer educational programs to school children, dietary counseling by pediatric dentists, and offering tele health to focus key risk factors of dental caries such as diet, bacteria and saliva, status of oral health.
We collaborate with educational institutions, non-profit organizations and oral health research institutes to make our dream come true by providing oral health for all children. Our organization utilizes mobile dental services of the office of oral health at MA dep of Public Health. The team included dental hygienists and assistants, dental therapists and community health worker to deliver preventive services. We send out a survey to families to conduct an oral health assessment in their communities. Based on our analysis, our team delivers preventive services such as fluoride varnish and dental sealants to the school children.
Oral Health Education :
Center for oral health equity and research focuses on oral health educational programs to teach proper hygiene, and importance of regular dental visits through engaging, age-appropriate activities. Educators use oral health materials and power point presentations to teach oral health hygiene practices.
center for oral health equity designed oral health curriculum to teach importance of oral hygiene practices and reinforce key concepts of oral hygiene techniques.
oral health curriculum focuses on addressing two issues in preventing dental decay in early childhoood. It helps parents to understand the importance of starting dental care visit at age one, and helps parents to locate and reach out pediatric dentists in the rural communities.
Oral Health Research: Even when other healthy habits fall to the wayside, brushing our teeth each day is one small, essential way we can make a regular contribution to our overall wellbeing. If you’ve ever thought that dental care was just about our teeth, this isn’t the case: in reality, the quality of our oral health has an impact on our overall health quality, helping to prevent infections, chronic diseases, or even life-threatening health conditions. Center for oral health equity and research focuses on improving quality of dental care among children. we address the importance of preventing strategies to anticipate and prevent caries before the first sign of disease.
While cavities, gum disease, and other oral health problems can usually be prevented, many people develop them because they lack education about recommended oral hygiene and do not have access to preventive care.Center for OralHealth Equity and Research have proposed integrating oral health into primary care as a way to expand access to recommended treatments and promote better health overall.
Today, research on oral health extends far beyond teeth. NIH researchers consider the mouth an expansive living laboratory to understand infections, cancer, and even healthy development processes. For example, we know that oral tissues and fluids, which are home to about 600 unique microbial species, can have remarkable protective roles against infection and possibly other conditions. Center for Oral Health Equity and Research address each child's caries risk factors to prevent the caries. We focus on assessing the relation between saliva, diet, bacteria, status of teeth and caries. We are designing an oral health tool t
Advocacy Efforts:
Advocacy for oral health services is one of our goals. we work with community leaders, legislators, decision-makers to promote the oral health policies. Our organization not only works to deliver oral health services but also endeavor to modify the health beliefs of community members. Our advocacy efforts at the individual, state and federal level would bring changes in the oral health policies and hence will create an impact in the oral health status of the community. With our advocacy campaigns, we speak on behalf of children, adults, and the elderly population to communicate their voices to policymakers and government officials to fulfill the oral health needs of community members.