Understanding oral health disparities in children as a global public health issue: how dental health professionals can m
- PDF / 760,239 Bytes
- 11 Pages / 439.37 x 666.142 pts Page_size
- 23 Downloads / 183 Views
Understanding oral health disparities in children as a global public health issue: how dental health professionals can make a difference Francisco Ramos‑Gomez1 · Janni Kinsler2 · Hamida Askaryar1
© Springer Nature Limited 2020
Abstract Oral disease in children is an urgent public health issue worldwide. Early childhood caries (ECC) affects 600 million children globally, yet it is entirely preventable. Dental health professionals around the world need to act to improve use of measures to prevent ECC and of quality dental health care to improve oral health worldwide. The University of California/Los Angeles (UCLA) Center for Children’s Oral Health hosted an interprofessional innovation forum to discuss and recommend options. We present the policy, educational, and public health-related suggestions for improving outcomes and professional collaboration and five key areas for action: (1) increase advocacy efforts, (2) support interprofessional education and practice, (3) promote oral health education and increase health literacy, (4) increase collaboration with community and school-based oral health care workers, and (5) use of technology to increase access to dental care and health information. Keywords Early childhood caries · Oral health disparities · Advocacy · Interprofessional education · Oral health education Oral disease in children is an urgent public health issue worldwide. Early childhood caries (ECC) affects 600 million children globally, yet it is entirely preventable [1]. When left untreated, ECC can lead to pain and infection as well as to difficulty in eating, speaking, and learning—with detrimental and long ranging effects on cognitive development, school readiness, self-esteem, and lead to a diminished quality of life [1, 2].
* Janni Kinsler [email protected] 1
Section of Pediatric Dentistry, University of California Los Angeles School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA 90095‑1668, USA
2
Section of Pediatric Dentistry, University of California Los Angeles School of Dentistry, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, CHS Room 23‑020B, Box 951668, Los Angeles, CA 90095‑1668, USA
Vol.:(0123456789)
F. Ramos‑Gomez et al.
A systematic review of 72 studies worldwide showed the prevalence of ECC in children 4 years of age ranged from 12 to 98% [1]. In the United States (US), 23% of children between 2 and 5 years of age have ECC, and 80% percent of dental disease (including ECC) is concentrated in just 20–25% of the country’s children, primarily those of low socioeconomic and/or minority racial/ethnic backgrounds (AfricanAmericans and Latinos are the largest racial/ethnic minority populations in the US) [3–5]. Oral health disparities are universal [6]. A comprehensive review of studies from North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East showed the prevalence of ECC in socio-economically disadvantaged groups as high as 70% [7]. According to a recent news release by The Lancet, dentistry is in crisis worldwide. “Current dental care and public health responses have been largely inadequate, inequitable an
Data Loading...
