Improving Access to Oral

Healthcare for Children

Whitney A. Gau and Emily A. Hunt
LIT Dental Hygiene Program

Overview

Importance of children's access to oral healthcare

Prevalence of dental caries in children

Medicaids role in improving access to care

Implementation of different programs and how they improve access to care

School-Based Dental Sealant Program

Fluoride Fest

Texas Mission of Mercy

How can you help?

Childhood access to oral healthcare

Early exposure of dental visits

Patient/parent education

Early detection of diseases

Childhood caries

Gingivitis

Candidiasis

Lack of access to care due to:

Low-income

Advanced age

Disability

Medicaid

Increase in children receiving oral healthcare between 2000 and 2010 partly
due to Medicaid

Children covered by Medicaid face opposition to accessing oral healthcare

CHIP dental service requirements added in the Childrens Health Insurance

Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA)

Compared to higher-income children, low-income children have less access to

dental care and a higher incidence of dental caries

Lack of knowledge about benefits available to them under Medicaid

Low-reimbursement rates for dental providers resulting in fewer dentists

willing to accept Medicaid coverage

School-Based Dental Sealant Program

Treat children of low socioeconomic status while at school

Transportation

Time

Money

Eliminate barriers

Screenings include:

Number of teeth filled

Number of teeth with untreated decay

Number of teeth extracted

Identification of first permanent molars

with existing sealants

Identification of first permanent molars in

need of sealants

Promote importance of oral health and importance of receiving necessary dental

services

https://youtu.be/JXE0cxjxSag

Fluoride Fest

Provides three different protective services

Oral evaluation

Fluoride varnish

Dental sealant placement

Held at school and has four to five stations using portable equipment

Oral hygiene instruction

Nutrition education

Physical fitness

Dental sealants

Fluoride varnish application

Eliminates barriers such as transportation and cost

Texas Mission of Mercy

Provides almost all services available

at a general practice

Mobile dental clinic that travels

around the state providing free dental
care to uninsured Texans

Includes cleanings, fillings,

extractions, limited number of
partials, and in most cases relief from
pain

Collaboration of dental hygiene

schools, local dental hygiene
components and high schools

Increases awareness and provides

necessary dental care to all age
groups

Conclusion

Need for improved access to dental care and education due to:

Medicaid issues

Transportation

Finances

Providing care for underprivileged communities is vital in raising awareness

How can you help?

References
Austin, L. D. (2011). Mobile Dental Health Units: A Model for Improving Access to Care. Access, 25(4), 18-19.

Banton, J., & Nguyen, C. (2013). Public Health Programs: Improving Access to Care through Collaboration. Access,
27(8), 22-24.

olak, H., Dlgergil, . T., Dalli, M., & Hamidi, M. M. (2013). Early childhood caries update: A review of causes,
diagnoses, and treatments. Journal of Natural Science, Biology, and Medicine, (4)1, 29-38. doi: 10.4103/09769668. 107257

Devlin, D., & Henshaw, M. (2011). Improving Access to Preventive Dental Services through a School-Based Dental
Sealant Program.
Journal of Dental Hygiene: JDH / American Dental Hygienists' Association, 85(3), 211-219.

Gurenlian, J. R. (2011). Looking Ahead. Improving access to care. RDH, 31(9), 8-16.

Ku, L., Sharac, J., Bruen, B., Thomas, M., & Norris, L. (2013). Increased Use of Dental Services by Children
Covered by Medicaid: 2000-2010. Medicare & Medicaid Research Review, 3(3), E1. doi:10.5600/mmrr.003.03.b01
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