The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #35563

Lisa J.S. Haney, MA, Anderson Center for Dental Care, Children's Hospital and Health Center, 3020 Children's Way, Mail Code 5073, San Diego, CA 92123-4282, 858-576-1700 x 3745, lhaney@chsd.org and Kay Stuckhardt, MPH, RDH, Anderson Center for Dental Care, Children's Hospital and Health Center, San Diego, Ca, 3020 Children's Way, Mail Code 5073, San Diego, CA 92123-4282.

Inadequate oral health among individuals with disabilities and young children 0 - 5 are long-standing and well-documented problems of national proportion. Recent advances in research have led to safe and effective methods of maintaining oral health among both typical and special needs populations. Yet effective prevention and treatment strategies have not been implemented widely and successfully for high risk populations due to underfunding, limited providers, disconnects between medical and dental systems, lack of perceived need, ineffective collaboration between public and private resources, and other barriers. A strong vision, dedicated leadership, unified community effort, considerable resources and skills are needed to establish an effective public oral health resource to improve outcomes for high risk populations. During the past five years the Anderson Center for Dental Care has: 1) Developed an oral health referral center which has triaged 2,000 calls; 2) Leveraged funding to build a second dental operating room at Children’s Hospital; 3) Obtained ADA preliminary approval/accreditation to establish a Pediatric Dental Residency Program; 4) Trained more than 30,000 physicians, dentists, and medical professionals, educators, parents and children; 5) Established the “Adopt-A-Home” program in 58 residential care facilities; 6) Convened a Regionwide Task Force on Oral Health for People with Disabilities with 50+ members; 7) Successfully advocated for increased state and federal funding for oral health and improved health plan coverage; 8) Developed award-winning resources including videos and flipcharts; 9) Created directories of dentists for special, high risk populations; and 10) Received the ADA Meritorious Preventive Dentistry Award in 2001.

Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to

• Construct a vision for an oral health resource in their region, define its priorities and targeted, at risk special populations;
• Describe at least 3 specific programs to initiate to improve oral health outcomes, stakeholders and organizations with whom to collaborate, potential funding sources and anticipated challenges;
• Articulate at least 5 factors that increase the risk of poor oral health for people with disabilities and 5 factors increasing the risk for young children 0 to 5 years old;
• Identify community, state and national organizations to link with for improved advocacy, education, and clinical treatment; and
• Determine resources for obtaining quality oral health materials for healthcare professionals, educators, parents, caregivers and children.

Keywords: Special Populations,

Related Web page: www.chsd.org/body.cfm?id=255

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.