Barriers to Dental Care for the Hispanic Population in the U.S.

Barriers to Dental Care for the Hispanic Population in the U.S.

Who Cares, They’re Just Teeth •Short term consequences:

▫Abscesses ▫Premature loss of teeth (children)

Causes adult teeth to come in improperly▫Systemic spread of disease▫Costlier care

•Long term consequences▫Loss of permanent teeth▫Speech, nutrition, economic productivity,

quality of life

Who Cares, They’re Just Teeth

•Regular Dental Visits:▫Check for oral cancer ▫Check for signs of other systemic diseases

Viral or bacterial infections Vitamin deficiencies Osteoporosis

Growing Population, Unmet Need•Fastest growing minority in U.S.

▫14% in 2005, 29% in 2050•Largest minority group among children

•Highest rate of untreated tooth decay▫Lowest level of dental visits

•Tooth decay in 43% of Hispanic children 6 to 8▫26% in non-Hispanic counterparts

Availability of Care

•Not enough rural dentists•Hard to find transportation•Few evening/weekend hours

Affordability of Care

•Near-poor families who don’t qualify for Medicaid often do not have insurance

•Majority of Hispanic children eligible for Medicaid

•1 in 5 of eligible are enrolled in Medicaid▫Not enough dentists accepting Medicaid

(Availability) (10%) Can’t afford it Complex problems

Accessibility of Care

•Language Barrier▫Not enough bilingual professionals▫Shortage of bilingual staff▫Communication problematic with volunteer

interpreters•Prejudices

▫Negative attitudes towards poor in general▫Staff and dentists alike▫Dentists ruder than physicians

Other Barriers▫Fear of immigration officials▫Do not perceive need (Education)▫Share stories of bad experiences

Language barrier Prejudices

Quality of Care

•Area of further study

Oral Health Education•Sugary foods and drinks

▫Cheaper to eat healthier than to treat tooth decay

•Tooth decay from prolonged use of baby bottle•Oral hygiene habits

▫Start young•Parents don’t know when children should

start seeing dentist▫6 months after first tooth

• Importance of preventative care▫Don’t wait for symptoms

What Dentists can Do

•Availability▫Extend clinic hours▫Less travel time

•Accessibility and Education▫Eliminate discriminative attitudes▫Get patients to spread word among family

and friends

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z75pC-jg-jI

What Dentists and Communities can Do• Accessibility

▫ Distribute list of Spanish-speaking providers▫ Sealant programs at schools

• Education▫ Audio/visuals, oral communication▫ Regionalisms in language▫ Nutrition fairs▫ Presentations at community organizations▫ Refrigerator magnets, posters▫ Slideshows for local health providers and organizations▫ Songs for preschoolers▫ Train AmeriCorp students/local youth volunteers to be

oral health promoters▫ Programs for radio stations

What Dental Schools Can Do

•Clinical experiences at rural clinics•Community service practicum•More training in pediatric dentistry

What ADA and AMA Can Do

•Allow hygienists to do more•Train pediatricians to do oral health

screening•Have pediatricians refer patients to

dentists