Oral Health:The Importance of Prevention

Presented to: CHNA 22

March 1, 2013

Surgeon General's Report on Oral Health: May, 2000

• Focused on the relationship between oral health and overall good health throughout life

• Identified a "silent epidemic" of dental and oral diseases that burden some population groups

• Significant disparity between racial and socioeconomic groups regarding oral health and ensuing overall health issues

Source: Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General @http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/datastatistics/surgeongeneral/report/executivesummary.htm

National Call for Action• The Surgeon General called for action to promote

access to oral health care for all Americans, especially disadvantaged and minority children found to be at greatest risk for severe medical complications resulting from minimal oral care and treatment

Source: Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General @http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/datastatistics/surgeongeneral/report/executivesummary.htm

The Oral Health of Massachusetts Children: 2008

• Progress has been achieved in improving oral health, on average, by reducing:– number of cavities– percent of children with untreated decay, and– the number of children who have received dental sealants.

• Dental disease continues to be a significant health issue for

many children at an unacceptable level for such a preventable disease.

• Significant disparities also exist related to race and ethnicity, income status, and where children live. Source: Oral Health of Massachusetts Children, 2008, DentaQuest Institute

Dental Disease is a Serious Health Issue for Massachusetts Children

28%

41%

34%

15%17%

11%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Kindergarten 3rd Grade 6th Grade

History of cavities

Untreated cavities

Source: Oral Health of Massachusetts Children, 2008, DentaQuest Institute

2.3

1.91.8

3.0

2.1

3.0

2.2

2.7

2.1

2.92.6

1.8

0

1

2

3

4

Kindergarten 3rd Grade 6th Grade

Non-Hispanic White

Non-Hispanic Black

Non-Hispanic Other

Hispanic

More Untreated Decay Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Children

Mean number of teeth with untreated decay among children with untreated decay

1.9

MA Average

2.5

2.2

Source: Oral Health of Massachusetts Children, 2008, DentaQuest Institute

Key Findings• Dental disease is a significant health issue for

children in Massachusetts – Most common chronic childhood disease – Affects many children before kindergarten– Many school children are in pain

• Significant oral health disparities– Racial and ethnic minority children– Children from low-income families– Across counties

• Prevention that is equitable is essentialSource: The Oral Health of Massachusetts Children, January 2008, DentaQuest Institute

What Is Community Water Fluoridation?

• The adjustment – either down or up – of the level of fluoride in the water supply to maximize the cavity prevention benefit

• Most water supplies contain trace amounts of fluoride.

• Water systems are considered naturally fluoridated when the natural level of fluoride is greater than 0.7 parts per million (ppm).

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention @http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/

Benefits of Fluoridation

• CWF is socially equitable – does not discriminate

• Population based prevention

• Consumers receive continuous protection

• Cost-effective

• It does not require individuals to gather in a central location (e.g. immunization)

Massachusetts’ Fluoride Status

• CWF is socially equitable – does not discriminate

• Population based prevention

• Consumers receive continuous protection

• Cost-effective

• It does not require individuals to gather in a central location (e.g. immunization)

A New England community water fluoridation campaign:

Using social marketing and community mobilization for policy change

A New England community water fluoridation campaign: Overview

• DentaQuest Foundation• Health Resources in Action (HRiA)• New approach in oral health: social marketing and

community mobilization• New England-wide competitive grant process– Vermont: Vermont Oral Health Coalition and

Upper Valley Oral Health Coalition – Massachusetts: Better Oral Health for

Massachusetts Coalition and CHNA 22

Why Community Coalitions?

• Address new and broader issues• Develop widespread support for issues• Encourage collaborative problem solving• Create culturally relevant solutions• Maximize the power of individuals• Provide more cost effective and coordinated services

– minimize duplication of services• Leverage additional/new resources• Increase communication within community

Why Social Marketing?• Applies marketing techniques to the advancement of social

cause• Focuses on the audience of the effort• Takes into account an audience’s values, needs, and challenges• Demonstrates to the audience the benefit they will receive for

the cost they expend (changing or adopting a behavior).• Address new and broader issues• Develop widespread support for issues• Create culturally relevant solutions• Increase communication within community

DISCUSSION

Thank you!