Helping Meet Oral Health Needs in Underserved Communities

About this Research Topic

Background

In recent years there has been a concerted effort to improve population health. In order to reach this goal the whole body must be considered, and an appreciation that the mouth is the gateway to the body is vital. Improving population health has been challenged by vast health inequities, unequal access to care, and social determinants of health. Oral diseases have an impact on how an individual interacts with the world, as poor oral conditions may impact work and social interactions. The burden of oral diseases is also disproportionately carried by marginalized groups and impacted by socioeconomic status and the ability to acquire health or dental insurance.

As a result of these inequities, there is a significant segment of the US population that can be defined as underserved, either individuals or communities. According to the US Health Resources and Services Administration, there are 88 million people living in primary care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), 65 million in dental HPSAs, and 141 million in mental health HPSAs in the USA. In 2000, the US Surgeon General drafted a report labeling caries (i.e. tooth decay) as a “silent epidemic.” It is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases of people worldwide. Improving the oral health of underserved communities is one way to improve the overall health of the population.

The goal of this Research Topic is to elucidate the progress to reduce oral health disparities and improve the care provided to underserved communities worldwide. This Topic seeks to share oral health promotion strategies and models that reduce inequities. This collection of articles demonstrates the challenges and the value of irradiating oral health inequities, as well as energizing us to advance the cause of improving overall health through improving oral health.

The Editors of this collection will consider any article type, including, but not limited to the following themes:
• How can Telehealth be used to improve access to care in underserved communities?
• Access to Oral Cancer services in underserved communities
• Does technology benefit the underserved population?
• Attitudes towards treating underserved populations
• Care gaps in rural populations
• Payment models for underserved populations
• Access to care for those with special health care needs in underserved communities
• Income related inequalities in underserved communities
• The impact of poor oral health on work and work productivity in underserved communities
• Structural racism
• Health literacy

Keywords: access to healthcare, marginalized groups, socioeconomic status, underserved communities, health inequities

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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