Oral Health

The Foundation for Community Health’s Needs Assessment Committee decided to use the term “oral health” vs. “dental care,” even though the data they reviewed was often presented in terms of dental care. Using the term ‘oral health’ more accurately describes the importance of oral health as a component, and often a determinant and reflection, of an individual’s overall health status. According to the Executive Summary of the Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General released in 2000:

“Oral diseases are progressive and cumulative and become more complex over time. They can affect our ability to eat, the foods we choose, how we look, and the way we communicate. These diseases can affect economic productivity and compromise our ability to work at home, at school, or on the job. Health disparities exist across population groups at all ages. Over one third of the U.S. population (100 million) has no access to community water fluoridation. Over 108 million children and adults lack dental insurance, which is over 2.5 times the number who lack medical insurance.”

The review of pre-existing data identified a lack of dental providers and services for those with no insurance, on Medicaid, or with limited financial resources in the Foundation’s catchment area. The lack of services available to children in particular was highlighted by an extensive study conducted by the CT Health Foundation which focused specifically on Connecticut.

Dental Care was listed as the second most “critical” + “high” need for the elderly, the third for children, and the fourth for adults in the Foundation’s Provider Survey. The community interviews also supported these findings. The focus groups with both the elderly and with the Spanish-speaking also identified a need for dental services.

Additional information data from the Surgeon General’s Report and other research further support a broad focus on oral health:

  • More than 51 million school hours are lost each year to dental-related illness.
  • Employed adults lose more than 164 million hours of work each year due to dental disease or dental visits.
  • Most older adults take both prescription and over-the-counter drugs. In all probability, at least one of the medications used will have an oral side effect-usually dry mouth. The inhibition of salivary flow increases the risk for oral disease because saliva contains antimicrobial components as well as minerals that can help rebuild tooth enamel after attack by acid-producing, decay-causing bacteria.
  • Eight studies from 1991-1994 of U.S. children ages 3-5 agree with findings from the National Institute of Health research that the percentage of dental cavities exceeds 60%, with an average frequency of 5 tooth surfaces. By the time school age children reach age 17 84.4% have decay on permanent teeth on average over 8 tooth surfaces.
  • Baby bottle tooth decay affects 20-36% or rural and urban populations in certain geographical locations within the U.S. according to figures from the 1993 Head Start examinations.
  • Both national and international research have recognized a link between nutrition, oral health and the onset of some chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease, particularly in individuals who are identified as obese.

Given that all of the components of the Foundation’s needs assessment process identified a critical need for accessible dental services, especially for our most vulnerable populations, it is clear that the Foundation should focus its attention and resources on this issue. Recognizing the complexity of the issue, however, the Foundation has decided to use this next year to further study the issue and assess its specific role in addressing the oral health needs of its communities. Issues involving nutrition, consumer education, prevention measures, and availability of resources, as well as learning more about new oral health initiatives created by the states and other large funders, must all be considered in determining the Foundation’s strategic approach in addressing this issue.

Oral Health Funding Opportunities

Grantmaking in the area of oral health this year will focus on a more in-depth assessment of the prevalence of disease as well as opportunities for increasing community awareness of oral health and its vital role in one’s overall health and productivity.

The Foundation is not accepting unsolicited proposals for Oral Health Funding at this time.