Overcoming Barriers to Oral Health Care by Robert Frank, MSEd…

Overcoming Barriers to
Oral Health Care
by Robert Frank, MSEd
According to the Dental Health Foundation, almost one-third of California preschoolers
have experienced tooth decay, and 30 percent of parents of preschoolers
use feeding practices such as night-time bottles that contribute to tooth decay. The
good news is that child care providers, as role models who work with families
and children every day, are in a key position to make a difference. Family Action
of Sonoma County, an advocacy group, describes the following five barriers to
oral health care for children which you can address in your program.
Parents do not understand the importance of oral care
Many parents do not understand the importance of oral hygiene, regular dental
visits, and dental cleanings. Studies show that parents with limited education are
less likely to take their children to the dentist regularly or follow prevention regimens
such as regular brushing, fluoride supplements, flossing, etc. Child care
programs are in a key position to emphasize the importance of good oral health.
Problems with insurance affect many families
Families may not be aware that they are eligible for Denti-Cal services.1 Providing
brochures about Denti-Cal and posting a list of Denti-Cal providers are sensitive
ways to educate parents. Even families who have private dental insurance often
face problems such as long waits for preventive care, large co-pays, limited coverage,
and difficulty finding approved providers in small towns and rural areas.
Many dental health providers fail to accommodate the
underserved population
Some children may not receive care because few dentists see patients in the
evenings or on weekends and parents cannot miss work to go to weekday
appointments. Develop a directory to identify dental professionals who serve
families during alternative times.
Culture can affect a family's decisions about oral health
Not all ethnic groups or cultures accept "mainstream" beliefs about oral health.
Symptoms of disease may be viewed as normal and some families perceive preventive
dentistry as unnecessary. Consider offering parent trainings in these topic
areas to help families understand the importance of good oral health.
Publicly funded dental services are underfunded
In the United States, 30 percent of all children's health expenditures are devoted
to children's dental care, but only 2.4 percent of Medicaid children's health care
costs are spent on oral health services. Child care programs can educate health
professionals by serving on health advisories and community boards. 
References
The Oral Health of California's Children: Halting a Neglected Epidemic, The Dental Health Foundation,
2002.
Family Action of Sonoma County. http://fasc.org.
1Your local California Health and Disability Prevention Program (CHDP) may be able to provide
a list of Denti-Cal providers in your local area. www.dhs.ca.govpcfh/cms/chdp/directory.htm.