At DentaQuest, we are motivated by the premise that oral
health is a social justice issue, a motivation elevated as we recognize one of
the most pivotal figures in American history, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
It seems like mere words are not enough to
appropriately honor Dr. King’s passion and sacrifice in his fight for equality
and acceptance for communities of color, and more broadly, for all Americans - simply,
his work was nothing short of transformative.
In one of his most well-known writings, “Letter from Birmingham
Jail,” Dr. King wrote:
“We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
Now, let’s look at just how oral health is a social justice
issue. It’s unjust that people in our country live without good oral health,
whether the barrier they face is that there are not enough dentists practicing in
their area, they cannot get insurance coverage for dental services, the cost of
necessary care is just too high, and even worse, if the barrier is based on
discrimination of any kind.
This sentiment that oral health is a right, not a
privilege, is reflected in our mission: to improve the oral health of
all.
At the DentaQuest Foundation, we’re funding and working with
groups across the country to work to improve oral health for all people across
the lifespan. This includes directly addressing the disparities we see in the
oral health status of communities of color, since data shows that across the
country, both children and adults of color experience dental disease at a much
higher rate.
We also know that improving oral health equity for these
communities takes commitment from many stakeholders.
Our network partners at the California
Pan-Ethnic Health Network (CPEHN) are working to address oral health disparities in
their state by empowering communities of color to build a united and powerful
voice in health advocacy.
The foundation supported CPEHN’s recent publication
of a brief on promoting
equitable oral health policies for communities of color. The brief examines
the causes and impact of oral health inequities on communities of color, and
provides recommendations to help children and families live healthier lives. The brief addresses:
·
Improved access to and the quality of dental care
o
This means expanded dental benefits for low-income
adults, higher reimbursements for dental providers, better integration of oral
health into primary care, improved education and outreach on how to use
insurance benefits, and improved data collection to identify and analyze oral
health inequities by not just race and ethnicity, but also sexual orientation,
gender identity, and language.
·
Developing a
culturally competent workforce
o
Programs should be developed to train, recruit,
and retain people of color in the oral health fields. Other programs should ensure
communities of color can access culturally and linguistically appropriate care.
This means that beyond making translation and interpretation services
available, providers also give care that bring an understanding and
acknowledgement of these communities’ backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs.
In addition to addressing these issues, CPEHN also
recommends supporting efforts to improve the other socioeconomic factors that
contribute to poor oral health, including ways to promote sustainable career
development and improve unhealthy food and environmental conditions.
We’re proud to be partners with CPEHN, and with the many
other programs working collectively across the country working to promote just
and fair access to oral health, for all.