Graduate Research Papers
Availability
Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Abstract
The purpose of this literature review of secondary data is to 1) Identify environmental factors such as oral health education, water fluoridation and sealant programs, access to dental insurance, and dental health workforce issues, that may contribute to poor oral health, and 2) Provide recommendations to reduce these barriers that are linked with oral health disparities among children in the United States and Iowa. This literature review concludes that there is a need to consider comprehensive, multiple approaches to address family and community determinants of oral health. Some of these strategies include simultaneous efforts, such as increasing the number of dental professionals, sharing duties between dentists and dental hygienists, developing specific loan repayment programs for dentists working in rural areas; improving Medicaid reimbursement rates for dentists; and implementing fluoridation, sealant and educational programs that target diverse and underserved populations. Parents, children, community, legislators, health providers, and the clients themselves need to work together to address dental health disparities and create effective oral health programs that promote the wellbeing of all sectors of society.
Year of Submission
2010
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Division of Health Promotion and Education
First Advisor
Michele Devlin
Date Original
2010
Object Description
1 PDF file (27 pages)
Copyright
©2010 Venus Hernandez
Language
en
Recommended Citation
Hernandez, Venus, "Environmental Barriers Contributing to Dental Caries Among Diverse and Underserved Children: Meeting the Challenge in the United States and Iowa" (2010). Graduate Research Papers. 4167.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/grp/4167
Comments
If you are the rightful copyright holder of this graduate research paper and wish to have it removed from the Open Access Collection, please submit an email request to scholarworks@uni.edu. Include your name and clearly identify the thesis by full title and author as shown on the work.