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Oral health care disparities in the American population are a significant public health

concern. The lack of dental coverage for ethnic minorities’ population groups and low-income

American populations can lead to increased mental and physical health issues.

1.

The oral healthcare disparities would be reduced by training more dental hygienists and

therapists to offer basic dental care at an affordable cost. Since one-third of Americans lack

insurance coverage, training more hygienists would help to treat uninsured patients at a lower

cost. Dental therapists could visit schools, health clinics, nursing homes, and communities to

help people who experience difficulty in getting the dentist's office. Also, I would ensure that

health care systems embrace telehealth system that allows the delivery of the patient's dental care

education at a distance. It supports patients via videoconferencing capability or telephone to

access consultation and education, especially to those that live far from the dentist’s office or do

not have a dentist. For instance, According to statistics, 20% of Americans stay in rural areas

where they do not access dentist services. Therefore, embracing the telehealth systems would

means that patients will access dental services in the areas of their living faster and at lower

costs.

2.

Dental informatics combines dentistry with computer technology to create a solution in

oral health care sector. In a density’s office, accounting, submitting insurance claims,

bookkeeping is considered administrative functions related to computer technology

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(Nanayakkara, Zhou & Spallek, 2019). Also, standardize electronic dental charts are used by

dental providers to integrate administrative applications with clinical data. For instance, patient’s

conditions, treatment plans, and x-rays are done through computer technology. Also, virtual

reality simulations are used both by dental providers and dental learners. For instance, DentSim

is a program that offers operative skills practice to dental learners with assisted computer

feedback technology (Nanayakkara, Zhou & Spallek, 2019). The dental learners learn faster and

complete more practice procedures per hour than in the traditional labs. Fiber-optic cameras is

also used to view areas that are always difficult to examine. They examined images which help

the dentist to diagnose the problem early.

3.

In 2014, California launched a teledentistry program with the aim of increasing the

options for Americans in underserved and remote areas to access oral healthcare services. Jerry

Brown, the governor, signed a law that allows California’s insurance program for the poor

(Medicaid) to afford oral health service. Teledentistry refers to the methodologies and telehealth

in dentistry. Telehealth supports patients via videoconferencing capability or telephone to access

consultation and education (Daniel & Farrow, 2018). Therefore, teledentistry improves the

state’s delivery and access to oral healthcare by reducing oral health services costs. For instance,

according to the State Assembly's Appropriation Committee fiscal analysis, teledentistry has
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reduced the Medicaid costs in the state by $500,000 yearly (Daniel & Farrow, 2018). The law

also specifies patient protection requirements, such as a patient examination, including treatment

plans and dental history. The Pacific Centre for Special Care (PCSC), is among the biggest

successes in the program. For instance, PCSC recently received a $400,000 grant to enlarge its

program to the entire state (Daniel & Farrow, 2018). The Centre has also implemented the

Virtual Dental Home (VDH) system in fifth California community centers, elementary schools,

residential care facilities, and nursing homes to help patients receive therapeutic services and

preventive measures at lower costs.

Summarily, the lack of dental coverage for ethnic minorities’ population groups and low-

income American populations can lead to increased mental and physical health issues. Therefore,

additional strategies should be embraced to improve oral health care, especially for vulnerable

ethnic population groups.

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References

Daniel, S. J., & Farrow, L. (2018). 10 Teledentistry in the United States. e-Health Care in

Dentistry and Oral Medicine: A Clinician’s Guide, 125.

Nanayakkara, S., Zhou, X., & Spallek, H. (2019). Impact of big data on oral health

outcomes. Oral diseases, 25(5), 1245-1252.

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