Advancing racial and health equity through oral healthcare

As February comes to a close, so does the American Dental Association’s National Children’s Dental Health Month. This month is dedicated to promoting the benefits of good oral health to children, their caregivers, teachers and the broader community.

One of the main risks of poor oral health is its association with other chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. And according to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children with poor oral health often miss more school and receive lower grades.

Maintaining good oral health is rooted in good dental habits, like brushing, flossing and regularly seeing a dentist. Beyond these individual behaviors, good oral health is also dependent on more systemic issues, like access to dental insurance and timely care, the accessibility and capacity of dental providers in a geographic area, and availability of culturally competent providers.

Several organizations throughout the state are collaborating to address many of the issues that impede access to oral healthcare, particularly for Minnesotans who are under-insured or uninsured. One such organization is Children’s Dental Services (CDS). With three main locations and more than 70 satellite sites throughout the state, CDS provides a full range of restorative dental treatment to unserved children, pregnant women, and families across the state.

CDS’ approach is rooted in engaging directly with communities to determine how to best serve them and address the specific inequities they face. An example of this practice is providing services in community spaces.

“We strive to eliminate as many barriers as possible when it comes to accessing oral healthcare,” said Sarah Wovcha, executive director of Children’s Dental Services. “One of those barriers is transportation, so it’s essential for us to meet the community where they are to provide those services, whether that is in schools, churches or other community settings.”

CDS is also focused on providing culturally relevant care, which requires a diverse team that reflects the communities it serves. The CDS staff are multilingual, together speaking 21 languages, and 65 percent represent communities of color. They also recently added a Tribal liaison to the team from Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, to work with Minnesota partners to develop relationships and increase access among Tribal communities.

“Tribal communities continue to be underserved when it comes to receiving equitable, quality oral healthcare, as are new American communities, communities of color, and communities with low income throughout the state,” said Wovcha. “Having a team that reflects the people we serve strengthens the work we do in increasing access to this critical care, and continues to build trust and connection across Minnesota.”

Blue Cross Foundation support

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation recently expanded its Equitable Care and Coverage strategy to reflect the critical role of oral healthcare in overall health, providing specific grant funding and support to CDS, as well as to Apple Tree Dental and CARE Clinic.

This funding is part of the Foundation’s overarching oral health strategy, which focuses on providing dental services to children in their schools and communities, supporting the professional progression of dental assistants, hygienists and therapists, and working with culturally competent providers to serve uninsured and under-insured Minnesotans.

“We’re proud to partner with our grantees to help expand access and improve oral health throughout the state, particularly among children who are experiencing significant gaps in care,” said Carolyn Link, president of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation. “Together with our partners, we’re seeing the positive impacts that come from implementing these proven and promising strategies that can help set the course for lifelong oral health.​”