ABSTRACT: The number of enrolled African-American and Hispanic dental students has experienced and overall decrease for the last ten years. Despite efforts from multiple government and advocacy groups (in conjunction with U.S. dental schools), the level of representation of these minority groups in U.S. dental schools is moving away rather than moving towards parity with the general population. This occurs at a time that in which the disparities with regards to oral health are well documented. This fact becomes even more significant when we consider the projected population increases for these minority groups. Studies have suggested that minority health care providers are more likely to treat minority patients and that they are are also more likely to treat Medicaid or uninsured patients. This may suggest that a more diversified dental provider pool may help overcome some oral health disparities. One of the ways in which this may be achieved is to increase minority student enrollment in U.S. dental schools. Our study indicated that active participation by currently enrolled minority dental students can help U.S. dental schools increase minority student enrollment in combination with other factors. The elimination of disparities in oral health may be positively aided with an increase in minority student student enrollment in U.S. dental schools.
Learning Objectives: 1. Describe the levels of underrepresentation of African-Americans and Hispanics in U.S. Dental Schools. 2. Describe the role that currently enrolled minority dental students can perform in increasing minority dental student enrollment. 3. Describe that diversification of the dental provider workforce takes on an added urgency due to the minority population's demographic trends and existing oral health disparities
Keywords: Oral Health Needs, Minorities
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.