Rural communities typically have limited access to oral health services due to a variety of factors including transportation, access to care and awareness of the importance and value of oral health. This study set out to identify various aspects of the oral health status of children (18 years and under) within two specific clinics, a University based dental hygiene "teaching" clinic and a Federally Qualified Health Clinic. Patterns of decayed, missing, filled (DMF) rates, sealants, and oral health status relative to payer, gender and race were examined to identify trends, similarities and differences. Multiple regression and t-test analyses suggest that there were differences in oral health status based upon payer source and clinic type. Implications of the findings will be important in the development of education and public health prevention strategies within rural and developing communities.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this presentation, participants will: 1. Recognize patterns of DMF rates in a population of rural children. 2. Assess utilization of sealants in a rural population of children. 3. Identify educational and public health prevention strategies.
Keywords: Oral Health, Rural Communities
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.