Ruth B. Pickard, PhD, Dept. of Public Health Sciences, Witchita State University, 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS 67260-0152, 316-978+5637, Toni.Pickard@wichita.edu, Lourdes Vazquez, RDH, Dental Hygiene, Wichita State University, 1845 N. Fairmount, Wichita, KS 67260, Shyam Rao Nelapatla, BE, MBA, Department of Public Health Sciences, Wichita State University, 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS 67260-0152, Angela N. Roberts, BS, Wichita State University, Public Health Sciences, 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS 67260-0152, and Vineet Awasthy, BDS, Public Health Sciences, Wichita State University, 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS 67260-0152.

Newest science shows oral health is closely related to general health. As part of intensive face-to-face surveys conducted during 2003 in one of the lowest income, most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in Kansas, a series of questions about access to oral health were asked. While most answers (N=169) mirror those found in other impoverished communities (e.g., for 12%, it had been at least 10 years since the last dental visit; 70% had no dental insurance; 61% report current need for dental care), some contradict conventional knowledge about low-income clients. Much literature suggests that dentistry is a low priority for the poor, yet the multi-cultural respondents in this study overwhelming said that “getting affordable dental care” was either “very important” (63%) or "important" (28%). They report brushing or otherwise cleaning teeth more frequently than often assumed (82% say they brush 2 or more times daily). When asked if they would favor offering chewing gum to neighborhood children that would reduce childhood cavities, more than 80% answered “yes.” While 24% had lost all or most of their natural teeth, only 7% of that group said the loss made speech more difficult and 30% felt it negatively affected the way they feel about their appearance. When asked about dental needs and employment, only 3% reported dental problems had interfered with applications for work and most (94%) said they had never lost days from work or school due to such problems. Findings include respondent knowledge of the relationship between poor oral health and general health.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify differences in preceptions of community planners and community residents regarding how the poor prioritize access to dental care
• Develop culturally responsive strategies that build on the self-care interests among residents of low-income, diverse neighborhoods
• Construct policies to better reduce oral health disparities

Keywords: Health Disparities, Oral Health Needs

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Healthy Options for Planeview (HOP), a community-based health education training center and outreach program affiliated with the Department of Public Health Sciences at Wichita State University.
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I am employed by Wichita State University and am Executive Director of Healthy Options for Planeview the community-based health education training center and outreach site. Funding is received through several grants: HRSA, Knight Foundation, United Meth