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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Moncy Mathew, BDS, MPH¹, Pamela Overman, EdD¹, Lori Bruce, RDH, MS², and Harold Kirbey². (1) School of Dentistry, University of Missouri Kansas City, 650 E. 25th Street, Kansas City, MO 64108, 816-235-2112, mathewm@umkc.edu, (2) Oral Health Program, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65109

Purpose: This survey was undertaken to determine the oral health status of 3rd grade children in Missouri, as per the requirements of the Maternal and Child Health Block grant.

Methods: IRB approval for this study was obtained. Positive consent was required for participation in this survey. Of the 121 selected schools across Missouri, 113 participated in this survey. The ASTDD Basic Screening Survey protocols for data collection were used by retired dentists and dental hygienists for data collection (mouth mirror and flashlight examination with a toothpick used only to confirm the presence of dental sealants). A one-day screener training session was mandatory for participating screeners.

Results: Of the 3525 children participated in the survey, 54.7% had caries experience, 26.9% had untreated decay and 28.6% had dental sealants. Early dental care and urgent dental care was indicated for 23% and 4.6% of the children, respectively. Of the children needing treatment, 43.8% were African-American compared to 23.9% white and the percentage of African-American children needing urgent dental care was 7.6% compared to 3.2% of white children. Children in free/reduced price lunch programs had a higher rate of caries experience, untreated decay, need for early dental care and need for urgent dental care and lower rate for dental sealant prevalence.

Conclusion: In Missouri, disparities in dental health status are evident by race and by participation in free/reduced price school lunch programs.

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support for this project from HRSA grant: 1 H47MC01937A0

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize disparities in oral health
• Identify priority populations at risk for dental diseases
• Prioritize advocacy efforts aimed at improving oral health of vulnerable children in dental-underserved areas

Keywords: Oral Health Needs, Children's Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered