National Study Focuses on Oral Health of Hispanics

With the great support from CareQuest Institute of Oral Health and the Hispanic Dental Association, Part 1 of the white paper “Addressing the Oral Health Needs of Hispanics in the U.S.: An Exploration of Oral Health Status, Dental Needs, Utilization of Dental Services, and Workforce” has been published.

Dr. Elías Morón, D.D.S., M.P.H., M.H.L., M.H.S.M., was one of the principal investigators of this project and he was representing Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine and the Hispanic Dental Association at symposiums for the 2023 National Oral Health Conference (NOHC)  on April 19, 2023, in Orlando, Florida.

This white paper:

• Provides an overview of the current data in several oral health areas related to Hispanics.
• Shows important trends in oral health status and utilization of dental services.
• Shows diversity trends in dental education and dental workforce influencing U.S. Hispanic populations.
• Shows the data gaps at the national and state levels which do not allow analyzing the current context in oral health in specific Hispanics groups and other minorities.
• Identifies the relevant data to develop policies supporting oral health for our minorities communities.
• Includes recommendations for policy changes to improve health and quality of life for Hispanics in the United States.

Two non-profit organizations have come together to run a national study on Hispanics and other minorities in the area of oral health through the collaboration of Dr. Eva Chiang (NSU College of Dental Medicine), Dr. Alina Perez (professor at the Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences), and Dr. Katherine Velasco (starting faculty position at NSU Tampa Bay Regional Campus in June 2023), National Research Advisors, National Faculty Advisers, International Research Advisers, Dental Students Leaders, and Minority Leaders in Public Health who participated in different phases of analysis and recommendations.

Posted 05/21/23