Fifteen‐year gap between oral health of blacks and whites in the USA

Abstract

Aim:The purpose of the present study was to consider racial differences across three survey questions related to adult oral health in the National Oral Health Surveillance System (NOHSS) between 1999 and 2014. Methods:The NOHSS tracks population-level progress made toward improved oral health in the USA. NOHSS adult indicators of oral health data were extracted for 1999-2014, and trends were studied by race.Results: Among adults ≥18 years in 1999, 70.7% of whites and 60.3% of blacks had visited a dentist in the past year. By 2014, 68.4% of whites and 56.5% of blacks had visited a dentist in the past year. Among adults aged ≥65 years in 1999, 24.5% of whites and 33.2% of blacks had lost all natural teeth due to dental caries or gingival/ periodontal disease. By 2014, 14.3% of whites and 22.1% of blacks had lost all natural teeth.

Chronic Periodontitis is Associated With Cerebral Atherosclerosis –A Nationwide Study

“…US hospitalizations with chronic periodontitis had a higher prevalence in the age group 50-64 years, male, African American, and 0-25th percentile median household income category patients compared to non-chronic periodontitis. Various studies have data on the higher prevalence of chronic periodontitis in African Americans due to poor dental hygiene [ 23 ]. In our study, chronic periodontitis was also associated with other comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and tobacco smoking.…”

Diversity, equity, and inclusion interventions to support admissions have had little benefit to Black students over past 20 years

“…Much like Xerox, the dental profession has shown that awareness does not necessarily bring resolution in its failure to adequately address known issues of race in various areas within our profession. Racial disparities exist in access to care, 4 race bias has been shown in clinical decision‐making, 5 and the existence of structural racism in the dental profession has been suggested in recent musings 6…”

“…Race and racism are a public health issue. We already knew this through numerous studies that have found Black Americans have worse outcomes in conditions as broad as diabetes, 11 hypertension, 12 pregnancy‐related mortality, 13 injury from legal interventions, 14 and even oral health 4 . In 2020, the American Medical Association enacted a policy that acknowledges racism is a public health issue 15 .…”

Beneficiaries' perspectives on improved oral health and its mediators after Medicaid expansion in Michigan: a mixed methods study

“…9 There are persistent disparities in dentist visits for Black and Hispanic adults relative to non-Hispanic white adults. 5 Medicaid is the primary source of dental coverage for low-income adults, although not all state programs provide "extensive" dental benefits. 4,[10][11][12][13] Research indicates that when Medicaid covers adult dental care, dentists treat more publicly insured patients.…”

“…[1][2][3][4] Tooth loss is almost exclusively concentrated among low-income individuals, and this problem disproportionately affects African Americans. 5 The prevalence of moderate to severe periodontitis is three times higher in the lowest compared to the highest income quartiles. 3 Poor oral health may lead to infection, ulcerations and abscesses; pain that restricts normal activities and sleep; and tooth loss that limits food choices and affects chewing efficiency, nutritional adequacy, speech, social interaction, physical appearance, and self-esteem.…”