Humera Rohail, Sokuntheary Prak, Viviana Filangeri
Project Smile Global
November 15, 2024
Given the widespread need for accessible dental care, public health initiatives focus on addressing disparities and promoting preventive practices that benefit communities worldwide. Public dental health programs are vital in promoting oral health and ensuring access to care for all. These initiatives focus on educating the public, preventing oral disease, and providing necessary dental services to those who might not otherwise receive them. By addressing common oral health issues early and encouraging healthy habits, public dental health programs contribute significantly to overall well-being. They help reduce healthcare costs and ensure everyone can maintain a healthy smile regardless of socioeconomic status.
The impact of these programs is particularly important for individuals who face barriers to accessing dental care. Marginalized communities often experience challenges such as high costs and limited healthcare resources, leading to a higher chance of untreated dental issues. Public dental health programs prioritize preventive care, which has been proven to reduce the occurrence of dental disease. Preventive care enables dental professionals to detect issues early, reducing costs by preventing the need for restorative or emergency treatment (Dental Health Foundation). Public preventative services include oral hygiene instruction, fluoride treatment, sealants, cleanings, temporary fillings, and silver diamine fluoride (Windsor-Essex County Health Unit).
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of 2019, 3.5 billion people globally were affected by oral diseases, and three out of four of those affected by these oral diseases live in middle-income countries. The World Health Organization has an important goal in progress. In 2021, The World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the WHO, approved a resolution on oral health. This approval affirms that oral health should be included in universal health coverage programs. By 2030, the goal is for the action plan to be a framework for tracking progress with clear, measurable targets for oral health improvement (World Health Organization). To reduce the need for transportation, mobile dental clinics are another strategy that is used to expand access to care in marginalized communities. Rather than requiring individuals to travel for dental care, mobile dental clinics provide services directly within communities. Smile Wagon is an example of a mobile dental hygiene clinic that offers teeth cleaning, dental hygiene exams, fluoride treatment, teeth whitening, oral hygiene education, and dental sealants (Smile Wagon). By providing these services locally, mobile dental clinics help bridge the gap between transportation and accessibility to dental care. Furthermore, mobile clinics often extend their services to schools, community centers, and rural areas, which helps reach even more individuals in need of care (Smile Wagon). By addressing oral health issues early, mobile clinics can help prevent the most common causes of tooth loss.
The two leading causes of tooth loss are tooth decay and periodontal disease. Tooth decay can progress into gum disease, which, if left untreated, can lead to periodontal disease (Hamilton Mountain Dental). Periodontal disease is a severe condition that results in gum recession and bone and tooth loss (Hamilton Mountain Dental). This disease can harm overall health by increasing one’s risk of the infection spreading to the rest of the body. Unfortunately, this may lead to several health issues, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes (Cleveland Clinic). Preventative care offered by these public health programs can mitigate periodontal disease, for example, and decrease the risk of more severe conditions requiring extensive care.
Recognizing the need for specialized care, Touro College has developed a program to address unique populations (Touro College of Dental Medicine, 2024). The Touro College of Dental Medicine (TCDM) and the New York State (NYS) Council on Developmental Disabilities (CDD) are collaborating on a program called Smiles United, aimed at increasing access to dental care for individuals with developmental disabilities (DD). Launched in 2020, the program was funded by a CDD grant and seeks to overcome barriers to dental care for people with DD through oral health education and the distribution of dental hygiene supplies. Led by Dr. Raquel Rozdolski and Dr. Susan Disenso-Browne, the initiative includes educational videos and oral hygiene kits tailored to the needs of caregivers and residents in group homes. The videos are available on Youtube and are intended to educate caregivers on maintaining oral health for individuals with DD. The program aims to serve as a model for other group homes and to promote more equitable oral health care for people with DD across NYS. During National Children’s Dental Health Month, this initiative is celebrated to raise awareness about the importance of good oral health for children and their caregivers (Touro College of Dental Medicine, 2024).
Another impactful program targeting children and families is Colgate’s Bright Smiles, Bright Future. It is an oral health program that empowers children and families to achieve healthy and bright futures. What began just 33 years ago now engages and supports over 1.7 billion families worldwide through oral health education, oral examination, and free oral kits (BSBF). By providing free oral health education in over 100 countries, individuals can prevent oral health problems, establish sufficient oral hygiene habits, and improve overall health (The Dental People). Colgate has partnered with parents, teachers, governments, NGOs, and dental professionals to make their curriculum come to life. Anaika Forbes Grant is the Associate Manager of Community Health. She has contributed to offering free dental screenings to children and has taken a stand against oral health disparities from the Philippines to the Republic of Kenya (BSBF). By 2025, Colgate's goal is to reach two billion children to promote lifelong learning opportunities and foster a world of bright smiles and even brighter futures. While Colgate's program focuses on direct outreach, universities are contributing to global oral health through research and community education.
The University of California San Francisco initiated a Global Oral Health Program in 2011 where they aim to address oral health issues and conduct research initiatives in dentistry and beyond. This year, their symposium, titled Advancing Oral Health Among Indigenous Communities, hosts both in-person and virtual workshops with global speakers. The program aims to advance oral health and equity among Indigenous communities in both Australia and North America this year. These presentations include a range of research, care delivery, and educational initiatives from speakers, including Lisa Jamieson from the University of Adelaide, Australia and Herenia Lawrence from the University of Toronto, Canada (Global Oral Health Program). This program is critical as it immerses individuals into the importance of oral health, improving access to care, and reducing the burdens on dental care. This will improve the quality of communities’ teeth and gums, ultimately reducing the risk of developing serious illnesses later in life (Devasia). By taking these initiatives, the Global Oral Health Program at UCSF is one step closer to increasing knowledge on dental diseases, preventing mortality rates in Indigenous communities, and developing new clinical techniques (Devasia).
Public dental health programs are building a foundation for healthier communities by bridging gaps in care. By promoting early intervention and positive oral care practices, these programs help prevent individuals from developing severe life-threatening oral diseases in the future. One program at a time can benefit millions of individuals, striving for a future where everyone has the right to dental care and confidence behind their smiles.
Work Cited
"Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures.” Colgate, www.colgate.com/en-us/mission/oral- health-commitment/bsbf.
Devasia, Jeena. “The Link between Oral Health and Overall Wellness.” Oral Health
Group, June. 4, 2024.
Gill, Navjeet. “Smile Wagon Mobile Dental Hygiene Clinic, Windsor: Teeth Cleaning.” Smile
Wagon, www.smilewagon.ca/.
“Global Oral Health Program.” UCSF School of Dentistry. University of California San
Francisco, dentistry.ucsf.edu/research/global-oral-health.
“Inclusive Dental Initiative Celebrated During National Children's Dental Health Month.”
Touro College of Dental Medicine and New York State Council on Developmental
Disabilities, February. 14, 2024.
“Oral Health Data Portal.” World Health Organization.
“Periodontal (Gum) Disease: How Serious Is It?” Cleveland Clinic, 10. October. 2023,
“Preventive Dental Services.” Preventive Dental Services | The Windsor-Essex County Health
“Importance of Oral Health Education for Children.” The Dental People, October. 12, 2023.
:text=Oral%20health%20education%20is%20essential%20for%20promoting%20good%20oral%20hygiene,and%20gums%20throughout%20their%20lives.
“What Problems Can Tooth Decay Cause?” Hamilton Mountain Dental, October. 3, 2023.
“Woman dentist explains to mother with children how to properly maintain oral hygiene.” iStock,