The Importance Of Dental Care In The United States

According to World Health Organization, “Over 93% of WHO Member States report to have less than 1 dentistry personnel per 1000 population” [who.int]. Oral diseases are prevalent in countries where the demand for oral health is greater than the number of practitioners available to give service to its community. Combining oral care along with general health care system would be the best choice in places where dental practitioners are lacking [who.int]. Generally speaking in most places in the United States, we are very fortunate to have a dentist within close proximity to our home, which makes it easier for us to get proper care. In some parts of the world however, people aren’t that lucky. So many needs to travel some distance to seek out
During the Oregon Dental Convention, I found an organization that, for a reasonable fee, would welcome dentists or dental auxiliaries who were willing to volunteer and travel to remote places where the need for oral health care is greater. Their mission is to help people who can’t afford dental care. They provide simple cleaning, restorations, and extractions while educating people about the importance of oral hygiene at the same time. Some states here in America implement the mobile dental care program. Utilizing students and dental auxiliaries under the supervision of qualified dentists, the program provides dental care to those with low income, the underprivileged, people with disabilities, and
As it turns out, portable dental units have been around for a while and the military especially have been utilizing the units because of their convenience. Today, portable dental units are more sophisticated and compact. In my opinion, the price tag it comes with is doable. However, depending upon the kind of dental mission or program one would be involved in, there are many factors to consider when deciding to purchase a portable dental unit. Some of the important factors to think about are the portability of the unit, the cost, and especially the aseptic factor when planning to travel into remote areas. No one likes the unexpected to happen and any equipment malfunction would likely happen at an unexpected time. That is probably one of the downturn of any equipment. Throughout my research, it’s surprising to find out that in the United States, oral diseases are still prevalent and many people still can’t afford proper oral care. On a positive note, it’s great to know there are dental professionals who truly care about the community and are willing to volunteer to help those in need, here in our own backyard and