Seminar - 90 Minutes

Forming Partnerships to Overcome Challenges and Barriers in Promoting Oral Health: United States Territorial Oral Health Programs

Presenter(s)

• LS

  Louisa Santos, BDS

  President, Pacific Basin Dental Association
  Oral Health Division, Ministry of Health, Republic of Palau
• 

  Angelica Sabino, DDS

  Dental Chief, Oral Health Program, MCH Bureau
  Division of Public Health, Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation
• 

  Reg Louie, DDS, MPH

  Public Health Consultant
  Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors
• 

  Elaine Pagan, DMD, MSD

  Dental Officer, Oral Health Program
  Puerto Rico Department of Health

The U.S. Caribbean and Pacific Territories face unique and disadvantageous issues, including harsh challenges and barriers in promoting oral health for their populations. Overcoming these requires systematic approaches, innovations and partnerships locally and internationally. This session will provide an overview of Territorial Oral Health Program (TOHP) strategies and systems implemented to date, including preventive programs using local and multiple U.S. federal funding sources, and public health workforce training/refresher training. To help identify and overcome some challenges and barriers, the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) has engaged key stakeholders and experts to plan and conduct territorial program assessment, identify existing documents and resources to characterize TOHP infrastructure/capacity needs and gaps, and to provide technical assistance and capacity building resources. These efforts are intended to provide some of the foundations upon which TOHPs can promote and enhance oral health for their populations.

 

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will be able to recognize territorial strategies to address key challenges and barriers to oral health care and preventive services.
• Describe territorial strategies being implemented and planned to promote oral health systems of care.
• Identify opportunities to foster and enhance territorial leadership and partnerships to improve access to and use of dental preventive and care services.