American Journal of Public Health, 10.2105/AJPH.2005.061796
1 University of Kentucky
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: danash{at}email.uky.edu.
American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) children are disproportionately affected by oral disease compared with the general population of American children. Additionally, AIAN children have limited access to professional oral health care. The Indian Health Service (IHS) and American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) tribal leaders face a significant problem in ensuring care for the oral health of these children. We discuss the development and deployment of a new allied oral health professional, a pediatric oral health therapist. This kind of practitioner can effectively extend the ability of dentists to provide for children not receiving care, and help to confront the significant oral health disparities existing in AI/AN children. Resolving oral health disparities and ensuring access to oral health care for American Indians and Alaska Natives is a moral issue and an issue of social justice. Key Words: School Health, Dental/Oral Health, Ethics, Access to Care, Native Americans, Rural Health
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