Spotlight on...Oral Health
In many low-income urban and rural communities, access to oral health care is limited. Providers are often overbooked or too far away, and many do not accept Medicaid, creating significant barriers for low-income patients to receive treatment.
This lack of access to oral health care can lead to a variety of health problems, from cavities and tooth infections, to more serious ailments, like gum disease. NYSHealth is committed is working with three grantees across the State to improve access to oral health care. The New York State Dental Foundation is using an NYSHealth grant to scale up a 2008 New York City pilot project—which provides comprehensive dental care to needy disabled, elderly, and medically compromised New Yorkers—to a statewide initiative.
With a $197,682 grant, the New York University School of Dentistry will implement an oral health intervention program in Columbia County, which is one of New York’s most underserved counties for dental care.
Finally, in the wake of New York City’s decision to eliminate its Oral Health Program (OHP) and close all 46 OHP dental clinics, the Sunset Park Health Council is working to provide these essential services in public schools. The grant will offset acquisition and start-up costs for 12 OHP clinics that otherwise would have closed their doors.
To read more about these grantees and their work, please follow the links below.
