This study analyzes the oral health of elderly and pediatric patients in Southeast Alaska.
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Kathryn Sweer
This study analyzes the oral health of elderly and pediatric patients in Southeast Alaska.American Indians and Alaska Natives have the highest burden of oral health problems among the population. Therefore, researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry are partnering with the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium to better understand and improve the oral health of the region's geriatric and pediatric populations.
Oral Health of the Elderly in Southeast Alaska
UAB Professor Dr. Joana Cunha Cruz has received a $3 million R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health to improve oral health for vulnerable patient populations in Southeast Alaska. With this grant, Cunha-Cruz is partnering with her SEARHC to gain critical knowledge on how to improve clinical decision-making to improve the oral health of Alaska Native older adults.
According to the Bureau of Indian Health, older Alaska Native adults have nearly three times as many untreated cavities as white adults in the U.S., and 46 percent and 16 percent, respectively, as black adults in the U.S. 3, which is more than 10% higher. They are more likely to develop periodontal disease than other races and ethnicities. This burden is thought to be due to social determinants of health faced by this population, such as access to care and financial burden.
“Gum disease is associated with several other systemic diseases that affect the lungs, heart, brain and kidneys,” says Marcia Wayland, a dentist at Mt Edgcumbe Medical Center Dental Clinic. Stated. “Older adults can be affected by multiple medications in a variety of ways, including decreased saliva production, lack of dexterity, and visual impairment. By looking at the patient holistically, we can tailor and provide the best treatment. It will be like this.”
Researchers are working with SEARHC dental clinics to invite patients aged 60 and older to participate in the study. SEARHC is one of the nation's largest Native American-run tribal health organizations, providing dental, physical, and behavioral health services to all residents of Southeast Alaska. The organization serves patients at her two hospitals and multiple clinics across 27 communities in the region. This partnership has enabled researchers to learn about treatment outcomes in Southeast Alaska communities, opportunities and challenges for patient care, and how oral disease progresses in this population.
“This study is innovative and has high relevance for public health and clinical research, as it highlights the lack of rigorous prospective studies and “It addresses uncertainty in prognosis and prognostic factors,” Cunha-Cruz said. . “We will gain important knowledge about ways to potentially improve clinical decision-making to improve the oral health of older Alaska Native adults.”
Researchers and health care providers are considering how a team-based approach that includes dentists working with dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and community health aides could benefit patients. They analyze the association between specific medical conditions and the progression of periodontal disease, help identify barriers to accessing treatment, and focus on improving treatment delivery systems.
“By implementing collaboration between a patient's dental care provider and their medical provider, we are able to treat the whole patient,” said Mandy Smith, DDS, senior clinical advisor for the SEARHC dental program. “We want to provide care that looks at the whole person, not just their oral health. The overall goal of this study is to leverage a comprehensive health care approach for prevention and behavior modification. and improve the quality of life and longevity of older people.”
Pediatric Oral Health in Southeast Alaska
In addition to studying the oral health of the geriatric population, Cunha-Cruz has published research analyzing the oral health of children in the community and partnered with SEARHC. American Indian and Alaska Native children have the poorest oral health of all population groups in the United States. Additionally, although scientifically based management methods for caries (more commonly referred to as tooth decay) are well established, these methods have been difficult to put into practice.
In this study, Cunha-Cruz and her team focused on working with health care providers to develop interventions and goals for children's oral health. Once clinics set their goals, researchers worked with these providers to develop clinical guidelines and identify the most common barriers to guideline implementation. Providers then developed action plans to overcome these barriers. During the study period, researchers contacted these clinics again to ensure they were on track to meet their goals.
“This study will allow dental providers to reflect on the steps they are taking in their clinics to support pediatric patients and whether any changes need to be made to better address health disparities in the Southeast Alaska region. I was able to make a decision,” Cunha Cruz said. she said.
Qualitative research informs the design and evaluation of process-oriented strategies to implement many clinical guidelines that have the potential to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native children and youth can.
