Paper Example on Lack of Dental Care Access for Hispanics: Barriers and Solutions

Introduction

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020), Hispanics, among others, including non-Hispanic blacks and American Indians, have the poorest oral health in the US. The essay examines the possible barriers to access to dental healthcare by Hispanics, as well as the solutions to these barriers.

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Barriers to Dental Healthcare

One of the factors barring Hispanics from accessing dental care is the language barrier between the patients and the health providers. Most dental care health providers are not Hispanic or are not well versed in the language. Therefore, it is difficult for patients to get the service they require. Due to this language barrier, they do not visit dentists as frequently as required. The language used in messaging about dental health care is often in English, and this poses a barrier too.

Another barrier is education. There is a gap in oral health education among this demographic. Oral health education includes best preventive oral care at home, dietary implications to dental health, and when to seek treatment and medication on dental issues. The research established that a third of Hispanics believed that cavities would go away if an individual brushes their teeth regularly, and one in five Hispanics had not visited the dentist in the past two years (GfK Roper Public Affairs & Corporate Communications, Hispanic Dental Association, Crest and Oral-B. 2011). The evidence shows how a lack of education on oral health impacts access.

Economic factors also present a barrier to accessing dental healthcare among this demographic. Families that have a lower income are not able to access dental healthcare as frequently as required. Some of these families cannot afford to pay for healthcare from their pockets. Hispanics are about 17percent of US Population according to the 2013 census, and constitute a disproportionate share of Medicaid beneficiaries, alongside other racial minorities (Feinberg, 2015). Economic barriers form part of racial barriers to access, and this has influenced the dental healthcare-seeking behavior of Hispanics.

Solutions

The language barrier can be countered by having more Hispanic dentists and oral health professionals. Participants in a 2011 survey said that having ‘more Hispanic and more Spanish-speaking dentists and dental hygienists in their communities would help them “a lot” in achieving better oral health’ (GfK Roper Public Affairs & Corporate Communications, Hispanic Dental Association, Crest and Oral-B. 2011). Non-Hispanic dental healthcare providers can also be trained on cultural competency in order to serve this community better.

Educating patients would close in the gap of information among Hispanics on dental healthcare. Education should be accessible in the language that Hispanics understand. Education can be done by using local oral health ambassadors within these communities. These ambassadors will be able to educate the communities in their language and are more accessible and relatable. They can be community leaders or role models that the community can easily identify with.

Access to affordable healthcare would also improve access to dental healthcare by the section of the demographic barred due to finances. Dental healthcare should be provided to the communities affordably to target those with low incomes.

Conclusion

Hispanics have the poorest oral health in the US, compared to other ethnic and racial groups. The disparity is due to language barriers, educational gaps, and economic challenges. These barriers among the Hispanics can be solved by having more Hispanic dental healthcare providers, educating the community about oral healthcare, and providing affordable dental healthcare.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, May 1). Disparities in oral health. https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/oral_health_disparities/index.htm

Feinberg, M. (2015). Minority oral health in america: despite progress, disparities persist. https://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Advocacy/Files/160523_Kelly_Report_Dental_Chapter.pdf?la=en

GfK Roper Public Affairs & Corporate Communications, Hispanic Dental Association, Crest and Oral-B. (2011). Hispanics Open Up About Oral Health Care.