Does race play a role in oral health disparities: blacks versus whites

• Main Author: McKenzie, Kevin T.
• Language: en_US
• Published: Boston University 2015
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/2144/12514

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston University PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at [e-mail]. Thank you. === This thesis evaluates the presence of oral health disparities in non-Hispanic Whites and Blacks in order to draw insights and conclusions aimed at closing the apparent gap between these two populations. Oral health disparities refers to the existence of differences in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and burden of oral diseases and other adverse health conditions, as well as the use of health care services, among specific population groups in the United States. In 2000, the Surgeon General highlighted oral health as a major component of general health and well-being yet, it is still considered to be "The Neglected Epidemic". There is a persistent growth of oral health disparities amongst the various ethnicities in the U.S and one of the greatest is between non-Hispanic Whites and AA. It is now well-documented that African-Americans, bear a disproportionate burden of disease and disability, resulting in "lower life expectancy, decreased quality of life, loss of economic opportunities, and perceptions of injustice. This is independent of economic status, with non-Hispanic Blacks having a higher proportion of untreated, decayed teeth than non-Hispanic Whites. This, unlike most health disparities, where on average wealth is the strongest predictor of a person's health. The determinants of oral health disparities include socioeconomic status, gender, age, geographic location, education, culture and access to dental care. [TRUNCATED]