5 Things Driving Better Dental Health Access in Underserved Communities

Oral hygiene may not be top of mind when thinking generally about health, but it is one and the same to public health dental hygiene practitioners, who are striving to increase access to preventive oral health care, strengthen oral health literacy, and reduce the need for restorative treatment through proactive education and community outreach.¹

There's a growing consensus that oral diseases are not isolated conditions but are connected to wider health trajectories, a link that becomes even more pronounced in immunocompromised populations.²

"Oral health is so important, not just for your oral health, but your overall health," Doree L. Rossey, BS, PHDHP, RDH, dental care manager supervisor with UPMC Health Plan, said in an interview with The American Journal of Managed Care^®.¹

As public health dental hygiene practitioners, Rossey and her colleague, Crystal Siebka, RDH, PHDHP, COA, a dental care manager, work to enhance education and expand access to oral health services across Pennsylvania.

“Giving [the children] that toothbrush, educating them on the importance of oral health and their systemic health, [and] empowering them to take care of themselves is very rewarding,” Siebka said. “And we have seen a significant drop in restorative needs.”

Here are 5 things driving dental health care access in underserved communities.

1. Embedding Oral Health Education Across Community Touchpoints

Sustainable improvements in oral health outcomes start with consistent, accessible education. Delivering preventive guidance in settings where families gather, like early childhood programs, schools, maternity services, or community events, helps build oral health literacy before disease develops.

"Education is key," according to Rossey. "Any opportunity to get into our communities, we’re going.”

Integrating evidence-based messaging into these environments supports anticipatory guidance, reinforces daily hygiene practices, and creates opportunities for early intervention within high-risk populations.

2. Integrating Preventive Services Into Schools and Nontraditional Settings

For many children, school may be the most reliable point of contact with health services. Embedding dental screenings, fluoride applications, or educational interventions within school systems can help identify unmet needs early, reduce missed referrals, and alleviate common access barriers such as transportation or caregiver scheduling constraints.

“We go into Head Starts. We go into daycares. We are educating the maternity members…," Rossey explained, "The kids are so engaged and having so much fun that they want to go home and brush their teeth.”

These school-connected models can be replicated in daycares, after-school programs, and other youth-centered environments to expand reach and consistency.

3. Using Mobile Care and Cross-Sector Collaboration to Address Provider Gaps

In regions with limited or no dental provider capacity, mobile clinics and interdisciplinary partnerships offer an effective means of closing access gaps.

“Out of my 6 counties, 3 of those counties literally have no providers…so I had to get down and beg my mobile providers to come to my counties, which has worked out well," Siebka said.

Collaborations among social service agencies, medical providers, community health workers, and dental teams can create pathways to build or maintain dental homes for individuals who would otherwise go without care. Mobile delivery models, when paired with outreach and coordinated follow-up, can stabilize preventive care in both rural and underserved urban settings.

4. Improving Oral Health Literacy Through Hands-On, Developmentally Appropriate Tools

Interactive educational tools—particularly those that visually or tactilely demonstrate concepts like plaque formation, sugar exposure, or proper brushing—can significantly enhance understanding and retention.

"We created a hands-on soap tooth activity where we would porch drop a little kit that included a small soap 'tooth' with candy sprinkles to act as sugar bugs or cavities and brushing supplies," Siebka explained. "We do a virtual education with them, where the children would work with their parents and learn about proper brushing and flossing.... That activity often sparks a lot of 'a-ha' moments for both children and parents, helping them understand how challenging it is to remove plaque and bacteria in the biofilm, how long it actually takes to brush effectively."

Activities that engage children and caregivers together have been shown to prompt meaningful behavior change, including increased brushing frequency and better dietary awareness. These tools are adaptable across age groups, learning environments, and care delivery models, making them valuable for virtual, school-based, and community-based outreach.

5. Expanding the Preventive Workforce by Leveraging Hygienists in Community Roles

Public health dental hygienists and similar mid-level providers can play a critical role in expanding preventive services, especially where dentist shortages limit access.

“We’ve been underutilized ever since our licenses were first approved… now, with dental care being what it is—basically a privilege—they’re really finding out that we are prevention warriors, and we are there to help the community," Siebka said.

When empowered to practice at the top of their licensure—whether in schools, community centers, medical offices, or mobile settings—hygienists can deliver screenings, preventive treatments, education, and care coordination. Broadening their scope within interdisciplinary teams strengthens the preventive infrastructure and reduces downstream need for restorative care.

References

1. Grossi G, Rossey DL, Siebka C. Frameworks for advancing health equity: dental health care access. AJMC. December 2, 2025. Accessed December 4, 2025. https://www.ajmc.com/view/frameworks-for-advancing-health-equity-dental-health-care-access
2. Klein HE. Dental infections pose risks for hospitalized patients with rheumatoid arthritis. AJMC. June 30, 2025. Accessed December 4, 2025. https://www.ajmc.com/view/dental-infections-pose-risks-for-hospitalized-patients-with-rheumatoid-arthritis