Reviewing Inequalities in Access to Oral Health Care and its Effect on Dental Hygiene in Hispanics in the United States

Abstract

Oral health has a significant effect on a person's quality of life. Poor oral health can harm a patient's oral functions and can cause pain. In the US, access to a dentist or regularity of dentist visits is not ensured. As a result, certain groups of people tend to have poorer oral health or higher rates of dental diseases. We see this in certain minority groups. This project is a literature review of articles from both Google Scholar and Pubmed. It is based on secondary sources from other existing research papers. The review will be an examination of the causes and driving factors behind higher rates of poor oral health in the Hispanic community of the United States. More specifically, is the oral health of the Hispanic population in the United States different from the oral health of other US Citizens as a result of various inequalities? The review will determine if socioeconomic status (SES), oral health literacy, or acculturation are factors that disproportionately affect Hispanics. It will also examine if these factors explain irregular dentist visits or the view of oral health as insignificant. Poor oral health will be based on rates of tooth decay and periodontal disease. The findings of the review suggest that there are associations between factors such as SES, oral health literacy, and acculturation and Hispanic’s oral health. These factors are included in the numerous influences on Hispanics oral health status.