NMDA Journal Fall 2019

14 New Mexico Dental Journal, Fall 2019 BARRIERS TO ADEQUATE ORAL HEALTHCARE IN THE UNM DENTAL CLINICS' PATIENT POPULATIONS By Abdullah Shah, DDS Candidate Abstract Despite the initiatives taken to reduce adverse oral health in the state of New Mexico, there are still many barriers which impede a New Mexican’s ability to access adequate dental care. Hence, the purpose of this research was to conduct interviews at the University of New Mexico’s (UNM) Ambulatory Surgical Center and Dental Residency Clinic, to identify what these barriers are. These interviews were performed under the Population Health Capstone (PH 475) course, with the guidance of capstone preceptor, Dr. Jason Flores. Each interview consisted of a set of questions and was conducted with patients and staff at the UNM dental clinics. Data from these interviews was transcribed and compiled into a research paper to fulfill the PH 475 requirements by relating the clinical care data with the ten essential public health services. Through this research, multiple barriers were identified preventing New Mexicans from acquiring necessary dental services. These barriers were usually affiliated with the patient’s level of income, their time availability, and the fear they may have of the dentist. After, the research concluded with an analysis of current interventions that are already in place, with the idea that they can be altered and implemented to improve oral health in New Mexicans. Introduction & Background Though great strides have been made in improving oral healthcare, many New Mexicans still face barriers to the maintenance of their own oral health and lack access to certain dental services. These individuals are unable to receive the adequate treatments necessary to prevent adverse oral health conditions, and the causal factors can be found within issues in healthcare management, communication, and in treatment mechanisms. New Mexico is a diverse state, consisting of multiple distinct community groups which may be medically under- served. Three factors are hypothesized to affect this health issue the greatest, a patient’s level of income, the time they have available, and odontophobia (fear of dental surgery). In order to research the bar- riers to oral healthcare faced by these patient groups, as they relate to the ten essential public health services (Figure 1), interviews were conducted with the patients served by the University of New Mexico’s (UNM) Ambulatory Surgical Center and Dental Residency Clinic.1 Evaluate Monitor Health Diagnose & Investigate Inform, Educate, Empower Mobilize Community Partnerships Develop Policies Enforce Laws Link to/ Provide Care Assure Competent Workforce Research S y s t e m M a n a g e m e n t A S S E S S M E N T A S S U R A N C E P O L I C Y D E V E L O P M E N T (Figure 1)