NR 503 WEEK 1 HEALTHY PEOPLE 2020 IMPACT PAPER – ORAL HEALTH.

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Running head: 2020 ORAL HEALTH 1 Healthy People 2020: Oral Health NR 503: Population Health, Epidemiology, and Statistical Principles Chamberlain College of Nursing This study source was downloade... d by 100000831988016 from CourseHero.com on 05-07-2022 04:05:19 GMT -05:00 https://www.coursehero.com/file/33819084/2020-Week1docx/ 2020 ORAL HEALTH 2 Healthy People 2020: Oral Health Due to the fact that there are so many public health issues out there, oral and dental health may sometimes fall by the wayside for those issues that may seem more important at the time. However, poor oral health can be related to a number of diseases and sicknesses in the body, like heart disease, for example. Most oral health strategies are aimed at “improving oral health in the population by traditionally targeted behavior change at the individual level by promoting brushing and flossing practices” but “more research is needed to understand the more distal and structural determinants of oral health” (Vasiliou, Shankardass, Nisenbaum, & Quiñonez, 2016). With that in mind, it has become known that it can take more than just brushing or flossing to have healthy teeth. Healthy People 2020 is trying to find ways to make sure that even those without insurance are able to have access to healthcare to keep their teeth healthy. While poor oral health may not directly lead to death, it can cause many different physical and, even psychological, symptoms within the body. The top two issues with teeth includes tooth decay and gum disease. According to the CDC, “more than 1 in 4 (27%) adults in the United States have untreated tooth decay” (“Adult Oral Health”, 2016). Untreated tooth decay can lead to cavities, abscesses, and embarrassment as the teeth start to fall out. When it comes to gum disease, the CDC states that “nearly half (46%) of all adults aged 30 years or older show signs of gum disease, while severe gum disease affects about 9% of adults” (“Adult Oral Health”, 2016). Untreated gum disease can lead to gum and tooth pain, and even make the patient more susceptible to certain kinds of cancers. It is very important that awareness is made around this issues! Healthy People 2020 is an initiative by the governmental Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion to make the American people healthier through raising awareness and This study source was downloaded by 100000831988016 from CourseHero.com on 05-07-2022 04:05:19 GMT -05:00 https://www.coursehero.com/file/33819084/2020-Week1docx/ 2020 ORAL HEALTH 3 running various programs to improve their health. The goal of Healthy People 2020 when it comes to oral health states that they want to “prevent and control oral and craniofacial diseases, conditions, and injuries, and improve access to preventive services and dental care” (“Oral Health”, 2016). They plan to improve these oral maladies through “increased awareness of the importance of oral health to overall health and well-being, increased acceptance and adoption of effective preventive interventions, and reducing disparities in access to effective preventive and dental treatment services” (“Oral Health”, 2016). The first way that Healthy People 2020 are working on implementing better oral health is through water fluoridation: “one major success is community water fluoridation, which now benefits about 7 out of 10 Americans who get water through public water systems” (“Oral Health”, 2016). Because the majority of people drink from public water sources, their teeth are benefitting from the fluoride. One more way in which they are improving oral health is through “school-based dental sealant programs, which focus on sealing the chewing surfaces of permanent molar teeth, usually target schools that serve children from low-income families. Dental sealants can prevent up to 80% [Show More]

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