100 Million Mouth Campaign

2023

Oral health continues to be an area of healthcare with significant disparity of access and quality of care. Currently, Alabama has the lowest dentist-to-citizen ration in the country and this shortage is especially evident in our rural areas. The need cannot be met by dental professionals alone. Harvard University's Center for Integration of Primary Care and Oral Health has enlisted health professionals from nine states to improve oral health education within healthcare training programs. The project, titled the 100 Million Mouths Project, has a stated goal of "evolving the oral health curriculum in every health profession school/program in the U.S. (medical, osteopathic, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, midwifery, obstetrical, internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, med-peds, geriatrics)." The enlisted health professional, called "Oral Health Champions" from the nine states, are charged with identifying three healthcare programs in their state and helping them to include oral health education in their program. Additionally, the project desires to establish an assessment process that measures the change in oral health knowledge achieved. This interprofessional approach to improving oral health through general healthcare is a novel way of addressing oral health disparities. If successful, more healthcare providers will be able to identify oral health issues in their patients and get them connected to oral health providers who can address the need.

Oral Health

Performing Direct and/or Demonstration Services, Continuing Education/Community Training

Health-Related Activities

Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Community Trainees / Short term trainees, Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Adults with Disabilities, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN, General Public

Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote, Urban

State, Regional

N/A