We know that school-based dental services have become a crucial way to connect low-income students, particularly students of color, with oral health care and education. And ensuring that every child — regardless of their background — has access to oral health care is a key to reducing the deep racial disparities in health care.

Better oral health helps school performance. It is estimated that more than 51 million school hours are missed annually due to dental conditions.

By Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan, president and CEO of the DentaQuest Partnership for Oral Health Advancement and Catalyst Institute, Inc.
September 15, 2020