Colorado’s Oral Health Winnable Battle
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Colorado’s Oral Health Winnable Battle Christopher E. Urbina, MD, MPH Executive Director and Chief Medical Officer Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
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Colorado’s Oral Health Winnable Battle. Christopher E . Urbina, MD, MPH Executive Director and Chief Medical Officer Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Colorado’s Winnable Battles were chosen because: They are important – large health impact - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Colorado’s Oral Health Winnable Battle
Colorado’s Oral HealthWinnable Battle
Christopher E. Urbina, MD, MPHExecutive Director andChief Medical OfficerColorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Colorado’s Winnable Battles were chosen because:
• They are important – large health impact
• We have an ability to impact these areas
• There is capacity to impact these areas
Colorado’s 10 Winnable BattlesClean AirClean WaterInfectious Disease
PreventionInjury PreventionMental Health &
Substance Abuse
ObesityOral HealthSafe FoodTobaccoUnintended
Pregnancy
Oral Health Winnable Battle CollaborativeTri-agency supportFive dozen partnersMonthly meetingsShared initiativesShared messagingShared resourcesFocused efforts
Why Oral Health Matters
•Preventable diseases•Inequitable burden•Sustainable change
Consequences
Military Readiness1940: 1 out of 10 army recruits
didn't have enough teeth to enlist.(Number of teeth needed to enlist: 6)
2002: 34% of military personnel on active duty require dental care prior to deployment
Measuring our successes:
• Increase age one dental visits.• Increase sealants on permanent teeth.• Improve rates of community water fluoridation.
Rampant Decay
Children’s Oral Disease – a Public Health Crisis• Most common chronic disease of
childhood• US Surgeon General: oral health
is a core component of overall health
• Need to reduce oral health inequities
Metal Mouth
Simply by drinking fluoridated water, everyone in the community benefits.
No change in behavior is required by the individualEveryone – regardless of age, gender, culture, socio-
economic status – can benefit
Fluoridation
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) named community water fluoridation as one of the 10 great health achievements of the 20th Century.
Colorado’s Future
