Increasing Capacity to Inform Oral Health Policy Regarding Vulnerable Populations and the KT Plan

Oral health care is largely excluded from the Canadian health care system. Vulnerable populations such as the aged have the poorest levels of oral health and often lack access to the private system of oral care. Research, education, policy and program efforts directed toward improving the oral health of vulnerable populations require a clear understanding of oral health status and treatment needs. Recently a group of researchers at Dalhousie University examined the oral health of a group of seniors in Nova Scotia (NS) with input from other oral health experts and communities across the province. The results showed differences in seniors¿ oral health across the province. These results were shared with the provincial government, other professionals, and groups representing seniors in NS. At the same time, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) released a Strategic Health Plan, and are developing a unique oral health component. We propose to bring together the multidisciplinary knowledge and experience of these two groups to plan ways to measure and monitor oral health status and to guide policy aimed at improving the oral health of vulnerable populations on the east coast, beginning with seniors. The proposed methods include the creation of a network of key representatives in NL through face-to-face meetings and interviews, and demonstrations of our oral health assessment protocol using the telehealth system in NL to aid communication where it may be limited by distance and remote location. We intend to develop a strategy to: monitor the oral health of senior populations that include rural and remote geographical areas; assist program providers to assess oral health needs and determine the effectiveness of oral health programs; and, translate research knowledge to make it more useful to government, professionals and the community at large.