Oral Health Equity

Oral health disparities can be seen in every county in Washington state. Oral health status is impacted by a long list of complex, intertwined, and often inequitable systems. Unfortunately, lower-income households and communities of color experience systemic barriers and health inequities at a disproportionate rate.

NSLP Eligibility: 2x as many children households with low-incomes suffer from the effects of rampant tooth decay as children from higher income households.

Note: NSLP Eligibility refers to National School Lunch Program (NSLP) which is a proxy for low-income.2x as many children households with low-incomes suffer from the effects of rampant tooth decay as children from higher income households.

Your household financial standing has a direct effect on the quality of your oral care.

That’s why we support programs to help balance oral health inequities across Washington state. We’re just getting started, but we know it’s a subject that needs our long term focus in order to address.

Arcora—the foundation of Delta Dental of Washington—advances oral health across Washington state. They work to develop authentic relationships, learn about community assets, and co-develop approaches. We partner with Arcora to develop and support initiatives and programs to address disparities and advance equity. Read some highlights of what we’ve accomplished together.

Arcora shares our vision that all people can enjoy good oral and overall health with no one left behind. Their mission is bending the arc of oral health toward equity.

Learn more about Arcora’s prevention and access strategic priorities.