Albuquerque, NM – A new dental program has been developed to help increase oral health care access to rural and low-income communities in New Mexico.

According to the New Mexico Department of Health, oral health improves a person's ability to speak, smile, smell, taste and make facial expressions. But many New Mexicans are at risk for or suffer from untreated dental disease, and a sizable percentage of these indivividuals lack direct access to oral health professionals. Distance from care sites, poverty, and language gaps between patients and providers all make it more difficult than it should be for New Mexicans to access the care they need.

A new member of the oral health team – the Community Dental Health Coordinators (CDHC) – offers a solution to many of the access issues New Mexicans are experiencing. The great news is that CDHCs are being trained right now here in New Mexico at Central New Mexico Community College (CNM), and recent graduates from the program are working in their communities to connect patients and providers.

A Community Dental Health Coordinator is a frontline dental health worker who has a strong cultural connection to the community served. The CDHC is a liaison between patients, physicians, dentists, community health centers, and other social service agencies to facilitate access to services to improve the quality and cultural competency of service delivery.

With support from the American Dental Association, the Community Dental Health Coordinator (CDHC) program is driven by the belief that community-based education and patient support make great improvements in oral health. CDHCs trained through CNM will provide patients with case management and educational training so they get connected with dental care in their area.

Jacob Kualapai, a current student in the CDHC program at Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) sees the benefits of this program first hand. "After serving my country in the Navy, I chose to switch roles and serve my local community as a Dental Hygienist, trading in one uniform for another. There is a large and growing population in New Mexico of geriatric and special needs patients that don't have the access to basic dental services that most people take for granted. The CDHC program has so much potential, it's one step closer to bridging the gap between medical and dental disparities in our country. Sometimes all we need is a little bit of opportunity to make a difference. That is what I hope to accomplish as a CDHC, creating opportunity for others."

CNM was one of the first schools in the nation to offer the CDHC training program. Now, in the second year of operation, CDHCs are practicing in several communities around New Mexico and making a real difference for people in need.

CDHCs help people achieve good oral health and access care available in their areas by:

• Teaching patients how to take care of their oral health through good oral hygiene and nutrition
• Coordinating transportation and child care, if necessary, so they can make their dental appointments
• Facilitating exams where people live and work, and
• Helping people with public health resources such as insurance and payment services

"Our students come from a variety of backgrounds and experience levels, including certified dental assistants, registered dental hygienists, as well as community health workers from New Mexico and the Navajo nations," said Tammy Whitney, Director of the CDHC program at Central New Mexico Community College. "Following their graduation from the program they often go on to pursue diverse interest areas including working in private dental offices, public health clinics and other community-based programs."

Research from the Health Policy Institute shows that most people, and 83% of children in New Mexico, are within a 15-minute drive of dental services, but are not using that care. CDHCs help bridge the gap between people who are close to, but not accessing, dental care.

Jane Grover, D.D.S., MPH, Director of ADA's Council on Advocacy for Access and Prevention says, "We are seeing a positive impact and great interest in expanding the program, with schools lining up to offer the certification. CDHCs are typically recruited from the same types of communities where they serve, which helps establish trust to increase the number of people who make and keep dentist appointments." As part of her oversight of the CDHC program she has seen that, "This type of community-based work empowers people in underserved communities to manage their own oral health and gives them the information and support they need to find critical resources that impact the use of health services."

About the American Dental Association:

The not-for-profit ADA is the nation's largest dental association, representing 161,000 dentist members. The premier source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public's health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The ADA's state-of-the-art research facilities develop and test dental products and materials that have advanced the practice of dentistry and made the patient experience more positive. The ADA Seal of Acceptance long has been a valuable and respected guide to consumer dental care products. The monthly The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) is the ADA's flagship publication and the best-read scientific journal in dentistry. For more information about the ADA, visit ADA.org. For more information on oral health, including prevention, care and treatment of dental disease, visit the ADA's consumer website MouthHealthy.org

About the New Mexico Dental Association:

More on the New Mexico Dental Association: Established in 1908, the New Mexico Dental Association is the trusted voice of oral health care in New Mexico. The NMDA provides leadership on all issues regarding oral health care and fosters an awareness of the obligation and responsibility of the dental profession to the community. Through the NMDA's "Oral Health Focus 2020" action plan, the Association addresses prevention, education, workforce and economic concerns surrounding the practice and delivery of care. For more information, please visit www.nmdental.org.