Executive Director The American Institute of Dental Public Health
Participants should be aware of the following financial/non-financial relationships: . Annaliese Cothron, DHSc, MS, CPH: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.
Veterans cannot achieve optimal health without a holistic approach to care that effectively integrates oral health. Veterans are more likely than non-veterans to experience oral diseases that affect their quality of life compared to non-veterans. These disparate health outcomes are exacerbated by fragmented systems that perpetuate inequities. Most veterans do not qualify for VA dental care benefits unless they have a service-connected compensable dental condition, disability, or were a prisoner of war, making access to dental care inequitable across the majority of the veteran population. The American Institute of Dental Public Health and CareQuest Institute for Oral Health have entered a collaborative partnership to explore research, access, and advocacy that advances equitable oral health for veterans. Veterans cannot be healthy without good oral health. Clear evidence underscores a need to improve the oral health infrastructure available to all veterans. This roundtable session explores the systemic drivers of inequitable veteran care and opportunities for oral health professionals to support the health and wellbeing of veterans. The discussion will focus on the implementation of strategic recommendations surrounding care team innovation, integrated value-based care delivery, and veteran-driven applications embedded within two publications. Trend data collected during community research will be presented. Attendees are encouraged to share their own experiences with veteran oral health, resources to support veteran care, and how they can expand recommendations to improve the health and wellbeing of veterans. Co-authors of this work include Chelsea Chokas, MSM, Valerie Nieto, RDH, MS, and Sean Boynes, DMD, MS.
