Oral Health Program

The Oral Health Program works to increase awareness of the importance of oral health and preventive care, foster community and statewide partnerships to promote oral health and improve access to dental care, and promote the use of innovative and cost effective approaches to oral health promotion and disease prevention.

Tooth decay is. . .

• The most common chronic childhood disease
• Communicable
• Preventable

Good oral health is essential to general health and well-being and involves much more than just healthy teeth. Research points to an association between oral infections and heart and lung disease, stroke, diabetes, and low-birth-weight, premature babies. In fact, the mouth can act as a mirror reflecting an individual's overall general health status. Left untreated, tooth decay or oral infections can lead to other health problems and significant pain, interference with eating and nutrition, overuse of emergency rooms, and lost school or work time. Prevention is crucial.

Resources

• Oral Cancer in South Dakota, 2010 (use Adobe)

• Oral Health Plan for South Dakota
  Annual Summary of Plan Activities: 2010 | 2009 (use Adobe)
  
• Overview of Oral Health in South Dakota: 2009 | 2007 (use Adobe)
  
• 2010 South Dakota Oral Health Survey Report | Executive Summary (use Adobe)
  
• Dakota Smiles Mobile Dental Program (Contact Carrie Mikkonen, 605-224-7345)
• South Dakota 2011 Healthcare Workforce Report (use Adobe)
• South Dakota Health Professional Shortage Areas - Dental Healthcare (use Adobe)

The Oral Health Program is reflected in the Office of Health Promotion 2020 Strategic Map - the vision is that all South Dakotans will enjoy healthy lives free from the devastation of chronic diseases.