Nebraska Oral Health Needs Assessment by Vulnerable Populations

The significant improvement in the oral health of Americans over the past 50 years is a public health success story. However, dental disparities continue to exist for certain population groups that can include rural residents, low income individuals, people with disabilities, minorities, military and veterans, immigrants and refugees and pregnant women. These people are more vulnerable to dental disease due to a combination of circumstances and forces. It is important to note, that individuals may belong to more than one of these underserved groups, which can multiply the overall disparity effect. This dashboard outlines the unique oral health status of vulnerable population groups in Nebraska.