O KLAHOMA SESSION
conference education
Assessing Oklahoma’s Health - A Statewide Report Card Friday, October 6, 2023 | 9:45 am - 12:00 pm (1 CDE) Presenter: Terrisa Singleton, MHHSA
The Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation, in collaboration with the Oklahoma Oral Health Coalition and the Oklahoma Primary Care Association, collected data on key oral health indicators and “graded” Oklahoma’s performance in comparison to national aver- ages. The purpose of the Oklahoma Oral Health Report Card is to provide a snapshot of the state of the oral health of Oklahomans, in the context of national statistics. Thirteen (13) oral health indicators for various populations (including children, adults, seniors, and pregnant women) were selected for review. Data on each indicator were collected from various national and state sources, including the Oklahoma State Depart- ment of Health Dental Service’s statewide assessment of third grade children. For each indicator, the percentage difference between the national and Oklahoma scores was cal- culated and assigned a letter grade based on a 4.0 scale. The points for all 13 indicators were averaged to create a total point value and overall letter score for Oklahoma. The results? Oklahoma’s overall grade is a D. As such, Oklahoma is significantly lagging behind in key oral health indicators, compared to the national average. This report is a valuable tool for communicating to policy makers and others the importance of prioritiz- ing oral health issues in Oklahoma. Compare Oklahoma’s performance on 13 key oral health indicators to the national av- erage. Assess the performance of specific populations regarding key oral health indica - tors. Identify oral health indicators that should be prioritized in order to improve the oral and overall health of Oklahomans. As Director of the Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation, Terrisa works extensively with dental safety net clinics and programs throughout the state and oversees the Foundation’s oral health education programs. She is past chair of the Oklahoma Oral Health Coalition and the Oklahoma Charitable Clinic Association. Terrisa holds a Master’s degree in Human and Health Services Administration (2018) from the University of Okla- homa, where she was a Graduate Student Research Fellow in the OU Center for Social Justice.
Oral Health in Oklahoma: Opportunities for Advancement
Annual Conference Guide 2023
Page 35
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