Health Dept., Boone Fiscal Court partner to improve oral health access | Health

BOONE  COUNTY, KY (FOX19) - Almost one-third of Northern Kentucky adults have delayed getting dental health care due to the cost, and one-quarter of them feel that their oral health is less than ideal, according to the Greater Cincinnati Community Health Status Survey. Each year, more than 2,500 emergency room visits in Northern Kentucky can be attributed to dental problems.

            A new project by the Northern Kentucky Health Department and the Boone County Fiscal Court aims to address oral health care access in the region. At its January 24 meeting, the fiscal court unanimously approved $1,500 in funding for the project, which will be used as a stipend for a public health graduate student intern.

            “The goal of this project is to lay the foundation to increase access to oral health care for low-income residents of Northern Kentucky with specific plans that can be implemented in Boone County,” said Kirk Kavanaugh, Director of Human Services for Boone County.

            The student will conduct research and analyze data in order to understand and describe the magnitude of oral health needs in Northern Kentucky; analyze oral health assets and resources to address the issue; support the creation of a Northern Kentucky Oral Health Task Force and assist the group in drafting an oral health access improvement plan; and review academic research on oral health access.

            “A plan is only as good as the information from which it’s based,” said Lynne M. Saddler, MD, MPH, District Director of Health. “With the funding to support the efforts of a graduate student in this area, we should emerge with a research-based plan tailored to meet our region’s needs. We appreciate Boone County’s support of this health improvement initiative, both financially and in staff time and expertise.”

            The student intern will be recruited through the Health Department’s Northern Kentucky Public Health Institute, and is expected to complete his/her work later this year.