ED04: What Does Equity Look Like in the Dental Setting?

This session will provide a background and rationale on the difference between equality and equity and its role in patient care by leveraging cultural sensitivity to create an environment that is inclusive for all. Dental settings need to collect demographic information related to race/ethnicity, age, language, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity (REALD-SOGI). To truly provide customized patient-centered care, dental hygienists should also inquire about other social construct factors related to social constructs such as access to reliable transportation, nutritious food, secure housing, sustainable work, and safe neighborhoods. When demographic and social construct information is combined with comprehensive oral and systemic records, dental hygienists improve their ability to properly assess and mitigate their patient’s risk for oral disease.