Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy

Although oral health in the United States has improved overall, tooth decay remains the most common chronic childhood disease—five times more prevalent than asthma.

Low-income and minority families in particular bear a high burden of dental problems, but are less likely than middle- or high-income families to have access to preventive dental services. In 2013, NYHealth supported the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy in efforts to educate policymakers and communities in New York State about dental disease and make recommendations for policies to improve population oral health across socioeconomic status, race, and age. In 2017, NYHealth awarded the Schuyler Center a grant to further this statewide oral health campaign.

Under this grant, the Schuyler Center built the readiness and capacity of communities to implement new public health solutions to improve oral health and sustain existing community-based efforts. It provided training and technical support to New York State communities, including the development of a campaign kit that will guide communities in their oral health promotion efforts going forward. Last, the Schuyler Center promoted the New York oral health campaign nationally at conferences, disseminating the strategies, successes, and challenges of the project.