OHEP Receives Meritorious Award from ADA

The Oral Health Equity Project (OHEP), a collaboration of the Boston Public Health Commission, BUSDM, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences Forsyth Dental Hygiene Program, Harvard University School of Dental Medicine, and Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, this month received a Meritorious Access to Care Award in the category of geriatric oral health care from the American Dental Association’s Council on Access, Prevention and Interprofessional Relations.

The award recognizes OHEP for improving the oral health of older adults through innovative community outreach activities.

"Elders residing in various Boston neighborhoods often face a wide range of very real barriers to accessing dental care, thus they often experience high levels of oral disease," says Kathy Lituri, clinical instructor in the Department of Health Policy and Health Services Research.

OHEP, which was created in 2002, seeks to expand access to oral health care and improve the oral health of elders and young people with disabilities residing in subsidized housing by offering oral health education, oral screenings, fluoride varnish application, denture labeling, referrals, and case management by BUSDM and other schools’ faculty and students.

The program visited ten sites around Boston between July 2005 and June 2006.