Gail Cherry-Peppers

Previous studies on individual-level variables have improved our knowledge base of oral health service use. However, environmental or contextual variables are also important in understanding oral health disparities in racial and ethnic neighborhoods. Based on Bronfenbrenner’s ecological framework, this study examines the geographic availability of oral health providers in Washing-ton DC, U.S.A. Census tract-level data were drawn from the American Community Survey, joined with tract-level shapefiles, and overlaid with the geographic location of dental services throughout the city. Visual maps, descriptive statistics, and spatial lag regression models showed that census tracts with higher concentrations of African Americans were significantly farther from their nearest oral health providers (r = 0.19, p < 0.001), after controlling for neighborhood poverty rate, median age, and gender. Such findings confirm that in urban areas with highly di-verse populations such as Washington DC, racial disparities in oral health care access are signifi-cant. The study highlights that identifying neighborhoods with limited oral health care providers should be a priority in diminishing racial disparities in oral health service access. Improving access to racial/ethnic minority communities, especially African American neighborhoods, will require changes in health policies and programs, workforce development, resource allocation, community outreach, and educational programs.

Background: Access to dental care in mixed-race and predominantly African American wards in the District of Columbia (DC) was investigated in relation to community development. Methods: This study used high-resolution geographic information system (GIS) tools to map all general dentistry and periodontal practice locations in DC wards. The spatial analysis contextualized each ward’s land use and demographic data obtained from DC government reports. Findings: The analysis revealed inter-ward inequity in dental care access which was measured by proximity to and number of dental clinics in each DC ward. Residents in affluent wards had access to many dental practices and superior amenities. Residents in wards poorly served by public transportation and with few resources had few if any dental clinics. Conclusions: Dental practices are inequitably distributed across DC wards. DC policy should prioritize community development—specifically resource allocation and community outreach—to promote health equity and improve access to and quality of dental care among residents of color.

A case of a 19-year-old female patient is presented to a private practice dental clinician with swelling of the lower lip and inflammation of the anterior dorsal tongue. The patient presented with moderate oral pain as well as abdominal pain. The lesions were biopsied and noted for a granulomatous histopathologic appearance. The patient reported a history of using cinnamon as a flavoring agent. The lesions resolved within two weeks after the biopsy procedures and topical steroid therapy. The lesions were diagnosed as cheilitis granulomatosa/orofacial granulomatosis. The patient has remained lesion free as of the three-year follow-up. Etiologic, diagnostic and therapeutic issues related to this relatively rare condition of cheilitis granulomatosa/orofacial granulomatosis are discussed.