Access to oral health care for vulnerable populations in California

The need for health in general and oral health in particular is a basic and fundamental element for a quality life. Not everyone in America has access to basic oral health services. California, in particular, has greater challenges than other areas of the country in providing basic oral health services to everyone. This paper will discuss the problems of accessing oral health care, the importance of achieving oral health care, the necessity of maintaining oral health, the factors influencing oral health care access, and the response of the dental profession to the problems of access to oral health care. These problems will be examined from the following three perspectives: (1) Statewide Perspective, (2) Locality Perspective, (3) Individual Perspective. Potential solutions for vulnerable populations in accessing oral health care will be developed using data from quantitative and qualitative methodologies