The Minnesota Department of Health has partnered with more than 200 community stakeholders and dental providers to launch a 10-year plan to improve the oral health of residents in the state.
The State Oral Health Plan 2020-2030 is a roadmap for the state to increase prevention of dental disease, enhance oral healthcare access, improve data infrastructure and integrate dental and medical care in the state.
Additional partners of the plan include the state's Dental Services Advisory Committee and the Minnesota Oral Health Coalition.
The plan will focus on oral health diseases and care throughout different life stages, as well as various factors that affect oral health, including health literacy, health equity, cultural practices and behaviors.
In an Aug. 24 news release, the health department acknowledged that marginalized communities are more likely to suffer from dental diseases and said it will create a group of professionals focused on improving oral health for people living in rural communities.
Next steps for the health department include creating awareness of the plan, developing targeted work plans and creating a measurement system to track success.