The first in a two-part series focusing on how CEOs can lead health care organizations in using data to improve disparities, social determinants and community partnerships. Myechia Minter-Jordan, MD, President and CEO, DentaQuest Partnership for Oral Health Advancement, cautioned against confusing race data with lower income. “We know very clearly that some of the inequities within Black and Brown communities exist regardless of income, particularly as you think about maternal mortality, etc.,” Minter-Jordan said.

Recent research from DentaQuest showed that over 74 million Americans lack access to dental coverage — four times the number of people who are medically uninsured. More than 45 million Americans live in areas without an adequate number of dentists. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that this gap in access disproportionately harms poor, black, and brown Americans.

Some 40 percent of dentists in a recent survey said they’re either using telehealth now to stay in touch with patients or will soon be using telemedicine technology. That survey, conducted by the DentaQuest Partnership for Oral Health Advancement, saw a significant gap between what dentists felt they should do to treat patients in person during the crisis and what they were confident they can do.

A recent survey of more than 37,000 dental providers by DentaQuest Partnership for Oral Health Advancement sought to uncover just how comfortable dentists and dental practice managers are about executing changes in their practices brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

We speak about the effort with Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan, one of the fund's founding members. She is also the President and CEO of the DentaQuest Institute for Health Advancement and the Catalyst Institute.