Policy on Care for Vulnerable Populations in a Pediatric Dental Setting

Policy statement

Recognizing the challenges faced by vulnerable populations in achieving optimal oral health status, the AAPD supports:

• delivery of empathetic oral health care in an environment that is sensitive to the social determinants of oral health and heightened vulnerabilities of each individual patient.
• advocacy for programs and policies that support vulnerable populations in obtaining improved access to health care services.
• pre- and postdoctoral programs as well as continuing education courses that include training oral health care professionals in cultural safety and social concerns for vulnerable populations.
• interprofessional networks that will aid vulnerable populations in accessing important health care resources.