Arndt Presents at National Oral Health Conference

Charlie Arndt, a graduate research fellow in the Health Policy Research Program, presented her poster, "Factors Affecting Access to Dental Care for Seniors in Rural Iowa" at the National Oral Health Conference® (NOHC) on Saturday, April 24.

The poster, co-authored with Peter Damiano, director and distinguished research fellow in residence, and director of the Health Policy Research Program, focused on the unique challenges that rural communities face in accessing dental care services, such as provider shortages and insurance coverage. Seniors, who comprise a large proportion of the rural population, face their own unique challenges accessing dental care. Some of these challenges include lack of insurance coverage and transportation. The purpose of this research study is to investigate the following research questions: What barriers to dental care are persisting in rural Iowa communities for seniors? What roles do existing programs and resources play in alleviating the barriers seniors face with accessing dental care? 

The NOHC is “the premier meeting” for those interested in continuing education and networking opportunities within the discipline of Dental Public Health, and is held annually. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's conference was held virtually.

You can view the poster here.