Mission Statement
“Fighting disparities within oral health”
Project Smile San Francisco (PSSF) is dedicated to fostering a city of healthy and confident smiles. Founded in 2022 by Meagan To, it aims to make oral hygiene products accessible and organize free dental screening events for underprivileged communities. PSSF combines community action, advocacy, and collaboration to promote proper dental care and restore confidence.
Our mission is rooted in the belief that oral health is fundamental to overall well-being. Through our partnerships with local organizations, volunteers, and dental professionals, we address oral health disparities and ensure individuals in underprivileged communities receive the care they deserve.
Background
Several recent studies have shown that there is a link between poverty/low socio-economic status and poor oral health. Reasons for this disparity include unaffordable pricing of care products, being uninsured or an immigrant, and unfavorable access to services. Oral health is important because it greatly affects the overall health of a person. According to CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), suboptimal oral health leads to a weakening in the body’s infection resistance, causing a higher risk of certain diseases such as diabetes and HIV/AIDS. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, 4 out of 10 Americans lost their jobs (Milliman), resulting in a loss of medical insurance coverage as well. Adjacent to that, the high cost of medical insurance prevents many people from receiving oral health services, leading to a drastic decrease in oral health, especially in children, who rely on their parent’s insurance plans (PubMed).
Sources Cited
“Oral Health Conditions.” CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/conditions/index.html. Accessed 5 January 2023.
Wilder, Teresa K., et al. “Racial disparities in healthcare: Oral healthcare.” Milliman, 4 May 2021, https://us.milliman.com/en/insight/racial-disparities-in-oral-healthcare-in-the-united-states-considerations-in-the-covid19-era. Accessed 11 December 2022
Wehby, George L. “Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s oral health and oral health care use.” PubMed, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35422268/. Accessed 5 January 2023.