Mission:

It is well documented that American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) carry a disproportionate burden of oral disease. According to the IHS 1999 Oral Health Survey, the majority of AI/AN children have tooth decay, most adults have lost teeth because of dental disease, periodontal disease is a significant problem for adults, and there is limited access to both preventive and restorative dental care. Profound health disparities exist between the oral health status of AI/ANs in the Pacific Northwest compared to non-AI/ANs in the same area.  These differences result from multiple etiologies, but one clearly identifiable factor is the loss of dental public health infrastructure by the Indian Health Service over the last decade.  The Indian Health Service (IHS) has made additional funds available to create dental support centers with the goal to improve the oral health of AI/AN people. The Northwest Tribal Dental Support Center (NTDSC) is currently in its seventh year of operation.

The overall goals of the NTDSC are to provide training, quality improvement, and technical assistance to the 36 IHS/Tribal dental programs in the Portland Area, and to ensure that the services of the NTDSC result in measurable improvement in the oral health status of the AI/AN people served in the Portland Area. The objectives are to continue oral health assessment, ensure quality of care, Implement clinical and community-based prevention programs, and provide continuing dental education. Furthermore, NTDSC works closely with IHS and other dental support centers towards meeting national HP/DP objectives. The objectives of NTDSC are supported through ongoing communication with local dental programs via site visits, email groups, telephone consultation, and an annual Area-wide dental meeting.