The Palm Beach County Oral Health Coalition’s (PBCOHC) primary focus continues to be increasing awareness of the prevalence of dental disease and highlighting the need for improved access to quality oral health care. With assistance from the Florida Institute for Health Innovation (formerly known as the Florida Public Health Institute), last year the PBCOHC began to engage in a data-driven, results-based strategic planning process in order to achieve oral health for people in Palm Beach County.

In February 2014, the Florida Institute for Health Innovation reported that more than 139,000 Floridians were treated in 2012 in hospital emergency departments for oral health problems that could have been addressed in a dental office or clinic or avoided with adequate prevention and primary dental care. Charges for these visits exceeded $141 million. In 2012, there were 8,000 more visits than in 2011; a 6.4 percent increase. Charges, however, climbed 22 percent to more than $25 million.

Palm Beach County charges totaled $277,742 in 2011 and $444,124 in 2012. In contrast to the state data, the highest number of visits and highest costs were for uninsured individuals and for those with Medicare. Medicaid charges remained lower than average. The PBCOHC is developing strategies to address the oral health needs of the county’s uninsured and underserved individuals and families.