Summary
The article reviews the oral health status of the children of refugees and immigrants ("newcomers"); the barriers to appropriate oral health care and use of dental services; and clinical and behavioral interventions for the refugee/immigrant population in North America. Authors used studies, including those based on 2001, 2003 and 2005 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) data, found in a published review (1995 to 2008) and on electronic databases (2007 to 2014).
Authors found children of newcomers suffer from poor oral health compared to their counterparts and face several barriers to use of dental care services. Authors suggest improving parental literacy in the official language(s) of the adopted country and educating parents regarding good oral health practices can help reduce disparities in prevalence of dental caries.
