Northwest Tribal Dental Support Center

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 twenty-first  year of operation.

Goals

The overall goals of the NTDSC are to provide training, quality improvement, and technical assistance to the 39 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.

Annual Dental Meeting

2024 Area Dental Meeting Info Coming Soon! Previous Year’s info is below.

History

The Northwest Tribal Dental Support Center (NTDSC) began in 2000 and is grant funded through the Indian Health Service-Division or Oral Health. The NTDSC is funded in five year grant cycles and is in it’s fifth-five year grant cycle (2020-2025).

IHS Division of Oral HealthIMG_6477
http://www.doh.ihs.gov/

“The Impact of Oral Disease on the Lives of Washingtonians”
http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/Oral_Health/burden.htm

Consultants/Staff

Ticey Mason (Siletz), MAOL

NTDSC Project Director

tmason@npaihb.org

 

 

Dr. Sean Kelly

Clinical Consultant

drkelly55@gmail.com



Dr. Miranda Davis

Prevention Consultant

mdavis@npaihb.org

 

2023 Area Dental Meeting, Squamish Clearwater Resort
Squamish, WA August 15-16

2022 Area Dental Meeting, Squamish Clearwater Resort
Squamish, WA August 16-17

2019 Area Dental Meeting

2018 Area Dental Meeting, Tulalip Casino and Resort,
Tulalip, WA August 20-23

epicenter

More NPAIHB Programs