Oral Health Education for High School Students, Parents, and Community for Detroit Public Schools 
High School Student Empowering Youth Through Oral Health Education and Action Project is led by the United Health Organization (UHO), its initiative, Wayne County Oral Health Coalition, and the Detroit District Dental Society (DDDS). Three organizations united in their commitment to advancing oral education and oral health equity in Detroit Public Schools. We will call this joint outreach the collaborative for this project.
UHO, a Detroit-based nonprofit, has a deep history of over 60 years of health education and outreach in underserved communities. Under the leadership of Velisa L. Perry, UHO coordinates the efforts of the Wayne County Oral Health Coalition to increase access, raise awareness, and drive preventive care of oral health at the community level.
The Detroit District Dental Society (DDDS) is a nonprofit society that represents over 1000 dental professionals in Southeast Michigan. DDDS engages dentists, dental students, hygienists, dental assistants, and general volunteers. DDDS is pleased to partner with UHO and WCOHC to integrate clinical expertise and community leadership to make oral health education accessible, engaging, and impactful.
Goals
This collaborative purpose is to work with DPS to empower high school students across Detroit with essential oral health education, equipping them with knowledge, resources, and inspiration to take charge of their oral health, overall well-being, and explore careers in oral health.
Together, we aim to:
Promote lifelong oral hygiene through interactive education and hands-on demonstrations.
Increase health literacy in underserved communities by making oral health knowledge accessible and engaging.
Introduce students to career pathways in oral healthcare professions.
Support families in making informed dental care decisions that improve community wellness.
Scope
Oral health is a vital component of overall well-being, yet it is frequently overlooked. The mouth serves as a mirror to systemic health—revealing early signs of infection, nutritional deficiencies, and chronic disease. Despite widespread awareness of oral hygiene, cavities remain the most common chronic condition among children in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Demonta Driver, a 12-year-old from Maryland, died in 2007 from a brain infection caused
by an untreated tooth abscess. His family struggled to find dental care due to lapses in Medicaid
coverage and a lack of providers. The infection could have been prevented with an $80 tooth 
extraction. His death sparked national attention and led to improvements in children's dental 
access, though
disparities persist.
Prevention begins with education. Teaching youth the fundamentals of oral care empowers them to
build lifelong habits that reduce disease risk and improve quality of life. In Detroit, oral health 
disparities are especially severe:
•  Cavity rates among children exceed national averages, particularly in underserved 
neighborhoods.
•  Access to preventive care is limited, hindered by socioeconomic barriers and a shortage of 
dental providers.
•  Nationally, 46% of youth (ages 2–19) have untreated or restored cavities. In Detroit, this 
figure can rise to 50–60%, especially among Black and Hispanic youth.

Compounding these challenges, many counties in Michigan—including parts of Detroit—are federally 
designated as Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). These regions lack sufficient 
dental providers to meet population needs. As of 2024, 58 million people nationwide live in dental 
HPSAs, with Michigan contributing significantly to that figure.