The pediatric nurse practitioner's role in reducing oral health disparities in homeless children.

Dental caries is the most common infectious disease of children. The majority of children in the United States who experience dental decay are from low-income, minority families. Many low- income, minority families are at risk for homelessness and, indeed, mothers with children are the fastest growing homeless group. Once homeless, families end up in shelters. Shelters are a unique source for the provision of health care; however, the provision of dental care to mothers and children in shelters is limited. At a shelter-based clinic, of a total number of children assessed in a 24-month period (n = 264), 22.7% (n = 60) had obvious gross dental cavities. The school-aged children (6-12 years) (n = 41) had the highest prevalence of dental cavities (34%). Consistent with the literature, dental caries was the most prevalent condition of homeless children and the most difficult for which to obtain treatment. Follow-up was difficult because of the transient nature of homeless families.