Clemson University is working to improve oral health in South Carolina with support from the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation.
Oral health is an important indicator of overall health. Untreated dental problems like gum disease and tooth decay are linked to chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and complications during pregnancy. Despite these risks, oral health remains one of the most unmet health needs among low-income adults – 86% of South Carolina adults enrolled in Medicaid did not visit a dentist in 2023, according to the Foundation.
“Oral health remains a top health priority in South Carolina, within nearly half of all children in the state experiencing tooth decay and almost 30 percent of the state population living in areas where there are not enough dentists,” said Sarah Griffin, professor of public health sciences and interim director of Clemson’s new Extension Center for Health Outreach (ECHO).
Through ECHO, faculty from the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences and Clemson Extension partner on statewide programs related to disease prevention, selfcare, family wellness and women’s health. Funding from the Foundation will support a new Oral Health Outreach and Education Initiative.
“We are excited to bring the strengths of Clemson Cooperative Extension, Clemson Public Health Sciences and South Carolina technical colleges together for this new collaborative to improve oral health,” Griffin said.
The oral health initiative is a community-based program designed to expand access to oral health education and preventive care for underserved adults and families in South Carolina’s Pee Dee region. The initiative is led by Griffin and Windsor Sherrill, Clemson’s senior associate vice president for research. Other team members include Danielle McFall, Rhonda Matthews, Guanyu Wang and Hannah Wilson.
Program leaders will work with Florence-Darlington Technical College and Horry-Georgetown Technical College to deliver community-based oral health education. The project establishes an innovative model that combines Extension’s statewide community reach with the clinical expertise of dental education partners to improve oral health knowledge, promote preventive care and connect participants to dental resources. The initiative represents the first formal collaboration between Clemson Extension and South Carolina technical college dental programs.
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation is an independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association. This initiative reflects the Foundation’s commitment to advancing equitable oral health outcomes and reducing barriers to care for economically vulnerable South Carolinians.
