WHEREAS, the National Indian Health Board (NIHB), established in 1972, serves all Federally recognized American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribal governments by advocating for the improvement of health care delivery to AI/ANS, as well as upholding the Federal government’s trust responsibility to AI/AN Tribal governments; and

WHEREAS, NIHB has established the Tribal Oral Health Initiative to bring together stakeholders including Tribal leaders, Tribal health directors, Area Indian Health Boards, Tribal Epidemiology Centers, and public health leaders to explore solutions and develop recommendations to address oral health disparities and lack of access to oral health treatment and prevention services in Indian Country; and

WHEREAS, oral health disparities exist between American Indian/Alaska Native people and the national average, with over 41% of AI/AN children under eight years old suffering from dental decay compared to 10% nationally, and with an average of 6 decayed teeth in AI/AN children under five years old compared to 1 decayed tooth on average nationally; and

WHEREAS, the National Indian Health Board conducted a survey of Oral Health in Indian Country in 2016 and found that 64% of respondents had encountered barriers to access oral health care in their communities; and