Objectives To evaluate the association between food insecurity and dental caries in US children aged 1‐19 years. Methods Data from children ages 1‐19 collected through the 2013/2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was analyzed. Descriptive analysis of both the exposure (food insecurity) and outcome variables (dental caries), as well as covariates, was carried out. Strata‐specific odds ratios and respective 95 percent confidence intervals for each covariate were determined, followed by linear regression models. Results The odd of having dental caries was 2.9 times higher for children who had very low food security. The odds of having dental caries was 2.6 times higher for children aged 6‐11, 2.9 times higher for children aged 12‐15, and 4.2 times higher for children aged 16‐19 when compared to children aged 1‐5. Conclusions There is a significant association between food insecurity and dental caries in children and dental caries prevalence increases with age.

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Summary This article describes the implementation and outcomes of a social work program in a university pediatric dental clinic serving low-income families. The goal was to decrease barriers to dental care access, decrease appointment failure, and improve interprofessional practice (IPP). Funding was obtained through a foundation to hire a social worker and two interns, and cover program costs. A survey identified barriers families faced to obtain and complete pediatric dental care. Residents, dental students, and faculty make referrals to the social workers who intervene to help families overcome challenges for their children's care. Findings The program started in January 2019 and outcomes are reported through June 2021. The largest barriers families identified were lack of a pediatric dentist near home accepting public insurance (91%), the dentist who saw their child only did exams and cleanings but not fillings (84%), and need for specialized dental care (77%). Five hundred and eleven families were referred to the social workers, most commonly for resources, information or other referrals (30.5%), dental insurance lapse (14.9%), caregiver guidance on oral health (10.6%), mental health concerns (10.4%), and poor treatment compliance (9.6%). Social workers provided 424 interventions, mostly about information regarding community resources (26.8%), transportation issues (15.9%), and telephone consults (14.2%). Appointment failure rates decreased from 17% to 13.5%, while the cancelation rate decreased from 19.2% to 14.3% from January 2019 to June 2021, respectively. Applications Social workers helped decrease barriers to pediatric dental care, improve attendance to dental appointments, and enhance IPP for pediatric dental residents, students, and faculty.