ICS-II USA research locations: environmental, dental care delivery system, and population sociodemographic characteristics

Indian Health Service, United States Public Health Service, Sacramento, CA, USA.

Secondary data sources are used to describe the ICS-II USA research locations in terms of external environment, dental care delivery system, and population sociodemographics. The Native American reservations located in Arizona, New Mexico, and South Dakota were rural, while the other research locations were primarily urban. Baltimore, Maryland, and the Native American communities had fluoridated water, but San Antonio did not. Dental services in Baltimore and San Antonio were predominantly financed by private sources, with a small public health component. Dental care services in Native American communities were largely Indian Health Services (IHS) financed by the US Government. Each geographical area exhibited diverse characteristics indicating unique challenges for the delivery of community and clinical dental services.