Rural Health Information Hub Latest News

New Report Examines School Dental Services and Medicaid Billing in Pennsylvania

We are pleased to announce the release of a new report, “School Dental Services and Medicaid Billing in Pennsylvania.” This PCOH report examines challenges and opportunities related to children’s access to dental care. The project aimed to assess the scope of dental services currently provided in public schools, identify barriers to implementation and sustainability, support schools in serving as access points for preventive care, and advocate for policy changes that would allow Medicaid reimbursement for services delivered in school settings.

This report was made possible through the generous support of the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. We would like to acknowledge the contributions of Corinna Culler, RDH, DrPH, a PCOH consultant who served as the lead author.

School Professional Oral Health Training Toolkit Launched

The Pennsylvania Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics and the Healthy Teeth, Healthy Children Program launched the School Professional Oral Health Training toolkit. This resource is designed to support school professionals in promoting oral health within the school community. The toolkit includes practical guidance, engaging materials, and evidence-based strategies to help integrate oral health into everyday school life. Please consider sharing this toolkit with your school networks and anyone else that would benefit.

Click here to view the toolkit.

Healthy Children, Healthy Teeth Toolkit Launched

Pennsylvania Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics and the Healthy Teeth, Healthy Children program is excited to announce that the School Professional Oral health Training (SPOT) toolkit is now ready to view and share. This comprehensive resource is designed to support all school professionals in promoting oral health within their school communities. The SPOT toolkit includes practical guidance, engaging materials, and evidence-based strategies to help integrate oral health into everyday school life.

New Self-Paced Course Launched on Minimally Invasive Procedures

The CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is offering a new self-paced course, “Innovative Pediatric Dental Care: Exploring Minimally Invasive Procedures.” This online course equips dental professionals with the knowledge and tools to integrate evidence-based, minimally invasive solutions into pediatric care. It explores fluoride and silver diamine fluoride applications, atraumatic restorative treatment, and the Hall technique for stainless steel crowns. There is 1 CEU available for dental providers.

Click here to take the course.

Getting Help for Adults Needing Dental Care 

Do you work with any individuals who may be elderly, veterans, considered medically fragile, or have disabilities, with no way to afford dental treatments? Through Dental Lifeline Network’s Donated Dental Services program, they may be eligible to receive free dental care. Dental Lifeline Network partners with volunteer dentists and labs in communities to provide comprehensive dental care to qualified adults in need of dental care, at no cost. Individuals can qualify to receive life-changing dental care.

Click here to learn more.

ADA & Penn Dental Launch Living Guideline Program

The American Dental Association (ADA) and University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine announced a new program that will provide evidence-informed guidelines in real time to support patient care and advance public health.

The ADA Living Guideline Program is the first and only known living guideline program dedicated to oral health. The traditional guideline process usually updates every 3-5 years, but the living guideline program will allow patients, providers, policymakers, and others to adopt the information as new evidence emerges.

Click here for more information.

Poor Oral Health May Hurt More Than Teeth

Poor oral health may contribute to higher pain levels in patients with bodily pain, highlighting a possible link between the oral microbiome and the nervous system. This study highlights certain oral pathogenic species which may have a significant association with body pain and migraine headaches in women. Read more here.

Critical Gaps: U.S. Veterans and Comprehensive Dental Care

The Coalition for Oral Health Policy, an initiative of the Santa Fe Group, published “All Veterans Deserve Comprehensive Dental Care.” This article addresses the critical gap in dental care access for U.S. veterans, highlighting how limited eligibility for dental services contributes to health challenges and financial strain. The authors propose actionable policy solutions to expand access tackling issues such as workforce shortages and outdated eligibility criteria to ensure all veterans receive the comprehensive care they deserve.

Click here to read the article.

Providing Oral Health Care in Rural Areas

This distance from places like dental offices and grocery stores makes it challenging for patients in rural areas to have good oral health. Dr. Jessica Robertson, DMD, shares patients are only coming to town once a month to get their groceries. So, their perishables will be done and over within the first two weeks. And then the next two weeks are just ultra-processed foods, which are high in sugar and salt. Read more about Dr. Robertson’s efforts to improve oral health in rural areas Voices from the Field.