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Pennsylvania Dentists Discuss Oral Health During Children’s Dental Health Month

From WITF, On the Spark

According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 1 in 5 children between the ages of 5 and 11 have at least one untreated decaying tooth and children between the ages of 5 and 19 are twice as likely to have cavities if they come from low-income households.

According to the University of Illinois College of Dentistry, there is a connection between oral health and a person’s overall health and well-being.

February is Children’s Dental Health Month and Dr. LaJuan Mountain, vice president of dental services at Family First Health, and Dr. Sam Mansour, Pennsylvania Dental Association’s statewide national children’s dental health month chair, joined us on The Spark Thursday to discuss the importance of children’s dental health, the barriers to receiving dental care and ways to overcome them.

Dr. Mountain said, a healthy mouth consists of firm and pink gums and no disruptions or discoloration in the enamel. She also said, oral health is not the general consensus that she is seeing in our communities because of a lack of accessibility, high costs, insurance challenges, dentist office schedules, a lack of oral health literacy and more.

On The Spark we also discussed the Family First Health’s Mobile School Dentist program that provides in-school dental care for all ages and grade levels in York, Adams and Lancaster County.

“It’s having a tremendous impact. I’ve been doing this program for almost a decade and I’m actually seeing kids that I first started to treat in Head Start, and they’re now in junior high. So that means we’ve actually followed kids throughout their entire academic life thus far, and we’re seeing improvement,” Dr. Mountain said. “…We’re exposing them to the importance of their oral health, but also opportunities in health care, especially because the individuals we’re interacting with are often in that low socioeconomic environment.”

Celebrate National Children’s Dental Health this February

  To bring awareness, the Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign is reminding families that dental services are covered for children and teens who are eligible for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).  Enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP is open year-round; however, coverage must be renewed annually. Parents and caregivers should enroll their child today, or if already covered, call their healthcare provider to schedule an appointment. Visit the “Find Coverage for Your Family” map on InsureKidsNow.gov to access information by state or call 1-877-KIDS-NOW (1-877-543-7669).  It’s also a critical time to remind families enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP to update their contact information with their state Medicaid office so they can receive information about Medicaid Unwinding – an end to expanded public health insurance coverage that was allowed during the pandemic.

New USPHS Chief Dental Officer Named

The United States Public Health Service has named Rear Admiral Michael Johnson as the 21st Chief Dental Officer. Rear Admiral Johnson concurrently serves as the Chief Dental Officer of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. We look forward to how he can further elevate oral health in his new position.

Volunteer Opportunity for Dental Professionals in Pennsylvania

The Remote Area Medical (RAM) Volunteer Corps is hosting a clinic on March 25th and 26th at Penns Valley Elementary Intermediate School in Spring Mills, PA. Free dental, vision, and medical services will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. RAM is seeking volunteers to work the event. They offer first-come, first-serve free lodging for out-of-town providers, and meals are provided to volunteers during the clinic day.

Click here to view the event flyer.
Click here for more volunteer information.

Celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month! This month-long national health observance brings together thousands of dedicated professionals, healthcare providers, and educators to promote the benefits of good oral health to children, their caregivers, teachers and many others. Check out the American Dental Association website for posters, postcards, flyers, and activity sheets.

Click here for resources and to learn more.

Pennsylvania Report Addresses Rural Oral Health Access Issues

The Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC) released a report that analyzed the state of dentistry in rural Pennsylvania and found that the state has a growing problem with access to dental care. To combat those trends and problems, the report suggests some financial changes, as well as expanding technological use.

PCOH was excited to assist the LBFC on this report as the lead stakeholder.

Click here to download the report.

New Resource: E-Cigarette Use, Vaping, and Oral Health

The CareQuest Institute for Oral Health released a new visual report, “Electronic Cigarette Use, Vaping, and Oral Health.” The report explains how individuals who use e-cigarettes are significantly more likely to report having periodontal (gum) disease compared to those who do not smoke or use other nicotine products. E-cigarette use is linked with signs of periodontal disease such as increased plaque, deeper periodontal pockets around the teeth, and bone loss.

Click here to view the report.

Pennsylvania Oral Health Coalition Releases Oral Health Workforce Report Part II

PCOH released the second part of a workforce report that uncovers some Pennsylvanians have wait times up to three years to receive dental treatment for tooth decay. The “Access to Oral Health Workforce Report” determined that the average wait time for a new dental appointment in PA is two months with an additional month wait to have a filling placed. Rural residents can face up to a two to three year wait. Over the last three years, Pennsylvania has been affected by a significant number of dental hygienists and dental assistants leaving dentistry as well as increases in dentist retirements. This has resulted in dwindling availability of dental appointments.

Click here to download the report.

American Academy of Pediatrics Updates Children’s Oral Health Recommendations

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has updated their recommendations on maintaining and improving children’s oral health. The AAP advises that children drink only water between meals, preferably fluoridated tap water, and avoid juice intake before age 1. Fluoride is also critically important to prevent dental caries, especially for those who do not have early or consistent ongoing dental care.

Click here for more information.