- VA Announces Expansion of "Close to Me" Cancer Program as Part of the Cancer Moonshot, Bringing Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Closer to Thousands of Veterans
- Navajo Psychiatrist Bridges Gaps Between Native American Culture and Behavioral Health Care
- Biden-Harris Administration Releases National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and First-Ever Federal Action Plan
- Biden-Harris Administration Takes Historic Action to Increase Access to Quality Care, and Support to Families and Care Workers
- Biden Administration Sets Higher Staffing Mandates. Most Nursing Homes Don't Meet Them.
- Rural Jails Turn to Community Health Workers To Help the Newly Released Succeed
- Rural Communities Face Primary Care Physician Shortage
- Miles for Milk: How Student-Run Grocery Store Reshaped Rural Community's Food Access
- Native Americans Have Shorter Life Spans, and It's Not Just Due to Lack of Health Care
- Promotoras Play Essential Role in Connecting Farmworkers with Health Care in Rural NorCal
- Across the Country, Amish Populations Are on the Rise
- Using Medicaid to Address Young People's Mental Health Needs in School Settings
- Sunsets, Wildlife and Limited Care: Challenges of Aging in Place in Rural America
- City-Country Mortality Gap Widens amid Persistent Holes in Rural Health Care Access
- Tribal Environmental Impact Network
Dental Workforce Numbers Continue to Plague Pennsylvania
The PA Coalition for Oral Health (PCOH) recognizes the dental workforce challenges facing our state and is currently working with private consultants and student interns to do a complete analysis of the extent of these issues, both for licensees and Medicaid providers. Be on the lookout for upcoming webinars throughout the remainder of the year when we will share our findings.
Tips from Former Smokers® Campaign Launch
2022 marks the 10th anniversary of the Tips From Former Smokers® (Tips®) campaign from CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health. This year, ads will appear on network broadcast television and national cable television, Monday–Friday, from February 28 to March 27. Ads will feature Christine B., who quit smoking after she was diagnosed with oral cancer. CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health has developed an online toolkit that includes images and messages about the campaign. CDC Tobacco Free Twitter and Facebook accounts will also be sharing more about Christine B.’s story throughout the month. Dental professionals can play a critical role in helping their patients quit tobacco use. We encourage you to learn more about the Tips® campaign by accessing the toolkit and engaging with the social posts. Learn more.
Dental professionals can also learn effective strategies on how to talk to patients about tobacco use and referring to QuitLine resources by taking Integrating Nicotine Dependence Treatment with Oral Health: For Dental Professionals (INDTOH). This free, two-part webinar series is hosted by PCOH and presented in partnership with Nicotine Free NWPA and includes 2.5 CEUs.
Mission of Mercy in Pennsylvania (MOM-n-PA) Volunteer Registration Now Open!
MOM-n-PA is an annual two-day free dental clinic for Pennsylvanians who cannot afford dental care. MOM-n-PA provides dental care for the relief of pain to thousands of the most needy, many of whom are from working families who do not have access or cannot afford dental insurance.
This year’s event will be held in York, PA on June 10 and 11, 2022.
Oral Health and Children with Heart Conditions
A new study, “Preventive Dental Care and Oral Health of Children with and without Heart Conditions,” was recently published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Children living with heart defects are more likely to develop infective endocarditis. The study found that 1 in 10 children with a heart condition had teeth in fair/poor condition and 1 in 6 had at least one indicator of poor oral health such as toothaches, bleeding gums, or cavities in the past year.
Black History Month and Oral Health Equity
Did you know that black adults are 68% more likely than white adults to have unmet dental needs? Black History Month provides an opportunity to pause and reflect on how to make changes today to get closer to equity for all in the future. A new blog post from the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health spotlights statistics from an inequitable oral health care system that needs care, attention, and advocacy to change. The post also highlights the many black Americans that helped shape oral health history.
ADA: Managing Dental Staff Resources
The American Dental Association (ADA) has released a new series addressing staffing challenges facing dental offices. The new resources focus on recruitment, hiring, and training staff. Resources include informational packets, articles, guides, podcast recordings, and courses.
American Heart Month: The Link Between Oral Health and Heart Disease
February is American Heart Month. In the United States, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in most racial/ethnic groups, contributing to 659,000 deaths each year. One in every four deaths is attributed to heart disease. Moderate to severe periodontal disease is linked to higher risk for heart disease. The bacteria in the mouth can enter the bloodstream and cause inflammation and plaque accumulation in blood vessels.
Click here for more information about oral health and heart disease.
Click here for more information about American Heart Month.
PA Oral Health Coalition Releases 2021 Annual Report
The PA Coalition for Oral Health (PCOH) is pleased to announce the completion of our 2021 Annual Report. Our work would not be possible without you. Thank you to all stakeholders, partners, and funders for working hard to improve oral health in Pennsylvania.
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month
This week is the start of National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM). During February, oral health advocates across the country are raising awareness on the importance of children’s oral health and focusing on the theme, “Sealants Make Sense.” Free materials are available from the American Dental Association (ADA). Oral Health Watch is also hosting the “National Children’s Dental Health Month Tweet Chat” with several cohosts on February 10th at 2 pm ET. Participants are encouraged to follow @OralHealthWatch on Twitter and use #NCDHM and #KidsTeeth in any NCDHM-related tweets.
Click here to view the ADA’s free materials.
Click here to check out @OralHealthWatch on Twitter.
CDC Division of Oral Health New Email Subscriptions
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Oral Health has unveiled a new communication series of three topic-focused email subscriptions to educate, promote, and share information on various oral health subjects. The three new emails are General Updates from the Division of Oral Health, Infection Prevention & Control in Dental Settings, and CDC’s Dental Public Health Residency Program. The emails are intended for dental health care personnel, dental and dental public health students, advocates and educators, researchers, water operators and engineers, and anyone interested in oral health.
Click here to subscribe to the General Updates emails.
Click here to subscribe to the Infection Prevention & Control emails.
Click here to subscribe to the Dental Public Health Residency Program emails.