Pennsylvania has few state-level data on dental caries rates in children. In response, the state is launching a program called the Basic Screening Survey (BSS). A list of 80 schools have been identified based on enrollment, demographics, geography, and other factors to serve as a representative sample of the state as a whole. Public Health Dental Hygiene Practitioners (PHDHPs) will serve as screeners during the 2021-2022 school year and will conduct a quick screening (less than 2 minutes) on all third grade students. Screeners will enter data for each school visited and attend a paid virtual training session this summer. Screeners will be paid a stipend for every school site they complete and all materials will be provided.

Applications are due April 8, 2021.

Click here for more information.
Click here for qualifications.
Click here for the application.

The Public Health Dental Hygiene Practitioner (PHDHP) site expansion to medical settings in Pennsylvania has been published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and is effective upon this final-form rulemaking publication January 16, 2021. Please access this link for further information.

The American Dental Association recently revised its code of professional conduct to include the duty to provide dental health care, or make an appropriate referral, to patients experiencing disabilities. This listening series is for dental providers who are looking to better serve patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Do you have questions about payment, treatment models, or best practices? Join the PA Coalition for Oral Health (PCOH) and Achieva, the ARC of Greater Pittsburgh, for a series of regional virtual listening sessions in January and February for dental providers and MA-enrolled Public Health Dental Hygiene Practitioners (PHDHPs). You will also be able to share your thoughts, concerns and most importantly, suggestions, on how they can help providers to provide this care. The first 20 participants for each session will receive an e-gift card for $15.00 (limit one per provider). Click on the call that is accessible for your schedule. (Although listed by regions, you can register for any call.)

• Jan. 19, 4:00 pm (Northwest PA)
• Jan. 21, 8:00 a.m. (Northeast PA)
• Jan. 25, 12:00 pm (Lehigh & Capital regions)
• Jan. 27, 4:00 pm (Southwest PA)
• Feb. 5, 8:00 am (Southeast PA) 

The Dental Toolkit, now available on the Clinical Risk Management Program website, includes resources to help risk and safety leaders protect patients and employees, ensure compliance with federal and state laws and implement and foster a culture of safety in dental settings. Key resources include:

• Dental Risk Management Training Program
• Sample Job Description: Dental Infection Prevention And Control Coordinator
• Infographic: Dental Instrument Sterilization Workflow
• Dental Treatment Informed Refusal Form

Temple University Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry in Philadelphia has developed Nutritional Counseling for Obesity Prevention (NCOP) in Children: A Handbook for the Dental Community. This handbook is an evidence-based resource that will increase the knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals in childhood obesity prevention, healthy nutrition, and dietary counseling. The handbook also has a NCOP screener that can be integrated into electronic health record systems to help identify children who are at high risk for both dental caries and obesity. This useful resource for community health centers is available at no cost.

PCOH is tracking the amount of free and charitable dental services provided in Pennsylvania. We are still collecting information on services provided in the calendar year 2019. Every year, thousands of dollars are spent in providing free dental care to those in need of dental services. In 2018, PCOH was able to collect data from 21 different organizations offering free services to 10,300 patients. The data collected show that over 40,400 procedures were performed free-of-charge in 2018 for a total estimated value of $5.8 million. Please help us by filling out this form to provide information about your program’s numbers in 2019. It should take 15-30 minutes to complete the questions; no questions are required, but your response will be most helpful if you can answer questions that you have numbers for.

Click here to fill out the survey.

Community Catalyst’s Health Policy Hub published a blog this week, “COVID-19 Tooth Loss and Oral Health Complications Underscore Importance of Maintaining, Expanding Coverage.” The blog explores possible connections between oral health and COVID-19 as well as the pandemic’s effect
on dental delivery services.

Click here to read the blog.