- 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
- Using Medicaid to Address Young People's Mental Health Needs in School Settings
- Across the Country, Amish Populations Are on the Rise
- 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
- Minnesota's Rural Ambulance Providers Look to State Capitol for Their Own Lifeline
- Biden-Harris Administration Takes Action to Support the Primary Care Workforce
Oral Health Equity Research Award Funding Opportunity Announced
The American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research and the Delta Dental Institute are now accepting applications for the second annual Oral Health Equity Research Award. This award supports research that advances recommendations for greater oral health equity in populations that lack access to dental care or improves oral health literacy for underserved populations. Submissions must represent original research that addresses social determinants of health and oral health disparities, and promotes oral health equity in the areas of access to care or oral health literacy. Two grants will be awarded at $25,000 each. Applications are due before October 17.
New Report: Addressing the Oral Health Needs of Hispanics in the U.S.
The Hispanic Dental Association and CareQuest Institute for Oral Health released a new report, “Addressing the Oral Health Needs of Hispanics in the U.S.,” which explores the oral health status, dental needs, utilization of dental services, and workforce. The report found that higher percentages of gum disease and tooth loss were reported among Hispanic people compared with other racial groups, and Hispanic children ages 6 to 11 had more decayed and filled teeth than others in that age group. The report also found that Hispanic dentists only represent 6% of the U.S. dentist workforce.
Just Released! Results from 2022 Pennsylvania Dental Assistant Survey
PCOH recently completed the “2022 PA Dental Assistant Survey” and created a resource to share the results. Dental assistants provide a key role in dental offices and health care settings. Like other health care and dental professionals, dental assistants have been affected by the rise in workforce challenges in recent years.
In 2022, PCOH sought to understand the state of dental assistants in Pennsylvania through disseminating a survey to dental assistants across the commonwealth. The survey was shared with dental assistants who had passed the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) between 1982-2021.
The findings of this survey outline next steps for recruitment and retention of Pennsylvania dental assistants.
Calling All Western Pennsylvania Providers: Your Help is Needed!
Are you a provider in Western Pennsylvania? Remote Area Medical® (RAM) needs your help at the upcoming clinic in Butler on November 11 and 12. The clinic will offer free dental care to underserved and uninsured individuals in the area. Volunteers are still needed to join in providing much-needed dental care to the community. Signing up to volunteer is simple – visit this link, select “Volunteer” at the top right of the page, and select “USA: Pennsylvania” and “Butler” when registering. You can also check out a video about volunteering for the upcoming Butler clinic.
Click here to watch the video.
Click here to view the volunteer flyer.
Click here for more information.
Oral Health Kids Resource Now Available in Swahili
Good news! The popular resource, “What Should Kids Drink” is now available in Swahili on the PCOH Request Materials Page!
This resource, created with the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, is intended to help parents and guardians understand the amount of water, milk, and juice that is appropriate for young children from birth to age 5. Please note this resource has previously been translated to Spanish as well. You can order this resource and more on the PCOH Request Materials Page.
Click here to view the resource.
Click here to visit the Request Materials Page.
Community Catalyst Pushes for Expanded Dental Coverage
Community Catalyst submitted a letter to the Biden Administration urging them to address the gaps and inconsistences in the Affordable Care Act’s essential health benefits. Community Catalyst and 50 other groups, including the PA Coalition for Oral Health, signed on to the letter, which also called on the Health and Human Services and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to adopt several health care services into the Essential Health Benefits framework, including oral health care.
Click here to read the press release.
Click here to read the letter.
Non-Invasive Caries Therapy Guide Released
The CareQuest Institute for Oral Health published the “CareQuest Non-Invasive Caries Therapy Guide,” an illustrated manual of tips and tricks on how to perform evidence-based techniques to improve oral health for all. The goals of the guide are to increase access to care by decreasing resilience on invasive dentistry, transform the oral health workforce by empowering non-dentists to manage dental caries, improve clinical outcomes, and lower barriers to adopting evidence-based techniques.
New CareQuest Infographic Published: Oral Health and Overall Health for Older Adults
The CareQuest Institute for Oral Health and the Lunder-Dineen Massachusetts General Hospital MOTIVATE Program created an infographic that explains the importance of oral health for the overall health of older adults. The infographic also includes recommendations including more communication between physicians, dentists, and patients about the connections between oral health and overall health.
There are versions of the infographic available for both providers and patients.
Click here for more information and to access the infographics.
Oral Health Resource Center Fluoride Varnish Handout Available
The Oral Health Resource Center shared a new patient education handout, “Fluoride Varnish for Adults: Q&A.”
This resource provides information that health professionals can share with adults, including pregnant people, about how fluoride varnish can make their teeth more resistant to tooth decay. The resource explains what fluoride varnish is and discusses its safety. It also addresses things to avoid after it is applied to teeth, how long it lasts, how often it should be applied, and whether it is covered by dental insurance.
New Report Released on Incentivizing Oral Health Care Providers to Treat Patients with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
A new report by the National Council on Disability, “Incentivizing Oral Healthcare Providers to Treat Patients with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities,” delves into three critical factors that impact the access and utilization of dental care services by adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Many individuals with I/DD face significant challenges in accessing high-quality, appropriate, and timely oral health care services. Among minority populations, adults with I/DD represent the largest group with unmet oral healthcare needs.