- Weathering the Storm Together: Community Resiliency Hubs Hold the Promise of Local Self-Sufficiency and Supportive Mutual Aid
- Virginia Tech Researchers Bring Rural Families into the Nation's Largest Study of Early Brain and Child Development
- Expanding Access to Cancer Care for Rural Veterans
- VA: Veterans Rural Health Advisory Committee, Notice of Meeting
- Scaling Rural Wellness with Clever Collaboration
- Stroudwater Associates Enhances Rural Healthcare Dashboard with New Data to Support State Rural Transformation Grant Applications
- Harvest Season Is Here: Busy Times Call for Increased Focus on Safety and Health
- HHS Dispatches More Than 70 Public Health Service Officers to Strengthen Care in Tribal Communities
- Wisconsin Rural Hospitals Team up to Form Network
- CMS Launches Landmark $50 Billion Rural Health Transformation Program
- American Heart Association Provides Blood Pressure Kits at Southeast Arkansas Regional Libraries to Support Rural Health
- Broadening Access to Minimally Invasive Surgery Could Narrow Rural-Urban Health Gaps
- Instead of Selling, Some Rural Hospitals Band Together To Survive
- Help Line Gives Pediatricians Crucial Mental Health Information to Help Kids, Families
- Rural Health: A Strategic Opportunity for Governors
Appalachian Commission Awards Funds to Collaborative Oral Health Workforce Project in Pennsylvania, Other States
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) awarded $192,050 was awarded to HealthPath Foundation of Ohio to build the oral health workforce and improve access to oral healthcare in North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Impacting 170 counties across four Appalachian states, this project will engage state partners, educational institutions, and state oral health coalitions (including the PA Coalition for Oral Health) in identifying and detailing state-specific needs to address 144 areas that lack an adequate number of dental health professionals—affecting more than 7.8 million Appalachians.
National Oral Health Sealant Learning Communities Collaborative Launched
The National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA) is seeking interested health centers to participate in the “Sealant Learning Communities Collaborative”. The virtual collaborative will take place February-June 2025 and allow for health centers to engage in activities that will improve their UDS Sealant Measure Outcomes. Accepted health centers will participate in four 1-hour interactive virtual webinars. Applications are due December 2.
Pennsylvania Oral Health Coalition Strongly Affirms Support for Fluoride in Water at Optimal Levels
PCOH strongly affirms our support of adjusting fluoride in water to optimal levels. Community water fluoridation (CWF) remains the single most effective public health measure to prevent tooth decay and protect oral health.
For nearly 80 years, communities across the United States have been adjusting the naturally occurring amount of fluoride in water to the amount recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for optimal oral health, and this practice has improved the oral health of tens of millions of Americans. As with most things, the amount you consume matters and too much of anything can be harmful. This is why the amount of fluoride in water is heavily regulated, tested, and ensured to be safe. Studies and court cases are often cited that indicate that fluoride causes negative health effects, when in reality, these studies are based on fluoride amounts that are far higher than we allow in the United States.
In Pennsylvania, each community water system makes its own decision on whether or not they will adjust the natural levels of fluoride in the water they provide to their customers. Adjusting the amount of fluoride in water reaches entire communities and addresses oral health needs for everyone in the community in a way that no other oral health tool can; it’s an accessible resource for all, regardless of insurance status, socioeconomic status, or access to dental care. As we continue to face growing dental workforce shortages, adjusting fluoride levels in water is a preventive measure that will help benefit even those who are now waiting months for a dental appointment.
In the upcoming holiday season, you may find yourself having difficult conversations with family members, friends, and community members. It is important for all of us to emphasize the evidence-based science and effectiveness of water fluoridation in preventing cavities and improving oral health. We wanted to make sure that you have the tools and resources to have these difficult conversations and have created a new resource that can be used and shared when addressing fluoride levels in water.
The Pennsylvania Coalition for Oral Health (PCOH) needs support in being able to connect at the community level on this issue, and continues to offer resources to assist individuals and communities in protecting this effective public health measure. Please consider joining the Statewide Water Action Team (SWAT) by emailing nicole@paoralhealth.org.
Report Explores Teledentistry Utilization by Oral Health Professionals
A new article published in the Journal of Public Health Dentistry explores the types of teledentistry delivery options and how to increase access to care for patients. “Teledentistry Utilization by Oral Health Professionals and Policy Considerations” was authored by the CareQuest Institute, MouthWatch, and the Virginia Commonwealth University.
Manuscript Addresses Continuing Education & Management of Acute Dental Pain
A recent manuscript was published in BioMed Central Oral Health focusing on the relationship between continuing education and dental pain. The study in the manuscript, “Evaluation of a continuing education course on guideline-concordant management of acute dental pain,” found that the continuing education course increased learners’ knowledge about the guidelines and shared decision making. Former PCOH Board Member/Board Chair Dr. Deborah Polk, University of Pittsburgh, was the lead author on this project in addition to consultants from the Association of State
and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD).
New Report Available on Oral and Mental Health During and After Pregnancy
The CareQuest Institute for Oral Health released a report, “Oral and Mental Health During and After Pregnancy.” Pregnant people are at a higher risk of developing periodontal disease and caries. The report cites the need for better medical-dental integration in order to address whole-person health through pregnancy and postpartum periods.
New Brief Released on Minimally-Invasive Oral Care
Community Catalyst released a brief, “Minimally-Invasive Care: Policy Opportunities to Improve Dental Care Access and Affordability.” This resource provides an overview of state-level policies advocates can push for to ensure communities have access to comprehensive dental services, including minimally-invasive care, as well as federal policy considerations that will support its availability.
Link Between Oral Health and ADHD Explored
Nearly 9 million adults in the United States have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). According to a new report from CareQuest, adults with ADHD face more oral health risks than adults without ADHD. This is partly due to the medications used to treat ADHD causing side effects such as increased tooth decay, gingivitis, and other issues. Dental and medical providers should work together to maintain optimal oral health.
CDC Releases Dental Caries Surveillance Report
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new report, the “2024 Oral Health Surveillance Report: Dental Caries, Tooth Retention, and Edentulism, United States, 2018-March 2020.”
This report used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to provide national estimates for the prevalence and severity of dental caries in primary and permanent teeth for individuals 2 years or older and for tooth retention in adults age 20 years or older. Among the findings, the report found that half of children ages 6 to 9 have had cavities in their primary or permanent teeth. More than 1 in 7 adults ages 65 and older have lost all of their teeth.
New Releases from the ADA Health Policy Institute
The American Dental Association (ADA) Health Policy Institute (HPI) released an annual update on trends from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and the National Health Interview Survey. This includes trends in dental care utilization, dental insurance coverage, and cost barriers. Data is broken down by population age, race/ethnicity, income level, and insurance type. Among the findings, only 40 percent of working-age adults had a dental visit. They also found that dental care continues to pose the highest cost barriers when compared to other health services such as medical, prescription drugs, and mental health.
Click here to review the trend updates.
HPI also released an update on Medicaid reimbursement for child and adult dental care services by state using data from state Medicaid fee schedules. The data table includes Medicaid fee-for-service reimbursement as a percentage of average dentist charge and as a percentage of average private dental insurance payment rates.