Rural Health Information Hub Latest News

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.

New Pitt Apprenticeship Program Aims to Address the Dental Assistant Shortage

The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine has been awarded state funding to train dental assistants through a paid 14-month paid apprenticeship, which also covers tuition and exam fees. The new program, which is funded through a PAsmart grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, is partnering with Pittsburgh Public Schools to recruit the first cohort of six students. The program will focus on attracting underrepresented minority students from high schools in Allegheny County, as well as the surrounding counties of Butler, Beaver, Washington, and Westmoreland. The first cohort of students is expected to start in January 2023. Find more information about the apprenticeship and instructions to apply.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month

The American Dental Association’s Council on Advocacy for Access and Prevention has materials for 2023 National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM) ready to ship! Free bilingual posters are available to ship. New this year, you can purchase postcards either in English or Spanish. Additional resources, including activity sheets and a planning guide, can be found on the NCDHM website.

Click here to order materials.

Improving the Oral Health of Rural Veterans

According to a new report from the American Institute of Dental Public Health (AIDPH) and CareQuest Institute, veterans in rural areas are struggling to receive oral care. Only about 15% of veterans are eligible for dental care through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), with the percentage being even lower for rural veterans.

Learn more in the full report.

New Research Explores Dental Care in Emergency Departments

The CareQuest Institute for Oral Health recently published research that explores dental care in hospital emergency departments. The research finds that most patients seeking care could be seen at a dental office for a much lower cost. Across the county, nearly 70% of emergency department visits for non-traumatic dental conditions among patients ages 21-64 are made by those enrolled in Medicaid or who are uninsured.

Click here to learn more.

CMS Announces Payment for Medically Necessary Dental Care

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that Medicare will begin making payment in 2023 for dental services necessary to identify and eliminate oral and dental infections prior to, and contemporaneously with, organ transplant, cardiac valve replacement, and valvuloplasty procedures. For services to be covered by Medicare, they must be performed by a Medicare participating provider. As part of the same final rule, the agency is establishing an annual process “to review public input on other circumstances when payment for dental services may be allowed.”

Click here for more information.