Rural Health Information Hub Latest News

Child Oral Health Resource Center Releases New Resources

The National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center (OHRC) released three new resources focusing on the Title V national performance measure on oral health. The first resource, “Title V National Performance Measure 13 (Oral Health): Strategies for Success (2nd ed.),” provides information to help state maternal and child health programs in their implementation of the Title V NPM 13 and oral-health-related state performance measures. The other two resources are infographics that provide information for oral health professionals about benefits of and barriers to preventive dental visits for pregnant women and children.

Click here to view the resources.

Oral Health Value-Based Care: The FQHC Story

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are remaking modern health care with an integrated oral health care approach. Health centers and their dental programs are using telehealth and implementing value-based tools for prevention, creating better disease management and positive patient oral health and overall health outcomes. A recently released white paper, Oral Health Value-Based Care: The FQHC Story, from the DentaQuest Partnership and NACHC explores how.

CDC Updates Dental Settings Guidance During COVID-19, Again

On Aug. 28, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) again updated its Guidance for Dental Settings During the COVID-19 Response. This updated guidance helps give clarifies the previous interim guidance and offers the following:

  • Provides a section for routine delivery of care during the pandemic and a second section for delivery of care recommendations for patients with suspected or known COVID-19
  • Offers a reminder for dental health care professionals of transmission risks outside of patient care areas
  • Offers clarification on engineering controls for open bay operatories, reprocessing treatment areas between patients and alternative disinfection methods

The last dental update for Pennsylvania was the August 13, 2020 PA Health Alert Network (PAHAN) regarding Exposure to COVID-19 in the Dental Care Settings.

Campaign for Dental Health Releases New Media

The Campaign for Dental Health released several new memes and video snips on their website. Four new memes include messages on brushing, drinking water, mouth-body connection, and oral health integration. Each carries the 75th anniversary of community water fluoridation medallion. Five new video snips feature three pediatricians emphasizing the benefits of drinking water with fluoride and the importance of oral health for the entire family, especially those most affected by dental disease.

Click here to view the memes and videos.

Oral Health Value-Based Care: The FQHC Story

The DentaQuest Partnership and the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) published a new white paper, “Oral Health Value-Based Care: The Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Story.” FQHCs are remaking modern health care with an integrated oral health care approach. FQHCs and their dental programs are using telehealth and implementing value-based tools for prevention, creating better disease management, and positive patient oral health and overall health outcomes.

Click here to read the white paper.

COVID-19 & Oral Health: Resource for School Nurses

During the current pandemic, school nurses may be the only avenue for assuring that children receive dental screenings/referrals. The Association and State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) and the National Association of School Nurses have collaborated to develop a resource to assist with doing so. Please share the below resource with any school nurses you may work with or know.

Click here to download the resource.

Report Focuses on Networks for Oral Health Integration

The National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center (OHRC) produced a report that provides information about the “Networks for Oral Health Integration Within the Maternal and Child Health Safety Net” projects funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB). The goal of the 5-year initiative is to improve access to and utilization of comprehensive, high-quality oral health care in community health centers for target populations (i.e., pregnant women, infants and children from birth to age 40 months, children ages 6–11) at high risk for oral disease.

Click here to read the report.

USPHS Chief Dental Officer Newsletter & Healthy People 2030

The 51st issue of the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Chief Dental Officer Newsletter features an article about the launch of Healthy People 2030. There is information and links to all of the Healthy People 2030 objectives related to oral health. The newsletter also includes COVID-related news bites, non-COVID news, a list of upcoming events, and information about Immunization Awareness Month.

Click here to read the issue.