- Rural Governments Often Fail To Communicate With Residents Who Aren't Proficient in English
- Prescription Delivery in Missouri Faces Delays under USPS Rural Service Plan
- Mental Health Association Launches Hub To Help Rural Residents
- Creating a Clearer Path to Rural Heart Health
- USDA Announces New Federal Order, Begins National Milk Testing Strategy to Address H5N1 in Dairy Herds
- Getting Rural Parents Started On Their Breastfeeding Journey
- Number of U.S. Hospitals Offering Obstetric Care Is Declining
- NRHA Announces 2025 Rural Health Fellows
- New RSV Drug Delivers Promising Results in Alaska's Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta
- Lack of Civic Infrastructure Drives Rural Health Disparities
- EOP: National Rural Health Day, 2024
- VA: Solicitation of Nomination for Appointment to the Veterans' Rural Health Advisory Committee
- Distance, Workforce Shortages Complicate Mental Health Access in Rural Nevada Communities
- Bird Flu Is Racing Through Farms, but Northwest States Are Rarely Testing Workers
- After Helene, Clinician Teams Brought Critical Care To Isolated WNC Communities
Concerns Expressed with NTP’s 2019 Monograph
In September 2019, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) released a draft monograph concluding that “fluoride is presumed to be a cognitive neurodevelopmental hazard to humans.” Before finalizing its monograph, NTP asked a committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to review its conclusion and decide whether it is supported by the scientific evidence. In a new report, the Committee finds that NTP’s monograph failed to provide adequate support for its conclusion. The American Fluoridation Society (AFS) released a document reviewing the main points of the Committee’s report.
HRSA Retains Dental Sealant Measure for 2020
The draft dental sealant measure, CMS277, captures the percentage of children age 6-9 years, at moderate to high risk for caries who received a sealant on a first permanent molar during the measurement period. The dental sealant measure will be retained for 2020. Based on feedback received during the public comment period, HRSA will not move forward with adding the fluoride varnish measure (CMS74) for 2020.
Message from PA Oral Health Coalition about COVID-19
The PA Coalition for Oral Health (PCOH) has releaesd a statement on oral health services during the COVID-19 pandemic:
“As Pennsylvania has been justifiably proactive in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts, the PA Coalition for Oral Health supports the state issuing directives to the dental community immediately to initiate ’emergency treatment only’ policies. Stopping the spread of this virus and protecting the health and safety of patients, their family members, and dental professionals is our first priority.”
Hidden Pain: America’s Oral Health Crisis
The production Hidden Pain: America’s Oral Health Crisis, is a short film by The Jon C Burr Foundation that addresses the pain, suffering and enormous cost to the American people of not providing access to Oral Healthcare. Dr. Mike Monopoli, Executive Director of Grant Strategy for the DentaQuest Partnership offered his subject matter expertise, and several Partnership grantees are featured sharing their perspectives about how to change the system and improve health outcomes. Watch this important documentary here.
Hospital Utilization for Non-Traumatic Dental Conditions in Oregon from 2013 to 2015
Access to oral health benefits is a state by state issue – either the coverage is uneven or totally lacking – and can result in costly trips to the hospital for non-traumatic dental conditions. The DentaQuest Partnership took an in-depth look into Emergency Department (ED) visits specifically in Oregon for non-traumatic dental conditions, and found a need for multi-level solutions, such as teledentistry, to decrease ED utilization across the state. Read the study here.
The Burden of Out-of-Pocket Expenditures for Dental Care on Medicare-Enrolled Elderly and Disabled
The DentaQuest Partnership’s latest report is a continuation of compelling research about how out-of-pocket spending on health care presents challenges for patients on fixed incomes. The report findings show that Medicare recipients pay for at least 75% of dental costs out-of-pocket, contributing to financial strain and poor oral health. Read the report.
Article Links Teeth Brushing with Reduced Diabetes Risk
A new Korean national health database suggests frequent brushing may be a factor for decreasing the risk of new-onset diabetes. The presence of periodontal disease and increased number of missing teeth may be associated with decreased risk of occurrence of new on-set diabetes.
Celebrate World Oral Health Day on March 20th!
World Oral Health Day is just over one week away. This year’s campaign is “Say Ahh: United for Mouth Health.” World Oral Health Day encourages policymakers to take action for better oral health outcomes tomorrow.
Report Explores Teledentistry in Rural Areas
A new report published in the National Conference of State Legislatures found that rural Americans are more likely to experience tooth decay than their urban counterparts. The report explores teledentistry as a solution to addressing the disparity and discusses states that have already introduced legislation to establish teledentistry and expand access to oral health services.
The Role of Dentists in Community Water Fluoridation
Dentistry Today published a column by Dr. Johnny Johnson of the American Fluoridation Society. The column salutes the role of dentists in the history of fluoridation and encourages dental professionals to have conversations about fluoride with their patients.