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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Dental workforce

Characteristics of the Current Dental Hygienist Workforce in Washington State
Reports on dental hygienist (DH) supply, distribution, and characteristics in Washington State, utilizing data from a survey of 995 DHs. Provides demographic data including rural versus urban location of residence. Features county-level maps showing DH geographic distribution.
Author(s): Grace A. Guenther, Samantha W. Pollack, Benjamin A. Stubbs, Bianca K. Frogner, Susan M. Skillman
Date: 08/2024
Sponsoring organizations: UW Center for Health Workforce Studies, Washington Oral Health Workforce
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Variation in Dentist Participation Between Dental Medicaid Managed Care Organizations
Examines the variation in Medicaid managed care organization (MCO) participation among private practice dentists in Iowa. Describes factors associated with Medicaid MCO participation, including dentists' personal and practice characteristics, including practice type, rural or urban location, and dental Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designation.
Author(s): Pamela C. Nwachukwu, Peter C. Damiano, Steven Levy, et al.
Citation: Journal of Public Health Dentistry,
Date: 07/2024
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Quantifying Arizona's Dental Health Workforce Shortage Using Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) Data
Reports on dental workforce shortages in Arizona. Includes data on safety net providers and workforce supply in Arizona counties and tribal nations.
Author(s): B. Koch, C. Drake, A. Garn, D. Derksen
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Center for Rural Health
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North Carolina Dental Health - Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA)
County-level map of Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in North Carolina, with shadings showing ranges of HPSA scores.
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Office of Rural Health
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Health Disparities in Tennessee
Examines health disparities experienced by Tennessee residents. Measures include life expectancy, health equity, healthcare access, mental health and trauma, infectious disease, chronic disease, cancer, reproductive health, and age-specific health. Features statistics with breakdowns by race, ethnicity, sex, and urban or rural location.
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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Characteristics of the Current Dental Assistant and Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary Workforces in Washington State
Results of a survey of 1,240 dental assistants (DAs) and 113 expanded function dental auxiliaries (EFDAs), to describe the supply, distribution, and characteristics of DAs and EFDAs in Washington. Features demographics, a county-level map showing numbers of registered DAs with Washington addresses per 100,000 population, and statistics on residence with breakdowns by urban or rural location.
Author(s): Samantha W. Pollack, Grace A. Guenther, Benjamin A. Stubbs, et al.
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organizations: UW Center for Health Workforce Studies, Washington Oral Health Workforce
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Examining the Dental Care Crisis in America: How Can We Make Dental Care More Affordable and More Available?
Recording of a May 16, 2024, U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions hearing on the accessibility and affordability of dental care, including in rural areas. Features testimony from the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health.
Additional links: Myechia Minter-Jordan, CareQuest Institute for Oral Health - Testimony
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
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Health Professions Pathway Programs: A Literature Review
Reviews 26 articles to identify common practices of health professions pathway programs for underrepresented, underserved, or rural students pursuing primary care medical or dental education. Identifies instructional and financial practices which address Arizona's health workforce shortages by improving health workforce distribution and diversity.
Author(s): Jack Ringhand
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Center for Rural Health
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Pediatric Oral Health Online Education for Rural and Migrant Head Start Programs in the United States
Presents a study on the efficacy of an online oral health workshop conducted by pediatric dental residents for Head Start staff, teachers and families in rural and migrant communities. Explores the program's effect on pediatric oral health literacy in rural and migrant communities, as well as the residents' opinions about potentially working in these communities after their residency.
Author(s): Francisco Ramos-Gomez, Stephanie Parkinson, Victor Garcia de Jesus, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(5), 544
Date: 04/2024
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Transforming Oral Health Care in North Carolina
Makes recommendations for improving oral health access, supporting oral care workforce and providers, and promoting oral health quality and equity in North Carolina. Discusses oral health in rural and underserved areas throughout, including coverage of workforce distribution, dental safety net, and access barriers.
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Institute of Medicine
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