Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Dental workforce
Challenges and Strategies to Improve Access to Oral Health Care in Rural America
Provides an overview of barriers to oral health in rural areas, and discusses strategies to increase access to oral health care and improve rural public health outcomes. Covers topics including dental insurance, service delivery models, oral health workforce, the role of oral health professionals in addressing opioid and tobacco use, and water fluoridation.
Author(s): Liang Hong, Shillpa Naavaal, Sohini Dhar, Siddardha Chandrupatla
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: American Association of Public Health Dentistry (AAPHD)
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Provides an overview of barriers to oral health in rural areas, and discusses strategies to increase access to oral health care and improve rural public health outcomes. Covers topics including dental insurance, service delivery models, oral health workforce, the role of oral health professionals in addressing opioid and tobacco use, and water fluoridation.
Author(s): Liang Hong, Shillpa Naavaal, Sohini Dhar, Siddardha Chandrupatla
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: American Association of Public Health Dentistry (AAPHD)
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Annual Report on the New Hampshire Health Care Workforce and Data Collection: Calendar Year 2024
Includes aggregate data and information on current and projected New Hampshire primary workforce needs and the participation rate on surveys completed by clinicians for the Health Professions Data Center. Features a state map showing rural and nonrural New Hampshire regional public health networks, and statistics on demographics, barriers to care, substance use and mental health, and maternal health. Includes license renewal data for various providers types, and workforce data on physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and physician assistants, including percentage in rural regions.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organizations: New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, New Hampshire Rural Health & Primary Care
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Includes aggregate data and information on current and projected New Hampshire primary workforce needs and the participation rate on surveys completed by clinicians for the Health Professions Data Center. Features a state map showing rural and nonrural New Hampshire regional public health networks, and statistics on demographics, barriers to care, substance use and mental health, and maternal health. Includes license renewal data for various providers types, and workforce data on physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and physician assistants, including percentage in rural regions.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organizations: New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, New Hampshire Rural Health & Primary Care
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Select Committee on Advancing Rural and Small Town Health Care Final Report - To the General Assembly of Virginia
Recommendations for improvement in healthcare in rural Virginia, based on information from meetings with providers and citizens in rural areas. Areas of focus are health workforce, maternal health, dental care, obesity, telehealth, and transportation.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Commonwealth of Virginia, House Select Committee on Advancing Rural and Small Town Health Care
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Recommendations for improvement in healthcare in rural Virginia, based on information from meetings with providers and citizens in rural areas. Areas of focus are health workforce, maternal health, dental care, obesity, telehealth, and transportation.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Commonwealth of Virginia, House Select Committee on Advancing Rural and Small Town Health Care
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Dental Clinic Deserts in the US: Spatial Accessibility Analysis
Provides a spatial analysis of 205,762 active U.S. dentists and examines access to dental clinics cross the country. Includes maps that show county-level dental shortages as well as demographic breakdowns of residents, such as race/ethnicity, poverty, insurance status, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Shahinoor Rahman, Jeffrey C. Blossom, Ichiro Kawachi, Renuka Tipirneni, Hawazin W. Elani
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 7(12)
Date: 12/2024
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Provides a spatial analysis of 205,762 active U.S. dentists and examines access to dental clinics cross the country. Includes maps that show county-level dental shortages as well as demographic breakdowns of residents, such as race/ethnicity, poverty, insurance status, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Shahinoor Rahman, Jeffrey C. Blossom, Ichiro Kawachi, Renuka Tipirneni, Hawazin W. Elani
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 7(12)
Date: 12/2024
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Advisory Committee on Training in Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry (ACTPCMD) Meeting Minutes, November 15, 2024
Summarizes the Advisory Committee on Training in Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry (ACTPCMD) meeting held on November 15, 2024. Features a presentation and discussion on tracking Title VII Trainees and a presentation from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Office of Tribal Affairs, among other things. Covers recommendations for ACTPCMD's 23rd Report to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary and Congress and topics for the 24th report.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: Advisory Committee on Training in Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry
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Summarizes the Advisory Committee on Training in Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry (ACTPCMD) meeting held on November 15, 2024. Features a presentation and discussion on tracking Title VII Trainees and a presentation from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Office of Tribal Affairs, among other things. Covers recommendations for ACTPCMD's 23rd Report to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary and Congress and topics for the 24th report.
Date: 11/2024
Sponsoring organization: Advisory Committee on Training in Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry
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Trends in North Carolina's Oral Health Workforce
Provides 2000-2022 data on the oral health workforce in North Carolina. Includes metro versus nonmetro supply of dentists and dental hygienists per 10,000 residents, county-level distribution of dentists added to the workforce, oral healthcare workforce demographics, dentistry and hygienist education programs, and more.
Author(s): Brooke Lombardi, Catherine Moore, Haley Simons, et al.
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal, 85(6)
Date: 11/2024
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Provides 2000-2022 data on the oral health workforce in North Carolina. Includes metro versus nonmetro supply of dentists and dental hygienists per 10,000 residents, county-level distribution of dentists added to the workforce, oral healthcare workforce demographics, dentistry and hygienist education programs, and more.
Author(s): Brooke Lombardi, Catherine Moore, Haley Simons, et al.
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal, 85(6)
Date: 11/2024
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Trends in the Health Workforce Supply in the Rural U.S.
Describes trends in the supply and distribution of clinicians in primary care, behavioral health, and obstetrical care, as well as dentists, surgeons, community health workers, and home health aides. Examines the availability of workforce data for professions important for rural communities, and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of using various health workforce data sources for rural health research. Features statistics with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Sara C. Woolcock, Lisa A. Garberson, et al.
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Describes trends in the supply and distribution of clinicians in primary care, behavioral health, and obstetrical care, as well as dentists, surgeons, community health workers, and home health aides. Examines the availability of workforce data for professions important for rural communities, and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of using various health workforce data sources for rural health research. Features statistics with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Sara C. Woolcock, Lisa A. Garberson, et al.
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Resources for Dental Care Workforce in Health Centers
Discusses access to oral health in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and disparities experienced by populations in rural and low-income communities. Provides examples and strategies from communities to effectively train, secure, and maximize the oral health workforce.
Additional links: 11 Shining Star Case Examples, State Policies & Strategies Brief Table, State Policies & Strategies Brief: Strengthen and Expand the Dental Workforce in Health Centers, State Policies & Strategies Guide: Strengthen and Expand The Dental Workforce In Health Centers
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
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Discusses access to oral health in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and disparities experienced by populations in rural and low-income communities. Provides examples and strategies from communities to effectively train, secure, and maximize the oral health workforce.
Additional links: 11 Shining Star Case Examples, State Policies & Strategies Brief Table, State Policies & Strategies Brief: Strengthen and Expand the Dental Workforce in Health Centers, State Policies & Strategies Guide: Strengthen and Expand The Dental Workforce In Health Centers
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
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Consumer Survey: Barriers to Accessing Oral Health Services in New York State
Examines major access barriers to oral health services for adults in New York. Provides evidence-based insights for policymakers and stakeholders to develop strategies to reduce oral health disparities and improve access to care, especially for underserved populations. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban or rural locations.
Author(s): Simona Surdu, Nozomi Sasaki, Jinman Pang, Jean Moore
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Examines major access barriers to oral health services for adults in New York. Provides evidence-based insights for policymakers and stakeholders to develop strategies to reduce oral health disparities and improve access to care, especially for underserved populations. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban or rural locations.
Author(s): Simona Surdu, Nozomi Sasaki, Jinman Pang, Jean Moore
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Health Care Workforce: Key Issues, Challenges, and the Path Forward
Provides an overview of the supply and distribution of physicians, nurses, direct care workers, behavioral health workers, and oral healthcare providers. Describes persistent challenges related to the healthcare workforce, including supply and distribution of healthcare workers, especially in rural communities; burnout; compensation; and administrative burden. Identifies opportunities to address these challenges and efforts supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to address these issues.
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Provides an overview of the supply and distribution of physicians, nurses, direct care workers, behavioral health workers, and oral healthcare providers. Describes persistent challenges related to the healthcare workforce, including supply and distribution of healthcare workers, especially in rural communities; burnout; compensation; and administrative burden. Identifies opportunities to address these challenges and efforts supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to address these issues.
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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