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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Oral health

Idaho Rural Health Care Access Program (RHCAP) FY21 Dental Health Eligible Areas
County-level map with shadings showing dental geographic Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), population group HPSAs, and ineligible areas.
Date: 04/2020
Sponsoring organization: Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
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Organizational Readiness to Implement System Changes in an Alaskan Tribal Dental Care Organization
Study of an Alaska tribal dental care organization's readiness for system-level changes based on surveys of dental providers, assistants, and support staff employed by the organization at 15 clinics in remote villages and 3 main dental clinics located in cities. Discusses perceptions of staff regarding workforce issues and support for change related to policies and evidence-based practices. Scores each area of readiness for change based on survey data, including organizational functioning, resources, and management.
Author(s): C.L. Randall, K. Hort, C.E. Huebner, et al.
Citation: Journal of Clinical and Translational Research, 5(2), 156-165
Date: 04/2020
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Fast-Track to Teledentistry - Removing Barriers to Care While Maximizing Overall Health
Details the barriers to oral healthcare access and discusses the ways teledentistry can help overcome them. Highlights the role teledentistry can play during public health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and in rural communities. Presents examples of successful uses of teledentistry and provides guidance for teledentistry implementation.
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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High Rates of Decay and Need for Dental Treatment Among American Indian and Alaska Native Kindergartners in North Dakota
Describes a study examining results of dental screenings of 1,998 North Dakota kindergartners during the 2018-2019 school year. Features statistics including rates of decay experience, untreated decay, and need for early or urgent dental care, with breakdowns by race or ethnicity.
Author(s): Shawnda Schroeder, Shane Knutson
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organization: University of North Dakota Center for Rural Health
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High Rates of Decay and Need for Dental Treatment Among Rural Kindergartners in North Dakota
Fact sheet describing a study examining results of dental screenings of 1,998 North Dakota kindergartners in 43 schools during the 2018-2019 school year. Features statistics including rates of decay experience, untreated decay, and need for early or urgent dental care, with breakdowns by urban, semi-rural, and rural location.
Author(s): Shawnda Schroeder, Shane Knutson
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organization: University of North Dakota Center for Rural Health
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Consumer Survey Focused on Parents' Experiences Accessing Oral Health Services for Their Children
Highlights oral health access barriers for children, especially those in rural areas and those with special healthcare needs. Features statistics including socioeconomic and geographic characteristics of 1,881 survey parents or guardians, with breakdowns by urban, suburban, or rural residence.
Author(s): Simona Surdu, Margaret Langelier, Nubia Goodwin
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Healthy Smiles Healthy Growth 2018‐19: An Assessment of Oral Health Status, Beverage Consumption and Body Mass Index of Third-Grade Children in Illinois
Reports on oral health status, access to oral healthcare services, and beverage consumption among Illinois third graders in the 2018-19 school year. Table 11 includes urban and rural data on caries, oral health treatment needs, dental sealants, and overweight and obesity status.
Author(s): Mona Van Kanegan
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Department of Public Health
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Making a Difference for Generations to Come: School-Based Oral Healthcare in Louisiana
Features a Louisiana Federally Qualified Health Center that offers primary care oral health assessment and fluoride varnishes in school-based health centers. Discusses the impact that access to childhood oral health services may have into adulthood.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Oral Health Status of Low-Income Children in Pennsylvania: A Rural-Urban Comparison
Describes research examining the oral health component of the Medical Assistance (MA) program for Pennsylvania children, additional oral health programs and services, the supply and distribution of Pennsylvania dentists, and the overall oral healthcare delivery system for low-income children in rural Pennsylvania. Features statistics including the number of general dentists and specialists who were active MA providers as of 2017, with breakdowns by urban or rural location, and a county-level map showing low-income Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas by rural status as of 2018.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Lisa Davis, Kelly Braun, Myron R. Schwartz
Date: 11/2019
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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More Than a Smile: An Examination of Rural Dental Health Care in Nebraska
Explores the link between oral and total health, and identifies primary barriers to dental healthcare in rural Nebraska and efforts to increase access. Includes county-level maps of Nebraska and the United States, showing Dental Health Professional Shortages Areas as of 2019.
Author(s): Lauren Taylor, Jordan Rasmussen
Date: 11/2019
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Affairs
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