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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Oral health

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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Dental Anxiety and Oral Health in American Indian and Alaska Natives
Explores levels of "dental anxiety" or fear and anxiety around dental care in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. Discusses the historical and cultural factors that contribute to dental distrust, anxiety, and avoidance among AI/AN individuals. Breaks down data by age, sex, and educational attainment, among other factors.
Author(s): Tamanna Tiwari, Casey D. Wright, Lisa J. Heaton, et al.
Citation: Journal of Public Health Dentistry
Date: 07/2024
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Congruence Between County Dental Health Provider Shortage Area Designations and the Social Vulnerability Index
Provides visual comparisons of the relationship between Dental Health Provider Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2020 Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) designations on county-level U.S. maps. Includes table showing median county-level SVI score by HPSA designation, broken down by metro, nonmetro, and all county.
Author(s): Gabriel A. Benavidez, Elizabeth Crouch, Joni Nelson, Amy Martin
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 21
Date: 06/2024
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Community Health Needs and Opportunities in Rural Central New York
Reports on community health in central New York's Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, and Oswego counties. Discusses issues related to rural access to care, funding, and health workforce supply. Highlights health disparities affecting rural Black, Hispanic, multiracial, LGB, and disabled people. Includes sections dedicated to perinatal health, oral health, mental health and substance use, and medical and nonmedical home care.
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: Health Foundation for Western & Central New York
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Findings from the Quality of and Access to Health Care Supplement of the National Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS) 2019–2020
Uses interviews with 2,172 crop farmworkers and their families to report on healthcare access, utilization, and insurance by various demographic, geographic, and other factors.
Author(s): Wenson Fung, Amanda Gold, Jackie Copfer, Emily Finchum-Mason, Daniel Carroll
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Labor
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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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