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Resources by Topic: Oral health

Access to Oral Health Workforce Report: Part I
Examines ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in enhanced attrition of the Pennsylvania oral health workforce. Features statistics on Pennsylvania dentists, dental assistants, and dental hygienists, including number of Expanded Function Dental Assistants (EFDAs) in rural and urban Pennsylvania in 2019 and 2021, and county-level maps showing percentage change in licensed dental hygienists from 2015-2021, density of Public Health Dental Hygiene Practitioners (PHDHPs) and EFDAs in 2021, and Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas. Mentions rural throughout.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Regional Assessment
Author(s): Helen Hawkey, Kelly A. Braun, Lauren Wagner, et al.
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Coalition for Oral Health
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Supporting Dental Therapy through Title VII Training Programs: A Meaningful Strategy for Implementing Equitable Oral Health Care - Nineteenth Annual Report to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and to Congress
Offers policy and program development recommendations to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding primary care and dental training and education. Provides an overview of the importance of oral health, oral health disparities, and the dental therapy profession. Recommendations cover federal funding for dental therapy programs, dental therapy faculty and dental therapists' inclusion in loan forgiveness programs, and a longitudinal tracking mechanism for dental therapy trainees, faculty, and graduates. Highlights a dental therapy pilot program serving tribal communities in Alaska.
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Advisory Committee on Training in Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry
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Provider and Patient Satisfaction With the Dental Therapy Workforce at Apple Tree Dental
Describes satisfaction of clinical providers, organizational administrators, and patients with the dental therapy workforce at Apple Tree Dental Centers, a not-for-profit community dental organization with locations in urban and rural Minnesota. Features demographics with breakdowns by urban or rural location of clinic and residence of patients.
Author(s): Margaret Langelier, Simona Surdu, Ellen O'Malley
Date: 05/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Dentist Perceptions About the Value of Teledentistry
Highlights a study on dentist's perceptions on teledentistry as a means of expanding access to oral healthcare across the country. Discusses the role teledentistry plays in rural and underserved areas. Explores perceived barriers to adopting teledentistry.
Author(s): Tamanna Tiwari, Vuong Diep, Eric Tranby, et al.
Citation: BMC Oral Health, 22, 176
Date: 05/2022
Type: Document
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Idaho Dental Health Professional Shortage Area Service Areas
Identifies the Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in the state of Idaho by county. Includes both the geographic and population group HPSA designations.
Date: 05/2022
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: Idaho Bureau of Rural Health and Primary Care
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Evaluating Access to Pediatric Dental Care in the Southeast States
Analyzed 2019 American Community Survey data to evaluate dental care access for children in 10 southeastern states. Considers insurance type and rurality. Makes recommendations for policymakers considering interventions. Note the abstract to the publisher's final edited version of this article.
Author(s): Nicoleta Serban, Simin Ma, Katrine Pospichel, Lisha Yang
Citation: The Journal of the American Dental Association, 153(4), 330-341
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
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New Hampshire: A Health-Focused Landscape Analysis
Chartbook examining population health and healthcare access in New Hampshire, identifying strengths and assets as well as opportunities for improvement. Features demographics and statistics on quality of care, health outcomes, health behaviors, and mortality rates and causes, with breakdowns by rural and urban counties. Includes maps showing locations of Health Professional Shortage Areas, substance use treatment facilities, Rural Health Clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and hospitals.
Author(s): Katherine Ahrens, Amanda Burgess, Carly Milkowski, et al.
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Maine Rural Health Research Center, Northern Border Regional Commission
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Dental Care Utilization Among Adults Aged 18−64: United States, 2019 and 2020
Describes changes in the prevalence of dental visits among adults aged 18-64 between 2019 and 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began and many dental practices limited hours and services. Includes information by location for large metropolitan, large fringe metro, small and medium metro, and nonmetro areas.
Author(s): Amy E. Cha, Robin A. Cohen
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Veteran Dental Care Stimulates the Economy and Improves Overall Health
Report discusses veterans' access to oral healthcare and explores the economic implications to expanding dental care to veterans. Highlights the economic impact of dental clinics on rural communities, as well as expanding oral healthcare coverage to veterans.
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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Delaware Dental HPSA Designations
State map showing Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers in Delaware.
Date: 03/2022
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: Delaware Health Statistics Center
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