Oral Health in Rural Communities – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Oral Health in Rural Communities.
An Assessment of Mobile and Portable Dentistry Programs to Improve Population Oral Health
Describes configurations of portable and mobile dental programs including models and applications, discusses targeted populations, details variations in regulations by state, and examines outcomes of preventive interventions in rural areas. Includes case studies of 7 programs initiated to improve access in rural areas.
Additional links: Policy Brief
Author(s): Margaret Langelier, Jean Moore, Rachel Carter, et al.
Date: 08/2017
Sponsoring organization: Oral Health Workforce Research Center
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Describes configurations of portable and mobile dental programs including models and applications, discusses targeted populations, details variations in regulations by state, and examines outcomes of preventive interventions in rural areas. Includes case studies of 7 programs initiated to improve access in rural areas.
Additional links: Policy Brief
Author(s): Margaret Langelier, Jean Moore, Rachel Carter, et al.
Date: 08/2017
Sponsoring organization: Oral Health Workforce Research Center
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A Workforce Strategy for Reducing Oral Health Disparities: Dental Therapists
Presents a history of dental therapy as a workforce strategy, from development to implementation. Examines the states and tribal nations that have implemented dental therapists as a means to improve oral healthcare access.
Author(s): Jane Koppelman, Rebecca Singer-Cohen
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 107(Suppl 1), S13-S17
Date: 06/2017
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Presents a history of dental therapy as a workforce strategy, from development to implementation. Examines the states and tribal nations that have implemented dental therapists as a means to improve oral healthcare access.
Author(s): Jane Koppelman, Rebecca Singer-Cohen
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 107(Suppl 1), S13-S17
Date: 06/2017
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Community Health Workers Get Trained to Reduce Oral Health Disparities
Highlights programs serving the Navajo Nation, Texas colonias, and Appalachian Maryland that use community health workers to provide oral health education and improve access dental care.
Author(s): Jenn Lukens
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Highlights programs serving the Navajo Nation, Texas colonias, and Appalachian Maryland that use community health workers to provide oral health education and improve access dental care.
Author(s): Jenn Lukens
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Dental Therapy Toolkit: A Resource for Potential Employers
Toolkit designed to provide prospective employers of dental therapists a history and understanding of the field and offer information on how to integrate dental therapists into their practices in the state of Minnesota. Includes regulations and scope of practice details, education and training requirements, and examples of successful dental therapy models, among other topics.
Date: 02/2017
Sponsoring organizations: Health Reform Minnesota, Minnesota Department of Health - Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, Minnesota Department of Human Services
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Toolkit designed to provide prospective employers of dental therapists a history and understanding of the field and offer information on how to integrate dental therapists into their practices in the state of Minnesota. Includes regulations and scope of practice details, education and training requirements, and examples of successful dental therapy models, among other topics.
Date: 02/2017
Sponsoring organizations: Health Reform Minnesota, Minnesota Department of Health - Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, Minnesota Department of Human Services
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States Expand the Use of Dental Therapy: Access to Care Increases When Dentists Are Authorized to Hire Midlevel Providers
Presents a state-by-state guide to dental therapist legislation and policies. Summarizes the dental therapist model and details policy updates regularly.
Author(s): Jane Koppelman
Date: 09/2016
Sponsoring organization: Pew
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Presents a state-by-state guide to dental therapist legislation and policies. Summarizes the dental therapist model and details policy updates regularly.
Author(s): Jane Koppelman
Date: 09/2016
Sponsoring organization: Pew
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Economic Evaluation of Community Water Fluoridation: A Community Guide Systematic Review
Details a study on the costs and benefits of implementing community water fluoridation (CWF) in a variety of different community types. Highlights some of the challenges to implementing CWF in rural communities.
Author(s): Tao Ran, Sajal Chattopadhyay
Citation: American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 50(6), 790-796
Date: 06/2016
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Details a study on the costs and benefits of implementing community water fluoridation (CWF) in a variety of different community types. Highlights some of the challenges to implementing CWF in rural communities.
Author(s): Tao Ran, Sajal Chattopadhyay
Citation: American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 50(6), 790-796
Date: 06/2016
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Variation in Dental Hygiene Scope of Practice by State
Presents a state-by-state breakdown of allowable tasks to be performed by dental hygienists. Data presented in an infographic detailing the scope of practice in each state.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 2016
Sponsoring organization: Oral Health Workforce Research Center
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Presents a state-by-state breakdown of allowable tasks to be performed by dental hygienists. Data presented in an infographic detailing the scope of practice in each state.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 2016
Sponsoring organization: Oral Health Workforce Research Center
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The Oral Health Crisis Among Native Americans
Describes use of dental health aide therapists to help alleviate the lack of access to dental services among American Indian and Alaska Native populations.
Date: 07/2015
Sponsoring organization: Pew
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Describes use of dental health aide therapists to help alleviate the lack of access to dental services among American Indian and Alaska Native populations.
Date: 07/2015
Sponsoring organization: Pew
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Dentist Supply, Dental Care Utilization, and Oral Health Among Rural and Urban U.S. Residents
Investigates the differences between rural and urban adults regarding their utilization of dental care services. Discusses the influence of dentist supply and oral health outcomes in rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Mark P. Doescher, Gina A. Keppel
Date: 06/2015
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Investigates the differences between rural and urban adults regarding their utilization of dental care services. Discusses the influence of dentist supply and oral health outcomes in rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Mark P. Doescher, Gina A. Keppel
Date: 06/2015
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Oral Health Strategic Framework 2014–2017
Presents a framework for improving oral healthcare. Highlights the federal government's oral healthcare priorities and outlines 5 different oral health policy goals, such as integration into primary care, improve oral health literacy, and the advancement of research, among others.
Date: 2015
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Presents a framework for improving oral healthcare. Highlights the federal government's oral healthcare priorities and outlines 5 different oral health policy goals, such as integration into primary care, improve oral health literacy, and the advancement of research, among others.
Date: 2015
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Last Updated: 6/23/2025