Oral Health in Rural Communities – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Oral Health in Rural Communities.
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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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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Returning the Mouth to the Body: Integrating Oral Health & Primary Care
Describes how coordinating oral health and primary care services can address dental health disparities affecting specific populations including those in rural and underserved areas.
Date: 09/2012
Sponsoring organization: Grantmakers in Health
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Describes how coordinating oral health and primary care services can address dental health disparities affecting specific populations including those in rural and underserved areas.
Date: 09/2012
Sponsoring organization: Grantmakers in Health
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Water Fluoridation and Dental Health Indicators in Rural and Urban Areas of the United States
Investigates the availability of fluoridated water across urban-rural settings, and relates measures of fluoride availability to national survey measures of dental health in adults and children.
Additional links: Policy Brief
Author(s): Michael Hendryx, Constance Weiner, Matthew Gurka
Date: 11/2011
Sponsoring organization: West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
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Investigates the availability of fluoridated water across urban-rural settings, and relates measures of fluoride availability to national survey measures of dental health in adults and children.
Additional links: Policy Brief
Author(s): Michael Hendryx, Constance Weiner, Matthew Gurka
Date: 11/2011
Sponsoring organization: West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
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NRHA National Rural Oral Health Initiative
Features resources, information, and best practices for policy makers, educators, and providers on delivering oral healthcare in rural communities. Presents resources on special topics, such as rural veterans oral health, water fluorination, and pediatric oral health, among other topics.
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Features resources, information, and best practices for policy makers, educators, and providers on delivering oral healthcare in rural communities. Presents resources on special topics, such as rural veterans oral health, water fluorination, and pediatric oral health, among other topics.
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Dental Therapy Resources
Presents a series of reports, toolkits, articles, and other resources on dental therapy from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation.
Sponsoring organization: W. K. Kellogg Foundation
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Presents a series of reports, toolkits, articles, and other resources on dental therapy from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation.
Sponsoring organization: W. K. Kellogg Foundation
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Last Updated: 2/2/2026