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Oral Health in Rural Communities – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Oral Health in Rural Communities.

Evaluating the Impact of Dentists' Personal Characteristics on Workforce Participation
Describes the personal, practice, and family characteristics of dentists by gender, and discusses the differences in employment participation that might impact service delivery over time. Features statistics including employment/ownership status, hours worked, wage income, commuting time, and location of work. Includes a section on urban or rural practice location.
Author(s): Margaret Langelier, Simona Surdu, Sai Sindhura Gundavarapu, Shabnam Seyedzadeh Sabounchi
Date: 12/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Veteran Oral Health: Expanding Access and Equity
Report discusses the oral health disparities and barriers to access for veterans. Features data pertaining to the oral health status of rural veterans and explores oral health coverage among veterans.
Author(s): Annaliese Cothron, Sean Boynes, Chelsea Chokas, et al.
Date: 12/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: American Institute of Dental Public Health, CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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Oral Health in America: Advances and Challenges
Report explores the relationship oral health has to overall health and wellness. Discusses the societal factors that affect oral health and oral healthcare access. Features a discussion on rural oral health disparities and access to care in rural areas.
Additional links: Errata Notice, Executive Summary
Date: 12/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health
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For Want of a Dentist: The Rise of the Dental Therapy Movement in Tribal Nations and the U.S.
Report discusses the role of dental therapists in tribal communities to address oral health workforce shortages. Details the history of oral health professional shortages, highlights the populations bearing the burden of the shortages, and describes how tribal communities have used dental therapists to improve access to oral healthcare.
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: W. K. Kellogg Foundation
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Health Care in Rural America: A Focus on Dental Care
Presents findings from a survey of rural adults age 40 and over conducted from November 20 to December 18, 2020, addressing challenges rural populations face in maintaining oral health and consistently accessing oral health providers. Also addresses difficulty paying dental bills and delays in seeking care as a result. Presents data on dental visits by health status, income, insurance coverage, and reasons for delaying or forgoing care.
Additional links: Annotated Questionnaire
Date: 10/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: AARP
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Emergency Department Visits Involving Dental Conditions, 2018
Presents data on emergency department (ED) visits involving dental conditions using the 2018 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS). Describes characteristics of dental-related ED visits, including age, sex, metropolitan status of patient residence, and community-level income. Includes statistics on the number and percentage of ED visits that resulted in hospital admission, types of dental-related ED visits by payer, and groups and types of dental conditions by type of ED visit.
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Urban-Rural Differences in Dental Care Use Among Adults Aged 18-64
Reports on dental visits for rural and urban populations in 2019, providing data from the National Health Interview Survey based on gender, race and ethnicity, and income relative to the federal poverty level.
Author(s): Amy E. Cha, Robin A. Cohen
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Exploring the Impact of ACA on Rural-Urban Disparity in Oral Health Services Among US Noninstitutionalized Adults
Examines the effect the ACA had on oral healthcare utilization in rural areas. Compares use of oral health services by adults from 2011-2016 in rural and urban communities.
Author(s): Wei-Chen Lee, Chih-Ying Li, Hani Serag, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 103-113
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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Characteristics of US Adults Delaying Dental Care Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Highlights a study on the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on oral healthcare utilization and the factors contributing to decisions to delay care. Bases findings on a cross-sectional national survey of adults from late May to early June of 2020. Breaks down demographic indicators of participants by age, race, and rurality, among other factors.
Author(s): A.M. Kranz, G. Gahlon, A.W. Dick, B.D. Stein
Citation: JDR Clinical & Translational Research, 6(1), 8-14
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Achieving Health Equity Through Oral Health Value-based Care: A Funder's Perspective
Presents a study on oral healthcare equity and the preventability of dental caries. Discusses oral healthcare access and presents oral health data on American Indian and Alaska Native populations. Highlights a community-based program in rural Virginia.
Author(s): Parrish Ravelli, Katinka Hakuta, Trenae Simpson
Citation: Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 80(S2), S80-S82
Date: 12/2020
Type: Document
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Last Updated: 4/18/2024