Oral Health in Rural Communities – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Oral Health in Rural Communities.
Oral Healthcare in Rural America
Webinar highlighting oral healthcare in rural Texas and nationally. Discusses common oral health disparities, common causes of poor oral health, prevention measures, access to oral healthcare, insurance rates, and oral healthcare projects in Texas. See video description for transcript.
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: University of Texas at Arlington Center for Rural Health and Nursing
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Webinar highlighting oral healthcare in rural Texas and nationally. Discusses common oral health disparities, common causes of poor oral health, prevention measures, access to oral healthcare, insurance rates, and oral healthcare projects in Texas. See video description for transcript.
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: University of Texas at Arlington Center for Rural Health and Nursing
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The Oral Health of American Indian and Alaska Native Adult Dental Patients 35 Years and Older A Follow-up Report to the 2015 Survey
Details the oral health of American Indian and Alaska Native adults over 35. Presents rates of AI/AN people with untreated decay and caries, severe periodontal disease, and missing teeth, among other measures. Compares AI/AN rates with the U.S. as a whole and with other groups.
Author(s): Kathy R. Phipps, Timothy L. Ricks, Nathan P. Mork, Timothy L. Lozon
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: Indian Health Service
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Details the oral health of American Indian and Alaska Native adults over 35. Presents rates of AI/AN people with untreated decay and caries, severe periodontal disease, and missing teeth, among other measures. Compares AI/AN rates with the U.S. as a whole and with other groups.
Author(s): Kathy R. Phipps, Timothy L. Ricks, Nathan P. Mork, Timothy L. Lozon
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: Indian Health Service
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Improving the Oral Health of Rural Veterans
Report explores rural veterans' access to oral healthcare. Compares the oral health of rural and urban veterans, highlights barriers to oral healthcare in rural areas, and makes recommendations for expanding access to oral healthcare.
Author(s): Annaliese Cothron, Hayam Megally, Don Clermont
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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Report explores rural veterans' access to oral healthcare. Compares the oral health of rural and urban veterans, highlights barriers to oral healthcare in rural areas, and makes recommendations for expanding access to oral healthcare.
Author(s): Annaliese Cothron, Hayam Megally, Don Clermont
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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Teledentistry Trends in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Reviews the use of teledentistry during and following the COVID-19 pandemic in California, Maine, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, and examines reimbursement issues and supports needed to enhance dental care in a post-COVID-19 world. Mentions rural throughout.
Author(s): Miranda Werts, Prashanta Patel, Elizabeth Mertz
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Oral Health Workforce Research Center
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Reviews the use of teledentistry during and following the COVID-19 pandemic in California, Maine, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, and examines reimbursement issues and supports needed to enhance dental care in a post-COVID-19 world. Mentions rural throughout.
Author(s): Miranda Werts, Prashanta Patel, Elizabeth Mertz
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Oral Health Workforce Research Center
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Risk Perceptions of Drinking Bottled vs. Tap Water in a Low-Income Community on the US-Mexico Border
Presents a study on rates of bottled water usage among low-income people on the U.S.-Mexico border. Explores concerns about tap-water quality and oral health consequences of drinking unfluoridated water. Draws conclusions from interviews of low-income households about the perceived safety of tap water in Nogales, Arizona.
Author(s): Kerton R. Victory, Amanda M. Wilson, Nolan L. Cabrera, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 22, 1712
Date: 09/2022
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Presents a study on rates of bottled water usage among low-income people on the U.S.-Mexico border. Explores concerns about tap-water quality and oral health consequences of drinking unfluoridated water. Draws conclusions from interviews of low-income households about the perceived safety of tap water in Nogales, Arizona.
Author(s): Kerton R. Victory, Amanda M. Wilson, Nolan L. Cabrera, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 22, 1712
Date: 09/2022
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Improving Access to Oral Health Care for Tribal Populations in Oklahoma
Report discusses tribal oral healthcare access for American Indian communities in Oklahoma. Highlights the oral health disparities across the Indian Health Service (IHS) system and explores barriers to oral healthcare access for the federally-recognized tribes in the state.
Author(s): Allie Atkeson
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Report discusses tribal oral healthcare access for American Indian communities in Oklahoma. Highlights the oral health disparities across the Indian Health Service (IHS) system and explores barriers to oral healthcare access for the federally-recognized tribes in the state.
Author(s): Allie Atkeson
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Engaging Tribal Populations to Improve Oral Health Care Access in Arizona
Report discusses tribal oral healthcare and proposes strategies to improve access for American Indian communities in Arizona. Highlights the federally-recognized tribes in the state and details the status of oral healthcare in the Indian Health Service (IHS) system.
Author(s): Ella Roth, Allie Atkeson
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Report discusses tribal oral healthcare and proposes strategies to improve access for American Indian communities in Arizona. Highlights the federally-recognized tribes in the state and details the status of oral healthcare in the Indian Health Service (IHS) system.
Author(s): Ella Roth, Allie Atkeson
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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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
Sponsoring organization: Advisory Committee on Training in Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry
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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
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
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Workforce Studies
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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
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
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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
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Last Updated: 6/23/2025