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Rural Health Information Hub

Oral Health in Rural Communities – Resources

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

Rural–Urban Disparities in the Distribution of Dental Caries among Children in South-Eastern Louisiana: A Cross-sectional Study
Highlights a study comparing rates of dental caries in elementary school-aged children in rural and urban communities is south-eastern Louisiana. Draws data from as school-based dental screening and sealant program and compares the rates in rural and urban schools.
Author(s): Hasheemah Afaneh, Madhav KC, Alexandra Lieberman, et al.
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 20, 5954
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
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Medical-Dental Integration Manual
Provides guidance to North Dakota's rural primary care providers looking to integrate a dental hygienist into their practice. Highlights rules and regulations, billing, scope of practice, and workflow issues, among other topics.
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: North Dakota Department of Health, University of North Dakota Center for Rural Health
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How Evidence-based Is US Dental Workforce Policy for Rural Communities?
Examines the alignment of policy and infrastructure with evidence-based strategies to promote access to oral health services for rural people. Focuses on best practices as well as barriers and facilitators to implementation of workforce strategies to increase the availability of services. Presents a scoping review of the evidence behind key strategies in the U.S. health policy context.
Author(s): Miranda Werts, Ginachukwa Amah, Elizabeth Mertz
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Oral Health Workforce Research Center
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Oral Health Value-Based Care - The Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Story
Explores the role Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) play in providing oral healthcare through integration and how FQHCs used technology and flexible workforce modeling to provide care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzes data from the IBM Watson MarketScan Multi-State Database, the Health Resources and Services Administration Uniform Data System, and a survey of participants of the safety net technical assistance program to evaluate health outcomes and service provision of FQHC patients versus non-FQHC patients. Discusses how value-based payment models can effect health outcomes and how FQHCs used telehealth to reach rural and underserved populations during the pandemic.
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, National Association of Community Health Centers
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The Oral Health of 13-15 Year Old American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Dental Clinic Patients - A Follow-Up Report to the 2013 Survey
Presents a study on the oral health status of American Indians and Alaska Natives for age 13-15. Draws data from the across the Indian Health Service and compares with national data.
Author(s): Kathy R. Phipps, Timothy L. Ricks, Nathan P. Mork, Timothy L. Lozon
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Indian Health Service
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Oral Health Surveillance among American Indians and Alaska Natives in Arizona, Nevada, and Utah 2013-2018
Report highlights oral health data from Indian Health Services facilities from 2013-2018 in Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. Looks at data by state, age, gender, and services provided.
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, American Indian Research Center for Health, Tribal Epidemiology Centers
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Fast-Track to Teledentistry - Removing Barriers to Care While Maximizing Overall Health
Details the barriers to oral healthcare access and discusses the ways teledentistry can help overcome them. Highlights the role teledentistry can play during public health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and in rural and underserved communities. Presents examples of successful uses of teledentistry and provides guidance for teledentistry implementation.
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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Consumer Survey Focused on Parents' Experiences Accessing Oral Health Services for Their Children
Highlights oral health access barriers for children, especially those in rural and underserved areas, minorities, and those with special healthcare needs. Features statistics including socioeconomic and geographic characteristics of 1,881 survey parents or guardians, with breakdowns by urban, suburban, or rural residence.
Author(s): Simona Surdu, Margaret Langelier, Nubia Goodwin
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Making a Difference for Generations to Come: School-Based Oral Healthcare in Louisiana
Features a Louisiana Federally Qualified Health Center that offers primary care oral health assessment and fluoride varnishes in school-based health centers. Discusses the impact that access to childhood oral health services may have into adulthood.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Compendium of Rural Oral Health Best Practices - 2020
Highlights examples of the best practices in rural oral healthcare across the country. Presents a number of models regarding workforce development and training, integration of care, telehealth, clinical care, and policy.
Date: 2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Last Updated: 4/15/2024