Oral Health in Rural Communities – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Oral Health in Rural Communities.
America's Health Rankings Senior Report 2018
Provides a national and state-by-state overview of population health for older adults across 34 measures, as well as two supplemental measures new in 2018: suicide rate and risk of social isolation. Includes a special focus on persistent health differences and challenges facing rural seniors.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 05/2018
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
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Provides a national and state-by-state overview of population health for older adults across 34 measures, as well as two supplemental measures new in 2018: suicide rate and risk of social isolation. Includes a special focus on persistent health differences and challenges facing rural seniors.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Date: 05/2018
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
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Dental Therapists Linked to Improved Dental Outcomes for Alaska Native Communities in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta
Features a study of dental outcomes in Alaska's Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta since Dental Health Aide Therapists (DHATs) have been added to the communities' dental workforce. Details annual data on dental utilization for both children and adults.
Author(s): Donald L. Chi, Dane Lenaker, Lloyd Mancl, Matthew Dunbar, Michael Babb
Citation: Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 78(2), 175-182
Date: 03/2018
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Features a study of dental outcomes in Alaska's Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta since Dental Health Aide Therapists (DHATs) have been added to the communities' dental workforce. Details annual data on dental utilization for both children and adults.
Author(s): Donald L. Chi, Dane Lenaker, Lloyd Mancl, Matthew Dunbar, Michael Babb
Citation: Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 78(2), 175-182
Date: 03/2018
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An Advanced Dental Therapist in Rural Minnesota: Jodi Hager's Case Study
Presents a case study of a dental therapy practice in rural Minnesota. Discusses the practice's productivity, workflow and scheduling, and its effect on oral health access in the area.
Date: 02/2018
Sponsoring organization: Apple Tree Dental
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Presents a case study of a dental therapy practice in rural Minnesota. Discusses the practice's productivity, workflow and scheduling, and its effect on oral health access in the area.
Date: 02/2018
Sponsoring organization: Apple Tree Dental
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Trends in the Provision of Oral Health Services by Federally Qualified Health Centers
Summarizes trends in recent years and factors that predict likelihood of a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) providing general or specialty oral health services. Features statistics including breakdowns by percentage of population living in rural areas.
Author(s): Simona Surdu, Margaret Langelier
Date: 01/2018
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Summarizes trends in recent years and factors that predict likelihood of a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) providing general or specialty oral health services. Features statistics including breakdowns by percentage of population living in rural areas.
Author(s): Simona Surdu, Margaret Langelier
Date: 01/2018
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Oral Health
Details migrant agricultural workers' oral health status and unmet oral health needs. Discusses risk factors and barriers to care.
Date: 2018
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Farmworker Health
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Details migrant agricultural workers' oral health status and unmet oral health needs. Discusses risk factors and barriers to care.
Date: 2018
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Farmworker Health
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Preventable Tooth Loss in Hawai'i: The Role of Socioeconomic Status, Diabetes, and Dental Visits
Results of a study examining association of tooth loss with health risk, dental care access, and sociodemographic factors including income level in 13,371 adults from 4 racial and ethnic groups in Hawaii. Features demographic statistics including breakdowns by residence in a city center, outside a city center, or a nonmetropolitan area.
Author(s): Mikako Deguchi, Marjorie K. Leimomi Mala Mau, James Davis, Richard Niederman
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 14
Date: 11/2017
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Results of a study examining association of tooth loss with health risk, dental care access, and sociodemographic factors including income level in 13,371 adults from 4 racial and ethnic groups in Hawaii. Features demographic statistics including breakdowns by residence in a city center, outside a city center, or a nonmetropolitan area.
Author(s): Mikako Deguchi, Marjorie K. Leimomi Mala Mau, James Davis, Richard Niederman
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 14
Date: 11/2017
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Rural Veterans' Dental Utilization, BRFSS, 2014
Highlight study on the dental utilization rates for rural veterans. Explores whether the rural veterans are more likely to experience negative oral health outcomes, such as missing teeth. Breaks down data by age, educational attainment, and rural versus urban location, among other factors.
Author(s): R. Constance Wiener, Chan Shen, Usha Sambamoorthi, Patricia A. Findley
Citation: Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 77(4), 383-392
Date: 09/2017
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Highlight study on the dental utilization rates for rural veterans. Explores whether the rural veterans are more likely to experience negative oral health outcomes, such as missing teeth. Breaks down data by age, educational attainment, and rural versus urban location, among other factors.
Author(s): R. Constance Wiener, Chan Shen, Usha Sambamoorthi, Patricia A. Findley
Citation: Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 77(4), 383-392
Date: 09/2017
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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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Last Updated: 12/26/2025