Oral Health

It has become increasingly clear that our oral health is linked to our overall health. Improvements in oral health can have a positive effect on our lives, even leading to decreased mortality. Yet dental care is one of the most neglected aspects of our general health care. Many employers do not offer dental insurance, leading a number of Americans to forgo routine visits to the dentist - an imperative step in maintaining healthy mouths, teeth and gums. Good oral health is something that should start at an early age, yet many children get left behind when it comes to their dental care. And there are few preventative dental options for the most vulnerable populations, as state and federal programs generally offer patchwork solutions.

Resources

Regional

Grant Reports

Infographics

National

  • application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document iconComprehensive Review of Dental Therapists Shows They Provide Effective Care to Millions

    This link opens a Word document. Kansas Dental Project, April 10, 2012

  • application/pdf iconA Review of the Global Literature on Dental Therapists

    This link opens a pdf. Published April 2012

  • The Oral Health of Children: A Portrait of States and the Nation 2005

    National Survey of Children’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

  • The Cost of Delay: State Dental Policies Fail One in Five Children

    The PEW Center on the States, February 2010

  • Rural Assistance Center: Dental Health Resources

    Information, resources and success stories about rural dental health

  • Preventing Cavities, Gum Disease, Tooth Loss and Oral Cancers

    At A Glance 2010, Centers For Disease Control and Prevention 2010

  • Oral Health for Infants, Children, Adolescents, and Pregnant Women Knowledge Path

    High-quality resources that analyze data, describe effective programs, and report on policy and research aimed at improving access to oral health care and quality of oral health for infants, children, adolescents, and pregnant women. Georgetown University.

  • Oral Health America

    A helpful collection of oral health research, policy and programming information, including report cards on parity-focused initiatives.

  • National Oral Health Surveillance System

    CDC Oral Health Indicators, along with a link to state oral health summaries

  • Kids and Dental Health: Rising Costs and Struggling State Programs a Dangerous Mix

    The Fiscal Times, July 20, 2010

  • Keeping your mouth and teeth healthy

    Medline Plus

  • Children's Oral Health Resource Page

    Center for Disease Control and Prevention

  • Children’s Dental Health Project

    Designs and advances research-driven policies and innovative solutions by engaging a broad base of partners committed to children and oral health, including professionals, communities, policymakers and parents.

  • An extensive catalog of surveys related to oral health

    NIDCR/CDC Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Data Resource Center

News

National

  • Adult dental coverage expanding slowly in Medicaid
    Kaiser Health News, June 11, 2015
    2015-06-12 09:01
  • States add dental coverage for adults on Medicaid but struggle to meet demand
    Kaiser Health News, Feb. 18, 2015
    2015-02-27 12:00

Regional

  • Lawmakers shelving mid-level dental provider bills
    KHI News Service, Feb. 25, 2015
    2015-02-27 11:41
  • Charity care presentation triggers discussion on shortage of dental providers
    KHI News Service, Jan. 22, 2015
    2015-01-23 10:19
  • Salina dentists rally to halt anti-fluoride momentum
    By Andy Marso for KHI News Service, Nov. 3, 2014
    2014-11-06 23:26
  • Advocates ready another push for mid-level dental providers
    KHI News, October 17, 2014
    2014-10-20 10:34
More News

From the Blogs

Local Health Buzz