Research
Oral Health Equity Cannot Be Achieved Without Racial Equity
Barriers to achieving good oral and overall health do not stop with access to care. Systemic racism exists within healthcare, is linked to several social determinants of health, and contributes to racial inequities in oral health. Multi-level interventions that focuses on system change to advance racial equity can improve population-level health. This report highlights several…
Read MoreSchool-Based Health Services in Virginia and the COVID-19 Pandemic
School-based health programs provide health services, like oral health, to students in schools. Schools were closed and students learned virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic, disrupting school-based health programs and impacting the care children received. This study surveyed public elementary schools in Virginia to understand the impact the pandemic had on school-based health programs and what…
Read MoreA Case Study of a Community Health Worker Program Located in Low-Income Housing in Richmond, VA
Community Health Workers (CHWs) are public health workers with unique understanding of the experience, language, and culture of the populations they serve to promote healthy living and to help people take greater control over their health and lives. They are trained to work in a variety of community settings to provide culturally appropriate health education,…
Read MoreOral Health Knowledge, Barriers to Dental Care, and Awareness of a Medicaid Pregnancy Dental Coverage Among Reproductive-Age Women
In this study of women at an urban health center in Virginia, pregnant women in Virginia covered through Medicaid were less likely to be aware of and use their dental benefit than women who had private dental insurance. A third of the women did not know the pregnancy dental benefit existed. What next? Policy: Ensure…
Read MorePromoting Support for Community Water Fluoridation
Messaging about the benefits, importance, and safety of community water fluoridation (CWF) vary. This study analyzed what kinds of messages effectively influenced support for CWF. Researchers found that focusing on oral health benefits, health equity, and the safety of CWF in messages significantly predicted support. What next? Policy: Require these focused messages on communications from local systems…
Read MoreSilver Diamine Fluoride Protocol for Reducing Preventable Dental Hospitalisations in Victorian Children
Children at high-risk for cavities in this Australian study avoided hospitalizations for dental issues when they participated in a treatment regimen that included silver diamine fluoride (SDF) and other preventive measures. The children, and their families, also reported improved oral health related quality of life after this treatment. SDF is a safe, minimally invasive, and low-cost tool…
Read MoreOral Health in America: Advances and Challenges
This report outlines what we’ve learned since the 2000 Surgeon General’s Oral Health Report. It describes the improvements we’ve made as a nation in improving oral health at a population level, and also outlines disparities and inequities in access and affordability of care that still need to be addressed. What next? Policy: Local, state, and…
Read MoreMaking the case for interprofessional education and practice collaboration to address rising rates of HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancers
Cancers caused by the humanpapilloma virus (HPV) on the tongue, tonsils, mouth, and throat are rising in the US, particularly among males. The HPV vaccine, usually given to adolescents, is effective at preventing oral cancers caused by HPV. Dental professionals have an opportunity to educate patients and encourage the HPV vaccine to prevent these cancers.…
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