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…

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Promoting 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…

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Making 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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