Helpful documents, reports, and studies.
Oral Health in America: Advances and Challenges, US Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, 2021.
This report is a culmination of two years of research and writing by over 400 contributors. As a follow up to the Surgeon General’s Report on Oral Health in America, this report explores the nation’s oral health over the last 20 years.
Integrating Oral Health into Primary Care, Janet Cowell, ACP Internist, Preventive Medicine, November/December 2021
A comprehensive primary care model that includes oral health is needed to prevent health problems, reduce costs, and provide equitable care.
The Partnership for Integrating Oral Health Care into Primary Care Project 2019-2021: Final Report, Battani K, Holt K. 2021, National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center, Washington, DC.
This document discusses the importance of integrating oral health care into primary
care, provides information about the implementation of the PIOHCPC project, details
project findings and strategies to integrate oral health care into primary care, and
highlights TA activities provided to and feedback received from project teams.
HPV vaccinations will slow oropharynx cancer rates but may take 25 years to see impact
Zhang Y. et al, JAMA Oncology, September 02, 2021
New Data: Medicaid Adult Dental Coverage is Wise Investment for Economic Recovery
Colin Reusch, MPA; Health Policy Hub; Jul 08, 2021
Making the Case for Dental Coverage for Adults in All State Medicaid Programs
Marko Vujicic, Ph.D.; Chelsea Fosse, D.M.D., M.P.H.,Health Policy Institute, American Dental Association; Colin Reusch, M.P.A., Community Catalyst; Melissa Burroughs, Families USA, July 2021
This Research Brief was written in a partnership between the ADA Health Policy Institute(HPI) and Families USA and Community Catalyst. Millions of adults in America – particularly low-income adults – cannot afford the oral health care they need to stay healthy, eat, work, socialize, and live pain-free. Current gaps in federal and state policy leave many adults enrolled in Medicaid without access to dental care. This paper explains how this problem could be addressed by state and federal level policymakers, and why it is morally and fiscally important to do so. Watch the Video
Medicaid Strategies for Addressing Social Determinants of Health: Considerations from State Leaders for Improving Oral and Overall Health, Allie Atkeson and Ariella Levisohn, National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP), May 24, 2021
Challenges in Implementing School-Based Oral Health Programs: Short- and Long-Term Impact of COVID-19, Tiwari T., Cofano L., Wood C., Frantsve-Hawley J., CareQuest Institute for Oral Health and the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors, Boston, MA, and Reno, NV, May 2021.
Dental Services and Health Outcomes in the New York State Medicaid Program
Lampster, I.B. et al, Journal of Dental Research, International & American Associations for Dental Research, April 2021
Previous reports suggest that periodontal treatment is associated with improved health care outcomes and reduced costs. Using data from the New York State Medicaid program, rates of emergency department (ED) use and inpatient admissions (IPs), as well as costs for
ED, IPs, pharmacy, and total health care, were studied to determine the association of preventive dental care to health care outcomes.
State of Oral Health Equity in America 2021 Research Report 1: A Coming Surge in Oral Health Treatment Needs — Pandemic-related events appear poised to create a spike in oral disease among adults, Tranby EP, Jacob M, Kelly A, Frantsve-Hawley J., CareQuest Institute for Oral Health Advancement, April 2021.
The March 2021 issue of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) journal, Preventing Chronic Disease, focuses on oral health. Oral Health Behaviors and Availability of Dental Services Among Children and Adults features nine articles.
School Dental Programs Face Stiff Challenges: Programs struggle to navigate the pandemic,
Cofano L, Wacloff J, Jacob M, Frantsve-Hawley J, Wood C., CareQuest Institute for Oral Health and the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors, Boston, MA, and Reno, NV, December 2020.
SYSTEM TRANSFORMATION: A Three Domain Framework to Innovating Oral Health Care, White Paper, DentaQuest Partnership for Oral Health Advancement, 2020
The Three Domain Framework builds on health promotion and disease prevention while supporting value-based care. Through an analysis of projected Medicaid costs, this paper describes a new “Three Domain Model for Dentistry” with a roadmap for implementation.
Children’s Oral Health: Progress-Policy Development And Priorities For Continued Improvement, James J. Crall and Marko Vujicic, Health Affairs, Vol. 39, No. 10: Children’s Health, October 2020
This article highlights improvements during the past twenty-five years in US children’s oral health and oral health care that stem from major federal and state initiatives, as well as persistent disparities. It offers promising strategies for reducing gaps and suggestions for overcoming challenges to future progress, including renewed emphasis on oral health during early childhood; greater integration in education and clinical service delivery programs; development of standardized quality measures; and data collection systems that support more robust surveillance, program monitoring, and system improvements.
The Link Between Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia and the Mouth: The intersection of VAP, COVID-19, oral health and equity, Thakkar et al, DentaQuest, September 2020
Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is the second most common hospital acquired infection (HAI) and the leading cause of HAI deaths among critically ill patients. VAP is likely to occur in 10-20% of patients who are mechanically ventilated for 48 hours or more.
Both serious and deadly, VAP commonly occurs when a patient is connected to mechanical
ventilation and bacteria travel from the oral cavity or breathing equipment into the lungs.
Teledentistry: Providing Access to Care During the COVID-19 Crisis.
DentaQuest Partnership for Oral Health Advancement. March 2020. Boston, MA.
This report addresses how Teledentistry can benefit health during this critical and extraordinary time we’re facing as patients, providers and states address the COVID-19 pandemic.
Promoting Oral Health for Mothers and Children: A Nurse Home Visitor Education Program, Haber, Judith; Hartnett, Erin; Hille, April; Cipollina, Jessamin.Pediatric Nursing; Pitman Vol. 46, Iss. 2, (Mar/Apr 2020): 70-76.
Read this report on the effectiveness of a Nurse Family Partnership (NFP) oral health educational program. The results of this study showed that both NFP nurses and their clients improved their oral health knowledge and practice behaviors which was associated with positive oral health outcomes for the children involved. Nurse home visitors can play a vital role providing oral health and nutrition education to high-risk mothers and their children.
Increasing Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus–Positive Oropharyngeal Cancers Among Older Adults, Windon et al, Cancer, Volume 124, Issue 14, Pages: 2993-2999, April 2018
The incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is increasing among older adults. It is unknown whether these trends can be explained by human papillomavirus (HPV) and whether HPV-related tumors remain associated with an improved prognosis among older patients.
The Oral Health Care Delivery System in 2040: Executive Summary
Howard L. Bailit, Journal of Dental Education September 2017, 81 (9) 1124-1129
Confronting the Nation’s Oral Health Crisis
With 61 percent of U.S. adults rating oral health as “fair” or “poor” and 51 percent listing it as their top health concern, there’s no question that our national oral health care system is failing the majority of Americans. Read Confronting the Nation’s Oral Health Crisis. (December 2019)
Fluoridation Facts
ADA’s premier resource on fluoridation, answering frequently asked questions about community water fluoridation and the latest scientific research, ADA, 2018
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A STATE OF DECAY: Are Older Americans Coming of Age Without Oral Healthcare?, Vol. IV, Oral Health America, 2018
Predictive Model for Caries Risk Based on Determinants of Health Available to Primary Care Providers, American Academy of Pediatric Dentists, May 2018
Oral Health Services for Children and Adolescents with Special Health Care Needs: A Resource Guide (3rd ed.) , The National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center (OHRC), 2017
Special Care: An Oral Health Professional’s Guide to Serving Children with Special Health Care Needs (2nd ed.) , The National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center (OHRC), 2017
A Community Framework for Addressing Social Determinants of Oral Health for Low-Income Populations, Center for Healthcare Strategies, Technical Assistance Brief, January 2017
CHCS – Center for Health Care Strategies Brief, Measuring Social Determinants of Health among Medicaid Beneficiaries: Early State Lessons, December 2016
CDC MMWR Vol. 65, Vital Signs: Dental Sealant Use and Untreated Tooth Decay Among U.S. School-Ages Children, October 18, 2016
Oral Health in Pregnancy
Hartnett, Erin et al., Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing , Volume 45 (July-August, 2016), Issue 4 , 565 – 573
A State of Decay: Are Older Americans Coming of Age without Oral Healthcare?, Vol. III 2016, Oral Health America
2015 New Hampshire Oral Health Plan, August 31, 2015
NH Oral Health Data, NH Division of Public Health Services, December 2015
NH Oral Health Program – Five-Year Communication Plan (2015-2020), NH Division of Public Health Services
SB 193 Oral Health Pathways Commission FINAL Report, November 1, 2015
The NH 2013-14 Third Grade Healthy Smiles, Health Growth Survey – NH DHHS, Public Health/Oral Health.
The Oral Health Status of NH Older Adults, 2014 – NH DHHS, Public Health/Oral Health.
More to Smile About – The New Hampshire Dental Society’s Plan for Better Oral Health, 2014
Oral Health Care During Pregnancy Expert Workgroup. 2012. Oral Health Care During Pregnancy: A National Consensus Statement – Summary of an Expert Work Group Meeting. Washington DC: National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center.
Improving Access to Oral Health Care for Vulnerable and Underserved Populations
Institute of Medicine and National IOM (Institute of Medicine) and NRC (National Research
Council). 2011.