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Tip sheetsJournalists and experts have written about covering oral health and presented discussions on the topic at AHCJ conferences and workshops. This is a collection of the most useful and relevant tips. Click the title of the tip sheet that interests you and you will be asked to login because these are available exclusively to AHCJ members. Featured tip sheetsScholarly approaches combating dental fear Why are people afraid of the dentist? That was the question that three British researchers sought to answer in a recent review of internationally published studies on dental fear, dental anxiety judgment and dental phobia. The answer to the question is complicated, the reviewers found. Dental fears may be traced back to a variety of sources, including frightening early dental visits, anxieties transmitted by parents and other role models, traumatic experiences unrelated to dental care and personality traits that may make some people more vulnerable to anxiety, according to studies that were reviewed. What reporters need to know about water fluoridation efforts September 2019 Nearly 75% of Americans – more than 211 million people – are served by community water fluoridation (CWF) programs, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Since its beginnings, water fluoridation has stirred controversy, with opponents asserting that the practice amounts to forced medication and poses health risks including reduced intelligence. Here, Mary Otto provides background and presents the most relevant studies on the subject. Look for additional tip sheets based on subject:Access to dental careEfforts continue to add a Medicare dental benefit May 2019 Under the group’s scenario, a comprehensive dental benefit without dollar-value caps would cost the federal government $32.3 billion in the current year and raise the base premium for Part B benefits by an estimated $14.50 per month. But dental coverage is not the only important benefit left out of Medicare. The program also largely excludes vision and hearing services, other analysts have observed. Community health centers increasingly go beyond primary care April 2019 Issues to consider when reporting on oral health during pregnancy
“Evidence suggests that most infants and young children acquire caries-causing bacteria from their mothers,” said the authors of report sponsored by the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center at Georgetown University. Learn more about the benefits of good oral health during pregnancy and the obstacles that many women face in obtaining care. Oral health stories to look for in 2017 May 2017 For background that will help you learn more about these many unfolding stories and how they might impact people in your state and community, here are some useful resources. Understand how changes to health care law could affect dental benefits July 2017 With the possible revamping or dismantling of the law, concerns are being raised that dental benefits could be lost. Learn more about how dental benefits are handled through Medicaid and some exchanges and how such benefits could be affected. Covering gaps in dental care for low-income children September 2016 Clark also looked at the shortage of oral health care services for poor children in Florida. Here she offers story ideas, background and sources of data to help other reporters cover oral health in low-income children. Resources for reporting on the dental health crisis among poor adults May 2016 More than one third of poor elders have lost all their teeth – compared with 16 percent of those with incomes at or above 200 percent of the FPL. These and other facts come as reminders that poor oral health places a disproportionate burden upon poor adults in the United States, the nonpartisan Medicaid and CHIP Access and Payment Commission concluded in a report to Congress on the status of adult Medicaid benefits around the country. These resources can help your reporting on dental care access challenges April 2016 October 2014 As Drizin observed in a Q & A on the project, covering these events can be challenging. Tips on covering dental health care and access to care Just as with other aspects of health care, people are affected by economic, structural, geographic and cultural factors that limit access to dental health care. This tip sheet is a collection of resources, including taped panel discussions, tip sheets, articles and contest questionnaires on reporting on dental health. Moves to address access to dental care This panel, at Health Journalism 2012, looked at the devastating effects of a lack of dental care, what populations are most likely to go without care and some solutions that are being tried out in some states, such as Minnesota and Alabama. A number of story ideas were offered by the panelists and can be found in this article about the panel and in a presentations from Shelly Gehshan, M.P.P., director, Pew Children’s Dental Campaign, Pew Center on the States about newsworthy issues; and one from Michael Helgeson, D.D.S., chief executive officer, Apple Tree Dental about dental therapists. State of Decay Eric Eyre, a health reporter at The Charleston (W.V.) Gazette, wrote an award-winning series about dental health care, "State of Decay." For more information, see his tip sheet, an article about how he reported the project and the contest questionnaire about how he reported the series. Aging and oral healthConsider these issues when reporting on local dental services for senior citizens August 2017 The nonprofit Oral Health America periodically publishes a state-by-state report card that analyzes oral health among elders. How did your state do on the most recent “State of Decay” report card? How multigenerational grandfamilies in America are impacting oral health January 2017 There are probably grandfamilies in your community who would be willing to speak about the multigenerational challenges and rewards they have encountered in finding care and staying healthy. As you report on the effort to add a dental benefit to Medicare, here are some things to keep in mind. Resources address oral health issues facing disabled, elderly and other special-needs patients December 2015 Savage works for Allegany Health Right, a Cumberland, Maryland-based safety-net dental care provider for low-income, uninsured/underinsured adults. During a recent opportunity to observe Savage in action teaching, I learned about a number of resources will be useful to you in writing about the challenges and benefits of good home dental care for vulnerable adults. Oral health is a significant factor in overall well-being in seniors October 2013 A 2011 study assessed geriatric oral health of 386 seniors, and compared physical factors including body mass index, handgrip strength, and one-leg standing time with eyes open – all considered strong indicators of general health status among older adults. They found that oral health scores “are significantly associated with” muscle strength in the elderly, which in turn, affects their activities of daily living. CancerTips on reporting about the changing nature of HPV-related cancers January 2019 In the August 2018 report, Trends in Human Papillomavirus-Associated Cancers – United States, 1999-2015, federal researchers charted the climb of new HPV-related cancer cases in the U.S. from 30,115 in 1999 to 43,371 by 2015. Dental assistantsAre dental assistants in your state expanding their scope of practice
March 2014 Their work often includes helping dentists with procedures, taking and developing X-rays, preparing and sterilizing instruments, making appointments, keeping records, and giving patients post-operative instructions. But from state to state, duties, credentialing, and training standards vary widely. Oral health topic leader Mary Otto provides some background, the latest news on what's happening in various states and links to help reporters learn what changes may be in the works in their state – just in time for Dental Assistants Recognition Week, March 2-8. Dental care costsCharge It: Patients Rack Up Dental Care Debt 2009 third-place winner, Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism Weiss looked into the dental credit cards issue because of a proposed piece of legislation to protect consumers from signing up for a credit card unknowingly or getting charged for services they did not receive. In addition to these problems with the cards, Capital Public Radio found the California Dental Association was getting paid to endorse these cards. Dental fearScholarly approaches combating dental fear Why are people afraid of the dentist? That was the question that three British researchers sought to answer in a recent review of internationally published studies on dental fear, dental anxiety judgment and dental phobia. The answer to the question is complicated, the reviewers found. Dental fears may be traced back to a variety of sources, including frightening early dental visits, anxieties transmitted by parents and other role models, traumatic experiences unrelated to dental care and personality traits that may make some people more vulnerable to anxiety, according to studies that were reviewed. Dental hygienistsExpanding use of dental hygienists continues to be a state-by-state battle October 2018 In a few significant cases, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), under its charge to protect the health care marketplace from unfair competition and to ensure consumer access to care, has supported easing restrictions. The FTC offers some comments on the topic in a new Pew policy brief. Dental hygienists working to expand their role in oral health Organization leaders are determined to further expand hygienists’ freedom to work in the field. And they say that efforts to enable hygienists to become mid-level dental providers trained to drill and extract teeth are gaining momentum nationwide.Millions of Americans are going without dental care. Some lack insurance or money to pay for services. Others are too young or old or disabled to get themselves to a dentist’s office. Still others live in poor or isolated places where providers are in short supply. Dental hygienists who gathered in Nashville June 17-23 for the 92nd annual session of the American Dental Hygienists Association (ADHA), stress they are ready and willing to help get care to people who now lack it. Dental hygienists' workforce is shifting, growing July 2013 It was in 1913 that a Bridgeport, Conn., dentist, Dr. Alfred Fones, opened the world’s first dental hygiene school. The first dental hygienist was Fones’ cousin and chairside assistant Irene Newman. Today, more than 181,000 dental hygienists are at work in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The work of these dental auxiliaries has typically centered upon offering preventive services such as cleaning teeth, applying dental sealants and fluoride treatments, screening for oral cancer and offering oral health education. But much about this female-dominated profession has been changing in recent years. Dental therapistsBackground and resources for covering the dental therapist movement In 2009, Minnesota became the first state government to pass legislation authorizing the model. Dental therapists are now working in underserved areas of the state. Maine and Vermont also have laws in place that allow dental therapists, although they are not yet working in those states. Dental therapist programs have been launched by tribal communities in Washington and Oregon. Other states are considering giving the model a try. “States such as Florida, New Mexico, North Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin are now considering legislation,” wrote Jane Koppelman, senior manager for the Pew Charitable Trusts’ dental campaign in this January 2019 column, Efforts to Expand Access to Oral Health Care to Continue in 2019. Momentum grows to establish dental therapists; what about your state? Organized dental groups, including the American Dental Association have fought the model, contending that only dentists have the training to perform what are termed irreversible procedures such as drilling and filling teeth.February 2015 Even so, dental therapists, who provide care under the general supervision of dentists, are now treating patients in tribal areas of Alaska as well as in poor communities in the state of Minnesota. Maine has also passed legislation and is moving forward with therapists. The dental therapist project: Expanding care to every community June 2014 Diet and nutritionA road map for exploring the crossroads of nutrition and oral health
July 2016 Oral health predicts whole body health, and is one of the 12 leading indicators for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People 2020 initiative. Research aimed at gaining a fuller understanding of the relationships between oral and systemic diseases and conditions continues. The World Health Organization emphasizes the role diet and nutrition play in oral health, including its influence on craniofacial development, risk of oral infections, cancer and dental and periodontal disease. Nutritionist and writer Melinda Hemmelgarn offers some things that journalists should know to raise awareness of risk, lead consumers to care and promote the critical role of diet and nutrition in protecting oral health. Resources for reporting on the latest dietary guidelines and oral health January 2016 It’s not the stuff of snappy headlines. Still, this new edition of the national dietary guidelines is the first to set a quantitative recommended limit on sugar consumption. And leaders at the American Dental Association, in comments submitted during the development phase of the new guidelines, found oral health news to applaud. Mary Otto, AHCJ's core topic leader on oral health, runs down some of the latest research on the relationship between sugar and tooth decay and suggests some questions that could guide your reporting on this topic. Electronic cigarettesElectronic cigarettes come with risk of 'devastating' fire or explosion February 2018 Mary Otto summarizes and links to the reports, provides an overview of the problem and the regulatory bodies involved, as well as some information about the public health implications of e-cigarettes. Federal/state oversight of oral healthWhat you should know about the state of safe disposal of dental mercury March 2017 High Court and new regulatory guidance presents opportunity to examine licensing boards Licensing boards regulate hundreds of occupations across the country, everything from medicine and law to bee-keeping and fortune telling. Often the boards are comprised of members of the profession they are regulating. And as in the North Carolina case, there are times when these regulatory bodies run afoul of federal antitrust laws intended to ensure consumer choice and greater access to services.When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in February that the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners lacked the authority to regulate teeth-whitening businesses, experts observed that the decision might have impact far beyond the world of dentistry. What do we know about the bacteria inhabiting our mouth? Science recently revealed a fascinating new fact about romantic intimacy: a couple exchanges 80 million bacteria during the average French kiss.
The Dutch study “Shaping the Oral Microbiota Through Intimate Kissing,” which was published in the journal Microbiome, suggests that a shared microbiota is able to develop in the mouths of partners. The study got quite a bit of attention from the press. And there will be plenty of other tales to tell, as researchers delve deeper into the intricate workings of the microbial communities that inhabit various regions of our bodies, including our mouths. Research examines impact of soda taxes on oral health
November 2014 In the November 2014 elections, Berkeley, Calif., voters approved a 1-cent per ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, a measure strongly opposed by the American Beverage Association but supported by a wide range of health groups. While Berkeley is the first city in the country to approve such a “sin” tax, it might have opened the door for other communities to do so. Mary Otto has collected relevant research and resources for reporters who might be called on to cover soda taxes. Understanding the legal battles over teeth-whitening
Is there a teeth-whitening story in your state? Now might be a good time to take a look at this widely-contentious issue. A long feud between North Carolina’s state dental board and a group of non-dentists who provide teeth-whitening services is headed for the U.S. Supreme Court. Oral arguments in the case, North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners v. Federal Trade Commission, are scheduled for Oct. 14. Dental whitening has grown into a multi-billion dollar business and the struggle over whether non-dentists should be allowed to bleach teeth has been playing out across the country in recent years. Guide to federal agencies that oversee safety of oral health and dental care January 2014 Early in the year, an inspection at the office of a local oral surgeon, W. Scott Harrington, raised concerns that lax sanitation practices had put patients at risk. Widespread testing followed and health officials announced that a former patient had contracted hepatitis C while receiving care at his office. Muchmore stayed in constant contact with health officials and her reports came as a reminder that the CDC is just one of the federal bodies charged with overseeing and regulating the safety of America’s dental care system. Here is a look at a few of these agencies, with links to information about how their work relates to dental care. You might want to use them as resources to expand the focus of your local stories. Does the state have teeth to discipline dentists? 2010 entry, Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism One story in Mulder's body of work submitted finds that New York rarely takes disciplinary action against dentists, even one deemed a public threat. Enough Scrutiny in Dental Deaths? 2008 entry, Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism Smith's reporting looks at the consistency and thoroughness of the state review process in three deaths that were related to dental care, finding that the public has no way of knowing a death occurred, how well it was investigated or why the investigation was closed without resorting to full-fledged public records requests. State of Decay: West Virginia's Oral Health Crisis 2007 first-place winner, Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism FluorideCovering a controversial study: How to dig deep on a deadline August 2019 So when she was assigned to write about the JAMA Pediatrics study finding a link between prenatal fluoride exposure and reduced IQ in preschoolers, "two things went through my mind: One, this is going to be covered horribly by some outlets and likely create unnecessary anxiety among parents, especially pregnant women (who have enough to worry about when it comes to do’s and don’ts). Two, I need to be one of those who gets it right." Here, Haelle shares how she approached, reported and completed her own article, in case seeing her process is helpful for others when there’s another potentially controversial study to cover. Looking deeper into the promise of silver diamine fluoride August 2016 Because it has been classified as a topical fluoride, dental auxiliaries are also beginning to explore the use of silver diamine fluoride. The Oregon Board of Dentistry moved to allow dental auxiliaries to apply silver diamine fluoride soon after it was cleared for marketing by the Food and Drug Administration in 2014, Donna Domino reported for DrBicuspid.com. Learn more about this product so you can report on whether it's being offered as an option by dental care providers in your area. What reporters need to know about water fluoridation efforts September 2019 Nearly 75% of Americans – more than 211 million people – are served by community water fluoridation (CWF) programs, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Since its beginnings, water fluoridation has stirred controversy, with opponents asserting that the practice amounts to forced medication and poses health risks including reduced intelligence. Here, Mary Otto provides background and presents the most relevant studies on the subject.
InsuranceEfforts continue to add a Medicare dental benefit May 2019 Under the group’s scenario, a comprehensive dental benefit without dollar-value caps would cost the federal government $32.3 billion in the current year and raise the base premium for Part B benefits by an estimated $14.50 per month. But dental coverage is not the only important benefit left out of Medicare. The program also largely excludes vision and hearing services, other analysts have observed. Resources for tracking the Children’s Health Insurance Program The Children’s Health Insurance Program (formerly known as the State Children’s Health Insurance Program) has enjoyed broad support through much of its history, and state officials have received reassurances from Capitol Hill that funding for the program will continue. But over the past summer, as Congressional leaders remained divided over many issues, children’s advocates became “increasingly anxious” about the program’s future, Tricia Brooks, a senior fellow at the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families, said in a September commentary in Health Affairs. Ideas on covering how dental benefits expansion is working under the ACA What does recent federal data reveal about how dental benefits are working on federal and state insurance marketplaces so far? In “Dental Benefits in Health Insurance Marketplaces: An Update on Policy Considerations” the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) takes a look. In one perhaps surprising development, young adults aged 26-34 have turned out to be the group most likely to purchase stand-alone dental coverage on the federally-facilitated marketplace, with 302,000 individuals (20 percent of enrollees). By comparison, 14 percent of the enrollees, or roughly 100,000 were children aged 0-18, according to the most recent marketplace data reported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Are young adults in your state obtaining dental benefits? Are they satisfied with their coverage? Why aren’t more parents in your state purchasing dental coverage for their children? InternationalHow to cover efforts in your town to improve oral health around the world I earlier wrote about a story by Sara Schilling of the Tri-City Herald in Kennewick, Washington, that offered her readers a glimpse into world of a local “adventure dentist.” When dentist Bart Roach isn’t taking care of his own patients or helping at a local clinic serving the poor, he is traveling to faraway places such as Cambodia or Guatemala to help people who are suffering from oral disease. “You have an obligation to give back to your community and your global community,” Roach explained. OpioidsOpioid epidemic: Focus turns to how dentists are treating pain July 2019 As the authors of a 2016 research letter published in the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded, dentists had regularly prescribed opioids to treat post-extraction pain “despite evidence that a combination of nonsteroidal medications and acetaminophen may provide more effective analgesia for post-extraction pain.” Mary Otto runs down the latest research, alternatives to using opioids for dental pain and offers an example of how to cover the story. How dental pain has contributed to the nation’s opioid epidemic August 2017 In this tip sheet, find out what the research says about dental prescribing as well as how dental organizations have responded and steps that are being recommended to combat the problem. Oral health and minoritiesResources address oral health issues facing disabled, elderly and other special-needs patients Malissa Savage, a community health worker who works with people in need of dental care, notes that variations in physical ability, mental capacity and behavior often call for flexibility and creativity by the individual and their caregivers. Savage works for Allegany Health Right, a Cumberland, Maryland-based safety-net dental care provider for low-income, uninsured/underinsured adults. During a recent opportunity to observe Savage in action teaching, I learned about a number of resources will be useful to you in writing about the challenges and benefits of good home dental care for vulnerable adults. New research , including a paper published in the August issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) finds a remarkable variety in the oral health status of American Hispanics from differing national and regional backgrounds. The August JADA paper, which examines periodontal (gum) disease, reveals significant differences in disease incidence among Americans identifying as Cuban, Dominican, Mexican, Puerto Rican Central American and South American.Hispanics are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population, and they face a measurable disadvantage when it comes to oral health. They experience more oral disease than white Americans and often face barriers in getting care. Yet dentally speaking, they are far from a homogeneous group. Mary Otto shares some tips on covering oral health issues in the Hispanic community. Pediatric oral healthIssues to consider when reporting on oral health during pregnancy
“Evidence suggests that most infants and young children acquire caries-causing bacteria from their mothers,” said the authors of report sponsored by the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center at Georgetown University. Learn more about the benefits of good oral health during pregnancy and the obstacles that many women face in obtaining care. Tips for reporting on the state of dental sealant programs in your community May 2017 Professionally applied dental sealants offer effective protection against tooth decay. Moreover, progress has been made over recent decades in getting these useful treatments to kids. Still, the work is far from done. Overall, fewer than half of American children have received the thin plastic coatings applied to the biting surfaces of newly-erupted molars. Particularly concerning to health officials and oral health advocates is the shortage of sealants among low-income children, who face an elevated risk of disease and suffer from higher rates of untreated decay. Now that a recent report has renewed the call for communities to bolster their support of school-based sealant programs, this might be a good time to see how your state is doing regarding getting sealants to kids. Is there a school sealant program you can visit in your community? If there isn’t one, why not? This tip sheet offers resources to help you take a closer look. Oral health stories to look for in 2017 May 2017 For background that will help you learn more about these many unfolding stories and how they might impact people in your state and community, here are some useful resources. Here’s what you should know about the homeopathic teething tablet controversy February 2017 Following the 2016 warning, national pharmacy chain CVS announced a voluntary recall of all brands of homeopathic teething products and removed them from store shelves. In November, Raritan Pharmaceuticals, a contract manufacturer for Homeolab USA, said that it was voluntarily recalling homeopathic teething and earache remedies containing belladonna extract due to the potential for variation in the content of belladonna extract in the products. Hyland's earlier had issued a press release defending the safety of its products. Learn more about the teething process, homeopathy and how doctors advise parents to help their children get through this process without turning to potentially dangerous treatments. How multigenerational grandfamilies in America are impacting oral health January 2017 There are probably grandfamilies in your community who would be willing to speak about the multigenerational challenges and rewards they have encountered in finding care and staying healthy. As you report on the effort to add a dental benefit to Medicare, here are some things to keep in mind. ‘Back-to-school’ a good time to focus on sports-related dental injuries
With millions of school athletes headed back to playing fields across the country, protecting teeth from loss and damage should be on the minds of parents, coaches, teachers and players, too. Mary Otto has compiled some background, information and resources to help reporters who might be covering sports-related injuries or risks. This tip sheet includes guidelines for handling dental trauma, a link to a database with guidance on dental injuries, journal articles and organizations with specific guidelines.
April 2015 They also offer insights gleaned from a recent webinar hosted by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Oral Health. The program features NIDCR dental epidemiology officer Bruce A. Dye, D.D.S., M.P.H., lead author of the new report, as well as previous reports on the NHANES. What stories can you cover for National Children's Dental Health Month? February 2015 Feb. 3, 1941, was dedicated to spotlighting the dental needs of children. It turned out there was lots more to say and do. Over the years, February has evolved into National Children’s Dental Health Month. Maybe a story related to the oral health of children is unfolding in your community. And February is a good time to tell it. To help you get started on your reporting, here is a tip sheet that draws upon insights and information exchanged during a Jan 23 AHCJ webinar. Is your community fighting tooth decay with school-based dental sealant programs? August 2014 Can’t find one to visit? That may be another worthwhile story.
Dental sealants are thin, plastic coatings that are applied to children’s permanent back teeth to seal the narrow grooves on the chewing surfaces and keep out decay-causing bacteria and food particles. Studies show that the procedure can reduce the incidence of tooth decay by 60 percent. But poor and high-risk kids who could benefit the most from sealants are not always receiving them. Children sedated, anesthetized for dental procedures: What reporters should know
February 2014 An increasing number of children are being placed under sedation or anesthesia for dental care, experts say. Children with diagnoses of extensive decay who may not be able to sit still for care are sometimes placed under general anesthesia before undergoing treatment. But how often is this done, what kinds of sedatives and anesthesia are used, what's the training for dentists who use sedatives and what are the risks involved? We get some answers from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. A different story in each state: Pediatric dental benefits on the health insurance exchanges October 2013 In the next five years, an estimated 3 million children are expected to become eligible to receive private dental benefits through the insurance marketplaces set up by the states. They will be among the approximately 8.7 million children who stand to gain extensive dental coverage through the ACA. How is your state coping with the challenges of offering them? And will the benefits result in getting more kids the dental care they need? Oral health topic leader Mary Otto explains the issues and why states could be making some controversial decisions in implementing this part of the law. The Dental Epidemic of Alameda County 2011 third-place winner, Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism Alameda County's children have some of the worst teeth in the nation as documented in 2006, when a dental health assessment outlined the crisis in a study. The reporters wanted to produce a story to update the progress that had been made over the last five years. A conversation with the county dental health administrator, however, revealed that the problem had actually gotten worse – "epidemic" in proportion – as he says on camera. The series attempts to answer three questions key to understanding the scale of the epidemic:
State Lags in Dental Health Care for Children 2010 entry, Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism This investigation revealed that although dental disease is preventable, it is not unusual for California children to suffer crippling and disabling cases of it. Through interviews with dentists and oral surgeons, and data from little-known reports, Udesky found that each year thousands of children as young as 4, typically from disadvantaged families, undergo hospitalization for emergency dental care, including root canals and extractions of baby teeth. Left untreated, dental disease can be life threatening. She found that the reasons for what one expert described as a dental disease "epidemic" among California children that is "absurdly pervasive" are multilayered. 2009 entry, Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism When a family is struggling to make ends meet, dental care is often seen as expendable. Even so, children in one of the poorest communities in Kansas are getting oral health care, thanks to a unique collaboration between their school district and a safety net clinic 30 miles away. Periodontal diseaseHow to improve your understanding of the link between periodontal health and systemic disease
Periodontal (gum) disease is a recognized complication of diabetes. August 2013 Oral health topic leader Mary Otto provides some background on the relationship between the diseases, the body's response and other conditions that research is pursuing. Rural oral healthPoor oral health: What's the cost? June 2014 Out of reach: The rural health care gap 2010 entry, Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism |
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November 2018
