Oral Health Resource Center Update: July 2024

July 31, 2024

New from OHRC

The following news and resources are featured by the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center (OHRC).

New Brief Explains Selected Oral Health Care Quality Measures for Children

A new brief produced by the Consortium for Oral Health Systems Integration and Improvement provides a national summary of selected oral health care quality measures for children developed by the Dental Quality Alliance (DQA) and displayed in DQA's State Oral Healthcare Quality Dashboard.

Selected Quality Measures of Oral Health Care for Children offers information on the following measures: Oral Evaluation, Dental Services (by or under the supervision of a dentist); Topical Fluoride for Children; and Sealant Receipt on Permanent First Molars. Data is presented on these three measures for the period 2016–2020.

DQA has also published a new medical-dental oral health care quality measure: Early Childhood Oral Evaluation by a Dental Provider Following a Medical Preventive Service Visit. This measure is intended to support program and plan level efforts to connect young children who are accessing the medical care system with oral health care. Read the new measure specifications.

 

New Features on OHRC Website

With our new project, we have made some changes to our website. Find new entries on our left navigation bar and updates to other pages:

  • Consortium: Learn about our latest project
  • Integration: This menu item is a collection of projects, resources, and activities about integration.
  • MCHB-Funded Projects: Find a list of oral health projects, with links to more information, funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau
  • About Us: Find the link to this page at the top right-hand corner of every page on our site and learn more about OHRC staff and projects.

 

 

Head Start Highlight

 

Information for Families about Silver Diamine Fluoride

This handout, Using Silver Diamine Fluoride on Children's Teeth, describes silver diamine fluoride (SDF) and how it can be used to prevent and treat tooth decay. It also describes the benefits of using SDF on young children. It is part of the Healthy Habits for Happy Smiles series for pregnant women and parents of infants and young children. The handouts, in English and Spanish, provide simple tips on oral health issues. 

In the News

Call for Abstracts for 2025 NOHC

Abstract submissions for the 2025 National Oral Health Conference (NOHC) in Orlando, FL, are now open for oral and poster presentations, roundtable presentations, AAPHD student merit awards and weekend workshops (by invitation only). Deadline dates are as follows:
  • September 6, 2024: 60-and 90-minute seminars, weekend workshops and roundtables
  • November 4, 2024: AAPHD Leverett graduate student merit awards
  • December 12, 2024: General posters, oral presentations, predoctoral dental students and dental hygiene student awards
The planning committee is always interested in identifying new topics and speakers. If you have suggestions for topics for sessions, please send an email with the topic title, suggested presenters, and their contact information to [email protected] and [email protected].

Call for Applications for NNOHA Learning Collaborative: Integration of Behavioral Health and Oral Health

The National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA) is seeking interested health centers to participate in a virtual Learning Collaborative on Integrating Behavioral Health and Oral Health (IBOH) funded through NNOHA’s cooperative agreement with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The Learning Collaborative will take place from September 2024 to December 2024 virtually. The goal of the IBOH Learning Collaborative is to improve the overall health of health center patients by implementing behavioral health screenings such as the PHQ-9 or PHQ-2 in the dental clinic. The application deadline is Monday, August 5, 2024. Applications must be submitted through this online application.

CareQuest Tool Displays Adult Medicaid Coverage

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health has released a Medicaid Adult Dental Coverage Checker. The tool shows the landscape for Medicaid adult dental benefits and can inform both federal- and state-level policymaking conversations.

Clinical Report Highlights Oral Health Needs of Children and Youth with Developmental Disabilities

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently released an updated clinical report highlighting the oral health needs of children and youth with developmental disabilities and calls for coordinated care, Oral Health Care for Youth with Developmental Disabilities: Clinical Report. See also:

CMS Releases Oral Health Cross Cutting Initiative Fact Sheet

CMS is pleased to announce the release of the inaugural Oral Health Cross Cutting Initiative fact sheet. Overall health and well-being are impacted by oral health, affecting individuals, families, and communities. The CMS Oral Health Cross-Cutting Initiative aligns CMS programs and policies and the fact sheet highlights this important work and accomplishments to date. This initiative, led by the CMS Chief Dental Officer, is committed to ensuring equitable access to oral health care, eliminating disparities, expanding oral health service availability, and effectively engaging stakeholders. Through the use of data analytics and innovation, this initiative aims to improve the oral health and wellness of individuals who have Medicare, Medicaid, and Marketplace coverage. Through strategic partnerships with states, health plans, and providers CMS is dedicated to expanding coverage, improving access, and exploring new options within current frameworks.
  • CMS regularly releases new oral health reports, articles, and other resources. For more information, sign up for oral health e-mail updates.

Webinar Explores Whole-Person Care

Oral health is frequently interconnected with other health conditions, and coordinating treatment is important for maintaining overall health. Integrating care can enhance patient care delivery, experience, and outcomes while simultaneously reducing costs, making it both effective and efficient. This session, hosted by the Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Primary Health Care, will highlight opportunities, challenges, and recommendations to enhance integration. The Whole Person Care: Interdisciplinary Medical and Oral Health webinar will be Tuesday, August 6 and will feature representatives from CMS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Mile Square Health Center. Register.

Oral health learning cafe

Oral Health Learning Café

Join us at the café! 

OHRC's Oral Health Learning Café is an informal, supportive space for professionals to engage with others about integrating oral health and primary care. On August 13, OHRC's Katy Battani will present Integrating Oral Health Care into Primary Care in Five Successful, Long-Standing, Statewide Programs.

Visit our website for the archive and to subscribe to the discussion list to receive announcements about upcoming webinars and the monthly Integration Alert.
URL: 
https://www.mchoralhealth.org/