2010 Oral Health Conference Review
Rural Kids Need Access to Oral Health Care and Rural Elders Do Too!
These were two powerful messages that came out of the very successful Rural Oral Health Conference on Sept. 24. For the fifth year, the meeting drew a large and enthusiastic audience of dentists, hygienists, dental students, state officials, and other stakeholders dedicated to improving access to care.
Keynote speaker Laurie Norris, Esq., State Campaign Manager, Pew Foundation, Children’s Dental Campaign, recounted the story of Deamonte Driver, the Maryland child who died as a result of a neglected tooth abscess. Out of this preventable tragedy came a strong coalition of advocates who collaborated successfully to improve access to oral health care for children in Maryland.
The Pew Children’s Dental Campaign is a five-year initiative to bring about policy change. Norris reviewed the proven policies that the Campaign is recommending to states, with suggestions for New England. What is Pew doing to help the states?
- Social marketing/messaging –getting out a positive message on water fluoridation
- Pushing for Medicaid reimbursement to medical providers for preventive oral health services
- Workforce issues – Pew recently released a Policy Brief on the 2009 Minnesota law that allows the creation of two new types of licensed oral health professionals: a dental therapist who will work with a dentist on-site and an advanced dental therapist who will work under a collaborative practice agreement with an off-site dentist
The Pew Dental Campaign is also looking at new partners: and is finding support for the children’s agenda coming from businesses and from such unexpected sources as a group of retired admirals and generals. (Presentation materials to be posted shortly.)
For more information on the Pew Children's Dental Campaign, visit their website.
At the other end of the age spectrum, a panel of experts presented recent findings on oral health and New England’s rural seniors.
Dr. Paula Friedman, Director, Geriatric Dentistry Program Boston University School of Dental Medicine, voiced strong concern for the plight of the elderly, many of whom have very limited – or no – access to care. We have an aging population, a high proportion of elders living in rural settings, and retiree health plans seldom cover oral health. Dr. Friedman urged training of more geriatric dentists; application of fluoride varnish works with elders (as well as with children.) Oral health equals overall health!
View the presentation (PDF/540kb).
Lynn Bethel, Director of Oral Health, Massachusetts, reviewed a new state report on the Commonwealth’s high-risk senior population, which is available online (PDF). In 2009, the MA Department of Public Health Office of Oral Health conducted a statewide oral health assessment of 1,046 high-risk seniors (age 60 and older) at 21 long-term care facilities and 20 state subsidized meal sites. An alarming percentage had untreated decay, xerostomia (dry mouth), and gingivitis, among other issues. A high percentage had no dental insurance and were not eligible for MassHealth insurance.
View the presentation (PDF/980kb).
Judith Jones, Chairperson, Department of General Dentistry, Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine, mentioned proposed Congressional legislation that would provide more access to oral health care. The Special Care Dentistry Act of 2010 (H.R. 5346), offered May 20 by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) would require oral health coverage for the aged, blind and disabled through a separate state adult dental program. The VA is active in geriatric dentistry, Dr. Molly DeHaas at the Bedford (MA) VA Hospital works with special oral health aides; uses certified nursing assistants to provide daily care.
View the Presentation (PDF/2.94MB)
Support for the conference came from corporate sponsors Northeast Delta Dental, DentaQuest Foundation, and Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and from these private associations and state offices:
- Connecticut State Dental Association
- Massachusetts Dental Society
- New Hampshire Dental Society
- Maine State Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
- Massachusetts Office of Rural Health
- New Hampshire State Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
- Vermont Department of Health, Office of Rural Health
Dental hygiene students from Mt. Ida College, Boston, and their instructor
Denise Tetrault (second from left)
enjoyed the Rural Oral Health Conference.
View conference speakers' presentations below:
Finding Hope in a Maryland Tragedy: Lessons for New England
Keynote Speaker: Laurie Norris, Esq.,
Pew Children's Dental Campaign
Download Presentation (PDF/1.42MB)
Closing the Revolving Door:
Redirecting Dental Patients Away From Hospital
Emergency Departments to Enhance Patient Care and Outcomes
Lisa Kavanaugh, FACHE
CEO, Community Dental
Portland, ME
Judith Feinstein, MSPH
Director, Oral Health Program Maine CDC, Augusta, ME
Download Presentation (PDF/240kb)
The Graying Tsunami - So What?
Judith A. Jones, DDS, MPH, DScD
Department of General Dentistry,
Boston University School of Dental Medicine
Associate Professor, BU School of Public
Health and Outcomes Section
VA Center for Health Quality, Outcomes
and Economic Research,Bedford, MA
Download Presentation (PDF/2.94MB)
Aging in America
Paula K. Friedman, DDS, MSD, MPH
Vice-President, MDS
Associate Dean, BUGSDM
Download Presentation (PDF/540kb)
Lessons Learned: CT Medicaid
Oral Health
Lawsuit and Funding
Settlement
Jamey Bell
Connecticut Voices for Children
Download Presentation (PDF/117kb)
Connecticut Oral Health Presentation
Linda J. Ferraro, R.D.H., B.S.
Program Coordinator,
Office of Oral Health
CT Department of Public Health
and
Marty Milkovic, M.S.W.
Director of Care Coordination & Outreach
Connecticut Dental Health Partnership
Download Presentation (PDF/202kb)
The Massachusetts Experience
Catherine Hayes, D.M.D., S.M., Dr.Med.Sc.
Independent Monitor
Download Presentation (PDF/578kb)
The Commonwealth's High Risk Senior Population
Lynn Bethel, RDH, MPH
Office of Oral Health
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Download Presentation (PDF/980kb)
Massachusetts Social Media Slide
Download Presentation (PDF/102kb)
State Oral Health Directors' Forum: Maine
Judith Feinstein, MSPH
Director, Oral Health Program
Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention
Augusta, Maine
Download Presentation (PDF/139kb)
New Hampshire Oral Health Presentation
Nancy Martin
Oral Health Program Manager
Download Presentation (PDF/531kb)
Rhode Island Oral Health Commission Presentation
Deborah Fuller, DMD, MS
Rhode Island Department of Health
Download Presentation (PDF/129kb)
Effectiveness of Different Xylitol Products in
Caries Prevention-EBD Review and Meta-analysis
Jehan AlHumaid, BDS, DScD Candidate 2011
Mohamed Bamashmous, BDS, DScD Candidtate 2011
Karina Mascarenhas, BDS, MPH, DrPH
Division of Dental Public Health
Boston University
Download Presentation (PDF/8.96MB)
|
Design by