The Oral Health Alert: Focus on Head Start is a monthly
newsletter that provides timely information about national campaigns
and initiatives, materials, and journal articles. Past issues are available at http://www.mchoralhealth.org/alert/archives.html
November 2009
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1. Access to Pediatric Oral Health Services in Lane
County, Oregon: Final Report
This report describes activities conducted by the Latino Medical Access
Coalition from April 2004 through February 2009 to address barriers to
oral health services for children in Lane County, Oregon, from families
with low incomes who are uninsured. Contents include the project's
goals and objectives, methodology, coordination, evaluation, and
results and outcomes. Topics include establishing on-site prevention
programs (oral screening and education by advanced practice dental
hygienists) in public settings serving the target population, (2)
promoting the use of fluoride varnish application in medical clinics,
and (3) facilitating access to dentists in federally qualified
community health centers for restorative treatment and ongoing care.
[Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]
Writer C. 2009. Springfield OR: Sacred Heart Medical Center. 17 pp.
Available at http://www.mchlibrary.info/MCHBfinalreports/docs/H17MC02526.pdf.
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2. Better Health at Lower Costs: Policy Options for
Managing Childhood Tooth Decay
This inaugural issue of TrendNotes describes the importance of
preventing and managing dental caries in children. The issue addresses
the oral health needs of children and families, system support for
dental caries prevention and management, and core elements of a
comprehensive system of care. Topics include dental caries in children;
opportunities to address dental caries under the Children's Health
Insurance Program Reauthorization Act; the costs of dental caries for
children, families, and the health care system; risk-based
intervention; reorienting systems to focus on dental caries as a
chronic disease; and implications for policy and practice. [Funded by
the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]
Editorial Note: TrendNotes is designed to highlight emerging trends in
children's oral health and to promote policies and programmatic
solutions supported by evidence-based research and practice.
VanLandeghem K. 2009. Washington, DC: National Oral Health Policy
Center at Children's Dental Health Project. Available at http://www.cdhp.org.php5-4.websitetestlink.com/system/files/trendnotes_11.10.09.pdf.
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3. Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and
Treatment (EPSDT) Services: Knowledge Path
This knowledge path is a guide to resources to provide and strengthen
EPSDT services. Contents include Web sites, electronic materials,
distance learning resources, and databases. Sections present resources
for professionals (health professionals, program administrators,
policymakers, researchers) and for families. A special topics area
lists resources focusing on oral health services as part of EPSDT.
[Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]
Lorenzo SB. 2009. Washington, DC: Maternal and Child Health Library.
Available at http://www.mchlibrary.info/KnowledgePaths/kp_EPSDT.html.
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4. Improving EPSDT Periodicity Schedules to Promote
Healthy Development
This brief summarizes findings from a review of state Web sites and
from an informal survey of state EPSDT coordinators to identify the
extent to which states were changing Medicaid policies to incorporate
the Bright Futures guidelines published in 2007 into their programs,
with a specific focus on the 30-month well-child visit (EPSDT screen).
Information on how state Medicaid agencies can facilitate adoption of
improved standards of care, including oral health care, and
opportunities for improvement are included.
Johnson K, Kaye N, Cullen A, May J. 2009. Portland, ME: National
Academy for State Health Policy. 5 pp. Available at http://www.nashp.org/sites/default/files/ESPDT%20Brf.pdf.
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5. Medicaid Beneficiaries and Access to Care
This fact sheet reviews findings on Medicaid beneficiaries' access to
care and Medicaid's role in supporting access for families with low
incomes. Graphs present statistics on child and adult access to care,
including dental visits, by health insurance status (employer or other
private, Medicaid or other public, uninsured). Information on
populations and key services covered by Medicaid, but not covered by
private insurance; cost barriers by insurance status; and opportunities
to strengthen access in Medicaid is also provided.
Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured. 2009. Washington, DC:
Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured. 3 pp. Available at http://www.kff.org/medicaid/upload/8000.pdf.
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6. Mexican American Mothers' Initiation and Understanding
of Home Oral Hygiene for Young Children
This article presents findings on mothers' beliefs and practices about
their child's oral hygiene. The mothers in the study sample were
primarily from immigrant families of Mexican origin or descent with low
income and low education. The children were primarily ages 3 months to
5 years. Nearly half of the mothers initiated oral hygiene (mouth
wiping) around age 6 months, but relatively few started this practice
without being educated about it or prompted by someone else. Most
mothers began regular toothbrushing on their own initiative, but only
13 percent of these mothers began this practice by their child’s
first birthday. For mothers who decided to brush their child’s teeth,
reasons included the presence of the child’s teeth, the kind of food
the child could eat, and the child's interest in toothbrushing and
desire to copy role models.
Hoeft KS, Masterson EE, Barker JC. 2009. Pediatric Dentistry
31(5):395-404. Abstract available at http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/aapd/pd/2009/00000031/00000005/art00006.
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7. A Comparison of Medical and Dental Outcomes for
Medicaid-Insured and Uninsured Medicaid-Eligible Children: A U.S.
Population Based Study
w
This study evaluated medical and dental outcomes for asthma and dental
caries among children who are eligible for Medicaid. The study assessed
sociodemographic attributes, use of health care services, health
outcomes, and treatment needs among children who are eligible for
Medicaid. The researchers also compared medical and dental service use,
health outcomes, and treatment needs among children who are eligible
for Medicaid and Medicaid-insured vs. those who are uninsured. They
found that having Medicaid coverage improved use of medical services
for children ages 2-16 and oral health services for older children
(ages 9-16) but did not affect general health status, oral health
status, or health outcomes and did not decrease unmet treatment needs
for children.
Fisher MA, Mascarenhas AK. 2009. Journal of the American Dental
Association 140():1403-1412. Abstract available at http://jada.ada.org/cgi/content/abstract/140/11/1403.
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