Participation in the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund policy by dentists in South Carolina's safety net.

Objectives: The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act appropriated $100 billion to the Provider Relief Fund, allowing for direct payments to health care providers due to COVID-19. Few studies have evaluated participation in the Provider Relief Fund (PRF), and none have specifically looked at dental providers in the safety net.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective, secondary data analysis using a quasi-experimental cohort design of South Carolina dentists who received PRF payments, comparing those who did and did not participate in the safety net.

A Technical Assistance Curriculum for Expanding Sustainable School-Based Oral Health Programs in the Carolinas' Dental Safety Net.

Purpose: School-based oral health programs (SBOHPs) provide opportunities to address oral health inequities by providing convenient access points for care. No published guidelines on SBOHP implementation existed. Our work describes how philanthropic, public, and academic organizations partnered to support dental safety net providers with designing comprehensive SBOHPs in North and South Carolina.

Untreated Dental Caries May be Associated with Subsequent Mortality among Working-Age Adults: Evidence from NHANES III.

Objectives: Poor oral health has been shown to be associated with selected adverse health outcomes. This study assessed the association between untreated dental caries and mortality and examined whether having dental insurance mitigates the risk of mortality among working-age US adults with dental caries.

Methods: Analysis used the publicly available linked mortality file for NHANES III, an observational study conducted in 1988-1994, with follow-up through December 2015.

Normally functioning quadricuspid aortic valve mistaken for bicuspid valve in a septuagenarian.

A 70-year-old male underwent transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal (TEE) echocardiography for a stroke. A bicuspid aortic valve was suspected by TTE, but TEE revealed a normally functioning quadricuspid aortic valve. A quadricuspid aortic valve may be more common than generally thought, as it may not be readily diagnosed by TTE, and may remain functionally normal.

The role of dental insurance in mitigating mortality among working-age U.S. adults with periodontitis.

Aim: To assess the relationship of dental insurance with all-cause mortality and mortality due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD), diabetes mellitus (DM), and cerebrovascular diseases (CBD) among those with periodontitis.

Materials And Methods: NHANES III and its associated mortality data set were used in this study. The outcome variables were "all-cause mortality" and "combined mortality" due to CVD, DM, and CBD.

Should dental school faculty be measured and compensated using academic productivity models? Two viewpoints.

Operationalizing faculty contributions in ways that align with organizational mission can be difficult, particularly when monetizing effort. Conventional compensation methods may result in faculty effort going undefined, resulting in more subjectivity in recognition and compensation. Inequities lead to faculty marginalization, fragmentation, decreased motivation, and attrition.

An alternative early childhood caries risk surveillance methodology for public policy and practice advancements.

Objectives: Early childhood caries (ECC) negatively impacts many child health outcomes and can lead to greater costs for medical and dental care as well as negatively impact future oral health wellness. ECC risk factors are rooted in many social determinants of health. Addressing ECC at the population-level is a national public health priority.

An Assessment of Participant-Described Interprofessional Oral Health Referral Systems Across Rurality.

Purpose: As a means to identify and quantify oral health interprofessional collaborative practice (IPP), we examined participant-described medical-to-dental (M2D) referral networks and how they function across rurality.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey on the appraisal of IPP referral systems in 2016. Secondarily, we examined if rural health clinics (RHCs) have different experiences with M2D referrals compared to other practice types.

Elevating Oral Health Interprofessional Practice Among Pediatricians Through a Statewide Quality Improvement Learning Collaborative.

Context: Because of persistent effects of early childhood caries and impacts of dental health professional shortages areas, the integration of oral health in primary care settings is a public health priority. In this study, we explored oral health interprofessional practice (OHIP) as an integrative pathway to reduce oral health disparities. OHIP can include performing oral health risk assessments, describing the importance of fluoride in the drinking water, implementing fluoride varnish application, and referring patients to a dental home.

Feasibility assessment for using telehealth technology to improve access to dental care for rural and underserved populations.

Objective: South Carolina Dental Association members were surveyed on telehealth knowledge, need, and interest in using it for access to care improvements.

Methods: Dependent variables were Medicaid patient population size (less than or greater than 10%), career stage (early to middle and advanced), and National Health Service Corps participation (yes or no). Practice and provider characteristics were screener questions.

Impact of South Carolina's Medicaid fluoride varnish reimbursement policy on children's receipt of fluoride varnish in medical and dental settings.

Objective: We estimated the effect of South Carolina's (SC) Medicaid fluoride varnish (FV) reimbursement policy on children's receipt of fluoride varnish in medical (MFV) and dental (DFV) settings.

Methods: We obtained data from SC Medicaid enrollment and claims files for children ≤ 47 months of age across State Fiscal Years (SFY) 2008-2013 and created a panel dataset of 52,841 children representing 126,464 child-years of observation. Pooled multivariate logistic regression models were estimated to identify factors associated with a higher likelihood of a child receiving one or more MFV or DFV treatments.

Obesity and obesity-related behaviors among rural and urban adults in the USA.

Introduction: Previous studies have reported a higher prevalence of obesity among rural Americans. However, it is not clear whether obesity-related behaviors can explain the higher level of obesity among rural adults. The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in obesity-related behaviors across rural-urban adult populations in the USA.

Differences in pneumonia treatment between high-minority and low-minority neighborhoods with clinical decision support system implementation.

Background: The relationship between clinical decision support systems (CDSS) and quality is a relatively new, and in light of the new health information technology (HIT) legislation, policy-relevant area. Moreover, very few studies exist examining the link between HIT and healthcare disparities. The purpose of this article is to examine the association between CDSS and the treatment of pneumonia care within high-minority (≥29.

Analysis of hospital-based emergency department visits for dental caries in the United States in 2008.

Objectives: Using nationally representative data, we examined differences in dental care utilization in emergency departments (EDs) among working age adults associated with rural residence and lack of health insurance.

Methods: We used data from the 2008 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample, restricted to working age adults (ages 19-64; 16,928,424 observations). The dependent variable was a principal diagnosis of dental caries.

Diagnostic and Demographic Differences Between Incarcerated and Nonincarcerated Youth (Ages 6-15) With ADHD in South Carolina.

Objective: Analyze diagnostic and demographic factors to identify predictors of delinquency resulting in incarceration within a group of children/adolescents diagnosed with ADHD.

Method: The study followed a cohort of 15,472 Medicaid covered children/adolescents with ADHD, ages 6 to 15 inclusive, between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2006. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.

The metabolic syndrome: are rural residents at increased risk?

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to estimate the differences in prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its individual components across rural-urban populations, as well as to determine the risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome and examine how they contribute toward rural-urban disparity.

Methods: Data came from the 1999-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, restricting to 6,896 participants aged 20 years or more with complete information. Metabolic syndrome was defined using the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III criteria.

Maternal obesity and gestational weight gain in rural versus urban dwelling women in South Carolina.

Purpose: An unhealthy prepregnancy weight and/or gaining an inappropriate amount of weight during pregnancy increase the risk for poor pregnancy and birth outcomes. To our knowledge, no studies to date have examined differences in prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) patterns by rurality.

Methods: The 2004-2006 South Carolina birth certificate data (n = 132,795) were used.

Differences in dental service utilization by rural children with and without participation in Head Start.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess differences in dental and medical care utilization for dental problems between rural Head Start (HS) participants and a nonexposed group.

Methods: A matched retrospective cohort study was conducted using chi-square, Poisson, and logistic regression models. We linked Medicaid claims and HS enrollment data for 7 rural counties in South Carolina to examine oral health service utilization in dental, primary care (PC), and emergency room (ER) settings.

Prediction of unmet primary care needs for the medically vulnerable post-disaster: an interrupted time-series analysis of health system responses.

Disasters serve as shocks and precipitate unanticipated disturbances to the health care system. Public health surveillance is generally focused on monitoring latent health and environmental exposure effects, rather than health system performance in response to these local shocks. The following intervention study sought to determine the long-term effects of the 2005 chlorine spill in Graniteville, South Carolina on primary care access for vulnerable populations.

Differences in readiness between rural hospitals and primary care providers for telemedicine adoption and implementation: findings from a statewide telemedicine survey.

Purpose: Published advantages of and challenges with telemedicine led us to examine the scope of telemedicine adoption, implementation readiness, and barriers in a southern state where adoption has been historically low. We hypothesized that rural hospitals and primary care providers (RPCPs) differ on adoption, readiness, and implementation barriers. We examined the degree to which they differ on (a) telemedicine adoption or readiness; (b) telemedicine training needs; (c) current use of technology for patient care; and (d) environmental concerns in facilities for telemedicine.

Postpartum screening for diabetes among Medicaid-eligible South Carolina women with gestational diabetes.

Purpose: To examine the rate of timely postpartum screening for diabetes among Medicaid-eligible women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Methods: We examined a retrospective cohort of Medicaid women with a live birth between 2004 and 2007. Women with singleton live births at greater than 28 weeks gestation were included in the cohort and their screening receipt tracked.

Variation in Excessive Fetal Growth across Levels of Prenatal Care among Women with Gestational Diabetes.

Objective: Examine the association between prenatal care and excessive fetal growth outcomes among mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 2004-2007 singleton live births to South Carolina women, limited to those for whom both birth certificate and hospital discharge data were available (N = 179 957). Gestational diabetes mellitus was identified from birth certificate and/or hospital discharge claims.

Rural-urban differences in dental service utilization among an early childhood population enrolled in South Carolina Medicaid.

Our exploratory study examined rural-urban differences in dental care utilization during early childhood among Medicaid-enrolled children aged younger than 4 years in South Carolina. We conducted a secondary data analysis using Medicaid data. Dependent variables included preventive dental visits, use of medical settings (emergency room [ER] and primary care [PC] offices) for dental reasons, receipt of fluoride varnish, and dental home status.