Changes in Older Adults' Oral Health and Disparities: 1999 to 2004 and 2011 to 2016.

Objectives: To examine changes in tooth loss and untreated tooth decay among older low-income and higher-income US adults and whether disparities have persisted.

Design: Sequential cross-sectional study using nationally representative data.

Setting: The 1999 to 2004 and 2011 to 2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Increasing Dental Students' Understanding of Population Surveillance Through Data Mining.

An understanding of population surveillance is important for predoctoral dental students, so they will comprehend the health needs of the population in order to provide needed care and promote overall health. The aim of this study was to teach data mining and surveillance methodologies to dental students and to assess the association between systemic health factors and tooth loss in patients visiting the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine clinics. The students were calibrated to using the data mining methodologies from the Electronic Health Record (EHR) using a rubric and presentation by a faculty member.

Evaluation of an Interprofessional Oral Health Assessment Activity in Advanced Practice Nursing Education.

The curriculum for nurse practitioner (NP) students often overlooks the assessment of the oral cavity. In recognition of this, the HEENT (head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat) assessment was expanded to HEENOT (head, ears, eyes, nose, oral, and throat) through integration of an interprofessional educational (IPE) activity developed for University of Colorado NP and dental students. The aim of this study was to assess NP students' perceptions of an IPE activity in which dental faculty and students taught NP students how to conduct an oral exam, recognize oral health pathology, and apply fluoride varnish.

Medicaid Adult Dental Benefit Impact on Dental Utilization: A University Clinic Setting.

Introduction: In 2014, the state of Colorado initiated new dental coverage benefits for adults in the Colorado Medicaid program. The goal of this study was to investigate the utilization and impact of this new dental coverage at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine. The utilization of dental services delivered and the numbers of patients in this program were compared before and after the implementation of the benefit.

Burden of oral disease among older adults and implications for public health priorities.

Dental disease is largely preventable. Many older adults, however, experience poor oral health. National data for older adults show racial/ethnic and income disparities in untreated dental disease and oral health-related quality of life.

The challenge to delivering oral health services in rural America.

Objectives: This review identifies the challenges to oral health in rural America and describes areas of innovation in prevention, delivery of dental services, and workforce development that may improve oral health for rural populations.

Methods: This descriptive article is based on literature reviews and personal communications.

Results: Rural populations have lower dental care utilization, higher rates of dental caries, lower rates of insurance, higher rates of poverty, less water fluoridation, fewer dentists per population, and greater distances to travel to access care than urban populations.

Preventing dental caries through school-based sealant programs: updated recommendations and reviews of evidence.

Background: School-based sealant programs (SBSPs) increase sealant use and reduce caries. Programs target schools that serve children from low-income families and focus on sealing newly erupted permanent molars. In 2004 and 2005, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, sponsored meetings of an expert work group to update recommendations for sealant use in SBSPs on the basis of available evidence regarding the effectiveness of sealants on sound and carious pit and fissure surfaces, caries assessment and selected sealant placement techniques, and the risk of caries' developing in sealed teeth among children who might be lost to follow-up.

Costs and savings associated with community water fluoridation programs in Colorado.

Introduction: Local, state, and national health policy makers require information on the economic burden of oral disease and the cost-effectiveness of oral health programs to set policies and allocate resources. In this study, we estimate the cost savings associated with community water fluoridation programs (CWFPs) in Colorado and potential cost savings if Colorado communities without fluoridation programs or naturally high fluoride levels were to implement CWFPs.

Methods: We developed an economic model to compare the costs associated with CWFPs with treatment savings achieved through averted tooth decay.