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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Dental workforce

Idaho Rural Health Care Access Program (RHCAP) FY21 Dental Health Eligible Areas
County-level map with shadings showing dental geographic Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), population group HPSAs, and ineligible areas.
Date: 04/2020
Sponsoring organization: Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
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Organizational Readiness to Implement System Changes in an Alaskan Tribal Dental Care Organization
Study of an Alaska tribal dental care organization's readiness for system-level changes based on surveys of dental providers, assistants, and support staff employed by the organization at 15 clinics in remote villages and 3 main dental clinics located in cities. Discusses perceptions of staff regarding workforce issues and support for change related to policies and evidence-based practices. Scores each area of readiness for change based on survey data, including organizational functioning, resources, and management.
Author(s): C.L. Randall, K. Hort, C.E. Huebner, et al.
Citation: Journal of Clinical and Translational Research, 5(2), 156-165
Date: 04/2020
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Consumer Survey Focused on Parents' Experiences Accessing Oral Health Services for Their Children
Highlights oral health access barriers for children, especially those in rural areas and those with special healthcare needs. Features statistics including socioeconomic and geographic characteristics of 1,881 survey parents or guardians, with breakdowns by urban, suburban, or rural residence.
Author(s): Simona Surdu, Margaret Langelier, Nubia Goodwin
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Rural Rotation Program: Utah Medical Education Council, 2007-2020
Report provides data on clinical rural rotations for medical and dental residents, pharmacy students, physician assistants, advanced practice registered nurse students, and medical students, from 2007-2020.
Date: 2020
Sponsoring organization: Utah Health Workforce Information Center
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Compendium of Rural Oral Health Best Practices - 2020
Highlights examples of the best practices in rural oral healthcare across the country. Presents a number of models regarding workforce development and training, integration of care, telehealth, clinical care, and policy.
Date: 2020
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Oral Health Status of Low-Income Children in Pennsylvania: A Rural-Urban Comparison
Describes research examining the oral health component of the Medical Assistance (MA) program for Pennsylvania children, additional oral health programs and services, the supply and distribution of Pennsylvania dentists, and the overall oral healthcare delivery system for low-income children in rural Pennsylvania. Features statistics including the number of general dentists and specialists who were active MA providers as of 2017, with breakdowns by urban or rural location, and a county-level map showing low-income Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas by rural status as of 2018.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Lisa Davis, Kelly Braun, Myron R. Schwartz
Date: 11/2019
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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More Than a Smile: An Examination of Rural Dental Health Care in Nebraska
Explores the link between oral and total health, and identifies primary barriers to dental healthcare in rural Nebraska and efforts to increase access. Includes county-level maps of Nebraska and the United States, showing Dental Health Professional Shortages Areas as of 2019.
Author(s): Lauren Taylor, Jordan Rasmussen
Date: 11/2019
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Affairs
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Wisconsin Number of Providers Needed to Remove Shortage Designation: Dental Health
Shows the number of providers needed to remove the Dental Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designation for each county in the state of Wisconsin.
Date: 09/2019
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Office of Rural Health
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A National Study of the Practice Characteristics of Women in Dentistry and Potential Impacts on Access to Care for Underserved Communities
Results of a study to understand differences in dentist practice characteristics by sex, and to plan for changes in the workforce that could affect supply and demand of dental services in underserved areas. Features statistics including practice patterns by sex and year from 2010-2016 with breakdowns by practice location in rural area, small town, micropolitan, metropolitan, or large metropolitan area.
Author(s): Simona Surdu, Margaret Langelier, Yuhao Liu, Nubia Goodwin
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Collaborative Practice as a Strategy for Increasing Access to Oral Health Care in Minnesota
Report highlights the collaborative practices of Minnesota's oral health workforce to improve access to oral healthcare in rural areas. Details the collaboration of dentists, dental assistants, hygienists, and dental therapists in Minnesota.
Date: 05/2019
Sponsoring organization: The Network for Public Health Law
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