Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Oral health
Expanding Oral Health Access and Equity: The Impact of Federally Qualified Health Centers
Presents a literature review aiming to understand the role of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in providing access to oral healthcare. Highlights different delivery methods, such as telehealth, oral health integration, and school-based and mobile health center programs. Discusses access barriers, such as rurality, among other factors.
Author(s): Irene Hilton, Candace L. H. Owen, Rachel Johnston, et al.
Citation: Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 86(S1), 48-53
Date: 03/2026
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Presents a literature review aiming to understand the role of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in providing access to oral healthcare. Highlights different delivery methods, such as telehealth, oral health integration, and school-based and mobile health center programs. Discusses access barriers, such as rurality, among other factors.
Author(s): Irene Hilton, Candace L. H. Owen, Rachel Johnston, et al.
Citation: Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 86(S1), 48-53
Date: 03/2026
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Increasing Access to Oral Health Care in Rural Communities
Describes strategies states are implementing to meet the oral health needs of their rural communities. Covers initiatives related to telehealth, expanding the dental workforce, medical-dental integration, as well as initiatives proposed as part of state Rural Health Transformation Program applications.
Author(s): Megan D'Alessandro, Katie Greene
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Describes strategies states are implementing to meet the oral health needs of their rural communities. Covers initiatives related to telehealth, expanding the dental workforce, medical-dental integration, as well as initiatives proposed as part of state Rural Health Transformation Program applications.
Author(s): Megan D'Alessandro, Katie Greene
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Examining Rural Population Characteristics and Access to Care in 2022: A Study of Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs)
Chartbook examines the characteristics of populations living within Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) across the U.S. Explores geographic, population, and facility-based HPSAs in Primary Care and Dental and Mental Health. Highlights population-to-provider ratios, travel time and distance, and several other category-specific measurements for each HPSA.
Author(s): Craig Holden, Shena Popat, Rachel Van Vleet, et al.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
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Chartbook examines the characteristics of populations living within Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) across the U.S. Explores geographic, population, and facility-based HPSAs in Primary Care and Dental and Mental Health. Highlights population-to-provider ratios, travel time and distance, and several other category-specific measurements for each HPSA.
Author(s): Craig Holden, Shena Popat, Rachel Van Vleet, et al.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
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Virginia's Dentistry Workforce: 2025
An overview of the dentistry workforce in Virginia based on data from the 2025 Dentistry Survey. Features statistics including the number of dentists in rural Virginia and how many grew up in rural areas.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Department of Health Professions
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An overview of the dentistry workforce in Virginia based on data from the 2025 Dentistry Survey. Features statistics including the number of dentists in rural Virginia and how many grew up in rural areas.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Department of Health Professions
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Virginia's Dental Hygienist Workforce: 2025
An overview of the Virginia dental hygienist workforce based on data from the 2025 Dental Hygienist Workforce Survey. Features statistics on the number of dental hygienists working in rural Virginia as well as how many grew up in rural areas of Virginia.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Department of Health Professions
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An overview of the Virginia dental hygienist workforce based on data from the 2025 Dental Hygienist Workforce Survey. Features statistics on the number of dental hygienists working in rural Virginia as well as how many grew up in rural areas of Virginia.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Department of Health Professions
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Florida Health 2025 Workforce Survey of Dental Hygienists
Analyzes data from the Florida dental hygienist license renewal period ending February 28, 2024. Features demographics, statistics, and a county-level map showing the number of dental hygienists in each county as of 2023-2024.
Author(s): Manikumar Reddy Kallem
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Florida Health
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Analyzes data from the Florida dental hygienist license renewal period ending February 28, 2024. Features demographics, statistics, and a county-level map showing the number of dental hygienists in each county as of 2023-2024.
Author(s): Manikumar Reddy Kallem
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Florida Health
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Florida Health 2025 Workforce Survey of Dentists
Explores Florida's dentist workforce supply, practice settings, and long-term professional outlook. Features demographics, statistics, and a county-level map showing number of dentists in each county as of 2023-2024.
Author(s): Manikumar Reddy Kallem
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Florida Health
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Explores Florida's dentist workforce supply, practice settings, and long-term professional outlook. Features demographics, statistics, and a county-level map showing number of dentists in each county as of 2023-2024.
Author(s): Manikumar Reddy Kallem
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Florida Health
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Scaling Medical-Dental Integration Nationally: Outcomes from the MORE Care Initiative
Presents a study evaluating the implementation of the MORE Care initiative, an oral health integration model, into six rural counties in Ohio. Details the outcomes of the two year pilot program, including oral health assessments, fluoride varnish, and dental referral systems implemented into primary care practices.
Author(s): Matthew Vermillion, Christine Kanan, Caroline McLeod, Caroline McLeod, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 14
Date: 02/2026
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Presents a study evaluating the implementation of the MORE Care initiative, an oral health integration model, into six rural counties in Ohio. Details the outcomes of the two year pilot program, including oral health assessments, fluoride varnish, and dental referral systems implemented into primary care practices.
Author(s): Matthew Vermillion, Christine Kanan, Caroline McLeod, Caroline McLeod, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 14
Date: 02/2026
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Rural-Urban Differences in Dental Care Utilization After a Public Health Emergency
Explores COVID-19-specific impacts on dental care access and utilization among rural and urban populations. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by rural and urban status.
Author(s): Quazi Minhaz Tabassum, Redwan Bin Abdul Baten, Ahmed A. Arif
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Explores COVID-19-specific impacts on dental care access and utilization among rural and urban populations. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by rural and urban status.
Author(s): Quazi Minhaz Tabassum, Redwan Bin Abdul Baten, Ahmed A. Arif
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Emergency Dental Care in the ACA Era: Rural–Urban Disparities and Their Association With State Medicaid Policy
Highlights a study exploring the role Medicaid expansion has played in the utilization of emergency department (ED) visits for nontraumatic dental conditions (NTDCs) among adults in rural and urban areas. Details the rates of ED utilization for NTDCs in rural and urban hospitals in 8 states and explores rates based on states' Medicaid policy.
Author(s): Marvellous A. Akinlotan, Dan Burch, Alva O. Ferdinand
Citation: Public Health Dentistry, 86(1), 99-108
Date: 01/2026
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Highlights a study exploring the role Medicaid expansion has played in the utilization of emergency department (ED) visits for nontraumatic dental conditions (NTDCs) among adults in rural and urban areas. Details the rates of ED utilization for NTDCs in rural and urban hospitals in 8 states and explores rates based on states' Medicaid policy.
Author(s): Marvellous A. Akinlotan, Dan Burch, Alva O. Ferdinand
Citation: Public Health Dentistry, 86(1), 99-108
Date: 01/2026
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