Oral Health News*Bytes

The Children’s Dental Health Project has an extensive database of national and state-specific media reports on children's oral health and dental care.

Filling an Urgent Need:  Improving Children's Access to Dental Care in Medicaid and SCHIP

This comprehensive report from the Kaiser Family Foundation identifies a wide assortment of effective actions that states can take related to each of several key dimensions of children’s access to oral health care in Medicaid and SCHIP. In addition, the report articulates larger, systemic barriers to access and care that must ultimately be tackled, and considers how Medicaid and SCHIP might contribute.

Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) Chartbook

This chartbook presents data from the 1996 and 2004 MEPS on national dental use and dental coverage, sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Expanding Access to Dental Care Through California's Community Health Centers

This issue brief reviews the impediments to providing dental care to low income patients at FQHCs as well as recommendations for overcoming the barriers. 

The Good Practice: Treating Underserved Dental Patients While Staying Afloat

While designed for dental safety net providers in California, this guide provides excellent information for providers in Virginia as well, outlining techniques and tools, including: the fundamentals of creating a sound strategic plan; paying special attention to the reimbursement process and payer mix; achieving a smooth patient flow; designing an optimal staffing pattern; the importance of effective business systems; and implementing new technologies and clinical programs.