Community Chatter
New CHI Paper Examines Colorado Dentists and Dental Hygienists
A new paper from the Colorado Health Institute (CHI) summarizes findings from three recent surveys of Colorado's oral health workforce. Read the paper.
Tackling Poverty One Tooth at a Time
Read the 11/23/08 article in the Montrose Daily Press about good dental health paying off in school.
Colorado Medicaid Children's Dental Policy
In an effort to provide transparency to our clients, advocates, providers and other partners, the Benefits Management Section of the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing has been working on identifying and defining the scope, amount and duration of Medicaid benefits. The children's dental benefit is the first benefit we took through this process. Designed to be a living document, this benefit policy statement will be updated as needed.
Aspen to Keep Fluoride in Water
Despite warnings from the city’s water department about an inefficient delivery system and harmful environmental effects, as well as references to studies that fluorinated water can cause bone cancer, the Aspen City Council decided at a work session Monday that fluoride will continue to be added to the city’s water supply. Full story.
University of Colorado Dental Hygiene Program May Be Cut
Officials in the School of Dental Medicine expect to receive a consultant's report next week that will help them decide the fate of the dental hygiene program, which stopped admitting students in December because it was not generating enough revenue. Read more.
The Colorado Health Foundations's Healthy Connections: Strengthening Care through Health Information Technology
The Colorado Health Foundation has undertaken a multi-year initiative to improve the Health Information Technology (HIT) capacity of providers serving low-income, uninsured Coloradans. Learn more.
Mercury Teeth Fillings May Harm Some: US FDA
Silver-colored metal dental fillings contain mercury that may cause health problems in pregnant women, children and fetuses, the Food and Drug Administration said on Wednesday after settling a related lawsuit. Read more. The ADA's comments on the FDA's settlement can be found here.
Delta Dental Offers Care to Uninsured: Company sees oral health as key link to overall wellness
Contrary to popular belief, tooth decay isn't caused by eating too many sugary sweets and lackadaisical tooth brushing. Cavities are caused by a communicable bacteria, often transmitted from mother or other caregivers who share utensils or otherwise exchange saliva with babies. Read more.
A German folk saying that means "every child costs the mother one tooth" may hold a lot of truth. Read more.
The Colorado Health Institute Assessment of Colorado's Rural Dental Health Workforce
Done under contract with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), the assessment is based on findings from CHI's 2006 survey of licensed Colorado dentists and focuses on a number of issues related to the supply of and demand for dentists in rural areas of the state. Read more.
Giving Policy Some Teeth: Routes to Reducing Disparities in Oral Health
Despite improvements in oral health status and clear links between oral and
systemic health, oral health is not accorded the same importance in health care policy as is general health. This review of oral health disparities over the life span documents the results of this inequity. Dental concerns and unmet dental treatment needs, especially among vulnerable populations, are not well addressed in oral health policies. We offer examples of discrepancies between policy and needs and examples of successful interventions that integrate oral health care with informed policy. [Health Affairs 27, no. 2 (2008):404–412; 10.1377/hlthaff.27.2.404]. Download full article (pdf).