Oral Health is vital to the health and well-being of pregnant women, children, adolescents, young adults, and their families. Common preventable problems include tooth decay (dental caries and cavities) and gingivitis (inflammation of the gums). Preventive care includes routine oral health care, early detection, proper diet, and appropriate management.
Our investment in oral health aims to:
- Identify gaps and barriers within a state’s system of services to integrate preventive oral health care
- Quantify quality improvements that achieve integrated care in a meaningful way
- Raise awareness, knowledge, and skills among the workforce and other stakeholders who can put theory to practice
Awards
In 2024 we funded nine, 4-year cooperative agreements to accomplish this work:
MCH-IOHI Consortium (one)
We awarded $1.475 million annual funding to the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center--which works in partnership with the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors--to provide:
- Targeted technical assistance (TA) using a learning collaborative approach
- Universal TA to professionals serving the MCH population in all states and territories
MCH-IOHI Demonstration Projects (eight)
We awarded up to $425,000 annual funding to each of the seven states and one territory. The projects aim to improve access to integrated preventive oral health care in primary care services for the MCH population at high risk for poor oral health. Each project will implement a two-tier, state and local, improvement plan that will address three core functions:
- Policy and practice
- Education and outreach
- Data, analysis, and evaluation
State and organization awardees are:
- Connecticut: Moses Weitzman Health System
- Colorado: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
- Montana: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
- Puerto Rico: University of Puerto Rico
- South Carolina: South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
- Texas: Texas Department of State Health Services
- New York: Health Center Network of New York
- Wisconsin: Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
To learn more, explore our funding and oral health grantee website.
Our reach
At the state and local levels, MCHB invests in three primary strategies:
- Test promising models for integrating oral health into primary care and safety-net settings (clinical settings for people with limited or no access to health care due to their financial circumstances, insurance status, or health condition)
- Provide tailored assistance to stakeholders so that they can promote access to and use of preventive oral health services
- Develop and share new and reliable resources and guidance for administrators, health professionals, educators, and policymakers
How the oral health program works
We invite key state stakeholders to demonstrate improvement in access to integrated preventive oral health care in primary care services accessible to MCH populations living in communities underserved by oral health care.
We use a team-based, learning collaborative approach to support state Title V MCH Services Block Grant programs in their response to the oral health needs of the MCH population, and to improve project implementation of integrated models of care.
We ensure all states and territories have easy access to reliable resources and high quality TA based on evidence and best practices, delivered by trained personnel.
More information
Resources
The National Maternal & Child Oral Health Resource Center responds to the resource needs of professionals working in states and communities, with the goal of improving oral health care for women, children, and their families.
Key resources
- Medical-Dental Integration (Models of Care and other resources)
- Oral Health Care During Pregnancy: A National Consensus Statement (Guidance)
- Bright Futures: Oral Health—Pocket Guide, 3rd Edition (Guidelines)
- Open Wide: Oral Health Training for Health Professionals and Early Childhood Professionals, 2nd Edition (Curriculum)
- Consumer Materials in English and Other Languages (Education)
Key publications
Oral Health Among Children and Youth With Special Health Care Needs – Pediatrics (2021)
Preventive Oral Health Care Use and Oral Health Status Among US children: 2016 National Survey of Children's Health (PDF - 347 KB) – Journal of American Dental Association (2019)
Funding
Our oral health investments produce innovative strategies and resources to increase access to integrated preventive oral health care among MCH populations:
- Title V National Performance Measure for Oral Health (Ongoing)
- Integrating Oral Health Care and Primary Care Learning Collaborative: A State and Local Partnership (2022 – 2024)
- Networks for Oral Health Integration Within the Maternal and Child Health Safety Net (2019 – 2024)
- Partnership for Integrating Oral Health Care into Primary Care (2019 – 2022)
Jobs
Find open positions with HRSA.
News & events
Stay connected and up to date with OHRC e-mail lists that inform individuals working in states and communities about new and updated materials of interest:
- OHRC Update – a monthly e-newsletter providing relevant and emerging developments
- Community Oral Health Programs (COHP) – an e-mail discussion list about the operation of local oral health programs
- National Performance Measure 13 (NPM13) – an e-mail discussion list about the Title V national performance measure for oral health (NPM 13)
- Oral Health Learning Café – an e-mail discussion list and monthly webinar program to learn about oral health programs and services throughout the country and to share strategies, challenges, lessons learned, and resources
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