Oral Health

Oral health is vital to the health and well-being of pregnant women, children, adolescents, young adults, and families. Common problems include tooth decay (dental caries or cavities), and gingivitis (inflammation of the gums). These are preventable with routine oral health care, early detection, proper diet, and appropriate management.

Our Work in This Area

To improve oral health, we want to:

• Increase access to preventive services
• Foster an integrated workforce
• Achieve health equity

To achieve oral health equity, we need to:

• Integrate oral health within the rest of the health care system
• Provide culturally sensitive and cost-effective preventive care
• Empower communities and people to follow recommendations for good oral health and overall health

Program Investments

At the state and local levels, MCHB invests in three primary strategies:

1. Test promising models for the integration of oral health into primary care and safety-net settings. Safety-net settings are clinical settings for people with limited or no access to health care due to their financial circumstances, insurance status, or health condition
2. Provide tailored assistance to stakeholders so that they can promote access to and use of preventive oral health services
3. Develop and share new and reliable resources and guidance for administrators, health professionals, educators, and policymakers

These strategies:

• Identify gaps and barriers within a state’s system of services to integrate preventive oral health care
• Support quality improvements in the systems of services
• Raise awareness, knowledge, and skills of stakeholders who can put theory into practice

Resources for Awardees

• Consortium for Oral Health Systems Integration and Improvement (COHSII) provides:
  • Oral Health Quality Indicators for the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Population Indicators
  • Readiness Assessment: Assessing Capacity to Implement Oral Health Quality Indicators for the Maternal and Child Health Population
• National Maternal & Child Oral Health Resource Center provides:
  • Bright Futures: Oral Health –Pocket Guide, 3^rd Edition
  • Oral Health Care During Pregnancy: A National Consensus Statement
  • Consumer Materials in English and Other Languages

Key publications

• Evaluation of a Comprehensive Oral Health Services Program in School-Based Health Centers – Maternal and Child Health Journal (2018).
• 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 - 356 KB) – Journal of American Dental Association (2019).

Funding Details

• National Maternal and Child Health Consortium for Oral Health Systems Integration and Improvement (COHSII) (2021 archived Notice of Funding Opportunity)
• Networks for Oral Health Integration (NOHI) Within the Maternal and Child Health Safety Net (2019 archived Notice of Funding Opportunity)

Contact Us

Pamella Vodicka, M.S., R.D.
CAPT, United States Public Health Service
Senior Public Health Analyst