Recent stories in the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times have added to the growing national attention on the lack of oral health care in the U.S. This summer The Kaiser Family Foundation released several policy briefs about oral health in the U.S. and the problems associated with a lack of dental care. …
After a marathon of negotiations a supplemental budget was approved by the state legislature on Wednesday. The good news is that the budget protects dental coverage for low-income pregnant women, seniors in nursing homes and people with developmental disabilities. This decision by the legislature to support funding for dental coverage reflects in part an increased…
A new report by the Pew Center on the States estimates that preventable dental conditions were the primary diagnosis in 830,590 visits to emergency rooms nationwide in 2009. In most cases, care delivered in the ER will not provide lasting relief. Instead, patients need dental care to effectively treat toothaches and dental abscesses. Without access to…
On Have a Heart for Kids Day (Thursday, Feb. 9) advocates, parents and kids will march to Washington’s state capitol and tell legislators to invest in families and children – their dental care, health and education – as they craft a balanced budget for the next two years. It is a critical time for this…
The Governor’s proposed supplemental budget eliminates all non-emergency dental care for eligible Medicaid-insured adults ($8.6 million). Pregnant women enrolled in Medicaid would lose dental coverage. Poor oral health can lead to complications with pregnancy. In addition, mothers can pass the bacteria that cause dental disease to their babies. Nearly half of all births in Washington…
Washington legislators could take Medicaid dental benefits away from more than 30,000 low-income pregnant women later this month as part of a plan to balance the state budget, a decision that could lead to even higher dental costs in the future and poorer health for mothers and their children. The state Legislature will consider a…
Each fall, policymakers and advocates come together for the Washington State Senior Lobby conference, this year held on October 21. As a member of the Senior Lobby, WDS Foundation is a sponsor of the conference and will host a booth providing resources and information to highlight the importance of good oral health for seniors. Seniors…
“…Even during tough times, it makes sense to prevent dental disease and keep all kids healthy.” That’s the message that is being delivered in radio ads sponsored by Arcora Foundation now airing across the state. The statewide advertising campaign is designed to raise awareness of kids’ oral health and urge continued support for programs to…
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) just released a report concluding that too many Americans lack access to oral health care, which can have serious consequences for overall health. To address the problem, the IOM recommends that oral health be integrated into overall health care and that advocacy be used to help shape policies that will…
We’re pleased to share some good news from the recently-released 2010 Smile Survey, the latest statewide assessment of children’s oral health in Washington. It shows that children’s oral health in Washington is improving, but further work remains. Key results include: Fewer low-income preschoolers are suffering from tooth decay (cavities) Fewer children have untreated tooth decay, an…
Oral Health Watch
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The SmileMobile is on Whidbey Island this week and next. Thank you Arcora Foundation, Seattle Children's and Delta Dental of Washington for making the SmileMobile possible. #teethmatter
The SmileMobile is in Langley through April 14 this week and April 21 to 23 next week. Low income and uninsured people are invited to phone...
thisiswhidbey.comOral Health Watch
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👇#teethmatter
Apple Health (Medicaid) continues to cover dental care for both children and adults. For those who need care, DentistLink can connect them at no cost to a local dentist who accepts their insurance: https://dentistlink.org/
Oral Health Watch
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Pediatricians see kids as many as 9 times by the time they reach age 2 for well child visits. Integrating oral health into well child visits and other routine checkups helps identify problems early while underscoring that oral health is integral to overall health. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
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Pediatricians see a kid as much as 9 times by the time they're 2yo for well child visits. Integrating oral health into well child visits and other helps identify problems early while underscoring that oral health is integral to overall health. #teethmatter
It's Interprofessional Healthcare Month! Medical-dental integration improves access and "puts the mouth back in the body." MouthMatters trains pediatricians to integrate oral health services into well-child visits.
Learn more and contact us! 👇
https://arcorafoundation.org/preventing-dental-disease-in-pediatric-primary-care/
Oral Health Watch
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👇👏#teethmatter
We can't celebrate National Public Health Week without mentioning one of the top public health achievements! Community water fluoridation is a cost-effective, equitable way to prevent oral disease for all: https://washingtonwaterfluoridation.org/ #NPHW
Oral Health Watch
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Public health promotes and protects the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work and play. Understanding how social determinants impact health can help us all identify and address health disparities and to promote overall health equity. #teethmatter #NPHW