Health News
White Paper on Minimally Invasive Dental Care
Championing Minimally Invasive Care: Aligning Advocacy to Transform Oral Health The Minimally Invasive Care Advocacy white paper advocates for a shift in dental care practices toward more preventive, patient-centered, and […]
World AIDS Day and the Importance of Oral Health: A Vital Connection to Overall Wellbeing
Every year on December 1st, the world comes together to observe World AIDS Day, a global initiative to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, remember those lost to the disease, and support […]
World Diabetes Day
World Diabetes Day is a global campaign that reaches over one billion people in over 160 countries. It is marked every year on 14 November, the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, […]
Breast Cancer Awareness
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an international health campaign that’s held every October. The month aims to promote screening and prevention of the disease, which affects 2.3 million women worldwide. […]
International Podcast Day
In 2014, National Podcast Day was celebrated and after quickly realizing the power of podcasts internationally, it was rebranded into what it is today: International Podcast Day, celebrated every year […]
Proceedings of a Workshop | Whole-Person Oral Health Education
In February 2024, the National Academies Global Forum on Innovation in Health Professional Education co-hosted a public workshop with Penn Dental Medicine to explore value proposition for oral health promotion and disease […]
Resources: Dentistry and Mental Health
Packed with practical resources, discussing the bi-directional relationship between oral health and behavioral health, a framework for integrating behavioral health and oral health in predoctoral education, and resources that are […]
AA and NHPI Heritage Month
May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) Heritage Month! This month is an opportunity to recognize the many ways AA and NHPI history, culture, leadership, […]
May: Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a national observance started in 1949 by Mental Health America to bring attention to the importance of mental wellbeing. Across the country, individuals and […]
The Oral Cancer Foundation
During Oral Cancer Awareness Month, we direct our focus to the causes for hope for individuals with oral cancer. While the incidence of oral cancer is comparatively low, with these […]
Oral Cancer Awareness Month
April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, an annual initiative to promote the prevention and early detection of these cancers. Oral cancer accounts for approximately three percent of all cancers diagnosed […]
Early Detection of Oral Cancer
A new test developed by University of Illinois Chicago researchers allows dentists to screen for the most common form of oral cancer with a simple and familiar tool: the brush. […]
February is … Black History Month
Up until the late 1800s, Black dentists were nearly unheard of. When the first US dental school opened in 1840, Black students were denied the opportunity to apply. Black Americans […]
February is … Children’s Dental Health Month
Brought to the public by the American Dental Association, National Children’s Dental Health Month is observed every February. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, dental caries are four […]
Toothbrushing in Hospital Reduces Infections and Death
Toothbrushing is potentially more effective than antiseptic at reducing the oral microbiota because the mechanical action breaks up plaque and other biofilms. Yet, guidelines have focused very little on brushing as […]
Poor Oral Health Influences Head and Neck Cancer Patient Survival: An International Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology Consortium Pooled Analysis
Poor oral health has been reported as an independent risk factor for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. In a study published in September 2023 in the Journal of the […]
Proposed Rule to Include Adult Dental Coverage as an Essential Health Benefit on the ACA Exchanges
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published on November 24, 2023, in the Federal Register a proposed rule that would allow states to include adult dental services as […]
Opinion: How to Combat Racism and Bias in Dentistry
In this op ed article published on November 8, 2023, in the California Health Report, Elisa M. Chávez, D.D.S., discusses disparities in oral health care and highlights some of the […]
November is TMJ Awareness Month!
November is TMJ Awareness Month, a national movement to help people understand this ailment and how to find relief. Temporomandibular disorders, also commonly referred to as TMJ or TMD, are […]
Addressing Disparities in Oral Health
In a 2022 global oral health status report, the World Health Organization reported that globally, three out of every four people (more than 4 billion) who live in low-and middle-income […]
Improving Knowledge, Comfort, and Attitudes for LGBTQIA+ Clinical Care and Dental Education
Historically, LGBTQIA+ people have experienced stigma and discrimination when accessing health care services, creating significant disparities such as feeling self-conscious or embarrassed about their dental status, anticipating difficulty finding dental […]
The Connection Between Women’s Oral Health and Cancer
Good oral health is important from the moment we take our first breath to our first meal and throughout our lives. Good oral health helps us express joy, develop speech, […]
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Did you know that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime? While you can’t usually prevent cancer, it is important to be proactive about […]
October is National Dental Hygiene Month
The month of October serves as a dedicated period to raise awareness about the importance of oral health and hygiene practices. It offers an opportunity to educate the public about […]
Senior Dental Care and Mental Health: The Powerful Mouth and Mind Connection
Many seniors are suffering from a self-perpetuating cycle of poor oral health and mental health. Our oral health not only affects our overall health, but also our quality of life […]
Report Calls for US to Align Equity and Emerging Science, Technology, and Innovation in Health and Medicine
A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) presents a governance framework to align emerging science, technology, and innovation […]
September is Gum Care Month!
September is Gum Care Month! Your gums play a crucial role in supporting your teeth and overall oral health, so taking care of them is essential. Gum disease, or periodontal […]
Systemic Health in Autoimmune Disease: Dental Care is Critical
The Consortium for Medically Necessary Oral Health Coverage undertakes educational, community-building, and advocacy efforts to expand access to medically necessary oral health care. Take advantage of their resources, which include […]
Poor Dental Health May Increase Alzheimer’s Risk
A new study published on July 5 in Neurology has found an association between tooth loss, gum disease, or periodontal disease, and a shrinking of the brain area thought to […]
Improving Access to Oral Health Care: Integrating Dental Hygienists Into Federally Qualified Health Center Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics In Michigan
Dental hygienists (DHs) are well positioned to be part of primary care teams to increase access to oral health care, particularly for those who encounter barriers to oral care, such […]
Evidence Mounts for the Use of SDF
In 2017, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommended that silver diamine fluoride (SDF) be used “for the arrest of cavitated caries lesions in primary teeth as part of a comprehensive […]
Disabilities and Dental Care: Why More Must Be Done to Improve Access
Many people with disabilities have physical conditions that exacerbate dental problems. Access to dental care is also challenging for these individuals for a variety of reasons. As part of its […]
Researchers Publish Guide to Support Dentists in Treating Patients With Epilepsy
Affecting over 70 million people globally, epilepsy is a disorder that may give dental professionals pause, as the treatment of patients with epilepsy can be complex and many clinicians may […]
June Is Oral Health Month
June is recognized as Oral Health Month in the United States. Observed as a time to promote the benefits of oral health care and encourage good dental hygiene, Oral Health […]
Revolutionizing Healthcare Is Not Easy
Researchers and healthcare professionals have studied the connection between oral health and systemic health for many years now. The US Surgeon General drew attention to that connection in its 2000 […]
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in the United States since 1949. Our mental health is in constant flux and ebbs and flows daily. Many things can impact this […]
WHO Releases the Largest Global Collection of Health Inequality Data
On April 20, 2023, the World Health Organization launched the Health Inequality Data Repository, the most comprehensive global collection of publicly available disaggregated data and evidence on population health and […]
April is National Oral Cancer Awareness Month
This April, the nation observes the 24th Annual Oral Cancer Awareness Month. In 2023 an estimated 54,600 new cases of oral cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. Of those […]
Spending on Emergency Care Due to Nontraumatic Dental Conditions in the United States
As the only possible source of oral healthcare for those who have no dental insurance coverage, emergency departments are increasingly used to address nonurgent oral health problems in the United […]
June Is Oral Health Month!
June is national oral health month in the United States. Supported by the American Dental Association (ADA), oral health month serves as a reminder of the importance of good oral […]
9th Annual Linda C. Niessen Geriatric Dentistry Symposium
April 26, 2022 For nine consecutive years, the Linda C. Niessen Geriatric Dentistry Symposium has been addressing key topics to help to improve dental treatment outcomes in older adults. The […]
Your Teeth Are Worth Saving – May Is Save Your Tooth Month!
Our teeth: a gateway to nutrition, a way to signal our emotions, and a reflection of overall good health. Our teeth are truly worth respecting, preserving, and saving. Before the […]
Association Between Preventive Dental Care and Healthcare Cost for Patients With Diabetes or Coronary Artery Disease
The two-way link between periodontitis and diabetes has been highlighted in numerous studies in recent years—yet the impact of preventive dental treatments on diabetes control remains unclear. Likewise, while researchers […]
Oral Health for All — Realizing the Promise of Science
Although the past two decades have seen progress in raising awareness about the importance of oral health for overall health, dental and oral diseases remain problematic for many Americans. In […]
Be Proud of Your Mouth! World Oral Health Day – March 20
World Oral Health Day (WOHD), observed annually on March 20, provides a platform for raising global awareness of oral health issues. The theme for this year’s WOHD is “Be Proud […]
NCD Report Shows a Return on Investment for Offering Medicaid Dental Care to Adults With I/DD
On March 9, the National Council on Disability released the results of a preliminary Medicaid study focused on the costs and return on costs associated with offering basic dental benefits […]
New ADEA Policy Research Series Issue 5
The American Dental Association (ADEA) has released their most recent Policy Research Series Report, “Oral Health Care and Primary Health Care: Stronger Together in Recognizing and Managing Diabetes.” A growing […]
Colgate-Palmolive Introduces Global Know Your OQ™ Campaign as part of $100 Million 5-Year Oral Health Commitment
Company Broadens Signature Bright Smiles, Bright Futures Program, Launches Global Oral Health Accelerator with Enactus, Initiates Groundbreaking Research and Expands Diversity Scholarships
WHO’s Global Oral Health Strategy
The Lancet Commission on Oral Health calls on the World Health Organization (WHO) to support key action items as they develop global oral health strategy and action plan.
Can the Integration of Dental and General Healthcare Reduce the Prevalence of Periodontitis? EIU Report on the Societal and Economic Burden of Periodontitis
On June 14, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) published a report commissioned by the European Federation of Periodontology that provides a cost analysis of periodontitis in six Western European countries. […]
Three Domain Framework Addresses Oral Health Delivery
Three Domain Framework Addresses Oral Health Delivery Industry leaders look to expand access and integration The DentaQuest Partnership for Oral Health Advancement, along with 120 organizations, leaders, and stakeholders in […]
Expanding Access through Dentistry
Study Details How Dental-Medical Collaborative Program at Health Center Improved HPV Vaccination Rates of Young Patients A new study describes a first-of-its-kind program designed to increase the rates of HPV […]
ADA Board of Trustees: Dentistry is Essential Health Care
The American Dental Association Board of Trustees has adopted an ad interim policy stating dentistry is essential health care to help guide advocacy for the dental profession during the COVID-19 […]
Accessible Care is Equal Care
People with disabilities have a long history of unequal access to, and discrimination in, oral health and primary care, which has resulted in large health disparities between disabled individuals and […]
New National Health Objectives in Healthy People 2030
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is soliciting written comments regarding the Healthy People 2030 objectives. Healthy People provides science-based, 10-year national objectives for improving the health of all […]
National Study Finds Higher Blood Pressure with Poor Oral Health
Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the tissues surrounding the teeth, with evidence of systemic effects. Some studies showed the benefit of periodontal therapy on blood pressure (BP), but […]
Mississippi’s New Medicaid Waiver Requires Enrollees to Make Less Than 27% FPL per Year
More states are seeking to impose work requirements for parents and caretaker relatives to obtain health coverage. Mississippi’s new waiver amendment to CMS requires enrollees to work at least 20 […]
HHS Commissions New Surgeon General’s Report on Oral Health
On behalf of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of the Surgeon General, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Institute of Dental and […]
