Recent Oral Health Resources & Policy Insights
Explore the Santa Fe Group’s most recent oral health resources featuring the latest developments in oral health policy, equity initiatives, and dental care access. These materials highlight trends in Medicare dental benefits, Medicaid coverage, and oral health legislation, while also addressing prevention strategies, public health oral care policy, and programs to support older adults. Curated by national leaders, these resources provide evidence-based insights for advancing innovation, shaping oral health equity, and ensuring dentistry is recognized as an essential part of overall health.
Supporting Dental Therapy through Title VII Training Programs: A Meaningful Strategy for Implementing Equitable Oral Health Care
Advisory Committee on Training in primary Care Medicine and Dentistry (ACTPCMD) Nineteenth Annual Report to the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and the Congress […]
American Heart Month
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. Moderate to severe periodontal disease is linked to higher risk of heart disease, […]
Best Practice Approach: Improving the Oral Health of Older Adults
Poor oral health in older adults is a hidden crisis and an overlooked and pressing national concern. Neglected oral health not only affects the quality of life and well-being of […]
Best Practice Approach: Early Childhood Caries: Prevention and Management
Early childhood caries (ECC) is the clinical term for tooth decay that affects children younger than age six. It is the most common disease in young children, especially those from […]
Oral Health in Healthcare Settings to Prevent Pneumonia Toolkit
Pneumonia is the most common healthcare-associated infection in the United States with NV-HAP (non-ventilator healthcare-associated pneumonia) estimated to make up 65% of all healthcare-associated pneumonia cases. Modifiable risk factors identified […]
IDD Interprofessional Oral Health Clinical Experience
OHNEP’s new Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Interprofessional Oral Health Clinical Experience Guide brings students from different health professions together for a team-building clinical rotation where they learn to more effectively provide whole-person care for […]
Exciting New Edition of OHNEP Interprofessional Oral Health Faculty Toolkits
The Oral Health Nursing Education and Practice (OHNEP) Program is excited to share the second edition of the OHNEP Undergraduate Interprofessional Oral Health Faculty Tool Kit and the third edition of the OHNEP […]
Caring.com
Seniors and Dental Health: A Comprehensive Guide to a Healthy Mouth According to the American Dental Association, 68% of older adults suffer from gum disease, and nearly 20% have untreated […]
Improving Oral Health During Pregnancy: A Call to Action
Improving the health and wellness of all children begins with comprehensive prenatal care and optimal oral health during pregnancy. In 2000, the Surgeon General’s report, Oral Health in America, highlighted […]
Making the Case for Interprofessional Education and Practice Collaboration to Address Rising Rates of HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancers
According to a recent report of the CDC, oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma is currently the most common HPV-associated cancer in the United States. Patient awareness about HPV cancer risk remains […]
Clinicians, Dentists, Nurses and Advocacy Group Collaborate to Change Law / Promote Fluoride Varnishing for Children
Starting July 1, certified medical assistants will be allowed to apply fluoride varnish to young children at well-child doctors’ visits, thanks to a collaboration between physicians, dentists, nurses, and a […]
Make Medicare Better
Today, the Medicare program doesn’t provide oral and dental coverage to most Medicare beneficiaries – even when it is needed to treat Medicare-covered diseases. This problem exposes Medicare beneficiaries to […]
Medicare Oral Health Care Update
Addressing the problem of Medicare’s lack of meaningful oral health coverage has long been a focus of the Center for Medicare Advocacy. Over the decades, the Center has assisted beneficiaries […]
Addressing Caries Through the Lens of Social Justice, Health Equity, Human Rights
The forum in Los Angeles identified not only the significance of collaboration between dentists and physicians in preventing caries, but also the important role community oral health workers could play […]
2019 Salon Special Report: “Inside Dentistry”
Summary of the 2019 Santa Fe Group Salon: Comprehensive Health Without Oral Health: The Medicare Paradox
Ebook: Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry
Special Report by The Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry on the 2019 Santa Fe Group Salon: Comprehensive Health Without Oral Health: The Medicare Paradox
Kaiser Family Foundation Issues Brief on Policy Options for Improving Dental Coverage for People on Medicare
The brief describes five potential ways to strengthen oral healthcare for older adults, with a focus on creating a new dental benefit under Medicare.
Clinical Consensus on Medically Necessary Dental Care – Fact Sheet
Across numerous medical fields, professionals agree that good oral health is critical to overall health, and an important component of treating or managing many diseases. The Clinical Consensus on Medically […]
Common Dreams – Urging Congress to Support Medicare for All, Groups Declare Universal Healthcare “A Racial Justice Necessity”
“Communities of color need a healthcare system that rectifies these long-standing structural biases and challenges. Medicare for All is that system” by Jessica Corbett .
American Bar Association Votes to Support Medicare Dental
During its 2019 Annual Meeting in San Francisco, the American Bar Association (ABA)’s House of Delegates overwhelmingly passed a resolution urging Congress to support legislation that would repeal the statutory […]
Presentations from SFG 2019 Salon Now Available
See press coverage, view speaker’ pictures, read bios and find presentations from Comprehensive Health Without Oral Health: The Medicare Paradox, our 2019 Salon.
CDHP Spearheads Letter Urging Congress to Include Oral Health in any Medicare for All Policy
Led by the Children’s Dental Health Project (CDHP) and signed by nearly 100 national and state groups, the letter to Congress outlines principles to make oral healthcare coverage part of […]
AARP Survey Results on Oral Health in Older Americans
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) released the results of a survey investigating the challenges of oral healthcare in the elderly population. Despite results reporting 93% of respondents ages […]
Medicare for All Should Guarantee Coverage for Oral Health
With multiple “Medicare for All” proposals now in circulation in Congress, coverage for oral health care and dental care should be an integral part of these discussions.
Justice in Aging Develops Statutory Analysis of an Oral Health Benefit in Medicare
The Justice in Aging organization released an issue brief analyzing the current statutory framework for Medicare Part B, the advantages of creating an oral healthcare benefit through existing Part B […]
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams Says Oral Health Is A National Health Priority
Dr. Jerome Adams, 20th Surgeon General of the United States, says our nation’s most pressing health concerns are the opioid epidemic, oral health, and the links between community health and […]
Sen. Cardin (D-MD) Seeks to Add Dental Benefits in Medicare Part B
U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Finance Health Care Subcommittee, has introduced legislation (S.22) that creates a dental benefit under Medicare Part B. Currently, Medicare does not pay for […]
Periodontal Disease and Vitamin D Deficiency Increase Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Periodontitis is strongly associated with diabetes and is increasingly shown to be associated with other glycemic abnormalities. Vitamin D is postulated to have both anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity. Therefore, our […]
Should Primary Care Providers Examine the Mouth?
The importance of oral health as a component of comprehensive health has received well-deserved national attention. A healthy and pain-free mouth supports good nutrition and the ability to sleep and […]
New Position Paper on Importance of Oral Health Care Benefit for Older Adults
Medicare is the federal health insurance program created in 1965 for people ages 65 and over, regardless of income, medical history or health status. The program was later expanded to […]
Medical Educators are Working to Put the Mouth Back in Medicine
Untreated oral health issues can wreak havoc on health and well-being, yet medical schools have historically taught little about them. Now, some leaders are determined to change that. Oral health […]
Health Economist Says Reform of Dental Care Delivery System Is Vital
In 1926, the work of William Gies helped chart a new course for dentistry. I think we are approaching another “Gies” moment in which the dental community must face some hard […]
Bi-Partisan Request to Congress
Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate put forth requests to use existing statutory authority to provide Traditional Medicare coverage of medically necessary oral and dental treatment.
Why We Need to Close Gaps in Dental Coverage
“I’m 61 years old and a San Francisco homeowner with an academic position at the University of California-Berkeley, which provides me with comprehensive health insurance. Yet, to afford the more […]
Compendium October Issue Is Live! With Michael C. Alfano Santa Fe Group President, Addressing Dentistry and the Aging Patient
With the number of senior citizens in America quickly escalating, what are the oral health needs of this burgeoning population group? In this special issue, Compendium explores the biological changes […]
RWJF Executive Summary on Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity is a major public health problem in the United States. An association between childhood obesity and dental caries, the most prevalent disease of childhood, has been suggested. One […]
As I See It: Closing MassHealth Gap in Oral Health Coverage
“First as a representative and later as the senator for the First Worcester District, one of my priorities has always been to make sure that people have access to the […]
Dietary Changes to Prevent Childhood Obesity and Consumption of Sugar‐Sweetened Beverages
A scoping review of skills and tools oral health professionals need to engage children and parents in dietary changes to prevent childhood obesity and consumption of sugar‐sweetened beverages Lisa F. […]
Assessing Attitudes and Actions of Pediatric Dentists Toward Childhood Obesity and Sugar‐Sweetened Beverages
Assessing attitudes and actions of pediatric dentists toward childhood obesity and sugar‐sweetened beverages Robin Wright PhD Paul S. Casamassimo DDS, MS
Pediatric Obesity‐Related Curricular Content and Training in Dental Schools and Dental Hygiene Programs
Pediatric obesity‐related curricular content and training in dental schools and dental hygiene programs: systematic review and recommendations Kimon Divaris DDS, PhD Vaishnavi Bhaskar BDS, MPH Kathleen A. McGraw MA, MLS
Advancing Oral Health Policy and Advocacy to Prevent Childhood Obesity and Reduce Children’s Consumption of Sugar‐Sweetened Beverages
Advancing oral health policy and advocacy to prevent childhood obesity and reduce children’s consumption of sugar‐sweetened beverages Ankit Sanghavi BDS, MPH Nadia J. Siddiqui MPH
Health‐Equity Issues Related to Childhood Obesity
Health‐equity issues related to childhood obesity: a scoping review Clemencia M. Vargas DDS, PhD Elsie M. Stines DNP, CRNP Herta S. Granado BS
Oral Health and Older Americans – A Santa Fe Group Position Paper
By 2030, one in five Americans will be over age 65, with a longer life expectancy and a dynamic balance between oral and systemic health. Only a limited proportion of […]
AJPH Article: Dental Homes for Older Americans: The Santa Fe Group Call for Removal of the Dental Exclusion in Medicare
Older Americans need dental homes to receive appropriate dental care and maintain health. Removal of the dental exclusion in Medicare would pave the way for inclusion of dental care in […]
Healthy Futures: Conference Summary and Recommendations
Healthy Futures: Engaging the oral health community in childhood obesity prevention – Conference summary and recommendations Raul I. Garcia DMD, MMedSc Dushanka Kleinman DDS, MScD Katrina Holt MPH, MS, RD, […]
Primary Care Interventions to Reduce Childhood Obesity and Sugar‐Sweetened Beverage Consumption
Primary care interventions to reduce childhood obesity and sugar‐sweetened beverage consumption: Food for thought for oral health professionals Diane Dooley MD, MHS Nicolette M. Moultrie RDHAP, MS Elsbeth Sites BS […]
Epidemiologic Risk Factors for Pediatric Obesity
A scoping review of epidemiologic risk factors for pediatric obesity: Implications for future childhood obesity and dental caries prevention research
Overview of Oral Health in Older Adults – Gerontological Society of America
As populations in the United States and around the globe move toward a world in which 25% of people will be 65 years or older, much attention is being paid […]
