Missouri Office of Dental Health Program Updates T
ooth decay remains the most chronic disease to affect people across the U.S.—but as you know, it’s also
completely preventable. The Office of Dental Health (ODH) along with its commu- nity partners, contractors and stakeholders continue to be leaders with new, innovative programs that provide oral health education and preventive public health measures, and help increase access to care across the state to help improve the oral health landscape of Missouri. This update will highlight a few of the programs and initiatives that ODH helps provide to Missourians.
COMMUNITY WATER FLUORIDATION
In July 2022, ODH received grant funds to assist with community water fluoridation (CWF) across the state. ODH has spent the past year increasing access to optimally fluoridated water by providing mini grants to 26 water systems. These mini grants were used to upgrade outdated water fluoridation equipment, including pumps, scales, bulk/day tanks and testing equipment. By providing these mini-grants, ODH was able to ensure these communities are being provided with optimally fluoridated water (0.7 milligrams per liter (mg/L)). Optimally fluoridated water assists in the prevention and reduction of tooth decay by an additional 25 percent be- yond other fluoridated products (toothpaste, mouth rinse, fluoride varnish treatments). This public health initiative has led to more than 350,000 people now receiving optimally fluoridated water throughout the state.
CWF grew this year in Missouri by one new local fluoridation program in Shawnee Bend, which is slated to begin in June 2023. This is the first new fluoridation program Missouri has had in approximately 30 years. This pro- gram serves the Lake of the Ozarks area with a static population of approximately 1,750 people. Additionally, there are lake homes and tourist hot spots that now will have ac- cess to this public health benefit of optimally fluoridated water.
SCHOOL BASED PROGRAMS
ODH has an oral health school-based program, the Preventive Services Program.
preventive oral health treatment through the fluoride varnish application and referral to a local dental home for continued care. This program continues to grow and offers another avenue for education and preventive care for Missourians.
WORKFORCE
Oral health screenings and fluoride varnish treatments are offered through this program around the state by five oral health consul- tants. The fluoride varnish treatment may be the only extra preventive service some children receive during the year. During the 2022-2023 school year, 57,555 students from 576 schools participated in this program.
ODH has a second school-based program and contracts with four dental programs around the state to offer these services. These contractors provide preventive oral health services in school settings and see a diverse range of students. The contractors complete oral health screenings, fluoride varnish treat- ments and dental sealant placement, and connect students in need of restorative den- tal services with a dental home. During the 2022-2023 school year, the contractors went into 30 schools and screened 1,741 students. Of these students, 1,696 received preventive oral health services including 4,505 dental sealants placed. Additionally, 766 students were given referrals for a new dental home for further treatment of oral health needs.
ODH has always had strong ties with local public health agencies and has partnered with them on different oral health programs. Cur- rently, ODH has partnered with 21 LPHAs to provide fluoride varnish treatments and oral health education to children and pregnant and postpartum women. Many times, these participants have limited or no access to dental care. This program provides partici- pants with education to help promote better oral and overall health, free dental supplies (toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss),
Workforce shortages are significant across the state in all areas including dental health. ODH is working with the MDA, Missouri Dental Hygienists’ Association and the Missouri Coalition for Oral Health to try to address workforce shortages. One of the new pilot programs ODH is launching is an initiative for treatment in nursing homes and other long-term care (LTC) facilities with services provided by hygienist/assistant teams, working under the supervision of dentists, to go into these facilities around the state and provide interventional care, which includes a patient evaluation and assessment, stabilization of acute infections, and pain, trauma and disease control and stabilization. This will provide a new avenue of treatment for patients who are unable to travel to a dental home and give them a better quality of life. This pilot is one of three investigat- ing possible solutions to workforce issues. The other two are the development of an educational pilot program for high school juniors and seniors that would allow students to graduate with a dental assisting certificate and complete their Basic Skills Exam; and, a pilot program to study the feasibility of an Oral Preventive Assistant Expanded Function Dental Assistant.
ODH continues to strive toward a healthier Missouri by ensuring Missourians have better oral health, which improves overall health. To do this, ODH will continue to work with com- munity partners, contractors and stakehold- ers to provide education, preventive services and new, innovative ideas that work toward this goal. Thank you for what you do to help us achieve this goal! For more information, please visit
oralhealth.mo.gov.
This article was contributed by Gwen Sullentrup, Community Water Fluoridation and Dental Sealant Coordinator. Contact her at 573-619-8849 or gwen.
sullentrup@health.mo.gov.
ISSUE 2 | SUMMER 2023 | focus 9
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