April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, an important time to remember everyone has a role in preventing child abuse and neglect. In Kentucky, every adult is a mandated reporter of child abuse and neglect. Oral health professionals are in a unique position to recognize and report signs of abuse and neglect during their dental exams and procedures as it is estimated over 50% of injuries from child abuse occur on the head and neck. Knowing [...]

Kentucky Oral Health Coalition members and oral health stakeholders from across the state convened virtually for the first KOHC quarterly meeting of 2021 on Friday, March 26. We kicked off the meeting with a message from our new steering committee chair, Dr. Stephanie Poynter. Mahak Kalra, Chief Policy Officer at Kentucky Youth Advocates (KYA), presented updates on legislative and budget policies of interest to KOHC members as the 2021 legislative session wraps up. She highlighted budget [...]

During Nutrition Month in March, national and state advocacy groups are asking for increased supports and efforts around feeding programs. As Kentucky continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, we know child feeding programs are essential for kids and families as more than 20% of Kentucky households with children reported sometimes or often not having enough food to eat at the end of 2020, a number that has been increasing since October.  Temporary changes to food assistance programs during the pandemic have helped increase access to food for [...]

We know there is a strong connection between good oral health and overall health, and KOHC has continued to advocate for a more integrated approach to medical and dental care. Integrating dental and medical care for children can improve health outcomes because tooth decay has been linked to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other adverse medical conditions. A recent study examining well-child visits and preventative dental visits showed that Medicaid-enrolled children who received an oral examination [...]

  March is National Nutrition Month and KOHC is excited to celebrate alongside our members, advocates, and the community. Research shows that food and beverage choices are important factors for healthy growth and development, and maintaining good oral health. KOHC promotes optimal oral health throughout the lifetime, but we know that health habits learned early on can lead to healthy choices in adulthood. One of KOHC’s 2020 legislative priorities related to nutrition – health standards in [...]

March is a hopeful month, it marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. The long, sunshine filled days are an irresistible motivator for a fresh start! It is also a significant month for the dental community. Every year since 1977, the first full week in March has been designated by the American Dental Assistance Association to celebrate Dental Assistants Recognition Week. This year the celebration will be held March 7 - 13, [...]

This post originally appeared as an op-ed in the Herald Leader February 25, 2021. By Dr. Stephanie Poynter It is no secret that Kentucky has historically had a poor reputation when it comes to our dental health. In a recent study ranking states with the best and worst dental health, the Commonwealth ranked 41st in the nation in indicators of dental wellness. We have among the lowest dentists per capita, highest sugar-sweetened beverages consumption, and highest percentage of [...]

As a state, Kentucky has historically had a reputation for poor oral health. A recent study ranked Kentucky 41st in the US for overall dental health based on factors such as dental habits and care, and oral health. Although Kentucky was found to be in the top five for lowest dental costs, we fell in the bottom five for dentists per capita, highlighting the need for more dental providers throughout the state to increase access [...]

By: Dr. Justin Whitney My wife and I have two small kids under the age of four. One thing I have learned as a parent is sometimes children just don’t want to brush their teeth. Sometimes it is as easy as it can be, while other times I think I’m going to start a wrestling match. However, did you know that doing just a few simple things can really help them and you a ton? [...]

As we kick off Children’s Dental Health Month 2021, KOHC is excited to highlight different oral health topics each week for Coalition members, professionals, and community members. This week is all about healthy drink choices to maintain a healthy mouth. We know that parents and their children have a lot of choices for drinks to sip throughout the day, but some are much healthier than others. Options like soda and sports drinks contain high levels [...]