The Kentucky Oral Health Coalition is proud of our accomplishments this past year. As we prepare for the annual KOHC June membership drive during Oral Health Month it seems fitting to reflect on achievements in the 2019-2020 membership year.  Starting off the membership year, KOHC collected responses to a short survey during Summer 2019 to determine dental professionals’ knowledge around child abuse and neglect. View survey findings here. Last fall former Governor Bevin, Mayor [...]

One of the core functions of KOHC is advocating for policies and budget priorities that are good for oral health in Kentucky. During the 2020 legislative session, KOHC had several wins to celebrate among our policy and budget priorities. Senate Bill 45 – strengthen licensed child care program standards on healthy eating and drinking, active play, and screen time. Senate Bill 56 – ensure Kentucky complies with the federal minimum legal sale age for all tobacco products [...]

Dental offices in Kentucky are preparing to reopen for non-emergent care following Governor Beshear’s executive order on April 27th. This order does not require any dental office to reopen and encourages offices to take their time to ensure they can meet the safety requirements before scheduling non-emergent patient care. Changes to dental offices around the state may bring uncertainty on how to prepare for dental visits. KOHC along with Kentucky Dental Association and Kentucky Dental [...]

As we head into the second half of May, we hope everyone takes time to recognize and celebrate National Dental Care Month. This month-long celebration is a chance for oral health professionals, parents, teachers, advocates, and community members to build awareness about the importance of preventive dental care for individuals of all ages. Key factors of maintaining good overall health throughout our childhood and adulthood include establishing positive oral hygiene habits and receiving routine dental [...]

The health and safety of all of our members, advocates, and the oral health community continues to remain the top priority for KOHC. After much consideration, the decision has been made to cancel the Regional Oral Health Summit in June 2020, which was scheduled in conjunction with KOHC’s quarterly meeting. This decision has been made out of an abundance of caution, in order to ensure everyone is able to stay healthy and safe. Please know [...]

Kentucky’s vision of impact is to engage partners across the state to create a collaborative oral health  campaign designed to: Educate parents Activate policymakers Inspire health professionals Engage the public to create optimal oral health for all. KOHC continues to honor our commitment to improving oral health awareness as we confront new challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to inform parents, guardians, and caretakers, KOHC compiled resources that resulted in Keepin’ it [...]

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month! During this month and throughout the year, 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 [...]

KOHC's top priority is keeping all Kentuckians safe during these uncertain times.  As a collaborative effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus and alleviate the burden on hospitals and emergency departments, KOHC along with several key oral health partners across the state released an infographic to provide guidance for individuals, families, and caregivers on how to approach dental care needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please share the guidance below about how to maintain good oral [...]

The 2020 census is here! The census is a once in a decade opportunity to count every person—adults, children, and babies—living in the United States. The population data gathered during the census count is used for everything from funding allocations for critical programs that serve kids and families to drawing voting districts and planning locations for new schools, hospitals, and retail centers. Most children benefit from at least one of the hundreds of federal programs that rely on [...]

It’s estimated that over 50 percent of injuries from child abuse are on the head and neck. That means warning signs of abuse are front and center for dentists, dental hygienists, and other oral health professionals who see patients twice annually. This sector of health professionals have unique opportunities to ask important questions, provide key information, and observe both parents and children for warning signs of abuse and neglect.  Beginning in 2019, the Kosair Charities Face It Movement partnered with Delta Dental of [...]