Oral health remains one of the most pressing unmet healthcare needs in Kentucky. As part of its ongoing efforts to improve oral health care and access, theKentucky Oral Health Coalition (KOHC), in collaboration with its partners from across the state, will host a statewide oral health summit on November 20, 2015. Please join us! The 2015 Kentucky Oral Health Summit will bring together hundreds of leaders from diverse fields in the oral health community, including [...]

According to the recent article “Offering Oral Health Services in Your Office” in Family Practice Management, family practitioners have been addressing children’s oral health for years. But, there is a lack of guidelines for physicians to effectively incorporate oral health services into their primary care practices. To help with this, the article offers suggestions for better incorporating oral health at the family physician’s office. Suggestions for a medical assistant or nurse: Assist parents in completing [...]

Oral health remains one of the most prevalent unmet healthcare needs in Kentucky. The Kentucky Oral Health Coalition (KOHC), in collaboration with its partners from across the state, will host a statewide oral health summit in 2015. The 2015 Kentucky Oral Health Summit will bring together a diverse and large number of leaders in the oral health community, including state and local policy makers, health advocates, health professionals, educators, and students, to increase the dental [...]

As February and Children’s Dental Health Month comes to a close, we’re reminded that oral health needs to be a priority every month. Good oral health habits and regular visits to their dentist can give kids the strong start they need to have healthy teeth and gums going into adulthood. Pain from dental problems is a leading cause of school absences in Kentucky. Knowing this and that half of second graders in Kentucky are affected by [...]

Every February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children’s Dental Health Month with a goal to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. The ADA, in collaboration with dental professionals, health care providers, and oral heath advocates, have worked consistently to spread the message of the importance of children’s oral health to  communities across the country.  Kentucky's State Legislature also took part in recognizing the importance of children's oral health. House Resolution 61, [...]

Oral health disparities in Kentucky drive the work of the Kentucky Oral Health Coalition and its three workgroups. High cost of care, lack of prevention, and limited access to dental professionals remain among the top reasons Kentuckians historically have not maintained optimal oral health. But, how do we show the extent of disparities in the state? The answer is simple, yet can be complicated: data. In a recent webinar presented by the DentaQuest South/Southeast Regional [...]

As the baby boomer generation ages, the population’s health needs continue to increase. Many senior citizens, especially those who are, often experience hunger and malnutrition. The biggest challenge for homebound senior citizens facing hunger and the lack of nutrition isn’t the inability to afford food or prepare meals like one might expect. The biggest challenge for many is simply the inability to chew their food. According to the article, “Tending to Unmet Dental Needs, a [...]