Bureau Of Oral Health Newsletter - Issue 2

O f f i c e o f o r a l h e a lt h — k d h e

Oral health news

Office of Oral Health Newsletter Kathy Weno, Director of the Office of Oral Health Dawn McGlasson, Deputy Director Caron Shipley, School Screening Coordinator Maggie Smet, Professional Outreach Coordinator Mary Ann Percy, Professional Outreach Coordinator Ashley Streeter, Administrative Assistant Visit our website: http://www.kdheks.gov/ohi/index.html

NATIONAL ORAL HEALTH LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE Written by Dawn McGlasson, RDH, BSDH, MPH Deputy Director

The Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) graduated 14 scholars from the 2nd National Oral Health Leadership Institute (NOHLI) at the Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health in Mesa, AZ, September 11-13, 2008. The NOHLI focuses on dental public health professionals working in non-clinical settings in state or local programs in order to enhance build oral health leadership capacity. The training targeted personal growth, critical thinking/analysis, political effectiveness, and organizational/team development to enhance strategic visioning and direction setting skills. Critical leadership skills need to be developed in order to successfully implement projects with a clear vision and collaborative process. Participants learned a “systemsthinking” approach to solve oral health problems; collaborative public-private advocacy; working with the media/public relations; communications; developing credibility; motivating staff; consensus building and conflict resolution. Members concentrated on enhancing leadership capabilities from the onset of the retreat. Speakers included: the Honorable

Phil Lopes, Minority Leader of the Arizona House of Representatives; Mr. Gary Cummins, Executive Director of the Colorado Dental Association; and Marcy Frosh, CDC Infrastructure Development Initiative Project Manager from the Children’s Dental Health Project. The second day of the retreat spotlighted leadership, risk management and working with the media. Participants spent the morning listening to Dr. Vincent Covello, Center for Risk Communications talk about skills needed in communicating with various audiences. Then participants put those skills to use in the afternoon when Christina Estes from Expert Communications interviewed each participant on camera. The interview was played back and critiqued. A copy of their interview was given to each person. On the final day of the retreat the group received their results from a 360 evaluation that completed prior to the retreat. The results were presented in an individualized booklet that was personalized for each participant. Sponsors of the NOHLI were: the ASTDD, Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, American Dental Association, Dentsply, Dr. Edward B. Shils Entrepreneurial Education Fund, American Dental Hygienist Association, HRSA/ MCHB, and The Children’s Dental Health Project.

ORAL HEALTH KANSAS RELEASED 2009 ORAL HEALTH REPORT CARD: KEEP KANSAS SMILING Written By Marcia Manter, MA Oral Health Kansas

Dawn McGlasson, RDH, BSDH, MPH Deputy Director

Oral Health Kansas released the 2009 “Keep Kansas Smiling” Report card on January 14, 2009. The grade improved to at “B”, which is significantly better than the 2003 grade of a “D+”. Kansas was awarded an “A” for extra credit accomplishments. The State rates lowest in categories relating to the supply of dentist. Kansas received an “F” for the lack of pediatric dentists practicing in the state, as well as an “F” for the percentages of counties without a Medicaid dental provider. And a latter grade of “D” for the number of Medicaid dental providers. While celebrating the successes, Kansas is cautioned that the state grade may deteriorate if there is a lack of commitment to oral health.

Oral Health America analyzed the categories of prevention, access to care, infrastructure, oral health status, and oral health related laws. Oral Health America collaborated with Oral Health Kansas, and Dawn McGlasson KDHE Deputy Dental Director, was co-author on the report. The purpose of the report is to raise awareness of the oral health shortfalls, and encourage opinion leaders, public advocates, policy-makers, communities, health professionals, and the media to support successful policies and programs that will make oral health care an integral part of overall health care in order to “make the grade”. Oral Health America is a non-profit organization that works to eliminate dental disease by connecting people to resources and empowering communities.

http://www.kdheks.gov/ohi/download/Kansas_Oral_Health_Report_Card_2008.pdf

ELDER SMILES Written By Caron Shipley, RDH, BS School Oral Screening Coordinator

Office of oral health — kdhe Curtis State Office Building 1000 SW Jackson Suite 300 Topeka, Kansas 66612 Tel: 785-296-5116 Fax: 785-291-3959 www.kdheks.gov/ohi

Research has shown that improving elderly person’s oral health not only improves their physical health but increases their mental health as well. The Johnson County Health Department is happy to announce that it has developed a new program called Elder Smiles, for residents of long term care and assisted living facilities in Johnson County, Kansas. This program provides preventive dental care for those without access, physical, or financial means to visit a dental office. With support from the health department, Extended Care Registered Dental Hygienists bring portable dental equipment and dental supplies on-site to these facilities providing teeth cleanings, oral health exams, and fluoride varnish treatments to consenting residents. In addition to providing preventive services, Elder Smiles identifies residents with oral health problems and makes appropriate

referrals. Oral hygiene education is provided to residents, families, and staff along with toothbrushes and other needed supplies. Social workers, nursing staff, dental professionals, and local health department staff all collaborate to provide this much needed care, supported by a start up grant from Reach Healthcare Foundation. Elder Smiles has been structured to be selfsupporting through fee for service and hopes to serve approximately 600 residents in its first year. An advisory committee consisting of members from long-term care facilities, UMKC Dental School, professional and state level public health representatives, dental hygienists, and dentists meet twice a year to discuss operations and make improvements. Elder Smiles hopes to partner with other facilities along with the Human Services and Aging in the future to provide additional services to Senior Centers as well.

KANSAS MISSION OF MERCY Written by Greg Hill Executive Assistant Director of Kansas Dental Association The 2009 Kansas Mission of Mercy has drawn to a close. In all $1,014,382 in free dental care was provided to 1714 patients. Dentists extracted 2898 teeth and filled another 1759. “It was a great event and the volunteers were incredible,” said Greg Hill, Executive Director of the Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation. “We really are thankful to everyone who helped make a difference.”

The Manhattan event is the eighth KMOM project of the Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation. To date, more than 16,500 patients have received $7.36 million in free care through the program. More than 1000 volunteers helped with the event, including 150 dentists, 125 dental hygienists and 240 dental assistants. The next project will take place in Independence on April 16-17, 2010.

Caron Shipley, RDH, BSDH School Screening Coordinator

UPDATE: SCHOOL SCRENDING PROJECT The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), Office of Oral Health (OOH) is midway through its pilot year of implementing a standardized statewide school oral screening initiative. Currently there are six pilot sites across Kansas which includes Garden City, Wichita, Pittsburg, Northwest Kansas, Junction City, and Lawrence. Volunteer licensed dentists and dental hygienists have been recruited from the local community to conduct oral screenings in the schools. The screeners have been trained and calibrated by KDHE allowing for standardized data. Since beginning this initiative in September 2008, there have been 38,000 children screened in these six pilot sites, with the

data returned to the state. Referrals are sent home to parents and guardians of the children once the screenings are completed. The data collected will be analyzed and displayed on the OOH website; www.kdheks.gov/ohi. More information on the screening initiative along with the screening forms and an online training for dental professionals may be accessed through this website. Next year (2009-2010), KDHE will be actively recruiting dentists and hygienists across the state to screen in all local communities. For more information please contact: Caron Shipley RDH, BSDH, School Screening Coordinator at 785-291-3683, [email protected].

Office of oral health — kdhe Curtis State Office Building 1000 SW Jackson Suite 300 Topeka, Kansas 66612 Tel: 785-296-5116 Fax: 785-291-3959 www.kdheks.gov/ohi

Save the date April 6—7 4th Annual KDHE Center for Health Disparities Conference Capitol Plaza Topeka, KS April 16—18 Kansas Dental Association Annual Meeting Hotel at Old Towne Wichita, KS April 18—22 National Oral Health Conference Doubletree Hotel Portland, OR April 20—22 Governor’s Public Health Conference Wichita Marriott Hotel Wichita, KS July 21—22 School Nurse Conference Hyatt Regency Hotel Wichita, KS September 22—24 KHPA Fall Conference Hyatt Regency Hotel Wichita, KS

Office of oral health — kdhe Curtis State Office Building 1000 SW Jackson Suite 300 Topeka, Kansas 66612 Tel: 785-296-5116 Fax: 785-291-3959 www.kdheks.gov/ohi

FLUORIDE VARNISH IN MEDICAL OFFICES Written by MaryAnn Percy RDH, BSDH Professional Outreach Coordinator Kansas is one of seventeen states working to bridge the gap between dental and medical communities to improve children’s health. Social and dietary changes have led to a dramatic increase in dental decay in very young children. Although the American Dental Association recommends a dental home by age one, children often do not see a dentist until age 5. However, they are being seen routinely by medical providers for Kan Be Healthy check-ups beginning in infancy. The frequency of well-child visits allow for timely evaluations of a child’s oral health, prevention and early identification of dental problems. Kansas Medicaid began reimbursing for fluoride varnish applications in medical offices in August 2005. Fluoride varnish is safe to use in even the youngest children due to its ability to adhere to the tooth surface and not be ingested. The fluoride is then slowly released over a period of time. The reimbursement rate and application schedule of 3 times per calendar year is the same for medical providers as it is for dental offices. In 2006, two dental hygienists, Caron Shipley and Maggie Smet, were hired through the Office of Oral Health as Professional Outreach Coordinators to provide education to medical professionals regarding oral assessment and

fluoride varnish application. The project was supported by grant funding from the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund. A 2007 REACH Healthcare Foundation grant allowed for an additional dental hygienist, MaryAnn Percy, to work exclusively in Allen, Johnson, and Wyandotte counties. Recently the Kansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ developed an on-line training Oral Health Initiative called “Bright Smiles for Kansas Kids!”, which demonstrates how to conduct an oral assessment and apply fluoride varnish with 1.2 contact hours of continuing education available for medical professionals. (http://ks.train.org Course number 1013066) A free toolkit containing 50 fluoride varnish applications and toothbrushes is available upon completion. To date, 78 health care providers have completed the online training and nearly 150 toolkits have been distributed (valued at $150 each). Additional information on the efficiency and safety of fluoride varnish is available from the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (www.astdd.org) “Fluoride Varnish: an Evidence-Based Approach”. If your office would like more information please contact Maggie Smet ([email protected] or 316-833-6383) or MaryAnn Percy ([email protected] or 913755-1322).