Community Oral Health
Children’s Oral Health
- The CDA’s Dental Health Education Resource Guide is a fun and informative way for teachers to introduce children in preschool through second grade and third through fifth grades to the importance of good oral health.
- Oral sensitivity can affect eating, nutrition, speech, tooth brushing, dental check-ups and oral health and is a common issue for many special-needs children.
- Dental health resources for Teachers and Students can be found here.
- First Smiles is a statewide initiative that takes on the silent epidemic of early childhood caries among children 5 years old and younger.
- Shared materials for children's oral health
Cosmetics
- “Grills” or “grillz”, decorative covers often made of gold, silver or jewel-encrusted precious metals that snap over one or more of your teeth, have become a huge trend. For more information about grills please visit the ADA website.
Cancer
This year, approximately 30,000 American will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer. Learn more about these diseases by visiting:
- Oral Cancer: How to Protect Yourself (American Dental Association)
- What You Need to Know About Oral Cancer (National Cancer Institute).
Dental Clinics
- Click here for CDA's listing of dental clinics in California. In addition, UOP has compiled a list of dental clinics in California.
- To search for a clinic near you, follow the instructions under the "Resources" tab offered by the California Primary Care Association, or use the search function offered by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Primary Health Care.
- Many clinics are in need of volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering your dental professional services, please call the clinic directly for more information.
Disabled Care
- The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research provides assistance to daily caregivers of the developmentally disabled. Click here to view Dental Care Every Day: A Caregiver’s Guide.
- Donated Dental Services (DDS) — Volunteer dentists and dental laboratories may provide needed dental treatment at no cost to those who are disabled, elderly or medically compromised. For more information, call 800.736.7071, ext. 4971, or click here to print out an application.
Emergency Preparedness
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security provides information about how to "Be Ready" for natural disasters, bioterrorism and other emergencies.
Fluoridation
- The U. S. surgeon general is a strong supporter of community fluoridation. View his 2004 statement.
- Community Fluoridation Q & A
- Read the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research's statement about the safety and effectiveness of community fluoridation.
- In November 2007, Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council released a systematic review of the latest scientific evidence in relation to fluoride and health. It updates the York (UK) Review of 2000, and looked at the evidence published since 1996. Click here to access the 203 page report.
The National Health and Medical Research Council released a public statement including this recommendation:
"Fluoridation of drinking water remains the most effective and socially equitable means of achieving community-wide exposure to the caries prevention effects of fluoride. It is recommended that water be fluoridated in the target range of 0.6 to 1.1 mg/L, depending on climate, to balance reduction of dental caries and occurrence of dental fluorosis." - Read Quebec's Analysis of the health benefits and risks of water fluoridation, 2007.
- The best way to determine if a community's water supply is fluoridated is to call the phone number listed on the property’s water bill. Additionally, The First 5 California Oral Health Education & Training Project’s fluoride map shows optimally fluoridated areas by Zip code.
Give Kids a Smile Day
We look forward to the next Give Kids a Smile Day, which will take place on Friday, Feb. 1, 2008, during National Children’s Dental Health Month.
Government Programs
- California Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board (MRMIB) was created to increase access to affordable, comprehensive, quality health-care coverage. The board administers the Healthy Families program.
- Click here for information on Medicare, Medicaid and other government benefit programs
- Learn about First 5 California programs designed to improve the health of very young children.
- California Department of Health Services
- View the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Guide to Children's Dental Care in Medicaid.
- Find Beneficiary Services information on the Medi-Cal Dental Services Branch website.
Pregnancy Guidelines
Pregnancy is a unique time in a woman’s life and is characterized by complex physiological changes. These changes can adversely affect oral health during pregnancy. Pregnancy and early childhood are particularly important times to access oral health care because the consequences of poor oral health can have a lifelong impact. Improving your oral health during pregnancy prevents complications of dental diseases and has the potential to decrease early childhood caries and may reduce preterm and low birth weight deliveries.
Learn more about the affects of your oral health during pregnancy by visiting:
- Oral Health Fact Sheets-Pregnancy (California Dental Association)
- Oral Health-Pregnancy (American Dental Association)
- Baby Steps to a Healthy Pregnancy and On-Time Delivery (American Academy of Periodontology)
Senior Oral Health
There are special considerations that need to be addressed as people mature. This fact sheet explains what specific changes take place and how treatment and preventive methods may need to change with time.
California Area Agencies on Aging: community agencies designed to lead to the development or enhancement of comprehensive and coordinated community-based programs and services for the elderly in each community. These agencies, administered by the county in which they operate or private non profit agencies, partner with the California Department of Aging.
Tobacco Cessation
Tobacco use causes death and disease worldwide. Learn how to quit at U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U. S. surgeon general's tobacco cessation web page, or Smokefree.gov. You can also call 800.QUIT.NOW (800.784.8669) or 800.NO.BUTTS (800.662.8887) for phone support and to set up a personal plan to quit.