Free maternal and child oral health publications

Date: April 24, 2014
Author: Dawn Jacobs
Categories: Chidren's Dental, Child Dental, Oral Health Strategies

The Washington State Oral Health Coalition recently shared that “the contract for the Health Resources and Services Administration’s warehouse will end on June 2, 2014. This news significantly impacts the distribution of materials produced by the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center (OHRC).  Although we hope to maintain limited warehouse and distribution capacity, the future of such service is uncertain.”

Many useful printed oral health materials, including consumer brochures, fact sheets, policy briefs and more are available without charge, to be ordered singly or in bulk.

Those interested are encouraged to order printed OHRC materials as soon as possible using the online order form at www.mchoralhealth.org/order/index.html.  Should you want more copies than the form will allow you to order,  select the limit and indicate the total amount of desired copies in the “Notes” box at the end of the order form.

Project Homeless Connect returns May 7

Date: April 17, 2014
Author: Dawn Jacobs
Categories: Affordable Care Act, Emergent Care, Medicaid, Oral Health Strategies, Volunteer Dental Care

The Pierce County Dental Society, along with other Pierce County Oral Health Coalition partners, will provide dental assessments and treatment triage at the Project Homeless Connect / Puyallup event on May 7, 2014. The upcoming activity will be held at the Washington State Fairgrounds. Please share the event information with community members as appropriate.

Welcome to Dental Services!

Eastern Washington medical-dental health summit

Date: April 14, 2014
Author: Dawn Jacobs
Categories: ABCD, Adult Dental, Chidren's Dental, Child Dental, Emergent Care, Oral Health Strategies

Concerned about the overall health of members in your community? Consider attending “Bridging the Gap between Medicine and Dentistry” summit on Friday, April 25, 2014, in Pasco, Wa. A screening of a new documentary on the connections between oral health and overall health will be shown the day before.

The following link contains registration and additional information: Eastern Washington Medical-Dental Summit 2014.

7 CME/CDE credits available

Deadline approaches for enrolling through state insurance exchange

Date: March 27, 2014
Author: Dawn Jacobs
Categories: Adult Dental, Affordable Care Act, Chidren's Dental, Medicaid

For individuals seeking to enroll for health and dental insurance through the state-run insurance exchange called Washington Healthplanfinder, the deadline is March 31. (Questions about dental coverage under the Affordable Care Act for persons 18 years of age and younger and the expansion of state Medicaid to cover adults can be found on the coalition’s page here.)

According to the exchange’s web site, plans purchased by 11:59 p.m. on March 31, will be effective May 1, 2014. The next open enrollment period will be Nov. 15, 2014, to Feb. 15, 2015.

Those who qualify for Medicaid, also known as Apple Health in Washingtion state, may continue to enroll throughout the year.

An FAQ page has been published by Healthplanfinder to answer questions the public, providers, and others may have about the deadlines, exceptions, and situations for persons not sure about their applications’ status.

 

Oral health presentation on xerostomia (dry mouth)

Date: March 6, 2014
Author: Dawn Jacobs
Categories: Oral Health Strategies

The Pierce County Oral Health Coalition is proud to organize an hour-long oral health presentation on March 12, followed by a regular PCOHC meeting (1-3 p.m.).   One continuing education (CE) credit is available.

  • Xerostomia (Dry Mouth): Causes, Symptoms and Management.  Presentation by Pierce College Dental Hygiene Faculty & Students.
  • Presentation will take place at Evergreen State College-Tacoma Campus, located at 1201 6th Street, Tacoma. For directions and a map, please go here.

The event is recommended for oral health professionals and providers and individuals and groups who are interested in learning more about xerostomia.

Lunch will be provided; please RSVP by 5 p.m., March 7, at pcohc@pcdentists.org, or use our contact page.  Space may be limited. Click here for the March 2014 Flyer.

Oral health fun at Children’s Dental Health Day at South Hill Mall

Date: February 28, 2014
Author: Dawn Jacobs
Categories: Chidren's Dental, Child Dental, Volunteer Dental Care

What do Chompy the Carrot, the Tooth Fairy, toothbrushes, sugar displays, and people in lab coats have in common? Children’s Dental Health Day in Puyallup!

For the 23rd year and in celebration of February as Children’s Dental Health month, the Pierce County Dental Society (PCDS) sponsored an array of free oral health services, resources, and information for children and their families.

Pierce County Dental Society dentists volunteered, along with other volunteer dentists, dental assistants, and dental hygienists, including those from Community Health Care, Bates and Clover Park  Dental Assisting Schools to provide free oral screenings, fluoride varnish applications, and family oral health instructions. Children needing additional care were seen on the nearby Medical Teams International mobile dental van staffed by volunteer Pierce County dentists.

Families also received valuable oral and other health-related information, instructions on how to sign up for the Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD) program, and obtained referrals to affordable dental resources within Pierce County.  Participating Pierce County Oral Health Coalition partners and other community resources included:

  • Bates Dental Assisting School
  • Clover Park Dental Assisting School
  • Community Health Care
  • Good Samaritan Bicycle Program
  • Lindquist Dental Clinic for Children
  • Medical Teams International
  • Pierce County Dentists Care
  • Pierce County Dental Foundation
  • Puyallup Tribal Health Authority
  • SeaMar Community Health
  • Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department’s ABCD Program

Chompy the Carrot entertained the crowd while conveying the vital message that nutrition matters when it comes to maintaining healthy teeth. For more information on how to keep your child’s teeth healthy,  go here.