Oral Health Newsletter Volume 2

Tooth decay and gum disease are common yet preventable oral health problems. The purpose of the Oral Health Promotion Program (OHPP) grant is to develop and to implement innovative programs that address the oral health needs of children and families through high-quality prevention services and information. Fourteen agencies are taking part in the first grant cycle which starts February 1, 2021 and ends September 30, 2022. OHPP grants are intended to reach low-income vulnerable families with a focus on early opportunities to reduce tooth decay and other oral health conditions and to help people get oral health care services when needed. Supporting an intergenerational and life course approach to oral health promotion and prevention is a priority area of the 2021 - 2025 Illinois Maternal and Child Health Title V Action Plan. The OHPP grant is made possible by Title V Block Grant Funding.

Through this funding, local health departments and other public not-for-profit service providers across Illinois will develop and implement community-based oral health programs or expand current community-based programs. The program will assist school personnel, non-oral health providers, individuals, and families by assuring access to oral health education, fluoride varnish, All Kids enrollment, and referral to a dental home.

The program also helps families comply with the required school dental examinations for children. In addition to funding, Division of Oral Health staff will provide technical assistance, information, and materials. A resource listing of local providers, including those enrolled in the Medicaid program, will be used to establish regular source of care.

The IFLOSS Coalition is a public-private partnership that addresses possible barriers that Illinois residents might encounter in their pursuit for good oral health. Members consist of stakeholders representing local health departments, dentists and dental hygienists, community health centers, maternal and child health workers, schools, state agencies, advocacy groups, dental and dental hygienist associations, and other community members.

IFLOSS’ past work includes convening annual statewide conferences and periodic regional meetings to discuss program and legislative initiatives and advocacy issues, collaborating with the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics to integrate preventive services in pediatric offices, advocating for regulations to remove barriers to oral health services, and assisting IDPH with the development and distribution of its previous Illinois oral health plans.

In 2021, the organization continues to advocate for Illinoisans’ oral health needs. It will focus on adding new members, developing partnerships with organizations that can assist in furthering the agenda and goals of IFLOSS, and securing funding to keep the coalition sustainable.

Sharee Clough began her career in oral health as a dental hygienist. After working in private practice, she began teaching as adjunct faculty in the dental hygiene departments at Harper College in Palatine and College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn. She then moved on to the Illinois Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA), where she was the Oral Health Network Coordinator. Sharee was responsible for developing and managing the network that provided technical assistance to community health centers and safety net clinics in the state. The network's goal was to help the clinics increase capacity to provide dental services to the underserved.

Sharon continued exploring her passion for advancing oral health by serving as the manager of Preventive Health Services for the American Dental Association (ADA), Council on Advocacy for Access and Prevention. Sharee retired in 2019 from her position with the ADA. Currently, she works as an IPHCA contract employee, assisting with its Public Health Dental Hygienist Grant Pilot Program.

Retirement allows Sharee more time to pursue volunteer opportunities. Following her passion to address the oral health needs of the underserved, she now has time to commit to the work of the IFLOSS Coalition as the chair of its Board of Directors.

The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) will be introducing two new programs this year while continuing with the School-Based Oral Health Program (SBOHP).

The first new program is an extension of the SBOHP that has been provided for the students in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS). This will be a pilot program that involves five “brick and mortar” dental offices or federally qualified health care centers (FQHC’s) that will provide the same prevention dental services to the students as the current SBOHP in CPS. In addition, it will offer the ability to bring the students back to their offices with the intent of creating a dental home. Up to three schools will be available near the dental facilities.

The second new program, funded by OHPP, will have the CDPH School-Based Oral Health staff working with Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) centers and FQHC’s to increase the oral heath knowledge of their clientele. The program will provide educational materials highlighting the importance of oral health to pregnant individuals, to mothers, and to children. WIC center staff will be trained to provide risk-assessments and individualized education that decrease oral disease risks. Additionally, they will offer information on dental providers in their neighborhoods and hand out oral health kits. Programming in FQHC’s will support oral health education of medical providers and internal referrals so that more patients are able to take advantage of the oral health services provided.

Posters, flyers, informational sheets, and dental-related activity books for children will be supplied to assist in reinforcing the need for dental care, good nutrition, and the advantages of drinking fluoridated water from the tap for all ages.

February was National Children’s Dental Health Month and many organizations launched various programs and initiatives to celebrate. Organizations across the state have had to modify their plans in the past year due to COVID-19.

Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine in Alton, for example, hosted its annual grade school oral health education program virtually. Dr. Katie Kosten, director of Community Dentistry for SIU-Dental School, and staff worked diligently to provide education on oral hygiene and oral systemic health. The program reached 600 children in schools located in Roxana, East Alton, Alton, and surrounding areas.

COVID-19 has expanded Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine’s efforts to develop an oral health digital library that dental students and school faculty will utilize to collaborate with community stakeholders to advance oral and overall health education.

May is Women's Health Month -- an ideal time for women to focus on their health and well-being. Research shows the pandemic has taken a greater toll on the health of women. Almost 2 in 5 women nationwide (38%) skipped preventive health services, such as annual checkups and routine tests, over the past year. That compares to 26% of men. Some women who didn't receive medical care during the pandemic reported that their health conditions have gotten worse.

Preventive health services include routine dental visits. Obstacles some Illinois women said prevented them from getting dental care included not feeling comfortable visiting the dentist during the pandemic.

For more information: https://www.deltadentalil.com/your-health/general-oral-health/focus-on-womens-health/

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Please email: DPH.OralHealth@illinois.gov