Resources

Oral health in Texas 2008 Report [PDF 1.64PDF]              

Dental Sealant Program Manual [PDF 2.04MB]

Fluoride Varnish Manual [PDF 2.87MB]

Link to the Texas Oral Health Coalition (TxOHC) Resources page for information and to view recent reports - TxOHC was established in November 2004 and is the primary organization in Texas that provides a nonpartisan forum which allows a diverse network of stakeholders to collaborate and create innovative and viable solutions to improve the oral health for all Texans.

Public Health Practitioners/ Stakeholders Resources

• CDC Division of Oral Health: The CDC’s Division of Oral Health homepage features the latest scientific research, guidelines, and recommendations.
• Community Preventive Services Task Force Oral Health Recommendations and Findings: The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommendations and findings for oral health interventions based on a systematic review of available studies.
• Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors Best Practices Approach Report on Community Water Fluoridation: A report on water fluoridation describing the public health strategy, strength of evidence, and current examples of implementation.
• Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors Best Practices Approach Report on School-based Dental Sealant Programs: A report on school-based dental sealant programs describing the public health strategy, strength of evidence, and current examples of implementation.
• Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors Research Brief “Fluoride Varnish: an Evidence-Based Approach”:  A research brief presenting the best available evidence to help professionals design and evaluate community-based programs that use fluoride varnish.
• Children’s Dental Health Project Issue Brief on Dental Sealants: An issue brief that explores factors influencing the implementation of school sealant programs.
• The Pew Center on the States report: Falling Short; Most States Lag on Dental Sealants:  A report on progress in all 50 states and D.C. to meet Pew benchmarks for prevention and state efforts to improve access to sealants for low-income children.
• Fluoride Legislative User Information Database (FLUID): A comprehensive database of U.S. legal decisions and policies regarding community water fluoridation.
• Children’s Dental Health Project: Presentation on Implementation of the Pediatric Dental Benefit in the Affordable Care Act: A presentation on the implementation of the pediatric dental benefit in the Affordable Care Act
• American Dental Association: Topical fluoride for caries prevention: Executive summary of the updated clinical recommendations and supporting systematic review: The most recent recommendations regarding professionally applied topical fluoride from the Council on Scientific Affairs of the American Dental Association.
• American Dental Association: Executive summary of evidence-based clinical recommendations for the use of pit-and-fissure sealants: The most recent recommendations regarding pit-and-fissure sealants from the Council on Scientific Affairs of the American Dental Association.
• U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation on Fluoride Varnish: The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force evidence-based recommendations for preventing dental caries in children under five years of age.
• Academy of Pediatrics: Fluoride Use in Caries Prevention in the Primary Care Setting: A clinical report clarifying the use of available fluoride modalities for caries prevention in a primary care setting, including suggestions for pediatricians on assessing risk, and providing fluoride varnish for caries prevention.
• American Dental Association Dental Quality Alliance: “Dental Caries in Children Measures Set”: Detailed specifications for the Dental Quality Alliance oral health care performance measures.
• Bright Futures in Practice: Oral Health - Pocket Guide:  A tool for dentists, dental hygienists, physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, dieticians, and others for preventive oral health care for pregnant and postpartum women, infants, children, and adolescents.

Additional resources for state Medicaid programs:

• Medicaid State Dental Association: Information about evidence-based Medicaid/Children's Health Insurance Program oral health best practices and policies.
• The Children’s Dental Health Project “Dental Visits for Medicaid Children: Analysis and Policy Recommendations”: A policy brief examining the various factors related to a recent increase in dental visits for children enrolled in Medicaid, how these children received care, and policy recommendations to further improve access to and quality of dental care for underserved populations.
• The Children’s Dental Health Project “A Roadmap for Implementation- Part 1: Oral Health Provisions in Health Reform”: A policy brief focusing on the importance of oral health promotion provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and recommendations for how to implement the provisions.
• Dental Care for Medicaid and CHIP Enrollees: The dental care website on Medicaid.gov includes information on coverage of dental benefits for children and adults enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP and many tools to help states improve access to and delivery of dental and oral health care services.