Oral Health Challenges in Rural Communities

Did you know, rural communities have a disproportionate shortage of qualified health care providers compared to urban communities? This creates barriers for rural populations (nearly 20% of Americans) in getting the essential health care they need.

Americans who live in rural areas may not have access to quality dental care due to a lack of providers in their area or the inability to travel. National Rural Health Day celebrates the charitable service and community-minded spirit of rural healthcare providers and the patients they serve.

National Rural Health Day

The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) has designated the third Thursday of each November as a day to celebrate National Rural Health Day (NRHD). In 2022, National Rural Health Day is celebrated on Nov. 17. NRHD day honors the service and the uplifting, community-minded spirit of rural healthcare providers and the patients they serve.

What Contributes to Poor Oral Health For Those Who Live in Rural Areas?

Limited Access to Dental Care

Many people who live in rural areas do not have access to oral health providers.

According to a 2017 findings brief conducted by the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center, rural children were less likely to receive preventive dental care when compared to urban children. Fortunately, rural access to dental care has improved in the last decade.

Oral Health Education and Knowledge

A 2009 comparative study published in the American Journal of Health Behavior concluded that health literacy is lower in rural populations. Inadequate health knowledge may result in an inability to access dental care, which can lead to poor dental hygiene.

Access to Fluoridated Tap Water

Many homes in rural communities do not have access to community water systems and do not receive the dental benefits of fluoridated water. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drinking fluoridated water helps to keep teeth strong and reduces cavities in children and adults.

Tobacco Use

According to a 2020 SAMHSA report, tobacco use (smoking or smokeless tobacco) is practiced more often in rural communities.

"I'm a Dental Professional. How Can I Help Serve Rural Communities?"

One way dental professionals can help serve rural communities is by joining the Dental Safety Net. The Dental Safety Net supports people that do not have access to oral health care. The reasons may be:

• Economic – they are unable to pay for services out-of-pocket
• Do not have private insurance
• Living in a rural community or health professional shortage area (HPSA)

The Dental Safety Net is comprised of:

• Dentists and dental professionals and various clinical, nonclinical and support services
• Government services — Medicaid, CHIP
• Academic dental institutions — allied dental students provide patient services under the supervision of school faculty and residents.
• Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), school-based health centers and related organizations.

The Dental Safety Net supports providers, creates policies to improve access to dental care, and educates new dental providers on the importance of meeting the growing demand for rural healthcare.

Without the Dental Safety Net, millions of Americans, including the economically disadvantaged, the uninsured, the underinsured, the elderly, and those in rural communities, wouldn't have access to quality dental care.

Advantage Dental+ Provides Quality Dental Care to Rural Communities

Advantage Dental teams have a common purpose: we work together with passion, perseverance and focus to achieve a nation where no child suffers from the pain of tooth decay, where adults keep all their teeth for their entire lives, where every person has access to quality dental care.

Our providers are committed to driving change by introducing innovative approaches to care, implementing proven best practices and accessing research and resources that reach beyond the dental chair. Some of our solutions to increase access to care include school-based outreach programs, community event outreach, teledentistry services, and dental/primary care integration.

At Advantage Dental, we measure success in changed lives, quality outcomes and meaningful patient experiences to create a business that is both sustainable and accessible. Ingrained within our culture is the desire to provide the same quality care, no matter background, where they live, payment type, age, or income. We believe everyone deserves to have an oral health care provider that they not only feel comfortable with, but also can partner with to have a lifetime of good oral health.

Our patients are not the only ones who are thankful for these efforts to expand access to care in rural communities.

“I feel like I get the opportunity to make an impact on someone’s life every day. Access to care is a constant struggle for those living in rural communities. Many are grateful for our services. In turn, I am grateful for the opportunity to provide care to a rural community that has embraced me as one of their own,” Dr. Joseph Sharon of Boardman, Oregon said. “Providing care in rural areas allows you to become involved in the lives of your patients. So, you are not just providing care for patients but helping a community.”

Our network of 75 strategically located practices, which includes nearly 200 oral health providers and 600 support employees, is dedicated to a single mission: To improve the oral health of all. The Advantage Dental teams are proud and honored to serve those who may not have access to oral health care otherwise. Our teams provide care to more than 250,000 patients yearly in the hopes of positively impacting the overall health of the communities that need it most.

We appreciate and cherish the relationships we get to build with our patients on our journey to improve the oral health of all.