By TxOHC
March 19, 2024
The Texas Oral Health Coalition is pleased to release the 2024 Texas Oral Health Report CardTexas Oral Health Data Report Card providing a comprehensive assessment of Texas’ oral health grade in comparison to national data across 17 key indicators.
Compared to 2023 Texas’ grade remains a C, this is attributed to the number of indicators that do not update data annually.
It’s worth noting that many sources are still reporting pandemic-era data. In the 2024 report card, only 8 indicators use post-2020 data (see the table below). While the data used in the report cards since 2022 suggest that Texas’ oral healthcare is sluggish to recover post-pandemic, it is important to recognize that this perception is influenced by when the data was collected.
Although it’s not uncommon for data collection to occur biennially or for there to be time between collection and publication, relying on pandemic-era data might lead to misconceptions about Texas (and the United States as a whole) continuing to struggle in terms of dental visitation and children’s caries rates. However, this does not discount the fact that Texas still has room for improvement. It is evident that there remains a significant journey ahead to ensure that every Texan can achieve optimal oral health.
Data Collection Dates Overview
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|
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#1 | 2021 | 2021 |
#2 | 2021 | 2021 |
#3 | 2021 | 2021 |
#4 | 2021 | 2021 |
#5 | 2020-2021 | 2020-2021 |
#6 | 2020-2021 | 2020-2021 |
#7 | 2020-2021 | 2020-2021 |
#8 | 2020-2021 | 2020-2021 |
#9 | 2020-2021 | 2020-2021 |
#10 | 2021 | 2021 |
#11 | 2020 | 2020 |
#12 | 2020 | 2020 |
#13 | 2019 | 2021 |
#14 | 2020 | 2020 |
#15 | 2020 | 2020 |
#16 | 2023 | 2020 |
#17 | 2023 | 2023 |
TRENDS
Marking our eighth consecutive oral health report card, we’re excited to continue the trend analysis journey initiated last year. In 2023, we introduced a trend report spotlighting seven key indicators and developed trend tables for each of these indicators. This year, building on this groundwork, we enhanced these tables into interactive graphs, facilitating comparative analysis of Texas and US data across multiple years. This dynamic approach allows us to gain valuable insights into the evolving landscape of oral health trends, both locally and nationally.
CONCLUSION
Our report card serves as a call to action for policymakers, oral health professionals, and community members to address the oral health challenges faced by communities in Texas. By examining the indicators and identifying the most effective strategies for enhancing oral health, we can strive towards a future where access to care and oral health outcomes are improved for all Texans. Our ultimate goal is to achieve optimal oral health across the lifespan and foster a more equitable and accessible oral health care system.
A thorough review of all seventeen indicators on the report card offers invaluable insights into the oral health landscape of Texas. Join the Texas Oral Health Coalition and be a part of the efforts to lead and achieve optimal oral health for all residents across the lifespan in Texas. Together, we can make a difference.
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