Please review the proposed TSBDE teledentistry rules prior to the November 19, 2021 member meeting, so we may discuss it as a hot topic in the main room. Comments are due by December 13, 2021.

The proposed teledentistry rules are published for comment in the Texas Register so we have 30 days from the date of publication to submit comments. 

The November 12, 2021 issue of the Texas Register has been posted to the website.

• TSBDE Rule Submission Memorandum PDF version:
  https://gov.texas.gov/uploads/files/organization/regulatory-compliance/TSBDE-Rule-Submission-Memorandum-Rule-108_16.pdf
  
  
• Texas Register HTML version:
  http://www.sos.texas.gov/texreg/archive/November122021/index.html
  
  
• Texas Register PDF version: 
  http://www.sos.texas.gov/texreg/pdf/backview/1112/index.shtml
  
  
• Teledentistry Bill Text (enrolled HB2056):
  https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/87R/billtext/pdf/HB02056F.pdf#navpanes=0

Please let us know if you have any suggestions for comments. We look forward to your input this Friday.

Save the date and please make plans to join us on November 19, 2021, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM CT for our second TxOHC Quarterly Member Meeting via Zoom. Local coalitions will be meeting in breakout rooms and attendees in the main room will be able to discuss hot topics regarding oral health.

• Austin Oral Health Coalition – Sohini Dhar, DDS, MPH
• Houston Oral Health Coalition – Teresita Ladrillo, DMD, MPH
• North Central Oral Health Coalition – TeAnna Culberson, MPH
• San Antonio Oral Health Coalition – Rebecca Davenport, DDS 

Due to a previously scheduled engagement by Dr. Davenport, the San Antonio Coalition will not be meeting on November 19, 2021. Please sign up if you are interested in joining the San Antonio Oral Health Coalition so you can be apprised of their meeting schedule.

If you are interested in joining any of the local coalitions, please complete the sign-up form to join their email list at https://txohc.org/rohn-signup.

If you do not reside where we have a local coalition, please remain in the main room for a roundtable discussion on hot topics.

Meeting Link: https://bit.ly/QtrMtg1119 – registration is not required.

Upcoming meetings:

• Friday, November 19, 2021
• Friday, February 18, 2022
• Friday, May 20, 2022

Although medical and dental care have historically been treated as separate silos, oral health and overall health are interconnected. A growing body of scientific studies and evidence-based reports support the need for integrating oral health competencies into primary care practice. Incorporating oral health assessment into primary care visits for all patients is essential to preventing oral health problems that can negatively affect overall health and quality of life. Integrated care models successfully bring together medical and dental teams to provide equitable whole-person care that improves overall health and reduces medical costs.

Click here to read Integrating Oral Health into Primary Care to learn more about how integrated care models contribute to preventing serious oral and overall health problems.

— Oral Health Nursing Education and Practice (OHNEP) 

HPV Vaccine Trends and Role of the Dental Provider in HPV Vaccination: Gaps and Opportunities for Cancer Prevention
December 10, 2021 12:00 PM CST
Presented by Christina A. Demopoulos, DDS, MPH and Shillpa Naavaal, BDS, MS, MPH

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) and the leading cause of oropharyngeal cancers (OPC). In the United States, there were about 43 million HPV infections in 2018. Nearly 70% of OPCs are caused by HPV. The number of new cases of OPC in the US has been rising over the last few decades. This webinar will share the findings from the Oral Health Equity survey – a nationally representative survey conducted by the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health in which gathered information about the HPV and HPV vaccine relationship with oral health, vaccine recommendation by the oral health provider, and role of oral health provider in the administration of the HPV vaccine. We will first present the history of HPV and HPV vaccination in the US and the national and state level vaccination trends. This will be followed by the presentation of the main findings from the CareQuest survey. We will share the data on HPV and HPV vaccine knowledge, attitudes and beliefs towards HPV vaccination and the perceptions of US adults about the role of oral health providers in HPV vaccination. In conclusion, we will discuss the implications of survey findings on oral health, gaps in vaccination rates and potential strategies to increase vaccination uptake.

Register and learn more about this webinar here.

Special Needs Facility Needs Dentist in Abilene, TX

We are pleased to welcome CommUnityCare Health Centers as an organizational member and the following new members who joined after November 9, 2021.

• CommUnityCare Health Centers
  Joshua Even, DMD, Director of Dental Services
  Austin, TX
• Betsy Coats, CHW, BS
  Field Operations Manager, Maximus
  Schertz, TX
• Savannah Walker, RDH
  Public Health Dental Hygienist, Department of State Health Services
  El Paso, TX
• Verne LaGrega, LMSW
  Clinical Care Coordinator III, TACHC
  Austin, TX

We also want to acknowledge that the representatives of our new partner UnitedHealthcare Dental do not all live in Tyler as shown in Issue: 25. Please see the names and email addresses of the different regional representatives below.

If you represent an organization, professional association, academic institution, or nonprofit you are invited to join TxOHC as an organizational member to participate in policy discussions and develop strategies and viable solutions to address oral health challenges many Texans face. 

We also want to encourage all individuals to join as an active or associate member so that you will continue to receive our communications without disruption. If you are interested in joining any of the local coalitions, please complete the sign-up form to join their email list at https://txohc.org/rohn-signup.

TxOHC will begin invoicing active members in December 2021 for their 2022 annual membership fees. You may renew online any time before January 30, 2022, to keep your membership active or become an associate or student member. Renew or join at https://fs25.formsite.com/TxOHC1/member/index.html.

New members may also join online now and the annual 2022 fee will be added to the prorated 2021 dues.

TxOHC new membership structure to begin January 1, 2022

• Associate Member: No fee
  Individuals or organizations who support the mission of the organization may attend coalition meetings, volunteer time, and receive communication.
• Student Member: No fee
  Students are required to be enrolled in Accredited Programs, Colleges or Universities.
• Active Member: $50 / year
  An individual person at-large may join the coalition unaffiliated with any specific organization. This person speaks and votes on his/her own behalf and volunteers independently.
• Organizational Member: $150 / year
  An organization, institution, or agency may support the coalition as an entity, and designate one contact to represent the organization’s commitment to the coalition. This person speaks and votes on behalf of his/her organization.

TxOHC provides opportunities for members to: 

• Share your strategies with peers and learn innovative approaches from early adopters.
• Lead your community toward equitable oral health with advocacy efforts.
• Contribute your knowledge to publications and scientific resources.
• Connect with other advocates through events and member-only opportunities.
• Access support through professional development, advocacy training, and peer networking.
• Stay connected to funding opportunity notices, webinars, workshops, and employment leads.

Make your voice heard. Mobilize your community.

Learn more about our new member benefits and join TxOHC today at https://txohc.org/get-involved/membership. 

New members joining the Associate/Student member category can complete the online membership application now and be good through December 31, 2022. 

New Member Form

New members joining the active member category in October will be prorated through 2021 and the full year added for 2022. 

Current members can renew online any time after October 1, 2021.  Renew Membership

According to the Texas Health and Human Services | Texas Department of State Health Services as of 11/16/2021 approximately:

• 67.44% of Texans age 5+ have been vaccinated with at least one dose
• 58.28% of Texans age 5+ have been fully vaccinated
• 90.54% of Texans age 65+ have been vaccinated with at least one dose
• 81.98% of Texans age 65+ have been fully vaccinated

As of 11/4/2021, children 5-11 are included in the vaccination numbers and the eligible population denominator is now all Texans 5 years of age and older.

Please encourage your friends, colleagues, and family members to get fully vaccinated as quickly as possible. To locate where they are administering COVID-19 vaccinations nearest you, please visit https://www.vaccines.gov/search/ and type in your zip code.

TxOHC recently collaborated with the University of Texas Center for Health Communication to provide free continuing dental education for two self-instructional 1.0 hour video courses for dental prescribers on the TxOHC and Prescription Monitoring Program websites.

The second self-instructional course, “Maximizing Your Limited Time: Navigating Challenging Patient Conversations” is now live.

To learn more and access either complimentary video course, please visit https://txohc.org/education/pmp-webinar-series/.

January 14, 2022 – Behavioral Healthcare and Geriatric Dentistry presented by Dr. Andrea R. Holzner, CCP, MPH, PhD

February 11, 2022 – Providing Care Under Advanced Anesthesia (General Anesthesia/TIVA and Oral/IV Sedation) presented by Mark Bullock, DDS

March 11, 2022 – Open

April 8, 2022 – Let’s Prevent Oropharyngeal Cancer (and Avoid Awkward Conversations While Doing It!) presented by Rhonda Stokley, DDS

May 13, 2022 – Special Conditions and Barriers and challenges providing dental care to patients with IDD presented by Mark Bullock, DDS

June 10, 2022 – Understanding and working with caregivers and group homes, Dental Desensitization/Advanced Behavior techniques for patients with IDD at AbSSLC presented by Mark Bullock, DDS

The Texas Oral Health Coalition is excited to continue hosting monthly webinars in 2022 with different topics and presenters on the second Friday of each month during the noon hour, 12:00 – 1:00 PM CT.  These live webinars will offer 1.0 of continuing dental education for each course.

If you are interested in sharing your research or dental passion, please complete and submit the linked documents below for consideration.

Financial Disclosure and Bio
Speaker Proposal Submission

Please send forms to Beth Stewart.