supporting and promoting evidence-based public health initiatives like community water fluoridation, non or minimally invasive dental caries products and techniques, expanding comprehensive school-based oral health programs, and dissemination of educational materials on tobacco cessation, healthy dietary choices, and utilizing sports gear and safety measures to reduce head and neck injuries.  Over the last 20 years, we’ve promoted and have seen the acceptance and growing use of fluoride varnish, silver diamine fluoride and/or silver-modified atraumatic restorative treatment (SMART), glass ionomer cement sealants, 10% Povidone-Iodine, and Self-Assembling Peptide P₁₁-4 prevention products by dental providers and have provided educational opportunities for oral health professionals to learn how to utilize these innovative products.

In order to increase access to comprehensive oral health care for all Texans, TxOHC members advocated for women’s preventive oral health care during pregnancy and 12 months post-partum finally reaching legislative success in 2023.  While legislation passed to provide one preventive dental visit per year for eligible adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities in 2021, funding was not provided for implementation, so our work remains ongoing.  TxOHC has provided educational materials for medical professionals to use on a variety of topics and created a perinatal oral health train-the-trainer program to aid in interdisciplinary education and the referral process.  The lack of adult Medicaid dental benefits in Texas remains an ongoing problem and members strive to find alternate solutions to provide oral health care for under or uninsured populations.  Members are learning more about mid-level providers or expanded functions for auxiliary members of the dental team as viable options to bring care to the people in rural or underserved areas and finally successful legislation passing teledentistry in 2021 that provides an impactful tool providers can use to increase access to care where patients live or work.   

Coalition work products and programs are developed using a health equity lens to change perceptions regarding oral health and oral disease so that oral health becomes an integral component of all health policies and programs by informing, educating, and empowering community partners, public officials, policymakers, and the public.  Communications include a monthly e-brief, perinatal brochures, annual state oral health report card, Texas Teledentistry Guide, updating and maintaining the TxOHC and Fluoride for Smiles websites, consistent messaging and videos on different social media platforms, issue briefs and information for legislators and local policymakers on oral health issues as well as providing member testimony at state and local hearings.  TxOHC is pleased to provide support for regional oral health coalitions (ROHCs) in Austin, Coastal Bend, Houston, North Central Texas, San Antonio and is set to launch our newest ROHC in El Paso on November 17, 2023.  The purpose of the regional coalitions is to improve the oral health of communities and promote partnerships for sustainable, equity-informed, community-driven advocacy.  Community resource guides that provide local resources on five different target populations to address social determinant of health factors is just one way our local ROHCs are making a difference.

To change perceptions regarding oral health and disease so that oral health becomes an integral component of health policies and programs in Texas, TxOHC promotes collaboration between public-private partners to enhance Interprofessional, culturally appropriate comprehensive community-based oral health initiatives.  The annual Texas Oral Health Conference showcases best practice strategies to engage dental and non-dental health professionals, promote patient-centered care models and now value-based care.

We have come a very long way in the last 20 years, but our work is not over and we are asking for your support to continue our efforts. Texas currently has over 5.8 million enrolled in Medicaid with over 900,000 that recently lost Medicaid benefits due to the Medicaid unwinding and redeterminations since April 2023. According to Texas 2036, Texas has the unfortunate distinction of having the nation’s highest uninsured rate — about 18% in 2021, compared to the national average of 8.6% — and its largest uninsured population of roughly 5 million people.  This presents new challenges we face on how best to provide care for this growing underserved population.  

Leading efforts to achieve optimal oral health across the lifespan, members have advocated to increase access to care for children, older adults in long-term care facilities or aging in place, and patients with intellectual or developmental disabilities.  TxOHC serves as the voice for underserved populations and dental providers.  We are conveners, facilitators, communicators, educators and advocates for best practice strategies based on evidence-based science and our members encourage collaboration to foster whole person health, eliminate oral disparities and address health inequalities, with the vision of optimal health for all Texans.