dental care

Medical Xpress

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are a crucial component of the dental safety net and provide oral health services to those who might not otherwise have access to needed care, including low-income individuals, the uninsured and Medicaid beneficiaries.

new study from the Oral Health Workforce Research Center at the University at Albany’s Center for Health Workforce Studies examined factors influencing the delivery of oral health services at FQHCs. The findings, recently published in the spring issue of the Journal of Public Health Dentistry, shed light on how workforce capacity,  and Medicaid policy shape access to  for underserved populations across the United States.

News Wise

ALBANY, N.Y. (July 8, 2025) — Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are a crucial component of the dental safety net and provide oral health services to those who might not otherwise have access to needed care, including low-income individuals, the uninsured and Medicaid beneficiaries.

new study from the Oral Health Workforce Research Center at the University at Albany’s Center for Health Workforce Studies examined factors influencing the delivery of oral health services at FQHCs. The findings, recently published in the spring issue of the Journal of Public Health Dentistry, shed light on how workforce capacity, federal funding and Medicaid policy shape access to dental care for underserved populations across the United States.

The researchers analyzed data on FQHC utilization from 2012 to 2021 to evaluate trends in oral health services at over 1,000 FQHCs nationwide. Their results indicate that capacity-building steps such as investing in skilled providers and improving infrastructure indeed enable more people to access essential health services. In short, if you build it, they will come.

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Watchdog.org

Discounting the governor and the state flag, there isn’t much that the secluded backwoods of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula have in common with the urban streets of Detroit. One thing they do have in common: not enough dentists. In all but seven of Michigan’s 83 counties, there is at least one area experiencing a shortage of dental professionals. It’s a truly statewide problem, one that affects a disproportionate number of children and low-income households.

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Michigan Public Radio Network WMUK

(MPRN-Lansing) A new report says many kids and seniors in Michigan are going without dental care. The report was created by the PEW Charitable Trust at the behest of advocacy groups. It was released by the Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health (MCMCH) and the Center for Health Workforce Studies.

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Lansing State Journal

It’s not just about having a winning smile. Michigan’s kids in families with low incomes, seniors and pregnant women are not getting the dental care they need to stay healthy, a new report concludes. Troubled chompers can lead to other serious problems.

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