oral health

Published on

CBS 6 News WRGB Albany 

Albany, NY (WRGB) — A new study from the University at Albany’s Oral Health Workforce Research Center has identified a concerning link between inadequate oral health care and complications during pregnancy. The research highlights the need for increased awareness and access to dental services for expectant mothers.

“Less than half of pregnant women actually seek oral health care,” said Dr. Simona Surdu, the director of the Oral Health Workforce Research Center at UAlbany. “And that was kind of like a very big red flag for us.”

View Segment and Read Article

Published on

News 10 ABC

A new study, conducted by researchers at University at Albany’s College of Integrated Health Sciences, shows poor dental hygiene during pregnancy can increase the risk of dental diseases and pregnancy complications. According to the college, the study was done using Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System data between 2016 and 2020.

View Segment and Article

Published on

Bioengineer

ALBANY, N.Y. (March 20, 2025) — In a groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at the University at Albany’s Oral Health Workforce Research Center, a significant public health concern has emerged regarding the oral health services accessed by pregnant women in the United States. Despite the known benefits of oral health care during pregnancy, fewer than 40% of expectant mothers report seeking preventive dental services. This alarming statistic highlights a crucial gap in maternal health and reveals the potential consequences of neglecting oral health during this critical period.

Read Article

Published on

Spotlight News

Oral health plays a critical role in a person’s overall health and well-being, yet many New Yorkers face limited access to the oral health services they need. Identifying where these needs are most acute can help guide resource allocation to fill service gaps.

A new report, released by the Center for Health Workforce Studies at the University at Albany’s College of Integrated Health Sciences, indicates that improving access to oral health services in New York State requires a broader understanding of oral health needs and the challenges that underserved populations face.

Read Article

Published on

Crain’s New York Business

New York is opening the floodgates for more medical providers to administer fluoride to kids as President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration floated a proposal that could limit access.

Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a law on Saturday allowing dental assistants and licensed practical nurses to apply topical fluoride treatments to kids’ teeth – a treatment previously left up to providers such as medical dentists, pediatricians and dental hygienists. The law, which goes into effect immediately, attempts to open new pathways for children to get treatments that can prevent cavities and tooth decay, as workforce challenges and high costs create barriers for individuals and families to access the treatment from their dentist.

The law will expand the number of providers statewide who can give fluoride treatment to kids, combatting workforce challenges that have created long waiting lists for dental care, said Jean Moore, director of the Center for Health Workforce Studies at SUNY Albany. The law may help kids access preventive oral care in school clinics, federally qualified health centers and pediatricians’ offices, Moore said, and comes as the incoming federal administration has raised a proposal that could undermine efforts to administer fluoride in public drinking water.

Read Article

Published on

News Day

Fluoride treatments to teeth are now legally allowed to be applied by more types of health professionals, under legislation signed late this week by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Effective immediately, under a dentist’s supervision, registered dental assistants and licensed practical nurses can also provide the treatment, a fluoride varnish, which helps prevent tooth decay and strengthens tooth enamel. Parents and guardians under the supervision of a licensed provider can also apply the treatment…

…There are parts of the state in which two-thirds of the population live in high needs areas for oral health, according to a study published in July by the Center for Health Workforce Studies School of Public Health at the University at Albany.

Read Article

Published on

Spectrum News

A recent study by the University at Albany highlights significant gaps in oral health services across New York state, identifying 31 high-need areas, primarily in rural regions. The research, conducted by the Center for Health Workforce Studies, analyzed 15 sociodemographic indicators to assess needs across all age groups.

Dr. Jean Moore, the study’s lead researcher, noted that the biggest barriers include the ratio of dental professionals to the population and the availability of services for Medicaid patients and the uninsured.

“We looked at indicators related to the population, disability, pregnancy, and education level,” Moore said.

View Segment and Article

Published on

Daily Gazette

ALBANY — Barriers to oral health care are markedly high in the Mohawk Valley, according to a statewide report.

A recently released study from the University at Albany’s Center for Health Workforce Studies found that nearly 90% of residents in the six-county region live in areas with wide dental service gaps.

It runs in stark contrast to the Hudson Valley, Finger Lakes, Capital Region and Long Island where care is significantly more prevalent. The overall statewide rate for high-need communities is 14% — nearly 73 points lower than the Mohawk Valley.

“There are a lot of moving parts here,” said CHWS Director Jean Moore. “What I would say to you is that, clearly, Mohawk Valley has issues, but one of the things that I really like about this work is that it breaks it down by service areas so that problems may be different in different parts of the Mohawk Valley.”

Read Article

Published on

Medical Xpress

Oral health plays a critical role in a person’s overall health and well-being, yet many New Yorkers face limited access to the oral health services they need. Identifying where these needs are most acute can help guide resource allocation to fill service gaps.

A new report, released by the Center for Health Workforce Studies (CHWS) at the University at Albany’s School of Public Health, indicates that improving access to  services in New York State requires a broader understanding of oral health needs and the challenges that underserved populations face. The study, conducted by CHWS, identified geographic areas throughout the state with the highest oral health needs.

Read Article