Oral Health

The Center for Rural Health works in a variety of ways to address oral health issues in North Dakota. We support North Dakota rural communities in addressing oral health issues by:

• Evaluating unmet needs and existing workforce capacity for oral healthcare statewide
• Examining the impact of efforts to improve access to dental services
• Analyzing oral health data and oral health status in the State
• Collaborating to provide resources for best practices and proposed models of oral healthcare
• Assessing oral health services among long term care facilities
• Researching knowledge of pediatric oral health preventative measures among clinic providers

The Center for Rural Health’s Rural Health Information Hub lists additional oral health information and resources.

Key Contact

Shawnda Schroeder, PhD - Research Assistant Professor

Most Recent Publications

• Dental Care Utilization and Service Needs Among American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian Elders: 2008 to 2017
  This article discusses dental care use and the services needed among American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian elders from 2008 to 2017.
  Author(s): Schroeder, S., Adamsen, C., Ward, C.
  Publication: Journal of Aging and Health
  Date: September 2018
  Type: Journal Article
• Dental Screenings and Daily Care for North Dakota Nursing Home Residents: A Promising Practice
  This fact sheet details North Dakota nursing home residents’ dental status, federal and state law regarding their dental care, assessment of their dental care, and a guide for resident dental screening.
  Author(s): Schroeder, S.
  Date: April 2018
  Type: Fact Sheet
• Dental Screenings and Daily Care for Nursing Home Residents: A Promising Practice
  This fact sheet describes nursing home residents’ dental status, federal law regarding their dental care, assessment of their dental care, and a guide for resident dental screening.
  Author(s): Schroeder, S.
  Date: April 2018
  Type: Fact Sheet
• Evaluation of the Long Term Care Oral Health Program
  This fact sheet details assessments for long term care facilities participating in a mobile oral health program.
  Author(s): Schroeder, S., Fix, N.
  Date: April 2018
  Type: Fact Sheet
• Standardized Dental Screening for New Nursing Home Residents: A Promising Practice Guide
  This guide provides a template for nursing home administrators and dental professionals to help ensure all nursing home residents, upon admission, have dental screenings done by dental professionals.
  Author(s): Schroeder, S., Fix, N.
  Date: April 2018
  Type: Resource

Most Recent Presentations

• Addressing Oral Health among Aging Rural Populations
  Presented by Schroeder, S., Fix, N. on May 09, 2018 at the National Rural Health Association's Annual Rural Health Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana
• North Dakota: An Example of an Oral Healthcare Program for Older Adults in Long-Term Care Facilities
  Presented by Hruby, T., Schroeder, S., Yineman, K., Fix, N. on Apr 26, 2018 at the Oral Health America Webinar, online presentation
• Non-Dental Health Professionals Addressing Oral Health Disparities
  Presented by Schroeder, S. on Jun 14, 2017 at the Dakota Conference on Rural and Public Health, Minot, North Dakota
• Rural and Urban Dentists’ Perceptions of Dental Therapy: Is it a Solution for Rural Oral Health Access Issues?
  Presented by Schroeder, S. on May 11, 2017 at the National Rural Health Association’s Annual Rural Health Conference, San Diego, California
• Pediatric Oral Health in North Dakota
  Presented by Schroeder, S. on Feb 16, 2017 at the North Dakota Department of Oral Health, Webinar