Dental Champions - Oral Health Kansas

11/20/2025

On October 31, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced new restrictions on fluoride supplements. The announcement states that fluoride supplements should not be used for children under age three and only used for children over age three who are at high risk for tooth decay. In May the FDA signaled they may ban fluoride supplements altogether, so this announcement is a better outcome than many in the oral health community feared it would be. Nonetheless, the new restrictions signal new risks to the oral health of people living in communities that do not have access to optimally fluoridated water.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) issued a statement that they along with the American Dental Association and American Academy of Pediatrics affirm “that the use of fluoride in prevention of caries is safe and effective.” In their statement, the AAPD said, “We strongly support fluoride supplementation as a method to prevent caries, particularly in communities without fluoridated water and for all children with high caries risk.” In the AAPD’s statement there are links to several useful resources on best practices for the use of fluoride.
https://www.aapd.org/statement-on-recent-fda-announcement-to-fluoride-supplements/

People living in communities like Wichita, which is the largest city in the state that is not optimally fluoridated, have relied on fluoride supplements for decades as the best way to ensure children grow up with strong teeth. Oral Health Kansas shares in our national partners’ concerns about limitations on access to fluoride. We will continue to monitor the situation and share resources from our national partners as they become available.

Our partners at the Oral Health Progress and Equity Network (OPEN) host monthly calls about fluoride and community water fluoridation. The next meeting is on December 3 at 2 pm CT. Anyone is welcome to participate. Register here to attend: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/329BBVmJSv2I-M-SZ1RIOQ

11/19/2025

11/17/2025

The Excellence in Oral Health Award Winners were honored during the luncheon at the 2025 Conference on Oral Health on Friday, November 7. These individuals have shown exceptional commitment to advancing oral health in our communities.

Congratulations to our winners!



1st picture:
2025 Outstanding Volunteer: Melanie Jacobs Advocate, Community activist

2nd picture:
2025 Outstanding Community Leader- Deb Pochop
CEO, Northwest Smile Center

3rd picture:
Bob Bethell Award for Outstanding Policy Maker: Dr. Allen Reavis, Dentist and Legislative Representative

11/13/2025

The 2025 Conference on Oral Health was almost a week ago! Unbelievable! We are still feeling energized from it and already working on next steps for 2026 plans!

Check out some of the pictures from our day. More to come! If you attended and took some pics, please share them with us on Facebook or send them to info@oralhealthkansas.org. Also, if you attended the conference, watch for some emails from us!

11/09/2025

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on October 31 its recommendation that ingestible fluoride drug products should not be given to children under age three or any child at low or moderate risk for tooth decay despite the effectiveness fluoride supplements have shown to be effective. In a recent statement from the American Dental Association states:
“The research shows that daily use of fluoride tablets or drops at home are a safe and effective way to strengthen teeth and prevent cavities in children who are at high risk for tooth decay and whose water is deficient in fluoride,” said Richard J. Rosato, D.M.D., president of the American Dental Association. “A doctor’s clinical judgment, not a new warning label, should remain the guiding factor in determining appropriate fluoride use for children, ensuring both safety and access to essential oral health care.”

Fluoride supplements have been shown to be effective at reducing tooth decay and are one method for maintaining oral health when utilized daily in compliance with the proper dose. The first step before taking supplements is to determine the fluoride content in the drinking water (well or water system). Families in cities like Wichita that are not optimally fluoridated have long relied on fluoride supplements to keep their children’s teeth strong and healthy. This policy change could put children’s dental health at risk.

Oral health advocates from across the country are responding to the recommendations.

You can read the American Pediatric Dentistry’s response here: https://www.aapd.org/statement-on-recent-fda-announcement-to-fluoride-supplements/?mccid=f37c09cb83&mc_eid=3de0fb2a18

American Fluoridation Society’s response here:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fda-is-placing-unnecessary-restrictions-on-fluoride-supplements-says-american-fluoridation-society-302604432.html

American Dental Association’s full response statement here: https://www.ada.org/about/press-releases/fluoride-supplements-for-children-3-and-younger

11/08/2025

Last week we introduced the new Consumer Toolkit for Recruiting Dentists. This is a practical guide designed for community members, advocates, and caregivers who want to make a difference. It’s a way to help you talk to your dentists or dentists in your community.
The toolkit gives you everything you need to start the conversation:
• Fact sheets you can share with local dental offices.
• Sample emails, texts, and talking points for reaching out to dentists in your area.
• Social media posts and graphics to raise awareness and inspire action.
• Information about recent Medicaid improvements, including higher reimbursement rates and expanded adult coverage.
• Resources for dentists, such as provider enrollment links and helpful advice on provider enrollment, disability care training, and My Dental Care Passport to support inclusive care.

You don’t need to be an expert to make a difference. Every email, call, and social post helps show Kansas dentists that their participation in Medicaid truly matters—and that our communities are ready to support them.

When more dentists open their doors to Medicaid patients, families get the preventive care they deserve, and individuals with disabilities can maintain their oral and overall health with dignity and confidence.

Visit the Pathways to Oral Health website for more resources.
https://pathwaystooralhealth.org/

11/07/2025

Last week Oral Health Kansas’ MaryAnne Lynch Small and Tanya Dorf Brunner had the opportunity to share an introduction to advocacy to 140 dental and dental hygiene students from the UMKC School of Dentistry. The students in the public health classes learned about interpersonal, community, and legislative advocacy. Tammy Vicin and her brother Jim Woods joined the students to share their story about advocating with managed care organizations and legislators to ensure Jim has the care he needs. Oral Health Kansas lobbyist Mallory Lutz described some of the best ways to engage with policymakers. Along the way, the students learned how valuable dental professionals are as oral health advocates and experts in their communities.

Students brainstormed the barriers people face in accessing dental care. This word cloud shows their insight is keen. This class of students is learning a lot and will be ready to advocate for their communities and ensure their future patients and neighbors have every opportunity to maintain good oral health.

11/06/2025

Rick Guidotti is the Keynote Speaker for the 2025 Conference on Oral Health which is coming up on Friday, November 7. Rick will be coming to Kansas from New York City! We’re so grateful he’s coming to share his time with us and conference participants! Rick is an award-winning photographer who worked in New York City, Milan, Paris and London for a variety of high profile clients including Yves St Laurent, Revlon and L’Oreal. Rick founded Positive Exposure after a chance encounter in 1997 with a young lady living with albinism at a bus stop in New York City, was taken back by her beauty and asked if he could photograph her.

Here is a glimpse of Rick’s work. He photographed individuals with disabilities and their families while they shared some of their struggles accessing health care services and dental care.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPHnYWpIPNY

11/05/2025

With just days away, the 2025 Conference on Oral Health will be making a debut! This year has been impactful in Kansas and nationally, so we’re ready to show you what has kept us so busy and all the partnerships we have created along the way. We hope you find the topics captivating!

New this year! We’re providing three breakout sessions to allow you to choose a topic that you want to learn more about. But you can only choose one! (Please note: Our previous planned session, Dental Care for Veterans, has been canceled).

Breakout Sessions in the afternoon: Community Approaches to Meeting Community Needs
• Expanding Impact: How Dental Hygienists can Lead Community Outreach
Kylie Austin, RDH MS ECP-III, UMKC School of Dentistry; Tammi Engel, RDH, ECP-III, Northwest Smile Center; Kathy Hunt, RDH, ECP-II, Oral Health Kansas
• Dental Care for Individuals with Disabilities: Behavioral Strategies to Improve Patient Experience and Cooperation
Christie Stiehl, BCBA, Stiehl Behavioral Consulting, LLC; MaryAnne Lynch Small, MPH, BDS, Oral Health Kansas
• Integrating Dental Care into Medical Care
Celeste Carpenter, RDH BS ECP III, Swope Health; Shawn Oprisiu, RDH, BS ECP III, Swope Health; Julie Thiesen, RDH BS ECP III, Swope Health, Abigail Richwine, RDH, BS, Oral Health Kansas

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐊𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐬
Stuart Little, PhD, Little Government Relations; Rep. Allen Reavis, DDS, Tanya Dorf Brunner, MS, Oral Health Kansas

𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐎𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡: 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬
Jaqueline Belden, MLS, KU Center for Telemedicine & Telehealth University of Kansas Medical Center

𝐅𝐥𝐮𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐊𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐬: 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬, 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭
Melissa Burroughs, BA, CareQuest Institute for Oral Health

𝐊𝐄𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄: 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐨’𝐯𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐦𝐚
Trina Morgan, BEd, MOL, Kansas Children’s Service League

𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡: 𝐀 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞
Tim Kolling, Compass Marketing & Advertising Partners, Oral Health Kansas Staff and Pathways Partners

When: Friday, November 7
Breakfast and registration begin at 7:30am CST. Sessions begin at 8:30am CST.

Where: Virtual or in person at KU Edwards Campus (BEST Conference Room), 12600 S Quivira Rd, Overland Park

The opportunity to earn 𝟓.𝟕𝟓 𝐂𝐄’𝐬 is available!
YES! You can still register. Register at this link and find out more information about the conference.

11/04/2025

It's not too late to register for the 2025 Conference on Oral Health. We have people still signing up!

Our hybrid 2025 Conference on Oral Health will be Friday, November 7 at the KU Edwards Campus, 12600 S Quivira Rd, Overland Park.

https://www.oralhealthkansas.org/Conference.html

11/03/2025

Oral Health Kansas submitted several proposals for 2026 National Oral Health Conference presentations, and they all were accepted! The National Oral Health Conference® (NOHC) is the leading annual event for anyone interested in learning, networking, and advancing dental public health. The conference is in Oklahoma City April 13-15, 2-26. We’re excited to share our work with colleagues from all over the country.

• “Using Storytelling to Inspire Communities and Expand Care” is a 90-minute panel about our marketing and messaging campaigns in the Pathways to Oral Health initiative. Tara Dimick from Compass Marketing and Melanie Jacobs from our Lived Experience Advisory Group will join staff on the panel.
• “Confidence in Every Smile – Tools and Training for Oral Hygiene Support” is a 90-minute panel about our new video training series for people with disabilities and caregivers. Our colleagues from Kansas Neurological Institute who are implementing the caregiver training program will join staff on the panel.
• “Elevating Voices, Driving Change, Building National Impact” is a 90-minute panel proposed by American Network of Oral Health Coalition (ANOHC) that will tell the story of national investment in oral health coalitions.
• “Small Steps, Big Impact: Practical Oral Health Projects in a Time of Limited Resources” is a 90-minute panel proposed by ANOHC that will feature several states’ creative and low-cost approaches to creating educational programs. Staff will serve on the panel.

Learn more about the conference by visiting their website.
https://nohc2026.eventscribe.net/

11/02/2025

The Shawnee County Oral Health Coalition took advantage of parent teacher conference and trunk or treat events this month to reach families about Brush Book Bed and the importance of brushing teeth and flossing every day! The first day, Shawnee County Oral Health Coalition chair, Kate Hamilton, visited with families as they visited Sheldon Head Start for parent teacher conferences. She was able to reach about 200 Head Start children and siblings.

She, along with two amazing volunteers, also attended a Trick or Treat on the Trail at Pine Ridge. There they met with families and reached a little over 100 children! Kate found out that families were interested in learning about oral health and listened when she talked about the best way to keep brushing routines every night. This is exactly what we want parents to hear!

Thank you to Delta Dental of Kansas for providing Smile Kits for us to provide for families.

If you're interested in learning more about the Shawnee County Oral Health Coalition, email us at info@oralhealthkansas.org.