Rhode Island Oral Health Access Project
Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and administered by the Center for Health Care Strategies, the Rhode Island Oral Health Access Project is a partnership between the Rhode Island Department of Human Services, The Rhode Island Foundation, and Rhode Island KIDS COUNT.  A three year project, the purpose is to increase access to primary and preventive dental services for children and families covered by Medicaid and for Rhode Islanders underserved for dental care.   Rhode Island is one of six states funded by the Center for Health Care Strategies State Action for Oral Health Access Grant. Click here to read more about the grant projects in other states. 

The Oral Health Access Action Grant Program is one of two major components of the project, coordinated by The Rhode Island Foundation in partnership with Rhode Island KIDS COUNT.  Performance-based grants were awarded through a competitive bid process.  Grants will focus primarily on making progress on the following three objectives of the Rhode Island Oral Health Access Project:  

• Increase the supply of pediatric dentists and dental assistants by increasing the number of graduates from training programs in the state. 
• Increase the service capacity of dental safety net providers. 
• Expand Providence Smiles, Rhode Island's school-based dental sealant program to additional school districts, in all core cities.
  
  
  Read the press release announcing the grants, which includes a list of projects funded.

List of Dental Providers that Accept Medical Assistance
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, the Department of Human Services, ACS, and EDS compiled this one-page list of dental providers that accept Medical Assistance.  Consumers are directed to use the DHS Information Line or DHS website to locate participating private dental providers.  If the consumer is unable to locate a private provider or chooses to seek care at another type of site, contact information for the community health centers that offer dental services, dental centers located in hospitals, and the dental hygiene clinic located at the community college are also provided.  See the listing here.

For more information on oral health, contact Jill (Baroni) Beckwith, Policy Analyst, at (401) 351-9400 x20

Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Releases its latest Issue Brief
October 21, 2004 - Access to Dental Care for Children in Rhode Island is Rhode Island KIDS COUNT's latest Issue Brief on the availabilty of dental care for children in Rhode Island. It was released at a policy rountable with national expert, Dr. Burton Edelstein of the Children's Dental Health Project.

CDHP Congratulates Senators on Introduction of Dental Health Bill
July 20, 2004 - The Children's Dental Health Project applauds Senator Tom Daschle (D-SD) and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) on their introduction of S.2740, the Dental Health Provider Shortage Act. Read the press release.

Legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would improve dental care for disadvantaged children
June 29, 2004 -  H.R. 4622 would provide federal financial support under Medicaid and SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program) to states that improve access to dental care and make sure that dentists are adequately reimbursed for children's dental services. Visit The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools' website for more information.

February 2004 - February is Children's Dental Health Month, which helps draw attention to the millions of children nationwide who have preventable oral health disease.  Dental disease is the most common chronic disease among children, according to the Children's Dental Health Project.  Read their press release here. 

Dental Care Legislation
Since 2001, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT has been working with Rhode Island State Senator Elizabeth Roberts and other members of the Senate Commission on Oral Health to identify ways to improve the dental health of Rhode Island's children.   The commission is made up of key parties in the effort to improve childhood dental health, including the Rhode Island Dental Association, leaders of hospital-based clinics such as St. Joseph's Hospital and Rhode Island Hospital, senior staff from the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services, dental hygienists, Delta Dental, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, and the Rhode Island Foundation.  Click here to see their findings in the November 2001 Oral Health Commission Report. 

Issue Brief on Access to Dental Care for Children in Rhode Island
Click here to read Rhode Island KIDS COUNT's Issue Brief on Dental Care, last updated May 2002. 

Oral Health America Report
In April of 2003, Oral Health America issued its annual report of the nation's oral health progress. The report explains how oral health access is necessary to improve the dental health of all Americans.  Read the report here.

Delta Dental of Rhode Island partners with Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, Neighborhood Health Plan of RI, and RI Department of Health to unveil public awareness campaign on Preventing Early Childhood Tooth Decay
April 2, 2003: In an effort to combat the devastating disease of Early Childhood Tooth Decay, Delta Dental of Rhode Island - the state's leading dental insurer - and its partners unveiled a public awareness campaign today at a press conference and public policy forum at the State House. The campaign includes newspaper and Internet ads, radio public service announcements and outdoor advertising, as well as consumer educational materials. The multi-faceted campaign focuses on the potential dangers of giving children bottles or sippy cups filled with sugary liquids at bedtime or naptime. To reach its long-term goal of eliminating Early Childhood Tooth Decay in Rhode Island, the campaign's primary outreach education sites will be neighborhood health centers, clinics and pediatric offices statewide.  In addition to raising awareness on how to prevent Early Childhood Tooth Decay, Delta Dental announced the donation of $50,000 to the St. Joseph Hospital Pediatric Dental Center, where dentists confront this disease daily.

• Read the press release.
• View the brochure Prevent Early Childhood Tooth Decay (English and Spanish).
• View the campaign poster in English.
• View the campaign poster in Spanish.
• Link to Delta Dental's website.