Small Towns, Big Gaps: The State of Rural Oral Health

Rural communities across the U.S. face persistent barriers to dental care — from provider shortages to transportation and insurance gaps — that leave children and families at higher risk for untreated dental disease. This webinar opens with an overview of state of oral health in rural America, presented by pediatric dentist Dr. Erica Caffrey, who will also share recent updates on the oral health plans that some states have incorporated into as part of the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program. Dr. Jessica Meeske, a pediatric dentist and practice owner in rural Nebraska, will share how she restructured her team's workflow and built state-level partnerships to expand access to dental care for children across her region. Her story offers a practical, real-world roadmap for other providers looking to grow their reach in underserved areas, and a glimpse at how important it is to find partnerships across the health, education, and social sectors. Dr. Erica Caffrey is a pediatric dentist and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, where her clinical and research work centers on medically complex and vulnerable patients. She trains pediatric dental residents to see oral health within a child's overall well-being and champions medical-dental collaboration. A graduate of Columbia University who completed residency at Children's National Hospital, she chairs AAPD's Council on Clinical Affairs and serves in leadership roles with the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Oral Health and the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Jessica Meeske is a board-certified pediatric dentist and senior partner of Pediatric Dental Specialists of Greater Nebraska. She was awarded a Rural Health Transformation Program grant from the state for creating dental homes for children birth to age 3 in rural Nebraska and reducing the number of kids that require dental treatment under general anesthesia. By registering for this class, you are agreeing to the NNLM Code of Conduct This NNLM webinar is being presented in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) and offers AAPD CE. AAPD is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to ADA CERP at www.ada.org/cerp.