Data and Surveillance
Income disparities found in pregnancy-related dental care
Data from the Minnesota Department of Health’s Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) found that only 63% of women reported getting a dental cleaning in the 12-months before their pregnancy.
 Additionally, only half of pregnant women reported having a dental cleaning completed during their most recent pregnancy. PRAMS data shows an income disparity. Women in higher income brackets (>185% poverty level) were twice as likely to report receiving a dental cleaning before and during their pregnancy than women in lower income brackets (0-185% poverty level).
 Most survey respondents (85%) said they had insurance to cover their dental care during pregnancy, including those on Minnesota Health Care Programs (see expanded dental services for pregnant mothers). Most respondents (90%) also reported knowing that it is important to care for their teeth and gums during pregnancy. However, PRAMS data show that dental and health care workers were less likely to talk to lower-income mothers (0-185% poverty level) about how to care for their teeth and gums, than higher-income mothers (>185% poverty level).
Our Efforts
Strategic Alignment with the Minnesota State Oral Health Plan 2020 -2030
The Minnesota State Oral Health Plan promotes health system integration as one of the strategies to promote oral health during pregnancy. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Oral Health Program has convened a Maternal and Child Health Community of Practice to brainstorm oral health initiatives for pregnant people and their partners. Various MDH programs participate in this workgroup and provide recommendations about integrating oral health into the maternal child health settings. Furthermore, the MDH Oral Health Program utilizes a Training of Trainer model (TOT) to build the capacity of medical, dental, and allied health professionals to assess, assist and advise pregnant people about oral health and connect them with dental clinics for follow-up.
Evaluation
The MDH Oral Health Program has been conducting several evaluations to understand the needs of maternal child health frontline workers. There is a plan to conduct group discussions and interviews with the key MDH programs and community partners. The overarching goal is to connect with statewide partners and develop a metric to measure overall progress. Success stories are an essential dimension of our evaluation efforts. MDH Oral Health Program welcomes your "success story" as a part of the statewide evaluation to integrate oral health into prenatal settings.
Success Story
CDC Public Health Associate matches with Oral Health Program
Shelby Duessel is a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Public Health Associate. Ms. Duessel is assigned to support the prevention activities for Healthy Teeth. Healthy Baby. Program for two years.
Healthy Teeth. Healthy Baby.is a community-centered initiative based on the notion that prevention of early dental disease starts during pregnancy and is most effective in the first three years of life. The initiative provides resources and education to pregnant women, expecting/new parents, and caregivers of children up to the age of three. The campaign is geared toward communities of color and recent immigrants and is part of the larger statewide Early Dental Disease Prevention Initiative (EDDPI), which legislators called for in 2015.
Moving north from Saint Louis, Missouri, Ms. Duessel adapted quickly to the asks of the community representatives and the cold reality of a "Minnesota winter"! She has convened a Maternal and Child Health Community of Practice to bring together MDH partners and community representatives serving pregnant people, new mothers, infants, and toddlers. This is a unique space to discuss the needs and strategies to improve maternal and child oral health. Looking forward, Ms. Duessel hopes to support the MDH Oral Health Program's infrastructure and capacity to strengthen the Healthy Teeth. Healthy Baby. program.
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Oral Health Champion
This section highlights public health partners who have contributed towards oral health promotion.
Megan Udoeyop
MN PRAMS Coordinator and Research Analyst Specialist
For Megan Udoeyop, making a meaningful impact on maternal and child health in vulnerable communities and populations, and using data to uncover disparities and inform policies is a lifelong goal. This was her motivation for pursuing a degree in public health. She graduated with a Master of Public Health degree in Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology, and a Global Health Certificate from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Outside of work, Megan enjoys knitting, scrapbooking, trying new recipes, traveling, and fishing.
Megan is the MN PRAMS Coordinator and Research Analysis Specialist. The Minnesota Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (MN PRAMS) is an ongoing, population-based surveillance system between MDH and CDC and is the ONLY surveillance system focused on collecting data on maternal behaviors and experiences before, during, and shortly after pregnancy.
MN PRAMS Championing Improved oral Health
MN PRAMS recently implemented a new Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) supplemental questionnaire to gain a deeper understanding of the factors that affect the immediate and long-term health of birthing persons and their infants in Minnesota.
In appreciation for completing the supplement, participants receive an additional reward- a $10 Visa gift card and an oral health kit geared towards the birthing person-child duo, through our partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health’s Oral Health program. Providing the oral health kits as a reward for MN PRAMS participants helps us support and promote oral health.
Recognizing the value of MN PRAMS data in understanding the oral health needs of pregnant persons is vital in efforts to monitor progress toward improving the oral health of all Minnesotans.
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News and Updates
New Funding for Aging and Oral Health
MDH Oral Health Program received four-year funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The purpose of this grant is to strengthen and enhance Minnesota's geriatric oral health workforce infrastructure by developing innovative programs that adapt and implement the Age-Friendly Health System's (AFHS) 4M Framework in oral health settings. The proposed approaches are informed by national and state guidelines. The need for adequate integrated geriatric care within the underserved populations in rural Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (Dental HPSAs) is severe. Through this grant, MDH explores a broad framework for oral health system reform using innovative workforce models to address the national priority of developing healthcare workforce that maximizes patient and family engagement and combines geriatrics oral health and primary care, specifically in rural Dental HPSAs.
We sincerely thank our partners who have supported us along the way to make this possible. We could not have made it without their support and partnership in this grant, and for that we are extremely grateful!
SEAL Minnesota Funding Opportunity
SEAL Minnesota is a statewide and coordinated school sealant program (SSP) for protecting, maintaining, and improving the oral health of all Minnesota children. MDH is currently accepting applications to put into action local SSPs that reduce oral disease and improve oral health. The purpose of this Request for Funding Proposal (RFP) is to increase dental sealant prevalence and reduce marked disparities in caries rates among children. Traditional dental partners as well as public health programs are eligible to apply.
Water Works Institute
MDH Oral Health and Drinking Water Protection Programs helped K through 12 teachers learn about drinking water and the importance of fluoride in preventing dental decay among children. The Water Works Institute was held in Red Wing from August 1 through August 3.
The American Institute of Dental Public Health Leadership Academy (AIDPH)
Dr. Prasida Khanal, State Oral Health Director, was competitively selected to participate in the AIDPH Leadership Academy for a period of 12 months. Through participation in this academy, Dr. Khanal will connect with national leaders and gain a solid foundation in dental and broader public health policy, and related advocacy. The knowledge gained through this training will help MDH Oral Health Program promote holistic oral health that serves as the umbrella to clinical dentistry and recognize an integrated, comprehensive approach to health and well-being.
Brushing for Two – An Innovative Strategy to Address Oral Health Equity for Pregnant People
“Brushing for Two” promotes optimal oral health during pregnancy. This innovative health equity project was competitively selected for funding by the MDH Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Division. The Oral Health program will be collaborating with the MDH Positive Alternatives Program to provide oral health education and resources to pregnant people lacking dental coverage. Two grantees will be selected for a pilot program in which a Maternal Child Health Worker will be contracted to educate, provide outreach, recruit pregnant people for focus groups, and facilitate the process of establishing dental homes for pregnant people.
Resources
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