Although most states have collected state-specific data on oral health status and behaviors at least episodically, such efforts have not been organized into an effective system of surveillance that supports routine program planning and evaluation. During the past several years, the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have worked collaboratively to establish state-based collection of information related to oral health, including data for Healthy People oral health objectives.
This poster describes some of the approaches taken to establish new databases or to integrate oral health measures into existing systems of health surveillance. Examples include the ASTDD Screening Training Protocol, BRFSS, YRBS, ASTDD State Synopsis of Dental Public Health Programs, State Cancer Registries, Water Fluoridation Reporting System, PRAMS, Medicaid Claims data, and Orofacial cleft surveillance data. From these data sources comes the potential for a state-based, national oral health surveillance system. Although much work and many challenges remain, achieving routine state-based surveillance of oral health status that will enhance assessment of Healthy People objectives seems within reach, where state capacity and priorities permit.
Learning Objectives: 1. Describe how state-based oral health data have been collected in the past. 2. Identify collaborators in efforts to establish state-based collection of information related to oral health. 3. Describe approaches taken to integrate oral health measrues into existing systems of health surveillance
Keywords: Data Collection, Data/Surveillance
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.