NC Oral Health Collaborative

07/31/2026

Blog Post: North Carolina Community College System - Investing in the Future of Dental Workforce

This month, we met with Melissa Smith, Senior State Director of Health Science Programs at the NC Community College System Office, to discuss how the North Carolina Community College System has committed to investing in programs that will address workforce shortages in underserved communities.

Read the full post here: https://buff.ly/Br4sdaq

07/22/2026

On July 7th, our very own Crystal Adams, Program Director, North Carolina Oral Health Collaborative, participated in an advocacy panel discussion at High Point University's Workman School of Dental Medicine. Panel experts provided real-life experiences and best practices in advocating for optimal health outcomes in North Carolina. The panel also included Betsy White, Chief Operating Officer at Access Dental Care and Dr. Tameko Sowell, Chief Dental Officer at Kintegra Health. The panel was moderated by Jamie Burgess-Flowers, Assistant Professor and Director of Integrated and Applied Behavioral Sciences at the Workman School of Dental Medicine.

Following the panel, students were dismissed into breakout sessions for more intimate discussions with panelists, who provided guidance and feedback on their advocacy projects. Kudos Crystal!

07/20/2026

🏔️ Heading to the mountains this August?

The Division of Public Health Oral Health Section is hosting its 2026 Conference on August 5 & 6 at MAHEC in Asheville, and it's a must-attend for anyone in the dental and public health space.

It’s a packed two days featuring critical discussions on:

-Inclusive care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

-Minimally invasive care using Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF).

-Specialized updates on prenatal exposures, community water fluoridation, and orofacial myofunctional therapy.

If you're looking to connect with peers across the state and enjoy a brief escape to the mountains, definitely check this one out!

👉 Learn more and register here: https://buff.ly/PRIFaDS

05/13/2026

Don’t miss your chance for the RHIP-TIDES Pediatric Mini-Residency! Registration closes Friday, May 15.

This program, through the Medical University of South Carolina James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine, is designed to strengthen care for children ages 0–5 in rural and underserved communities through:
• Hands-on pediatric simulation labs
• Training in clinical techniques and practice operations
• Strategies to expand access to care
• Opportunities for dental teams to learn together

Participants will gain practical experience in procedures including stainless steel crowns, pulp therapy, trauma management, and space maintenance.

📍 June 11–13 | Charleston, SC
📍 CE credits available
📍 Registration fees: $1,500 for dentists and $500 for dental hygienists and assistants

Learn more and register: https://buff.ly/PGv3x59

Explore the continuing education program of rural health dentistry at the MUSC College of Dental Medicine.

04/23/2026

Oral Health is Health!

On the first day of the legislative session, we gathered in Raleigh in support of increased Medicaid reimbursement rates for dental services.

Thank you to our speakers:
• Senator Gale Adcock (D-16)
• Senator Jim Burgin (R-12)
• Senator Kevin Corbin (R-50)
• Crystal Adams, Director of NCOHC, part of Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation
• Dr. Shelley Olson, President of North Carolina Dental Society
• Dr. Frank Courts, Pediatric Dentist and Children’s Oral Health Advocate
• Kristen Jarrell, Alexander County resident and licensed foster parent in Wilkes County
• Neil Harrington, Senior Director of Policy and Research at NC Child

Thank you for all who attended for your presence and support at this event. Want to help even more? Contact your state legislators and ask them to support this bill!

04/20/2026

State-level advocacy has never been more important.

At the National Oral Health Conference last week, the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health and American Network of Oral Health Coalitions hosted a panel discussion to examine the essential role of state coalitions in advancing systems change amid growing pressures. These coalitions are increasingly on the front lines of protecting hard-won progress in oral health.

Crystal Adams, Director of the NC Oral Health Collaborative, and Mary Backley, CEO of the Maryland Dental Action Coalition, spoke about recent state-level policy successes and discussed how a unified advocacy approach can lead to lasting change.

We all learned how collective action can help us go farther together than alone!

04/17/2026

📢 NCOHC is coordinating a Press Conference!

Next Tuesday (April 21) at 10am, we will gather in Raleigh to discuss a proposed bill, “Increase the Medicaid Reimbursement Rate for Dental Services.”

The bill is sponsored by Senator Gale Adcock, with Senators Jim Burgin and Kevin Corbin serving as co-sponsors, reflecting strong bipartisan support for improving access to oral health care in North Carolina.

This legislation represents an important opportunity to address longstanding barriers to care by increasing Medicaid dental reimbursement rates—an essential step toward expanding provider participation and improving access for patients across the state.

📢 WHAT: Press Conference Announcing Proposed Legislation
📅 WHEN: Tuesday, April 21, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.
📍 WHERE: North Carolina Legislative Building, Press Room (Room 1328), Raleigh
🎙️ WHO: Sen. Gale Adcock (Bill Sponsor), Sen. Kevin Corbin (Co-Sponsor); NCOHC; NC Dental Society; oral health providers and advocates

We would greatly value your presence and support at this event.

by Ethan Chupp | Apr 17, 2026

04/15/2026

How can we make Oral Health better in North Carolina? Last week, our Collaborative Acceleration Team met in Raleigh to give us a clear direction.

At the new building of the NC Department of Health and Human Services, we discussed:

• Our recent organizational successes, and plans for sustaining our work in the future
• Our new National and State Collaborations, including with the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA), and NC Center on the Workforce for Health
• Our 2026 legislative priorities, including revisions to the practice rules for dental hygienists and an increase in Medicaid reimbursement

In the next year, NCOHC is committed to grounding our work in partner input, creative problem solving, and an unwavering commitment to improving oral health care across the state of North Carolina.

Thank you to all who joined us and contributed your time and experience!

04/13/2026

Last week, NCOHC, visited the General Assembly to advocate for oral health care.

We spoke to State Senators and Representatives about our mission to support safety net dental clinics across the state. We hope for bipartisan support for our initiatives to strengthen the oral health system.

FHLI’s NCOHC remains committed to fighting for our vision, that all North Carolinians deserve access quality oral health care.

04/10/2026

Think you understand The Strain on North Carolina’s Dental Workforce?

You’ll learn even more about it in our newest blog post!

In our series exploring the oral health workforce in North Carolina, we spoke with Dr. Alex Green, Chief Dental Officer of Appalachian Mountain Health. We discussed Federally Qualified Health Centers and their role in improving the oral health system, especially in rural areas.