VCU School of Dentistry brightens kids’ smiles at annual oral health event
Nearly 80 children from Richmond and surrounding communities smiled a little brighter thanks to VCU School of Dentistry’s annual Give Kids a Smile event on Friday, February 17, 2023. Give Kids a Smile is a national movement started by the American Dental Association encouraging oral health care providers to offer a day of free dental […]
Study measures impact of Medicaid dental coverage for Virginia’s pregnant population
In 2015, Virginia began providing comprehensive dental benefits to pregnant Medicaid enrollees in an effort to eliminate a key barrier to dental care access. In the first study of its kind, researchers from the VCU School of Dentistry and VCU School of Business analyzed survey data to shed light on the policy’s impact on pregnant women.
Increasing access to care through service learning with the Johnson Health Center
Contributed by Janna Laverdiere, D.M.D., dentist at Johnson Health Center, and Michelle McGregor, R.D.H., B.S., M.Ed., director of community and collaborative partnerships at VCU School of Dentistry Every week, two VCU School of Dentistry dental students travel to Johnson Health Center (JHC) clinics in Lynchburg, Va., to provide care under the direction of Janna Laverdiere, […]
VCU School of Dentistry receives NIH funding for collaborative research to improve children’s oral health
Shillpa Naavaal, B.D.S., M.S., M.P.H., was recently awarded two National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants aimed at reducing oral health disparities in children.
VCU researchers contribute to Virginia Health Catalyst Summit
On Friday, October 7, Virginia Health Catalyst held their annual summit at the Westin Hotel in Richmond, VA. The event brought together organizations and individuals from around the state who share a responsibility and commitment to advancing equity in oral health. The theme was “building community, improving health,” and representatives from VCU School of Dentistry […]
Heather Tuthill to be installed as new president of the Virginia Dental Hygienists’ Association
Heather Tuthill, M.P.H., B.S.D.H., R.D.H, will be installed as the 2022-2023 president of the Virginia Dental Hygienists’ Association (VDHA) later this month. Tuthill is the senior dental hygiene clinical coordinator for the Dental Hygiene program at VCU School of Dentistry.
Wise MoM event showcases service at the heart of VCU School of Dentistry
After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, Missions of Mercy (MoM) returned to Wise, Va., on July 22 and 23 to provide free dental care to residents of Southwest Virginia. Over two days, more than 300 volunteers served 322 patients, providing free oral health care valued at more than $400,000. Dozens of VCU School of […]
VCU Dental Care serves underinsured families at annual Give Kids a Smile event
On Friday, Feb. 18, 76 children from local families received free oral health care at the VCU Dental Care Pediatric Dentistry Clinic. Part of the American Dental Association’s Give Kids a Smile initiative, each year students, faculty and staff from VCU School of Dentistry and VCU Dental Care come together to provide oral health care […]
Together again changing lives, one smile at a time
This article is reprinted with permission from The Virginia Home’s fall newsletter. Jeffrey Levin, D.D.S., began volunteering with The Home in the spring of 2021. Dr. Levin owned a prominent private dental office in the West End of Richmond and retired earlier this year. Serving as a clinical professor at the Virginia Commonwealth University School […]
Study: Many Medicaid-enrolled women in Virginia weren’t aware of dental pregnancy benefits
Though Virginia enacted comprehensive dental care coverage for pregnant women enrolled in Medicaid in March 2015, a significant portion of this population remained unaware of the benefit even years later, according to a study by researchers at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry. Recently published in the Journal of Women’s Health, a survey of […]