Data, Policy, & Advocacy
Monitoring dental care access and oral health status data is important to the people of South Carolina, to public and private oral and primary health care providers, to government agencies, and those working in oral health prevention. The South Carolina Oral Health Program’s Oral Health Surveillance System is dedicated to:
- Reporting annual oral health workforce data.
- Conducting, and reporting the results of, oral health basic screening surveys among specific subpopulations of the state.
- Reporting annual oral health data provided through Medicaid.
- Annually updating and tracking public-use data on oral health.
Connecting to the State Oral Health Plan
It’s important to point out that the South Carolina Oral Health Action Network is fully aligned with the priorities outlined in the State Oral Health Plan 2022-2026. These priorities include strengthening the state’s oral health infrastructure at all levels, ensuring access to affordable, culturally sensitive care that meets individual needs, integrating evidence-based oral health policies into targeted public health initiatives, and expanding the oral health competencies of healthcare professionals with a focus on community-based workers. By prioritizing these initiatives, the South Carolina Oral Health Action Network is making a significant impact in improving the quality of life for populations that are disproportionately affected by oral disease.
The Statewide Oral Health Needs Assessment: Every Smile Counts
The South Carolina Statewide Oral Health Needs Assessment is a recurring initiative that aims to provide an overview of the state’s oral health needs and successes. The assessment is conducted every five years and serves to inform the planning and evaluation of future oral health programs. As part of the assessment, a visual dental evaluation is conducted for kindergarten and third-grade students in selected schools across the state. It should be noted that this screening does not serve as a replacement for regular check-ups by a family dentist or any dental services provided by schools.
Phase One, which took place between October and December 2022, covered the Midlands and Upstate regions, while Phase Two was conducted in the Pee Dee and Lowcountry regions between January and March 2023. Data collection for the assessment was completed during the fall of 2023, and the data is currently being prepared for statewide dissemination.
Other Data Sources
South Carolina Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) – The YRBS has been conducted in South Carolina high schools every other year since 1991, and in middle schools since 2005. Conducted in the spring of odd-numbered years by the SC Department of Education, the surveys are part of a national effort to monitor priority health risk behaviors that contribute markedly to the leading causes of death, disability, and social problems among youth in South Carolina.
S.C. Vital Records Data and Statistics – South Carolina births, fetal deaths, infant mortality, pregnancy, and PRAMS data
South Carolina Central Cancer Registry (SCCCR) – The SCCCR is a population-based data system that collects cancer incidence (newly diagnosed cases) and cancer mortality (deaths) in South Carolina. Data in a central cancer registry are used to study trends in how often cancers occur in a defined area, changes in diagnosis and treatment patterns, and patients’ survival rates. SCCCR collects information for oral cancers.