The Weekly Wednesday Update is our newsletter which we email every Wednesday with oral health, health and policy updates from around the state and nationally.

To view past issues click here.

 

March 11, 2026
Volume 17, Issue 10

 

 

Kansas Brings Perspectives to Missouri Oral Health Conference

Pathways to Oral Health Project Coordinator, Monica Turner, was on a panel about Access to Care for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) at the Missouri Coalition for Oral Health Policy Conference on March 6 in Jefferson City, Missouri. She shared how Kansas is utilizing the Dental Medicaid Facilitator model to expand access to care for individuals with disabilities. She also highlighted the impactful work Oral Health Kansas is doing through the Pathways to Oral Health initiative and the partners who have helped us improve the project and make meaningful strides for Kansas.

 

 

Confidence in Every Smile Campaign Receives Mosaic Award

Still fresh on our minds as if it was yesterday, on February 21 during the American Advertising Awards in Topeka, Oral Health Kansas and Pathways to Oral Health Project partners, Compass Marketing and Advertising Partners, and Jeff Carson were honored to receive the Mosaic Award from the American Advertising Federation, Topeka Chapter for the Confidence in Every Smile campaign. 

Presented during the annual American Advertising Awards ceremony, the Mosaic Award recognizes work that reflects the powerful intersection of creativity, culture, and inclusion. It celebrates campaigns that use storytelling and advertising to elevate diverse voices and strengthen communities. 

Graphic designer Karen Watson of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library presented the award, sharing thoughtful remarks about the role creative work plays in shaping conversations and building a more inclusive world. 

“Advertising doesn’t just sell products,” Watson said during the ceremony. “It shapes perceptions, creates conversations, and influences how we see one another.” 

Read the full story here.

 

 

Get To Know Your Managed Care Organization

During the Making Medicaid Work For Your Webinar Series, each of the Kansas managed care organizations shared about their company and their services they provide through KanCare (Medicaid). Sunflower Health Plan, Healthy Blue, and United Healthcare shared how their dental services in the program work. This is a helpful webinar to not only learn about each of them but also to hear how the systems work. The webinar is recorded and only 30 minutes. Watch it here.

 

 

Women's Health Month

National Women's Health Month is celebrated in March and is a time to highlight the unique health needs of women, including oral health, which is closely connected to overall health and well-being. Hormonal changes throughout a woman’s life can affect oral health in important ways. During pregnancy shifts in hormones can increase the risk of gum inflammation, bleeding gums, and other oral health concerns. Conditions such as pregnancy gingivitis are common, making regular dental care especially important during pregnancy.

Taking care of your mouth while you are pregnant is important for you and your baby. Oral health is essential to a healthy pregnancy and overall health. Infections in the mouth can spread to other parts of your body. It is safe to have dental care while you are pregnant. Do not wait until after your baby is born. Below are some tips for taking care of your teeth and Pregnancy and Dental Care Tips and Tricks from Oral Health Kansas will provide information on how to take care of your teeth while pregnant.

• Scheduling regular dental checkups and cleanings.
• Practicing daily brushing and flossing.
• Discussing oral health changes with healthcare providers, especially during pregnancy.
• Eating healthy foods for you and your baby.

 

 

How to Talk to Your Dentist about Medicaid

Does your dentist accept Medicaid (KanCare)? If so, that’s great! However, fewer than 1 in 4 dentists in the state accept Medicaid, and 44 counties currently have no Medicaid dental provider at all. Long drives and limited options put even basic dental care out of reach for many families. The shortage of providers touches every part of the state.

To help change that, Oral Health Kansas and Pathways to Oral Health initiative have developed a Consumer Toolkit for Recruiting Dentist. This is a simple, practical guide designed for community members, advocates, and caregivers who want to make a difference. Together, we can close the gap in dental access by one conversation at a time.

Explore the toolkit in English and now also available in Spanish thanks to our friends at Families Together, Inc. for translating it to Spanish.

 

 

Upcoming Events

• Course: An Introduction to Value-Based Care in Oral Health: Moving from Volume to Value, 1 CE. Click here for the course information.
• Self paced courses: Providing Oral Health Care to Autistic Individuals and Caring for Individuals with Disabilities: Practical Considerations for Dental Providers.
• Dental Clinic Leadership Conference co-hosted by Community Care Network of Kansas and the Health Center Association of Nebraska on April 9 - April 10 in Manhattan. Learn more here.
• Save the date! The 2026 Conference on Oral Health will be Friday, November 13.

 

 

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Join us in welcoming two new Oral Health Kansas Board Members, Jill Jenkins, DDS and Shane Lewis. Dr. Jenkins has her own dental practice, Jenkins Dentistry for Kids and Shane Lewis is an advocate with the Self Advocate Coalition of Kansas (SACK). Their expertise and fresh perspectives will help strengthen our work and support the organization as we continue advancing our mission.

 

 

Sugary Drink Display

We have Adult and Children's Sugary Drink Display's available for reservations. These displays are eye catching at exhibits, schools, library, dental offices, clinics and just about anywhere you see them! We only have a limited amount so please sign up soon if you're interested in reserving one. Click here to learn more about sugary drink display reservations!