(from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) 

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced in June nearly $156 million in funding to support 420 health centers in 47 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to increase access to integrated oral health care services and improve oral health outcomes.

Seven Tennessee health centers are sharing a combined award of almost $2.5 million: Cherokee Health Systems, Christ Community Health Services, Hope Family Health Services, Neighborhood Health, Three Rivers Community Health Group, Tri-State Community Health Center and Upper Cumberland Primary Care Project.

This funding enables health centers to expand integrated oral health care services and increase the number of patients served. With these awards from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), health centers across the country will increase their oral health service capacity by hiring approximately 1,600 new dentists, dental hygienists, assistants, aides, and technicians to treat nearly 785,000 new patients.

“Oral health is an important part of our overall physical health and well-being,” said Secretary Burwell. “The funding we are awarding will reduce barriers to quality dental care for hundreds of thousands of Americans by bringing new oral health providers to health centers across the country.”

Oral health problems can be a sign of illness elsewhere in the body. Additionally, lack of access to preventive and routine dental care for underserved populations can result in dental conditions requiring more costly emergency dental treatment.

“HRSA will continue to explore ways to further integrate oral health services within primary care settings, and increase awareness of the connection between oral health and overall health,” said HRSA Acting Administrator Jim Macrae.

Today, nearly 1,400 health centers operate approximately 9,800 service delivery sites in every U.S. state, D.C., Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the Pacific Basin. These health centers employ more than 170,000 staff who provide care for nearly 23 million patients. In 2014, health centers employed more than 3,700 dentists, more than 1,600 dental hygienists, and more than 7,400 dental assistants, technicians and aides. They served about 4.7 million dental patients and provided nearly 12 million oral health visits.

To view the list of the awardees, visit: http://bphc.hrsa.gov/programopportunities/fundingopportunities/oralhealth/fy16awards.html