The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer.
Oral Health Epidemiology
Roles and Responsibilities of the Oral Health Epidemiologist
The MDHHS Oral Health Epidemiologist provides support to the MDHHS Bureau of Epidemiology and Population Health and the MDHHS Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Control on all epidemiologic matters concerning oral health. This includes data management, surveillance, epidemiologic study design and planning, statistical analysis, policy and program development, program evaluation, technical expertise, and training.
The epidemiologist plays a key role in developing, coordinating and maintaining the Michigan oral health surveillance system by monitoring oral disease, access to oral health care, special populations that experience higher rates of oral disease, and the capacity of the oral health workforce to provide care to both special populations and the general population.
Fact Sheets and Surveillance Briefs
- Oral Health of Third-Grade Children That Participated in Michigan’s Oral Health Survey, 2021-2022 (Oral Health Data Brief, April 2023)
- Oral Cancer Burden and Prevention in Michigan (Surveillance Brief, November 2022)
- Michigan Oral Health Care: Age One Dental Visits (January 2021)
- Maternal Intentions for Infant Dental Visits – Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) – Michigan, 2016-2018
- Fluoridation Rates by Michigan County, 2018
- The Oral Health of Michigan’s 3-5 Year Old Head Start Children Compared to 3-5 Year Old Children in the General U.S. Population, 2017-2018 (MI Head Start Smiles Data Brief, July 2018)
- Oral Cancer Screening among Michigan Adults (Michigan BRFSS Surveillance Brief, July 2018)
- Oral Cancer in Michigan (Michigan Oral Health Surveillance Brief, September 2015)
- Dental Insurance Coverage among the Michigan Adult Population, 2014 (Michigan BRFSS Surveillance Brief, August 2015)
- Oral Health and Cardiovascular Disease (MDHHS Fact Sheet, 2015)
- Oral Health of Michigan Seniors (Michigan Oral Health Surveillance Brief, February 2015)
- Oral Cancer in Michigan (MDHHS Fact Sheet, March 2019)
- Utilization of Oral Health Services Among Michigan Adults, 2012 (Michigan BRFSS Surveillance Brief, September 2013)
- Oral Health and Diabetes in Michigan: What Health Professionals and Patients Need to Know (MDHHS Fact Sheet, January 2017)
Interactive Data Dashboards
Michigan Medicaid Oral Health Care Rates by County
This dashboard shows geographically where the burden of oral health care use is among Medicaid enrollees living in Michigan. It displays both tables and maps (2016-2024) of each oral health indicator that MDHHS monitors.
MI Mom's Mouth - Michigan's Perinatal Oral Health Medicaid Utilization
This dashboard shows the trends in dental utilization during pregnancy for Medicaid enrollees in the state of Michigan. Data are presented by geographic region and race and include utilization rates from 2018 through 2024.
SEAL! Michigan Program Annual Trends
This dashboard shows the trends of SEAL! Michigan, a school-based dental sealant program. It displays a map of SEAL! Michigan coverage, demographics of students screened, screening data, preventive services provided, and additional information on dental sealants and the SEAL! Michigan program.
Reports
- SEAL! Michigan All Grantees Data Report, 2023-2024 School Year (FY 2024)
- Michigan Assessment of Oral Cancer Screenings and Knowledge of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Among Oral Health Professionals (2019)
- Michigan Oral Health Surveillance Plan: 2019-2023
- Oral Health Medicaid Rates by County, 2019
- Oral Health Medicaid Rates by County, 2018
- Oral Health Medicaid Rates by County, 2017
- MI Head Start Smiles: 2017-2018 Report – The Oral Health of Michigan’s Head Start Children (July 2018)
- SEAL! Michigan All Grantees Data Report, 2022-2023 School Year (FY 2023)
- Michigan Senior Smiles Report – Statewide View into the Mouth of Michigan Seniors in Congregate Meal Sites, 2016-2017
- Count Your Smiles Report: The Oral Health of Michigan’s Children, 2015-2016
- Michigan Oral Health Project for the Aging (Michigan Senior Smile Survey Region 1a/2) (October 2014)
- Michigan Oral Health Surveillance Plan: 2013-2018
- Count Your Smiles Report, 2011-2012
- Burden of Oral Disease in Michigan, 2013
Presentations
Jackson County Senior Smiles Survey: Michigan Oral Health Pilot Project Focused on the Aging. Anderson B, Moore J, Farrell C, Nickles A.
Characteristics of Dental-Related Hospital Admissions in Michigan, 2009-2010. Nickles A, Reeves MJ, Lyon-Callo S, Farrell C.
Assessment of the Prevalence and Predictors of Dental Caries and Loss to Follow-Up: Michigan Department of Community Health Fluoride Varnish Application Program. Akarte N, Korzeniewski S, Vandenbush S, Grigorescu V, Deming S, Joseph LM.
For more information, or to get accessibility assistance reading any of the documents on this page, please contact:
Alaina White-Radcliffe, MPH, Oral Health Epidemiologist
Chronic Disease Epidemiology Section
Lifecourse Epidemiology and Genomics Division
MDHHS Bureau of Epidemiology and Population Health
e-mail: WhiteA46@michigan.gov
Go to the Oral Health Program home page
Go to the Chronic Disease Epidemiology Section home page
Go to the Lifecourse Epidemiology & Genomics Division home page