LEBANON — Dartmouth Health is giving health care providers dental training to help address a coverage gap. 

The DH Center for Rural Health Equity earned $8,000 from the Northeast Delta Dental Foundation to expand a program that trains health providers to administer silver diamine fluoride treatment, which stops dental decay and early cavities from worsening, according to a Dec. 19 media release. The program addresses “well-documented oral health needs.”

Over half of Americans live in a dental care shortage area and 67% of these are in rural communities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Also, more adults have health insurance than dental and are less likely to be able to afford dental care. 

Children in both New Hampshire and Vermont are regularly treated in emergency rooms for advanced tooth decay, according to the release. This treatment can help protect patients’ teeth if they do not have access to a dentist or need time to find coverage.

The Center for Rural Health Equity has conducted training at six pediatric practices so far and will use the money to train health care providers at at least four more practices, some of which serve adults, in 2025.