A Case Study of Community Dental Health Coordinator: Evaluating a Medical-Dental Collaboration to Address Barriers to Preventive Dental Care.

BACKGROUND

Tooth decay is common, but low-income families have low rates of preventive oral health care. The American Dental Association community dental health coordinator (CDHC) model has successfully increased referrals to co-located dentists.

OBJECTIVE

To implement a CDHC to link families between the medical home and community dentists.

METHODS

The CDHC universally screened patients between 2-17 years of age during medical check-ups at two sites. Iterative plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles aim to increase screening, increase participants, and increase phone follow-up with families. When participation was low, family and provider focus groups were held.

RESULTS

The CDHC completed 2,933 intakes with 745 appointments made and 250 dental appointments attended. Focus group participants of patients and providers endorsed support for the program, but iterative PDSA cycles did not increase participation.

DISCUSSION: The generalizability of the CDHC model from referrals to internal, co-located dentists to external, community providers was not as successful as expected.