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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Lynn A. Bethel, RDH, BSDH, MPH and Joan M. Lowbridge, RDH, BS. Office of Oral Health, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 250 Washington Street, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02343, 617-624-6074, lynn.bethel@state.ma.us

Introduction: State health department dental programs have the advantage of collaborating with other state programs and agencies to improve access and develop prevention programs for populations at high-risk for dental disease. Methods: The Massachusetts Department of Public Health Office of Oral Heath (DPH-OOH) collaborating with the Division of Perinatal, Early Childhood, and Special Health Needs implemented an oral health risk assessment (OHRA)pilot-program for children 0-3 years of age enrolled in the Early Intervention program (EI). The OHRA involves non-dental professionals who have scheduled, long-term relationships with the EI children and families. These non-dental professionals, trained by the DPH-OOH to complete a written oral health assessment with the EI parents and a visual oral screening of the EI child, provide education (via a tool kit) tailored to the family's needs to decrease the risk of dental disease. If it is determined that the EI child needs an assessment by a dental professional, they are referred to a dental hygienist (RDH) experienced in treating children with special health care needs (CSHCN). Results: Program evaluation data will be presented. Conclusion: Non-dental professionals may be effective in improving the oral health of CSHCN.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the session, the APHA member (the learner)will be able to

• Judge the effectiveness of non-dental professionals in oral health risk-assessments of CSHCN
• Recognize the benefits of collaboration between non-dental professionals and oral health professionals in identifying/preventing oral disease
• List four benefits of scheduled oral health education to parents of CSHCN
• Assimilate the EI oral health assessment program described to other program's involving CSHCN
• Recognize a non-dental professional sub-group that could serve a high-risk oral health population

Keywords: Children With Special Needs, Risk Assessment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation