224677 A Dental Hygiene Evidence-Based Care Business Model in a Pediatric Practice

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Claude Earl Fox, MD, MPH , Florida Public Health Institute/ University of Miami School of Medicine, Lake Worth, FL
Debora Kerr, MA , Florida Public Health Institute, Lake Worth, FL
Catherine Cabanzon, RDH , Florida Public Health Institute, Lake Worth, FL
Claudia Serna, COA, RDH, MPH, CHES , Florida Public Health Institute, Lake Worth, FL
Objective: Oral evaluation and fluoride varnish application are preventive services which should be provided to patients at high risk for early childhood caries. The early and frequent contact that children typically have with physicians presents a unique opportunity to evaluate their oral condition and perform basic preventive services. Based on Medicaid's reimbursement of Fluoride Varnish application in a none dental settings an evidence-based care business model utilizing a registered dental hygienist to provide preventive oral Health care in a pediatric practice was established.

Methods: This pilot study was conducted at two private pediatrician's offices in Palm Beach County, Florida that serve a large volume of Medicaid Patients. The sample size consisted on 79 Medicaid children ages 0 to 3 years old. During physical exams, an informed consent was obtained from each child's guardian to precede with dental charting, fluoride varnish application, preventive oral health education, and a dental referral provided by a registered dental hygienist. Data was collected using the Epi-info software for statistical analysis.

Results: Data analyzed from the 79 participants, 100% of the children were screened, 97.5% received fluoride varnish application, and 100% received oral health education and counseling, and a dental referral. Regarding treatment urgency, 97.5% of the participants did not have obvious dental problems, 2.5% needed early dental care, and 0% needed urgent dental care.

Conclusions: Provision of oral health care in a pediatric practice by a registered dental hygienists is an example of how working together as a health professionals can improve children's oral health.

Learning Areas:
Other professions or practice related to public health
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health

Learning Objectives:
Increase access to preventive oral health services to lower ECC in underserved populations by coordinating and integrating the activities of the existing oral health workforce. Establish an evidence-based care model leading to a replicable, financially viable way to deliver dental health to undeserved children.

Keywords: One Health, Screening

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I participated on the research project
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.