A retrospective review of children's oral health outcomes from school-based dental programs in hudson, New York

Objective: In 2009, New York University College of Dentistry (NYUCD) initiated school-based health center dental programs (SBHC-D) at two public schools in Hudson, New York, to increase access to pediatric dental services in the community. The goals of the SBHC-Ds were to demonstrate an alternative model for delivery of care in a school-based setting that could be replicated in other underserved areas and to decrease caries.

Methods: A team of NYUCD dentists visited the SBHC-Ds four times per year to offer preventive services and comprehensive dental treatment to all children in two schools using portable dental equipment. Data were gathered retrospectively via chart review.

Results: A total of 568 children utilized the SBHC-D at least once over the course of the three-year program, ranging from one to 11 dental visits. Overall caries prevalence was 23 percent at baseline versus 7 percent at the final SBHC-D visit. In each full academic year, there was no significant difference in caries incidence among children with three or more dental visits when compared with two visits (Year 1: OR= -0.231, 95%CI 0.609-1.034; Year 2: OR=0.99, 95%CI 0.880-1.387), regardless of baseline caries status.

Conclusion: While overall caries prevalence decreased, the number of patient visits per child per year had no significant effect on the likelihood that a child would develop new decay. Children with fewer dental visits in a year were not more likely to have decay than their counterparts with more dental visits, but the SBHC-D increased regular access to dental services.