Increasing Access to Oral Health Services to Students through a Virtual Dental Home

The Virtual Dental Home (VDH) is an innovative system of care currently practiced in several California elementary and preschools.  The system employs an onsite oral health provider, primarily a dental hygienist, who provides both clinical oral health services to school children and oral health education to students, parents, school administration, faculty, and staff in underserved communities. The dental hygienist uses telehealth technology including a web-based electronic health record, intraoral photos, dental charting and x-rays to communicate with the collaborating dentist located in a clinic offsite for diagnosis and treatment planning.  The students in the elementary schools receive an average of 2.19 visits occur during the school year with an average of 14 preventive procedures per child enrolled.  Children may receive a recommendation from the dentist to continue ongoing care at the school site or, if disease is significant, treatment by the dentist may be required.  The hygienist provides case management and referral support to complete treatment by the student. Parent surveys report 86 % are very satisfied while school administrators indicate 100% satisfaction with convenience to obtaining critical oral health services, reduced time away from school, and increased knowledge of personal oral health prevention practices.  VDH is a system that improves the oral health of school children; support parents who experience challenges in obtaining care from a dental clinic or office; and supporting schools that students miss days at school due to pain, infection or take time away from school to travel and receive care in a dental clinic.