The third and final year of research exploring oral health promotion in primary care produced innovative and promising results in regard to streamlining caries risk assessment in the primary care setting. Based upon information noted in the early well-child visits, a predictive model was developed at Nationwide Children’s Hospital that characterizes the likelihood a child would have oral disease or risks of future disease at the time of their first dental visit.

With such a predictive tool, health care providers could easily administer caries-risk assessment as a part of the well-child visit without taking time from other equally important health concerns. 

Click here to read the report.

Appendix A: Candidate Risk Factors Considered in Developing the Predictive Models

The second phase of the study produced thought-provoking results for both pediatric dentists and pediatric medical professionals. 

With an aim of creating a history-based caries-risk screening tool that more easily assimilates into the work flow of a well-child visit, we sought to identify health screening measures already intrinsic to the well-child encounter that might also be associated with caries risk. 

Click here to read the report.

Through the use of surveys, focus groups, and practice observations, the AAPD collected information and insight from medical providers who successfully integrated oral health promotion into their practices.

Information regarding oral health promotion obtained was in reference to: workflow, caries-risk assessment tools, documentation of oral health activities, payment for oral health services, challenges to implementing oral health promotion in the primary care setting, referral system and relationships with dentists, and family/caregiver response. Suggestions for system improvement and simplification were also solicited. 

Click here to read the report.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is an organization of pediatricians, committed to the well-being for children of all ages. Through collaboration between the medical and dental homes, the AAP works to improve children’s oral health. The AAP’s Section on Oral Health and Chapter Oral Health Advocates provide education, training and advocacy for pediatricians, dentists, other health professionals and families.

Click here to access the resource.

Smiles for Life is a national oral health curriculum by the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine. The curriculum consists of eight 60-minute modules covering core areas of oral health relevant to health professionals in the promotion of oral health for all age groups. Continuing education credit is available free of charge to many health professionals. 

Click here to access the resource.

Bright Futures is a book, as well as a pocket guide, of guidelines that provides health care professionals with recommendations for pediatric health supervision and anticipatory guidance for 31 age-based visits. Its Periodicity Schedule presents the screenings, assessments, physical examinations and procedures recommended for each age-based visit. The anticipatory guidance in Bright Futures focuses on children at each stage of their lives so that they can receive the best care possible that is specific to them and their age. 

Click here to access the resource.

Oral Health: An Essential Component of Primary Care, published by Qualis Health, is a white paper that advocates for the incorporation of preventive oral healthcare into routine medical care. The Oral Health Delivery Framework presented in the paper consists of five steps primary care teams can take to protect and promote oral health. These steps include offering preventive interventions and structured referrals to dentistry, and all are within the scope of practice for primary care providers. 

Click here to access the resource.

Published by Qualis Health, the Oral Health Integration Implementation Guide provides tools to help primary care practices integrate oral health into routine medical care. This integration offers whole-person care and improves patient outcomes and experiences. To do this, the guide presents a plan to implement screening for oral health risk factors and active disease, initiate appropriate preventive interventions and coordinate dental care for those with active disease. 

Click here to access the resource.

The Oral Health Nursing Education and Practice (OHNEP) has developed the Interprofessional Oral Health Faculty Toolkit for Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and Midwifery Programs. The Toolkit facilitates the integration of oral-systemic health content, teaching-learning strategies and clinical experiences into nurse practitioner and midwifery curricula. This integration is intended to improve oral health and enhance the health of the communities that faculty, clinicians and organizations serve. 

Click here to access the resource.

MOTIVATE is an online resource library that can be used to search for information on oral health. Developed by Lunder-Dineen, it provides access to reference materials that can help guide interprofessional oral health education and practice. The library is a resource to learn and raise awareness about oral health. 

Click here to access the resource.