Colorado doctors take on dental duties to reach low-income and uninsured patients

Pediatricians Integrating Oral Health into Medical Checkups for Underserved Populations

Pediatrician Patricia Braun and her team saw roughly 100 children at a community health clinic on a recent Monday. They gave flu shots and treatments for illnesses like ear infections. But Braun also did something most primary care doctors don’t. She peered inside mouths searching for cavities or she brushed fluoride varnish on their teeth.

“We’re seeing more oral disease than the general population. There is a bigger need,” Braun said of the patients she treats at Bernard F. Gipson Eastside Family Health Center, which is part of Denver Health, the largest safety-net hospital in Colorado, serving low-income, uninsured, and underinsured residents.

Expanding Oral Health Integration Programs

1. With a five-year, $6 million federal grant, Braun and her colleagues have helped train 250 primary care providers in oral health in Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, and Arizona.
2. Similar projects are wrapping up in Illinois, Michigan, Virginia, and New York, funded by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
3. Primary care providers refer patients to on- or off-site dentists, or work with embedded dental hygienists as part of their practice.

“Federally qualified health centers have a long history of co-locating dental services within their systems,” Braun said. “We’re taking that next step where care is not just co-located, meaning, say, we’re upstairs and dental is downstairs, but we’re integrated so that it becomes part of the same visit for the patient.”

Addressing Barriers and Challenges

• Recruiting dental professionals is difficult in rural areas with limited access to dentists.
• Many counties in Montana are designated dental shortage areas, and some don’t have a single dentist who takes Medicaid.
• State regulations vary on which services dental hygienists can provide without supervision from a dentist.

Benefits and Impact

Integrating oral health into medical checkups at community health centers has several benefits:

• Increases the frequency of fluoride application and improves parents’ knowledge of oral care for their children.
• Overcomes barriers such as housing instability, language barriers, lack of transportation, and high costs of dental care.
• Provides interpretation services and sliding pay scales for uninsured patients.

Workforce Shortages and Financial Uncertainty

Despite the growing need for dental care, there are challenges:

• The Medicaid “unwinding” process creates financial uncertainty for dental clinics.
• Recruiting and retaining dental hygienists is necessary to meet the demand for services.
• Colorado lacks schools to train and accredit dental therapists, who could alleviate workforce shortages.

The Role of Medical-Dental Integration

Integrating dental care into medical visits capitalizes on the frequency of well-child visits for children under the age of 3. This approach improves access to oral health care, particularly for at-risk children.

By bridging the gap between medical and dental care, these integrated programs aim to address oral health disparities and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 4: Quality Education
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services, and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines.
• SDG 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles.
• SDG 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for SDG 3.8: Percentage of population with access to essential health services
• Indicator for SDG 4.7: Percentage of children receiving preventive oral health care
• Indicator for SDG 10.2: Percentage of population with access to dental care

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Note: The indicators listed are examples and may not be the only relevant indicators for measuring progress towards the identified targets.

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: coloradosun.com

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