Open AccessDelivering Preventive Oral Health Services In Pediatric Primary Care: A Case Study
Author(s) -
Dianne Riter,
Russell Maier,
David C. Grossman
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
health affairs
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.837
H-Index - 178
eISSN - 2694-233X
pISSN - 0278-2715
DOI - 10.1377/hlthaff.27.6.1728
Subject(s) - reimbursement , medicine , family medicine , oral health , primary care , disease , early childhood caries , health care , nursing , pathology , economics , economic growth
Dental disease, the most prevalent chronic disease of childhood, affects children's overall health and ability to succeed. Integrating oral health into routine well-child checkups is an innovative and practical way to prevent dental disease. The Washington Dental Service Foundation is partnering with Group Health Cooperative, a large integrated delivery system, and other providers in Washington State to change the standard of care by incorporating preventive oral health services into primary care for very young children. This paper describes systemic and policy changes for engaging primary care providers in oral health, including provider training, expanding access to dental care, and reimbursement.