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Impact of Dental Therapists on Productivity and Finances: III. FQHC‐Run, School‐Based Dental Care Programs in Connecticut
Author(s) -
Bailit Howard L.,
Beazoglou Tryfon J.,
DeVitto Judy,
McGowan Taegen,
MyneJoslin Veronica
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of dental education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.53
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1930-7837
pISSN - 0022-0337
DOI - 10.1002/j.0022-0337.2012.76.8.tb05361.x
Subject(s) - productivity , dental care , medicine , nursing , gerontology , medical education , family medicine , economics , economic growth
In many developed countries, the primary role of dental therapists is to care for children in school clinics. This article describes Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)‐run, school‐based dental programs in Connecticut and explores the theoretical financial impact of substituting dental therapists for dentists in these programs. In schools, dental hygienists screen children and provide preventive services, using portable equipment and temporary space. Children needing dentist services are referred to FQHC clinics or to FQHC‐employed dentists who provide care in schools. The primary findings of this study are that schoolbased programs have considerable potential to reduce access disparities and the estimated reduction in per patient costs approaches 50 percent versus providing care in FQHC dental clinics. In terms of substituting dental therapists for dentists, the estimated additional financial savings was found to be about 5 percent. Nationally, FQHC‐operated, school‐based dental programs have the potential to increase Medicaid/CHIP utilization from the current 40 percent to 60 percent for a relatively modest increase in total expenditures.