Dental Student University of Iowa College of Dentistry
Participants should be aware of the following financial/non-financial relationships: . Brooke Frazier, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign B.S.: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.. Julie C. Reynolds, DDS, MS: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.
Abstract: Objectives: Community Health Centers (CHCs) have faced various challenges due to COVID-19, yet there is a paucity of research examining the impact of COVID on CHC dental clinics. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of COVID-19 on CHC dental clinics in Iowa.
Methods: In July-August 2021, an online survey was sent to dental directors at all CHC dental clinics in Iowa (n=16). Survey topics included impacts on patient volume, operations, staff recruitment, and referrals. The survey was pretested by six FQHC staff dentists, as well as several other stakeholders, and consisted of close-ended and open-ended items. Descriptive results were generated for all survey items and open-ended item responses were summarized for common themes.
Results: There were a total of 9 (53%) respondents. The results showed CHCs are having more difficulty recruiting staff members and referring to specialists than before COVID-19. All 9 respondents reported it was more difficult to refer to a specialist than before COVID, and all 3 CHCs recruiting dental hygienists found it more difficult than before COVID-19. In open-ended comments, several respondents noted that a decline in area dentists accepting Medicaid has caused an increase in demand at their clinic. Compared to pre-COVID, wait times for new patients increased in 7 CHCs.
Conclusions: CHC dental clinics reported several lingering effects of COVID-19 over a year after the pandemic began. The longer wait times and difficulty making specialist referrals among other issues have the potential to decrease dental-care access within a high-need population.
