PC1170: Baseline Oral Health Practices of Medical Team Members Participating in Regional Network of Oral Health Integration, United States

Background: The Rocky Mountain Network for Oral Health (RoMoNOH) is one of three federally funded regional Networks of Oral Health Integration working with community health centers (CHCs) in the United States (2019-2024) aimed to increase the delivery of preventive oral health services (POHS) by medical providers to young children and pregnant women.

Objective: Assess the pre-participation, reported oral health practices of medical team members participating in the RoMoNOH project and barriers to providing POHS.

Methods: Medical team members from 22 CHCs in Arizona, Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming completed a baseline online survey assessing their oral health practices and perceived barriers to providing POHS to young children and pregnant women. Descriptive statistics were used.

Results: 175 medical team members completed the survey (response rate (71.4%)): 90 (51.4%) providers, 81 (46.3%) support staff, 4 (2.3%) administrative. 174 (91.6%) reported they were part of a healthcare team that provided well-child visits (WCVs) to children aged 0-3 years. Of these, participants reported their team provided the following POHS at ≥ 50% of WCV for children age 0-3 years: caries risk assessment (CRA) (78 (28.1%)), fluoride varnish application (FVA) (53 (31.0%)), dental referrals (75 (43.9%)). Barriers to providing POHS to children aged 0-3 years (significant/moderate) included lack of: time (38.0%), ability to bill for CRA (14.6%), ability to bill for FVA (15.8%), professional training (39.8%). Participants rated their ability to perform the following with children aged 0-3 years as being very good/excellent: identify teeth with dental caries (12.1%), perform CRA (17.6%), FVA (30.9%), refer to dental providers for routine visits (49.7%). 104 (64.2%) reported they were part of a healthcare team that provided care to pregnant women. Of these, participants reported their team provided the following POHS at ≥ 50% pregnant patients: caries risk assessment (CRA) (12 (11.6%)), fluoride varnish application (FVA) (6 (5.8%)), dental referrals (22 (21.4%)). Barriers to providing POHS to pregnant women (significant/moderate) included lack of: time (40.8%), ability to bill for CRA (15.54%), ability to bill for FVA (14.6%), professional training (33.0%). Participants rated their ability to perform the following with pregnant women as being very good/excellent: identifying teeth with dental caries (11.8%), perform CRA (8.8%), FVA (15.7%), referring to dental providers for routine visits (31.4%).

Conclusion: Prior to participation in the RoMoNOH project, CHC medical care teams variably provided POHS and reported barriers to care delivery.