This report evaluates the impact of a learning community comprising 14 safety-net dental practices across North Carolina with a goal to transform oral health for the 47 counties and 87,000 patients they serve. The initiative was a partnership between the North Carolina Oral Health Collaborative, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation, and CareQuest Institute.
Noteworthy results from the community include:
- Teledentistry visits increased 635% (from 402 to 2,953 visits), significantly expanding access to preventive care for underserved and rural populations.
- Silver diamine fluoride applications grew by 423% (from 1,112 to 5,819 applications), reflecting a shift toward prevention and minimally invasive care.
- Chronic disease screenings rose by 434% and care coordination/referrals by 563%, reflecting an emphasis on whole-person health and integrated care.
Lessons and recommendations in the report offer a road map for safety-net dental practices nationwide to sustain and scale oral health transformation and achieve long-term systemic change.
The authors write:
The initiative underscores that true oral health equity requires structural change: investment in infrastructure and workforce, data-informed practices, patient-centered models, and integrated care.”
You may also be interested in:
- Teledentistry as a Tool for Health Care Transformation, a journal article highlighting the role of technology and regulatory changes to improve access to oral health care.
- A Simple Alternative Payment Model to Incentivize Periodontal Care for Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Community Health Centers, a tool that helps integrated care settings simulate potential cost savings by covering scaling and root planning for diabetes patients.
- Integration and Coordination to Improve the Patient Experience, a self-paced, online course that explores the value of coordinated care and interprofessional collaboration to support whole-person health. Eligible for 1 free CE credit.
