ABSTRACT
This quality improvement project explored dental caries risk among children residing in El Monte, Calif., a low-income area 16 miles east of Los Angeles. In an attempt to decrease oral health disparities, Western University of Health Sciences, College of Dental Medicine established school-based oral health centers in El Monte and implemented a modified caries risk assessment protocol. Results showed a statistically significant decrease in caries risk following disease management interventions.
Subject(s)
Dental Caries/prevention & control , Adolescent , California , Cariostatic Agents/therapeutic use , Child , Child Health , Child, Preschool , Cohort Studies , Dental Care for Children , Dental Caries Susceptibility , Electronic Health Records , Feeding Behavior , Female , Fluorides, Topical/therapeutic use , Health Status Disparities , Humans , Infant , Male , Motivational Interviewing , Oral Health , Oral Hygiene/education , Poverty , Quality Improvement , Retrospective Studies , Risk Assessment , School Dentistry , Vulnerable Populations , Young AdultABSTRACT
The Institute of Medicine advocates redesigning the health care system through interprofessional education (IPE) and collaborative practice. These strategies are game changers. Western University embraces this paradigm shift with an IPE curriculum for all students in 13 health care disciplines. Further, the College of Dental Medicine's innovations in community-based dental education and local programs such as the Children's Dental Care Project are preparing students as future interdisciplinary teams to improve patient care.
