Connecting Quality and Technology for Improved Health Care

Oral Healthcare Initiative

Purpose

The purpose of the Oral Health Initiative (OHI) is to increase the number of young children in San Diego County who are free from oral health disease. By targeting children birth through 5 and their parents, as well as pregnant women, OHI addresses the growing concern of dental disease among young children.

Background

Dental caries is the most common chronic disease among children - five times more prevalent than asthma. In 2005, the First 5 Commission of San Diego County launched OHI to address the oral health needs of young children and pregnant women in San Diego County.  The initiative is administered by the Community Clinics Health Network (CCHN), a subsidiary of the Council of Community Clinics (CCC).

Established in 1977, CCC is a private, nonprofit organization composed of 16 community clinic and health center organizations operating more than 90 primary care sites through San Diego, Imperial, and Riverside Counties. CCC member clinics and health care operations serve as a safety net for essential health care services, as well as providing linguistically and culturally sensitive medical homes that are deeply rooted in the communities around these counties.

Clinic Partners

OHI clinic partners include 10 nonprofit community health centers that provide oral health prevention, education, care coordination and dental treatment services at approximately 24 dental clinic sites.

• Fallbrook Family Health Center
• Family Health Centers of San Diego
• Indian Health Council
• La Maestra Community Health Centers
• Neighborhood Healthcare
• North County Health Services
• Operation Samahan
• San Diego American Indian Health Center
• San Ysidro Health Center
• Vista Community Clinic

OHI also partners with three nonprofit community health centers that offer oral health prevention, education and care coordination services:

• Imperial Beach Health Center
• Mountain Health and Community Services
• San Diego Family Care

The San Diego Children's Dental Clinic, operated by San Ysidro Health Center, provides oral health screening and education to children with special needs and tertiary and advanced specialty pediatric dental services.

Community Partners

• The San Diego County Dental Health Initiative/Share the Care offers education to childcare providers and community-based organizations on the oral health needs of young children.
• Rady Children's Hospital San Diego/Anderson Center for Dental Care and other OHI partners educate general dentists on pediatric dental care and treating women during pregnancy. They also train prenatal care providers and primary care providers about routinely incorporating oral health screenings into patient care.

OHI Accomplishments

OHI has transformed the dental care system in the following ways:

• Improved Standards of Practice. OHI promotes the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry standard of a first dental visit by age 1.
• Expanded Access to Oral Health Services. Oral screenings are now conducted in well-child visits, OB/GYN visits and community settings which have resulted in more clients receiving referrals for dental care.
• Created an Oral Care Network. The oral care network includes primary and specialty dental providers. The network has improved the coordination of care and reduced delays from exam to treatment.
• Instituted a National Best Practice. San Diego County is a leading area for implementing the caries risk assessment tool.
• Created a Treatment Fund for Children and Pregnant Women. Since the inception of the Treatment Fund in October 2009, 1629 uninsured children birth through 5 and 942 uninsured/underinsured pregnant women have received over 10,000 dental services. The Treatment Fund has been able to cover the cost of fillings, root canals, and crowns for pregnant women, services not currently covered by Denti-Cal.
• Created a Specialty Treatment Pool Fund. Since 2006, 207 uninsured children ages 2-5 have received over 4,600 dental services where anesthesia was required.

• Provided Extensive Oral Health Training. In FY 2009-2010, a total of 707 oral health providers received trainings on oral health issues relating to children under age 5 and pregnant women.

The following table illustrates OHI services and numbers served for FY 2009-2010:

First 5 Commission of San Diego The commission awarded the Community Clinics Health Network (CCHN) a grant to implement a countywide Oral Health Initiative (OHI). The development of a comprehensive countywide approach has allowed community health centers and collaborative partners to pool resources and strengthen programs. The program is currently funded through June 2015.

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To access dental services supported by First 5 San Diego call 1-888-534-7785

For more information on the Program, please contact

Mary Ann Bundang MPH, Project Coordinator

(619) 542-4335 or mbundang@ccc-sd.org