By, Chris J. Wiant, MPH, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer, Caring for Colorado Foundation
Almost a year ago, Colorado Public Radio reported that some 1.1 million Coloradans now have dental coverage under Medicaid, but the number of dentists hasn’t kept pace with the growing demand for dental services – in fact, some rural Colorado counties offer no dental care at all.While health care overall has made tremendous strides in recent years, we still have a long way to go to improve the quality and lower the costs of dental services, thereby moving the needle toward overall health equity. Indeed, according to the American Dental Association, as many as 40 % of all Coloradans don’t receive routine, preventive oral health care.[i]
That’s why Caring for Colorado Foundation is on the forefront of creating and implementing a new, innovative oral health care delivery model that makes preventive and early intervention care less expensive, and more widely and easily accessible. We believe that achieving health equity is a moral imperative – no matter who you are, and no matter where you live. And we’re passionate about creating a community-based delivery system in which people receive preventive and basic therapeutic services in community settings (e.g., community centers, schools and Head Start programs, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, places of worship, etc.).
I’m especially excited about the SMILES Dental Project because it plays a crucial role in integrating quality dental care where people live, learn and socialize, and where they already receive other routine health services. The ultimate goal of this five-year, community-based initiative is to expand access to oral health care for Colorado’s most vulnerable and medically underserved populations – most of whom live in low-income, rural communities and are unable to afford or conveniently access the current system of care in a traditional dental office.
I’m especially excited about the SMILES Dental Project because it plays a crucial role in integrating quality dental care where people live, learn and socialize, and where they already receive other routine health services. The ultimate goal of this five-year, community-based initiative is to expand access to oral health care for Colorado’s most vulnerable and medically underserved populations – most of whom live in low-income, rural communities and are unable to afford or conveniently access the current system of care in a traditional dental office.
How does it work? The SMILES Dental Project relies on the latest technology to connect community-based oral health practitioners with dentists at remote office sites. Research shows that tele-health connected oral health teams keep people healthy by providing health education, preventive care, interim therapeutic restorations (ITRs) and case management.
Thanks to significant progress in 2015 – including support and advocacy of new legislation that expands dental hygienists’ scope of practice to include performing ITRs under the supervision of a dentist, and upon completing appropriate coursework and obtaining a permit from the Colorado Dental Board – we begin 2016 with momentum to continue to advance oral health statewide.
Beyond logistics and the operational challenges of bringing much-needed services to individuals who might otherwise receive insufficient care, or no care at all, the SMILES Dental Project is a new and innovative way to deliver care. I invite you to join our grantees, partners and stakeholders in rolling out this new oral health delivery system. Check back here and join our Facebook and Twitter community to follow our progress and, hopefully, to celebrate our “wins” – particularly on behalf of pregnant women, children, seniors and people with disabilities in isolated locations.
Learn more about the SMILES Dental Project and our grantees’ immediate next steps, and visit caringforcolorado.org to explore our other funding priorities to improve the overall health outcomes of all Coloradans – also including mental health and community health, as well as initiatives that strengthen the health care workforce.
Together, there’s much we can accomplish. Happy New Year!
[i] http://www.ada.org/en/science-research/health-policy-institute/oral-health-care-system/Colorado-facts
Thanks to significant progress in 2015 – including support and advocacy of new legislation that expands dental hygienists’ scope of practice to include performing ITRs under the supervision of a dentist, and upon completing appropriate coursework and obtaining a permit from the Colorado Dental Board – we begin 2016 with momentum to continue to advance oral health statewide.
Beyond logistics and the operational challenges of bringing much-needed services to individuals who might otherwise receive insufficient care, or no care at all, the SMILES Dental Project is a new and innovative way to deliver care. I invite you to join our grantees, partners and stakeholders in rolling out this new oral health delivery system. Check back here and join our Facebook and Twitter community to follow our progress and, hopefully, to celebrate our “wins” – particularly on behalf of pregnant women, children, seniors and people with disabilities in isolated locations.
Learn more about the SMILES Dental Project and our grantees’ immediate next steps, and visit caringforcolorado.org to explore our other funding priorities to improve the overall health outcomes of all Coloradans – also including mental health and community health, as well as initiatives that strengthen the health care workforce.
Together, there’s much we can accomplish. Happy New Year!
[i] http://www.ada.org/en/science-research/health-policy-institute/oral-health-care-system/Colorado-facts
