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Research ArticleCritical Issues in Dental Hygiene

Improving Access to Oral Health Care: Integrating dental hygienists into federally qualified health center obstetrics and gynecology clinics in Michigan

Katy Battani, Emily Norrix, Lindsay Sailor and Christine Farrell
American Dental Hygienists' Association June 2023, 97 (3) 7-12;
Katy Battani
Consortium for Oral Health Systems Integration and Improvement, National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA
RDH, MS
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  • For correspondence: [email protected]
Emily Norrix
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, East Lansing, MI, USA
MPH
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Lindsay Sailor
Michigan Primary Care Association, Lansing, MI, USA
MPH
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Christine Farrell
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, East Lansing, MI, USA
RDH, MPA
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Abstract

Dental hygienists (DHs) are well positioned to be part of primary care teams to increase access to oral health care, particularly for those who encounter barriers to oral care, such as pregnant people. The Michigan Initiative for Maternal and Infant Oral Health (MIMIOH) integrates DHs into obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) clinics in federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) to improve pregnant people’s oral health. Evaluation of the MIMIOH program revealed that selecting DHs with personal characteristics desirable for integrated-care delivery was a major factor for successfully integrating DHs into OB/GYN clinics. Additionally, designing appropriate clinical workflows, gaining buy-in from prenatal health care professionals, presenting oral health care as part of prenatal care, having co-located OB/GYN and dental clinics, and maintaining adequate funding were all critical to program success. Analysis of Medicaid data showed that the MIMIOH model increased the percentage of pregnant people receiving oral health care at FQHC dental clinics. Innovative programs like MIMIOH add to the evidence that integrating DHs into primary care settings can increase access to oral health care, especially for those who face difficulties accessing the traditional oral health care system. There is great potential for DHs to leverage collaborative practice agreements and remote supervision to increase access to oral health care for the public. Providing DHs with autonomy to practice to the highest level of their scope of practice and permitting direct Medicaid reimbursement for DHs would make oral health care more accessible for underserved populations.

Keywords
  • dental hygienists
  • federally qualified health centers
  • medical dental integration
  • prenatal health care
  • oral health care
  • public health
  • Received April 17, 2023.
  • Accepted May 6, 2023.
  • Copyright © 2023 The American Dental Hygienists’ Association
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American Dental Hygienists' Association: 97 (3)
American Dental Hygienists' Association
Vol. 97, Issue 3
June 2023
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Improving Access to Oral Health Care: Integrating dental hygienists into federally qualified health center obstetrics and gynecology clinics in Michigan
Katy Battani, Emily Norrix, Lindsay Sailor, Christine Farrell
American Dental Hygienists' Association Jun 2023, 97 (3) 7-12;

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Improving Access to Oral Health Care: Integrating dental hygienists into federally qualified health center obstetrics and gynecology clinics in Michigan
Katy Battani, Emily Norrix, Lindsay Sailor, Christine Farrell
American Dental Hygienists' Association Jun 2023, 97 (3) 7-12;
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Keywords

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  • prenatal health care
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