Elimination of Disease

With its focus on risk-based care, the DentaQuest Oral Health Center is demonstrating that it is possible to bring patients to a disease-free state within an 12-month period of time through a combination of treatment, preventive education and ongoing primary oral health care. Key to this is a patient treatment plan that combines restorative treatment with preventive measures (like sealants and fluoride treatments) and ongoing patient education that emphasizes the individual’s disease-associated risk factors as well as patient self management. After a through dental health examination and assessment of risks, new patients are enrolled in a multi-phase treatment plan focused on eliminating existing dental disease and preventing future disease. Patients are made aware of their current risk factors, guided in making a transition in favor of protective factors that lower the risk of future dental disease, and monitored and mentored throughout the process.

In safety net dental programs, patient populations tend to seek episodic care.   There is a tendency to prioritize treatment related to the immediate event, with less emphasis on patient education or understanding and treating the underlying causes of disease. The DentaQuest Institute is partnering with select Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) – based dental clinics on a pilot Phase I Treatment Plan Completion Quality Improvement Initiative where the goal is to eliminate observable dental disease within one year and increase patient self-management ability to sustain a disease free oral environment over the long term.

This initiative will provide safety net dental programs data to support the claim of producing demonstrable oral health improvements within their patient populations. The success of this pilot will support FQHC health centers seeking to invest in dental evidence-based modeling to respond more effectively to federal, state, and other funding programs who are making investments in care for underserved populations.

What We Are Doing

Over an 18 month period, participating safety net community health centers will assure that the dental program routinely and systematically improves the oral health status of their population served through risk-based, comprehensive, quality oral health services.   This is accomplished by completing an individualized patient treatment plan that emphasizes disease elimination within a 12 month timeframe through the following strategies:

  • Step 1: Diagnose and eliminate all signs of dental disease quickly from the moment of detection;
  • Step 2: Implement a risk assessment protocol with preventive strategies appropriate to the level of risk and presence of disease; and
  • Step 3: Initiate a disease management plan after disease elimination that assures maintenance of the disease-free condition.

Achieving elimination of disease within 12 months requires careful patient selection and close monitoring of compliance. The progressive implementation of a three-phased approach will establish that FQHC –based dental clinics are effective in eliminating and controlling disease within at-risk populations.

To learn more, contact Cindy Hannon, Quality Improvement Manager, Cindy.Hannon@dentaquestinstitute.org.