Early in his career, Bill Milner, DDS, MPH, realized that special populations — especially people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the elderly — are often left behind when it comes to accessing oral health care. 

“There has been a gap in services in dentistry that we knew back in the 1980s had to be filled,” says Milner. “Dentistry had no answer for folks that we now serve. We thought, ‘Why not provide the same quality care to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities or the elderly, who may not be able to afford it?’” 

In late 2022, Raydiance Swanston, MPH, CHES, was eager to bring the Community Oral Health Transformation (COrHT) program to the Mecklenburg County Pediatric Clinic in North Carolina.

As part of his role to advance the integration of oral health and overall health, CareQuest Institute Chief Health Equity Officer Kaz Rafia, DDS, MBA, MPH, is always trying to find exemplars. He seeks models and individuals that are focused on the community and on finding innovative ways to improve the system.