Dental Days
The Coalition for Oral Health for the Aging organizes monthly Dental Days in collaboration with organizations that serve the elderly and adults with special needs to provide preventive and referral services. These efforts highlight the need for oral healthcare for these populations and establish local networks for continued care. There are few successful models of care that serve oral health care to those who cannot access it for themselves. COHA is dedicated to discovering working models and then providing assistance in the replication of these models in communities across the state. Currently the Dental Days model is strictly a volunteer format that is focused on how preventive care is the pre-cursor to a stable oral health status.
History of Dental Days
In August 2011, the Coalition for Oral Health for the Aging established COHA Care a Public Act 161 of 2005 (PA161) collaborative practice program. It was clear that many organizations which provided resources and services to the elderly and adults with special needs in the state of Michigan desired to identify providers for oral healthcare for their clients, but few were able to identify providers willing to provide these services. In collaboration with these organizations, COHA established Dental Days to assist in identifying community resources and treatment needs of clients utilizing Michigan PA161 program models for hygienists to provide care to underserved populations. The first Dental Day occurred in May 2010 in collaboration with a non-profit organization providing care for adults with special needs with Medicaid for whom Michigan Medicaid dental benefits had been cancelled.
In August 2011, the Coalition for Oral Health for the Aging established COHA Care a Public Act 161 of 2005 (PA161) collaborative practice program. It was clear that many organizations which provided resources and services to the elderly and adults with special needs in the state of Michigan desired to identify providers for oral healthcare for their clients, but few were able to identify providers willing to provide these services. In collaboration with these organizations, COHA established Dental Days to assist in identifying community resources and treatment needs of clients utilizing Michigan PA161 program models for hygienists to provide care to underserved populations. The first Dental Day occurred in May 2010 in collaboration with a non-profit organization providing care for adults with special needs with Medicaid for whom Michigan Medicaid dental benefits had been cancelled.
Roles and Collaboration
The organization that serves the elderly or adults with special needs is responsible for recruiting clients, obtaining completed required forms (registration/consent/HIPAA/medical history/medication lists/photo release), providing transportation and oversight onsite, and donating breakfast and lunch for volunteers. Dental hygienists from across the state (some from greater than 3 hours away) volunteer to provide preventive hygiene services (cleaning/full month radiographs/periodontal charting/fluoride varnish/oral hygiene instruction). In order to determine appropriate referral, each patient receives an oral and radiographic examination, a treatment plan is established, and a Daily Oral Care plan with necessary fluoride prescriptions administered. Local dentists donate the use of their office for the day. Currently, Tooth Town Pediatric Dentistry in South Lyon, Michigan donates space for Dental Day once a month, typically on a Friday. A successful day is run with 4 hygienists, working in teams of 2 seeing up to 14 patients each day. It is important for improved quality of life to keep teeth functional. Dental Days is succeeding in aiding in this Healthy People 2020 agenda. If you are interested in more information or participating in a future Dental Days, please contact [email protected].
The organization that serves the elderly or adults with special needs is responsible for recruiting clients, obtaining completed required forms (registration/consent/HIPAA/medical history/medication lists/photo release), providing transportation and oversight onsite, and donating breakfast and lunch for volunteers. Dental hygienists from across the state (some from greater than 3 hours away) volunteer to provide preventive hygiene services (cleaning/full month radiographs/periodontal charting/fluoride varnish/oral hygiene instruction). In order to determine appropriate referral, each patient receives an oral and radiographic examination, a treatment plan is established, and a Daily Oral Care plan with necessary fluoride prescriptions administered. Local dentists donate the use of their office for the day. Currently, Tooth Town Pediatric Dentistry in South Lyon, Michigan donates space for Dental Day once a month, typically on a Friday. A successful day is run with 4 hygienists, working in teams of 2 seeing up to 14 patients each day. It is important for improved quality of life to keep teeth functional. Dental Days is succeeding in aiding in this Healthy People 2020 agenda. If you are interested in more information or participating in a future Dental Days, please contact [email protected].
