Granting Agency:
Washington Dental Service Foundation

Time Period:
December 2001 through December, 2004

Background and Rationale:
Dental decay remains a significant public health problem for children. Results reported in the Smile Survey 2000 showed that rates of tooth decay for Washington's children increased since the initial Smile Survey in 1994. Children from low-income families, children of color, and children who do not speak English are more likely to experience dental disease. The survey of more than 3500 children found that one and two year olds studied in Washington state had more dental decay than children in this age group nationwide, and more than a third of low-income preschool children who were studied needed dental treatment.

Project Goal:
Improve access to dental care for infants and children at high risk for dental disease by integrating oral health screening and prevention methods into primary care visits.

Project Objectives:

Implemented a protocol for primary care provision of oral health education and prevention measures at three primary health care practice sites in Washington State.

Determined appropriate oral health education resources for families that providers can use with high-risk populations.

Measured the use of preventive dental services and dental disease intervention in the child (0-6 years) population.

Expanded the oral health education to other primary health care practice sites.

Assured continuation of the successes of the project.

Project Summary:
This 3 year project implemented an oral health training session and follow up sessions to primary care providers and their staff at three sites in Washington. The training sessions included information on oral health assessment, caries risk assessment, health education techniques, and fluoride varnish applications. Oral health education resources for families were developed and evaluated.

Project Evaluation
The evaluation included quantitative and qualitative analysis. Provider and family satisfaction, knowledge, behavior and attitude changes, and educational training evaluations were used. Medicaid data was used to assess types of services received, dental service interactions and treatments including prevention visits of children in the three practice sites.

Key Contact:
Shervin Churchill, MPH
Epidemiologist/Research Associate
(206) 884-5312

Last modified: 12/10/07