3 Things Dentists Can Do to Support Medical-Dental Integration
Studies from the American Dental Association show that over 90 percent of all systemic diseases have oral manifestations. We know that patients don’t experience their overall health and oral health in isolation, yet the oral health care system has been set up to treat it in isolation. To address this and provide better treatment for patients, health care has begun to move toward a new model of medical-dental integration -- where the treatment and care for oral health and overall health systems are connected.
While sweeping change to the entire system will take time, it is already happening in many ways. And because these changes are still in the beginning stages, there is a big opportunity for dentists and oral health providers to shape the future of this type of care - rather than reacting to new models and mandates down the road.
Here are 3 simple things oral health providers can start doing today to move toward medical-dental integration and better outcomes for patients.
Talk to patients about the oral-systemic connection
There are so many diseases and health outcomes that are linked to oral health or have oral manifestations, from the links between gum disease and pregnancy, to diabetes and heart disease. An integrated approach can mitigate a lot of those risks, particularly in underserved populations.
Dental providers have a role in identifying and treating the diseases that are correlated with oral disease, and that is something that can be done right away – to begin thinking about treatment through a holistic, integrated care experience. First, by helping patients be more aware of these risk factors, sharing information, and educating them on things like how periodontitis impacts pregnant women, or people with diabetes. Think of it as another way of moving more into prevention rather than treatment.
Consider additional training for oral health teams
As medical-dental integration progresses, dentists may eventually move into practices such as monitoring blood pressure, or hemoglobin A1C, so that those important things are being addressed whether the patient is also going to a primary care physician or not.
Historically, medical providers didn’t have much experience learning about oral health, and vice versa. But training models are beginning to shift and we are seeing more team-based models. Reimbursement models, along with consolidation of companies and oral health becoming part of overall healthcare, are also catching up with these better and improved ways of practicing.
Embrace the opportunity to shape the future of dental care
Because of the way the medical and oral health care systems have operated in isolation in the past, change has generally come to the medical side first. Now, as oral health is experiencing many of the same challenges and changes, dentists have a unique opportunity to learn from the medical community’s experience and shape how oral health evolves.
The community health center model is just one example of successful medical-dental integration. Even for smaller dental practices, there is a lot that can be learned from this approach. The Dimock Health Center in Boston, for example, has been a leader in the coordination of care and the efforts to train both pediatric providers and oral health staff. Their data demonstrated that the approach worked to improve patient outcomes.
The health care system is evolving to better serve patients and reduce costs by implementing a more integrated approach to medical and dental care. And providers have a unique opportunity to embrace and shape what that looks like for the future of oral health in Massachusetts, and beyond.
Watch the latest Pearls of Wisdom episode for Dennis Leonard and Dr. Myechia-Minter Jordan’s in-depth discussion on medical-dental integration and its role in transforming the health care system.