ORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE:

Current Resources, Opportunities for Improvement

WHY?

• Dental care is the most frequently cited unmet healthcare need among people with developmental disabilities.– Geography– Residential status– Socioeconomic status/insurance coverage– Co-morbidities (behavioral and medical)– Training and attitudes of dentist/hygienist

HOW? A two-step approach

SURVEY• Web-based survey of

area dentists and dental hygienists

• Email promotion of survey– Eastman Institute for Oral

Health– Rochester General

Hospital– 7th District Dental Society– 7th District Dental

Hygienists’ Association

FOCUS GROUPS• Three-to-four focus groups • Target members:

– General dentists and hygienists in private practice

– Pediatric dentists and hygienists in private practice

– Dentists and hygienists in community clinics

– Dentists and hygienists in academic centers

PROGRESS

• Survey has been created, piloted, revised and released– 155 respondents (as of March 9th, 2012)

• DDS: 57%• RDH: 43%

• Focus groups are currently forming

SURVEY

• Under what conditions would you be willing to increase the number of patients with disabilities treated in your office?– I need a referral system for difficult cases: 24%– I need increased reimbursement: 27%– I need to discuss cases with experienced

providers: 30%– I need continuing education courses: 30%– I do not want to treat more patients with

disabilities: 13%

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

• Continued promotion of survey through reminder mailing, word-of-mouth

• Focus groups to be held April 2012

• Analysis of data from surveys and focus groups

• Drafting of strengths and weaknesses of oral health workforce, and future action recommendations

THANK YOU

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?