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Summary: This article describes the implementation and outcomes of a social work program in a university pediatric dental clinic serving low-income families. The goal was to decrease barriers to dental care access, decrease appointment failure, and improve interprofessional practice (IPP). Funding was obtained through a foundation to hire a social worker and two interns, and cover program costs. A survey identified barriers families faced to obtain and complete pediatric dental care. Residents, dental students, and faculty make referrals to the social workers who intervene to help families overcome challenges for their children's care. Findings: The program started in January 2019 and outcomes are reported through June 2021. The largest barriers families identified were lack of a pediatric dentist near home accepting public insurance (91%), the dentist who saw their child only did exams and cleanings but not fillings (84%), and need for specialized dental care (77%). Five hundred and eleven families were referred to the social workers, most commonly for resources, information or other referrals (30.5%), dental insurance lapse (14.9%), caregiver guidance on oral health (10.6%), mental health concerns (10.4%), and poor treatment compliance (9.6%). Social workers provided 424 interventions, mostly about information regarding community resources (26.8%), transportation issues (15.9%), and telephone consults (14.2%). Appointment failure rates decreased from 17% to 13.5%, while the cancelation rate decreased from 19.2% to 14.3% from January 2019 to June 2021, respectively. Applications: Social workers helped decrease barriers to pediatric dental care, improve attendance to dental appointments, and enhance IPP for pediatric dental residents, students, and faculty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine if caregivers' race and ethnicity impact their willingness to accept passive immobilization for their child's dental treatment and to determine if a detailed description of passive immobilization will make caregivers more likely to accept the technique. Methods: Caregivers of one- to 11-year-old patients were recruited in a university pediatric dental clinic. They completed two surveys and reviewed a written and pictorial description of passive immobilization. Results: A total of 266 caregivers participated. Subjects were willing to accept passive immobilization at the following percentages by race/ethnicity: Hispanic (84 percent); African American (66 percent); Asian (50 percent); and non-Hispanic Caucasian (24 percent). There was a significant association between a caregiver's race and ethnicity and the willingness to consent to passive immobilization (P=.000), and in willingness to accept passive immobilization after reviewing its detailed description (P=.000). Conclusion: Differences in acceptance of passive immobilization were observed based upon race and ethnicity. African American and Hispanic caregivers were more willing to accept the technique than their Asian and non-Hispanic Caucasian counterparts. Caregivers were more likely to accept the use of passive immobilization after they were given more information about the technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]