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Purpose: This short report details part of the findings of a larger, multiphasic research study considering Quality of Care (QoC) and Quality of Life (QoL) for socioeconomic and underserved rural populations accessing dental health care through a Public Health Department. Improving oral health for families that are socioeconomically disadvantaged, with cultural disparities, or lacking access to care was the goal of this project. The purpose of this project was documenting effectiveness of oral health care when dental hygienists working through local area health departments, as an alternative delivery model, provide quality educational and preventive care services. Clinical Outcomes: Over a 6 year period, 1,511 sealants were placed. Simple clinical practices using 4-handed dentistry and strict isolation techniques led to achieving a 95% or higher cumulative sealant retention rate. Dental caries was averted for 858 individuals over a 3 year period (2006 to 2009). Using a consultation-referral model, 463 individuals received restorative care. Results from this short report document clinical care practices for populations in rural communities with limited access to care while improving oral health outcomes. Conclusion: The clinical findings in this short report illustrate the successes of an oral health care program offered by a dental hygienist working collaboratively through a Community Public Health Department. Sealant retention, averted dental caries and restorative care provided using a consultative-referral model all illustrate clinical quality of care achieved when employing alternative care models outside the realm of traditional in office procedures. Keywords: quality of life, quality of care, outcomes, health disparities, prevention, education, allied health, dental hygiene, dental sealants This study supports the NDHRA priority area, Health Services Research: Investigate how alternative models of dental hygiene care delivery can reduce health care inequities., Introduction Sealants are recognized as a preventive tool for averting dental caries. (1-3) Multiple studies have validated sealant efficacy, cost/benefit ratios and need for preventing the most common chronic disease [...]

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to document quality of life (QoL) and quality of care (QoC) measures for families receiving care from dental hygienists within public health departments, and to consider if oral health for families with economic disparities and cultural differences was improved. Methods: A descriptive research study using a retrospective record review was conducted considering QoC. A review of state epid 'Do preventive oral health programs based in local health departments provide quality care services, thus impacting QoL for underserved populations?' Results: A dental hygienist working in public health made significant contributions to improving access to care and QoL in a rural, socioeconomically disadvantaged community. A total of 2,364 children received education, 1,745 received oral screenings and 1,511 received dental sealants. Of these, 804 children with caries were referred, with 463 receiving restorations and follow-up care. QoL metrics basis assessed Health Outcomes & Health Determinants. Initial QoL data was ranked in the bottom half of the state, while 70% of original determinant data was also ranked in the bottom half of reported metrics. Conclusion: Dental hygienists in public health settings can positively affect patients offering preventive care outreach services. Education and sealant placement were considered effective as measured by access, delivery and, when required, referral for restorative care. Improvement in QoL for individuals was noted through improved health outcomes and determinant metrics. Keywords: quality of life, quality of care, outcomes, health disparities, prevention, education, allied health, dental hygiene, access to care, workforce development This study supports the NDHRA priority area, Health Services Research: Investigate how alternative models of dental hygiene care delivery can reduce health care inequities., Introduction Lack of access to oral health care education, preventive and treatment services continues to plague un-served and underserved children, families and elderly in Wisconsin. (1) The Northern Area Health [...]