Population Health Management Tools to Support School-Based Oral Health Partnerships and Address Disparities.

Abstract

Dental caries (cavities) experience is prevalent in US children, and national data show rates to be increasing among young children. Disparities are found for those in the low-income and non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic/Latinx groups. Use of caries prevention, specifically dental sealants, is low, even among school-based programs. A population health management (PHM) framework may support targeted school-based case management to reduce oral health disparities. PHM-oriented tools were applied to a school-based oral health intervention and developed into a conceptual model. From 2014 to 2019, Chicago-based Oral Health Forum (OHF) developed a case management intervention in schools, utilizing PHM tools. Through programmatic and school-based partnerships, the PHM tools informed intervention to incorporate community-based organizations, case management staffing, oral health education, targeted community outreach, and Community Dental Health Coordinators' training. Through a PHM framework, school-based oral health partnerships targeting high-need children was implemented. Use of PHM tools in school-based health programs should be considered in other high caries schools.