Implementing a Prenatal Oral Health Program Through Interprofessional Collaboration

Abstract

Interprofessional collaboration has become a critical component of accreditation standards in dentistry and medicine. This article reports on implementation in an academic setting of a prenatal oral health program (pOHP) that addresses coordinated care, accreditation standards, and new clinical practice guidelines. The pOHP is an educational intervention for third-year medical students, residents, and faculty members to deliver preventive oral health information and referral to a dental home for pregnant women. At the same time, senior dental students and faculty members are introduced to prenatal oral health principles and delivery of comprehensive oral health care to pregnant women. A systems-based approach was used to guide the pOHP implementation during the 2012-13 academic year. Participants were 96 third-year medical students (50% of the total in an obstetrics and gynecology clerkship) and all 81 fourth-year dental students. During that academic year, 126 dental referrals were made to the School of Dentistry, and 55 women presented for care, resulting in 50% (n=40) of dental students participating in the clinical experience and delivery of simple to complex oral health procedures. The prenatal period is a frequently missed opportunity to address oral health care. The pOHP is an interprofessional collaboration model designed to educate dental and medical providers and provide a system of referral for comprehensive clinical care of pregnant patients, including educating women about their oral health and that of their children. Such programs can help meet interprofessional accreditation standards and encourage implementation of practice guidelines.

Qualitative exploration of barriers and facilitators of dental service utilization of pregnant women: A triangulation approach

“…Both beliefs among health care providers that screening and referral for dental care during pregnancy is not their main duty and current patient overload precludes oral screenings for pregnant women from occurring [ 16 , 33 ]. It is recommended that legislating laws mandate interprofessional collaboration to refer, support or supplement care between health professionals regarding general health and oral health during pregnancy [ 39 ]. Developing formal referral processes that are easily trackable via electronic patient records, will allow for monitoring of timely referrals and delivery of necessary oral health services [ 34 ].…”

Oral Health in Pregnant Chinese Women in Singapore: A Call to Go beyond the Traditional Clinical Care

“…Pregnancy is among the best time for information seeking and a good opportunity for improving health knowledge, and pregnant women are generally more motivated to make behavior change for the well-being of the baby [ 46 ]. Improving health knowledge and practices will require the support of oral healthcare and prenatal care providers.…”

Perinatal Oral Health: A Novel Collaborative Initiative to Improve Access, Attitudes, Comfort Level, and Knowledge of Pregnant Women and Dental Providers

“…One previous study reported seeing 55 women, but that was over the course of one academic year. 25 The 34 women noted in this initiative represents those seen in the 2-day OHPDIs and does not include the additional pregnant women that were seen throughout the academic year.…”