Matthew M. Davis|Thomas J. Hilton|S. Bruce Benson|Judith Schott|Ann Howard|Paul McGinnis|Lyle J. Fagnan
Unmet Dental Needs in Rural Primary Care: A Clinic-, Community-, and Practice-based Research Network Collaborative
Research Network (United States)|Research Network (United States)|Research Network (United States)|Research Network (United States)|Research Network (United States)|Research Network (United States)|Research Network (United States)
background oral health essential component general health wellbeing yet barriers access dental care unmet needs pronounced particularly rural areasdespite associations systemic health studies assessed unmet dental needs across lifespan present primary carethis study describes prevalence oral health conditions unmet dental needs among patients presenting routine care rural oregon family medicine practicemethods eight primary care clinicians trained conduct basic oral health screenings 7 dental conditions associated international statistical classification diseases related health problems 9 clinical modification codesduring 6week study period patients older 12 months age presented practice regularly scheduled appointment received screening completed brief dental access surveyresults 1655 eligible patients 407 n 674 received screening 669 n 1108 completed surveyhalf patients screened 460 n 310 oral health conditions detected including partial edentulism 245 dental caries 129 complete edentulism 99 cracked teeth 89twentyeight percent patients reported experiencing unmet dental needspatients dental insurance significantly likely report better oral general health outcomes compared insurance health insurance onlyconclusions oral health diseases unmet dental needs presented substantially patients ages ranging across lifespan one rural primary care practiceprimary care settings may present opportune environments reaching patients unable obtain regular dental care