
Improving outcomes for pregnant women and people with diabetes
Can expanding dental care access for expectant mothers and people with diabetes improve overall health outcomes? Beginning in January 2019, the state launched Oral Health Connections, a three-year pilot program that aims to expand oral health care access for pregnant women and people with diabetes to produce better health outcomes. Gum disease can contribute to diabetes complications and has been linked to unfavorable birth outcomes in newborns. Improved oral health will help patients manage their diabetes and contribute to a healthy pregnancy.
The Oral Health Connections pilot will link Apple Health-insured pregnant women and patients with diabetes with dental care in their community. The model is based on the nationally-recognized Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD) program. The Oral Health Connections program will operate in three pilot counties: Thurston, Spokane, and Cowlitz.
In partnership with the Arcora Foundation and local health organizations, the pilot project includes training and enhanced reimbursements for providers treating eligible patients and care coordination. Studies show that pregnant women and people with diabetes who have regular dental visits experience fewer medical complications and shorter hospital stays than those who do not.
Oral Health Watch supports the Oral Health Connections pilot program and other innovative approaches to reduce health disparities among Washington state’s most vulnerable and underserved populations.
Click here to tell legislators that you support innovations like the Oral Health Watch Connections pilot.
Oral Health Watch
12h
Pediatricians see kids as many as 9 times by the time they reach age 2 for well child visits. Integrating oral health into well child visits and other routine checkups helps identify problems early while underscoring that oral health is integral to overall health. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
12h
Pediatricians see a kid as much as 9 times by the time they're 2yo for well child visits. Integrating oral health into well child visits and other helps identify problems early while underscoring that oral health is integral to overall health. #teethmatter
It's Interprofessional Healthcare Month! Medical-dental integration improves access and "puts the mouth back in the body." MouthMatters trains pediatricians to integrate oral health services into well-child visits.
Learn more and contact us! 👇
https://arcorafoundation.org/preventing-dental-disease-in-pediatric-primary-care/
Oral Health Watch
1d
👇👏#teethmatter
We can't celebrate National Public Health Week without mentioning one of the top public health achievements! Community water fluoridation is a cost-effective, equitable way to prevent oral disease for all: https://washingtonwaterfluoridation.org/ #NPHW
Oral Health Watch
4d
Public health promotes and protects the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work and play. Understanding how social determinants impact health can help us all identify and address health disparities and to promote overall health equity. #teethmatter #NPHW
Oral Health Watch
4d
Public health promotes and protects the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work and play. Understanding how social determinants impact health can help us all identify and address health disparities and to promote overall health equity. #teethmatter #NPHW
Oral Health Watch
4d
Public health promotes and protects the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work and play. Understanding how social determinants impact health can help us all identify and address health disparities and to promote overall health equity. #teethmatter #NPHW