Differences in use of dental and medical services by noninstitutionalized children in Ohio

BackgroundThe authors’ aim in this study was to evaluate and compare the use of dental and medical services among Ohio children by using data from the 2008 Ohio Family Health Survey (OFHS).MethodsThe 2008 OFHS data were gathered by means of a random-digit-dial telephone survey of more than 50,000 Ohio residents; they included parental interviews for more than 13,000 Ohio children. The authors compared children across three insurance coverage groups: those covered for the full year by Medicaid, those covered for the full year by private insurance, and those who were covered for only part of the year or who were uninsured. The authors determined differences between groups by means of an adjusted Wald test and analysis of variance. They excluded from the analysis children younger than 1 year.ResultsThe data represented 11,816 responses to questions regarding dental visits, medical visits and the methods used to pay for services for children aged between 1 year and 17 years. The percentages of children who had had a dental visit in the preceding 12 months and had not received needed dental care (as determined by the parent) were statistically significantly lower than percentages of children who had had a medical visit in the preceding 12 months and had not received needed medical care. Furthermore, the percentages of children who never had visited a dental care provider were statistically significantly higher than the percentages of children who never had visited a physician. The authors also observed significant differences in use of dental and medical services among children of different ages. Finally, uninsured children with noncontinuous coverage were the least likely to use health care services.ConclusionsOhio children’s use of medical services was dramatically better than their use of dental services. Although differences in use of medical and dental services are the results of complex, multifactorial factors affecting patients and providers, the robust data from this survey are generalizable to all noninstitutionalized children living in Ohio.     

Trends in use of dental care provider types and services in the United States in 2000-2016: Rural-urban comparisons

BackgroundThe authors conducted a study to assess recent trends in dental care provider mix (type of dental professionals visited) and service mix (types of dental procedures) use in the United States and to assess rural-urban disparities.MethodsData were from the 2000 through 2016 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. The sample was limited to respondents who reported at least 1 dental visit to a dental professional in the survey year (N = 138,734 adults ≥ 18 years). The authors estimated rates of visiting 3 dental professionals and undergoing 5 dental procedures and assessed the time trends by rural-urban residence and variation within rural areas. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the association between rural and urban residence and service and provider mix.ResultsA decreasing trend was observed in visiting a general dentist, and an increasing trend was observed in visiting a dental hygienist for both urban and rural residents (trend P values < .001). An increasing trend in having preventive procedures and a decreasing trend in having restorative and oral surgery procedures were observed only for urban residents (trend P values < .001). The combined data for 2000 through 2016 showed that rural residents were less likely to receive diagnostic services (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72 to 0.93) and preventive services (AOR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.78 to 0.96), and more likely to receive restorative (AOR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.21) and oral surgery services (AOR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.11 to 1.37).ConclusionsAlthough preventive dental services increased while surgical procedures decreased from 2000 through 2016 in the United States, significant oral health care disparities were found between rural and urban residents.Practical ImplicationsThese results of this study may help inform future initiatives to improve oral health in underserved communities. By understanding the types of providers visited and dental services received, US dentists will be better positioned to meet their patients’ oral health needs.     

Dental Care for Pregnant Women

BackgroundThe authors conducted a study to examine factors associated with general dentists' provision of care for pregnant women and the extent to which they provide comprehensive dental care.MethodsThe authors mailed an 86-item questionnaire to 1,000 practicing general dentists in North Carolina. Survey domains included provider knowledge about pregnancy and dental health, dental treatment practices, barriers to providing care, outcome expectancy, and personal and practice demographics. The primary dependent variables the authors analyzed were whether dentists provided any treatment to pregnant women and, among those who did, the extent to which they provided comprehensive services. The authors performed multivariate regression analyses to determine factors associated with dentists' provision of care to pregnant women (P < .05).ResultsA total of 513 surveys were returned (a response rate of 51.3 percent), of which 495 surveys had complete responses. The authors included the completed surveys in their analyses. The mean age of the respondents was 46 years. The results of multivariate analysis showed that respondents who perceived a lack of demand for services among pregnant women and provided preconception counseling were less likely to provide any treatment for pregnant patients than were those who perceived a demand for services and who did not provide preconception counseling, respectively. Dentists who were male, had a low knowledge score, provided preconception counseling and treated largely white populations of patients were less likely than female dentists, those who had moderate or high knowledge scores, and those who treated a population of minority patients to provide comprehensive care for pregnant women.ConclusionsMost general dentists in private practice provide care for pregnant women, but the authors found notable gaps in dental provider knowledge and comprehensive dental services available for pregnant women.Clinical ImplicationsAlthough many general dentists provide some dental care to pregnant women, more should be done to ensure that this care is comprehensive.     

Preventive dental utilization for Medicaid-enrolled children in Iowa identified with intellectual and/or developmental disability

Objectives: To compare preventive dental utilization for children with intellectual and/or developmental disability (IDD) and those without IDD and to identify factors associated with dental utilization.
Methods: We analyzed Iowa Medicaid dental claims submitted during calendar year (CY) 2005 for a cohort of children ages 3-17 who were eligible for Medicaid for at least 11 months in CY 2005 ( n  = 107,605). A protocol for identifying IDD children was developed by a group of dentists and physicians with clinical experience in treating children with disabilities. Utilization rates were compared for the two groups. Crude and covariate-adjusted odds ratios were estimated using conditional logistic regression modeling.
Results: A significantly higher proportion of non-IDD children received preventive care than those identified as IDD (48.6 percent versus 46.1 percent; P  < 0.001). However, the final model revealed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Factors such as older age, not residing in a dental Health Professional Shortage Area, interaction with the medical system, and family characteristics increased one's likelihood of receiving preventive dental care.
Conclusion: Although IDD children face additional barriers to receiving dental care and may be at greater risk for dental disease, they utilize preventive dental services at the same rate as non-IDD children. Clinical and policy efforts should focus on ensuring that all Medicaid-enrolled children receive need-appropriate levels of preventive dental care.     

Dental Care Utilization and Expenditures in Children With Special Health Care Needs

BackgroundThe authors compared children with special health care needs (CSHCN) and children without special health care needs (SHCN) with respect to the odds, amount and determinants of having any dental care and dental care expenditures.MethodsThe authors assessed data from the 2004 Medical Expenditures Panel Survey, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, to identify a sample of 8,518 children aged 2 to 17 years. The authors used logistic regression to determine the effect of having SHCN on the probability of having any dental care expenditure, for total dental care expenditures and procedure-specific expenditures. They tested the modifying effect between CSHCN and other variables on the probability of having any dental care expenditure.ResultsCompared with children without SHCN, CSHCN did not differ in the probability (odds ratio = 0.91, 95 percent confidence interval [CI] = 0.76 to 1.09) or amount (β = 30.17, 95 percent CI = ?162.93 to 223.27) of total dental care expenditures. Likewise, CSHCN did not differ in their likelihood of having undergone a preventive, restorative, diagnostic or other procedure. Known determinants of dental care utilization did not modify the relationships between having SCHN and any dental care expenditure.ConclusionsDespite the reported difficulty in CSHCN's accessing dental care, the authors found that CSHCN had dental care utilization and expenditures that were comparable with those of children without SHCN. Furthermore, the association of CSHCN status and any dental care expenditure was not modified by known determinants of dental care utilization. Future research should focus on characterizing risk for dental disease among CSHCN more accurately and identifying factors that affect dental care utilization in CSHCN, including provider and parent characteristics.Practice ImplicationsThe study results highlight low rates of dental care utilization among all young children, including CSHCN. Efforts to increase dental care utilization among children are warranted and need to include broad-based provider and parent initiatives.     

Michigan Medicaid's Healthy Kids Dental program: an assessment of the first 12 months

BACKGROUND: In 2000, Michigan's Medicaid dental program initiated Healthy Kids Dental, or HKD, a demonstration program offering dental coverage to Medicaid-enrolled children in selected counties. The program was administered through a private dental carrier at private reimbursement levels. The authors undertook a study to determine the effect of these changes. METHODS: The authors obtained enrollment and utilization data for four groups: children covered in the first 12 months of HKD in 22 counties, children with private dental coverage in the same 22 counties in the same 12 months, Medicaid-enrolled children in the same 22 counties for 12 prior months, and Medicaid-enrolled children in 46 counties who were not included in the HKD program at any time. The authors compared access to care, dentists' participation, treatment patterns, patient travel distances and program cost. RESULTS: Under HKD, dental care utilization increased 31.4 percent overall and 39 percent among children continuously enrolled for 12 months, compared with the previous year under Medicaid. Dentists' participation increased substantially, and the distance traveled by patients for appointments was cut in half. Costs were 2.5 times higher, attributable to more children's receiving care, the mix of services shifting to more comprehensive care and payment at customary reimbursement levels. CONCLUSIONS: By increasing reimbursement levels and streamlining administration, the HKD demonstration program has shown that substantial improvements can be made to dental access for the Medicaid-enrolled population. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The findings of this assessment suggest that appropriate attention to administration and payment levels can rapidly improve access for Medicaid-enrolled patients using existing dental personnel. By cooperating with state officials to design a program that addresses multiple issues, dental providers can help create a Medicaid dental program that is attractive to both providers and patients.     

Dental Caries and Treatment Need in Schoolchildren Related to Medicaid Enrollment

Objectives : This study compared dental caries status and treatment need in four groups of children: those not enrolled in Medicaid, those enrolled in Medicaid who used dental services prior to a dental survey, those enrolled in Medicaid who used services after the survey, and those enrolled in Medicaid who did not use dental services. Methods : This study used data on 6,620 children 5 to 18 years of age, who were representative of North Carolina schoolchildren and who participated in a statewide oral health survey in 1986–87. Clinical results from the survey were linked with a separate data base of Medicaid claims and enrollment files from 1984 to 1992. With this link, the surveyed children were classified into the four study groups and dental status compared. Results : Medicaid-enrolled children who used services prior to the survey had the highest caries prevalence of all groups (DMFS=1.74 at ages 6 to 11 years), and had fewer treatment needs (D/DMFS=19%) than children outside of Medicaid (DMFS=0.95, D/DMFS=33%). Enrolled children who never used dental services had a caries prevalence (DMFS=0.83) similar to children outside of Medicaid, yet had greater unmet treatment need (D/DMFS=62%). Conclusion : Caries prevalence did not differ substantially among groups; however, the level of unmet treatment did vary. Some Medicaid-enrolled children had a significant portion of their restorative treatment needs met.     

Determinants of dental care visits among low-income African-American children

BACKGROUND: The objective of the authors' analysis was to investigate the determinants of dental care visits among young, low-income African-American children. METHODS: Trained researchers interviewed a representative sample of low-income black families (caregivers and children aged 0 through 5 years) in Detroit to assess their dental visit history, dental insurance status and oral health behaviors. Dental examinations were conducted using the International Caries Diagnosis Assessment System (ICDAS). Of the 1,021 families who completed an interview and examination, a subset of the 552 children aged 3 to 5 years (and their primary caregivers) was the focus of this analysis. RESULTS: Children with private dental insurance had four times higher odds of having visited a dentist compared with those who had no dental insurance, and the odds for children receiving Medicaid were about 1.5 times higher. A child's age and a caregiver's educational attainment were positive and significant determinants of child dental visits. Caregivers who visited a dentist for preventive reasons were five times more likely to have taken their children to visit the dentist. Visiting a dentist was associated with an increased mean number of filled or missing tooth surfaces, but it was not significantly associated with the mean number of untreated decayed teeth. CONCLUSION: Children's dental insurance status was a significant determinant of their having visited a dentist. Even after the authors accounted for insurance status and other risk indicators, they found that children of caregivers who reported visiting a dentist for preventive care had a higher number of dental care visits. Determinants of caregivers' preventive dental visits must be identified and encouraged to improve the percentage of low-income children who visit dentists.     

The impact of dental Medicaid reform on dental care provider activity and market penetration of dental support organizations

BackgroundMedicaid state dental programs have experienced changes related to provider practice settings with the increased growth of dental support organizations (DSOs). The authors conducted this study to assess the impact of state Medicaid reform on the dental practice environment by examining provider activity and practice setting.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study of more than 13 million dental claims in the Virginia Medicaid program. It included children and dental care providers in the Virginia dental Medicaid program at some time during a 9-year period (fiscal years 2003-2011). The independent variable was the provider practice setting: private practice, DSO, and safety-net practice. The outcomes included annual measures of claims, patients, and payments per provider. The outcomes were examined over 3 phases of the study period: prereform (2003-2005), implementation phase (2006-2008), and postreform maturation (2009-2011).ResultsProvider activity increased after dental program reform, with private-practice providers delivering most of the dental care in the Medicaid program. There was a significant penetration of DSO providers in number of providers, claims per provider, and patients per provider (P < .001). Regression results found that providers in DSO settings had an increased number of patients and claims compared with private-practice providers.ConclusionsMedicaid reform has resulted in a significant increase in provider participation and growth of DSO-affiliated providers.Practical ImplicationsAreas of the state with more dense population had a higher penetrance of dentists practicing in DSO settings providing dental services to children enrolled in Medicaid.     

Medicaid costs associated with the hospitalization of young children for restorative dental treatment under general anesthesia

OBJECTIVE: This paper examines the cost to the Iowa Medicaid program of hospitalizing young children for restorative dental care under general anesthesia, and describes the dental services received in this setting. METHODS: Medicaid dental claims for young children receiving restorative dental care under general anesthesia during fiscal year 1994 were matched with corresponding hospital and anesthesia claims. RESULTS: The total cost to the Medicaid program of treating a child in the hospital under general anesthesia was $2,009 per case. Less than 2 percent of Medicaid-enrolled children under 6 years of age who received any dental service accounted for 25 percent of all dollars spent on dental services for this age group, including hospital and anesthesia care. The most frequent type of procedure was stainless steel crowns (SSCs), with an average of almost six per case. CONCLUSIONS: Early identification, prevention, and intervention are critically important to prevent the costly treatment of children with ECC in hospital operating rooms.     

An ABCD program to increase access to dental care for children enrolled in Medicaid in a rural county

OBJECTIVES: The Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD) Program addresses the needs of families in obtaining dental care. In this study, the program was evaluated in rural Stevens County, Washington. Aims were to assess utilization of dental services, average dental expenditures per child, and oral health status. METHODS: Medicaid-enrolled children aged 1-4 years were randomly assigned to the ABCD program (n=216) or to regular benefits (n=221). An outreach worker contacted each ABCD family and provided an orientation. Dental care utilization and expenditures were calculated from claims. A posttest-only design was used to evaluate oral health status. RESULTS: An enrollment effect was seen in ABCD, but the difference between groups was not sustained. There was a doubling of utilization between groups for the youngest cohort, while the others showed no differences. In the first year the rate was higher for the entire ABCD group than for the children not in ABCD (34.0% vs 24.7%). Thirty-three percent of ABCD children (70/212) who had visited the dentist had >1 appointment compared to 21.5 percent (47/219) for the children not in ABCD who had visited the dentist. There was no overall difference in expenditures, while expenditures for preventive services were greater for ABCD. ABCD children had fewer teeth with initial caries. The average incremental cost per child per initial lesion prevented was 31.44 dollars. CONCLUSION: ABCD most benefited the youngest cohort of children and improved health.     

Comparative analysis of dental procedure mix in public and private dental benefits programs

BackgroundThere is little published research on whether public and private dental benefits plans affect the types of oral health care procedures patients receive. This study compares the dental procedure mix by age group (children, working-age adults, older adults), dental benefits type (Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program, private), and level of Medicaid dental benefits by state (emergency only, limited, extensive).MethodsThe authors extracted public dental benefits claims data from the 2018 Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System. To compare procedure mix with beneficiaries who had private dental benefits, the authors used claims data from the 2018 IBM MarketScan dental database. The authors categorized dental procedures into specific service categories and calculated the share of procedures performed within each category. They analyzed procedure mix by age, plan type (fee-for-service, managed care), and adult Medicaid benefit level.ResultsAside from orthodontic services, the dental procedure mix among children with public and private benefits is similar. Among adults with public benefits, surgical interventions make up a higher share of dental procedures than routine preventive services.ConclusionsChildren with public benefits have a procedure mix comparable with those with private benefits. There are substantial differences in procedure mix between publicly and privately insured adults. Even in states that provide extensive dental benefits in Medicaid, those programs primarily finance invasive surgical treatment as opposed to preventive treatment.Practical ImplicationsThere is a need to assess best practices in publicly funded programs for children and translate those attributes to programs for adults for more equitable benefit design and care delivery across public and private insurers.     

Dental utilization by adult Medicaid enrollees who have indicators of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)

The purpose of this study was to determine dental utilization and type of dental services for Medicaid‐enrolled adults who had been identified as having intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Using Iowa claims data, the authors identified adults who met any of five IDD criteria for inclusion during calendar year 2005. Service utilization rates, including use of preventive dental, routine restorative, and complex restorative services, were determined. Approximately 60% of adults with IDD had at least one dental visit in 2005. Among adults with at least one dental visit, 83% received a preventive service, 31% a routine restorative service, and 16% a complex dental service. Those age 65 and older had fewer preventive dental services than other age groups. In Iowa, dental utilization for adults 22–64 years of age with IDD was reasonably high (64%) in 2005, but individuals over age 65 had lower utilization (45%).     

Evaluation of a dental society-based ABCD program in Washington state

BACKGROUND: The authors present a two-year evaluation of a dental society-managed dental care program in Washington state. A variation of the Access to Baby and Child Dentistry, or ABDC, program, the Mom & Me program was initiated to increase access to dental care for Medicaid-enrolled children younger than age 6 years in Yakima County. METHODS: This evaluation includes enrollment and visit data, first- and second-year cost data and results of a survey conducted with dental society members. RESULTS: The number of dentists treating Medicaid-enrolled children on a regular basis more than doubled, from 15 to 38 general dentists. In the first two years of the program, 4,705 children were enrolled and approximately 51 percent visited a dentist. CONCLUSIONS: The responses of dentists surveyed were positive, and the authors suggest that a dental society-managed program under the ABCD program -umbrella is a unique strategy for improving access to dental care for Medicaid clients. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: ABCD programs provide an avenue for dentists to treat children who otherwise would not receive care.     

Impact of a Medicaid policy on preventive oral health services for children with intellectual disabilities,developmental disabilities,or both

BackgroundIntegrating preventive oral health services (POHS) into medical offices may ease access to care for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The authors examined the impact of state policies allowing delivery of POHS in medical offices on receipt of POHS among Medicaid enrollees with IDD.MethodsThe authors used 2006 through 2014 Medicaid data for children with IDD aged 6 months through 5 years from 38 states. IDD were defined using 14 condition codes from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Chronic Conditions Data Warehouse. The length of the state’s medical POHS policy (no policy, < 1 year, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, or ≥ 4 years) was interacted with an indicator that the child was younger than 3 years. The authors used logistic regression models to estimate the likelihood that a child received POHS in a medical office or in a medical or dental office in a given year.ResultsAmong 447,918 children with IDD, 1.6% received POHS in medical offices. Children younger than 3 years in states with longer-enacted policies had higher rates of receiving POHS. For example, the predicted probability of receiving POHS was 40.6% (95% confidence interval, 36.3% to 44.9%) for children younger than 3 years in states with a medical POHS policy for more than 4 years compared with 30.6% (95% confidence interval, 27.8% to 33.5%) for children in states without a policy.ConclusionsState Medicaid policies allowing delivery of POHS in medical offices increased receipt of POHS among Medicaid-enrolled children with IDD who were younger than 3 years.Practical ImplicationsFew children with IDD receive POHS in any setting. Efforts are needed to reduce barriers to POHS for publicly insured children with IDD.     

How willing are dentists to treat young children?: A survey of dentists affiliated with Medicaid managed care in New York City, 2010

BackgroundDespite recommendations for children to have a dental visit by the age of 1 year, access to dental care for young children, including children enrolled in Medicaid, remains limited. The authors conducted a survey to assess the availability of dentists to see young children enrolled in Medicaid managed care (MMC) in New York City (NYC), to determine barriers to the provision of dental care to young children and, within the context of MMC, to identify strategies to facilitate the delivery of dental care to children.MethodsThe authors mailed a survey to assess the provision of dental services to young children and perceived barriers and facilitators to 2,311 general dentists (GDs) and 140 pediatric dentists (PDs) affiliated with NYC MMC. A total of 1,127 surveys (46 percent) were received. The authors analyzed the responses according to provider type, youngest aged child seen, provider’s ability to see additional children and practice location. The authors compared responses by using the χ² test.ResultsFewer than one-half (47 percent) of GDs saw children aged 0 through 2 years. Provider type, years in practice and percentage of Medicaid-insured patients were associated significantly (P χ .005) with youngest age of child seen. Among respondents seeing children aged 0 through 2 years, PDs were significantly more likely to provide preventive therapy (P = .004) and restorative treatment (P χ .001). Additional training and access to consulting PDs were identified by GDs as potential facilitators to seeing young children.ConclusionA high proportion of NYC GDs affiliated with MMC do not see young children.Practice ImplicationsNinety-four percent of NYC MMC– affiliated dentists are GDs, but 53 percent of GD respondents did not see children aged 0 through 2 years in their practices. Improving access to dental care for young children requires changes in GDs’ practices, possibly by means of additional training and access to consulting PDs.     

Determinants of oral health care utilization among diverse groups of immigrants in New York City

BackgroundFew studies have examined utilization of oral health care services among immigrants. The authors examined the determinants of utilization of oral health care among a diverse group of immigrants in New York City.MethodsThe authors examined and interviewed 1,417 foreign-born people, aged 18 to 65 years, who were residents of New York City. They conducted examinations by using criteria established by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, Bethesda, Md. The authors used unconditional logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95 percent confidence intervals for having visited a dentist within the previous year for each of the independent variables.ResultsMore than 70 percent of the participants lacked dental insurance and only about 31 percent reported that they had visited a dentist within the previous year. Flossing (OR = 1.18), dental insurance (OR = 1.58), having a regular source of dental care (OR = 4.76) and more filled teeth (1.33) were independent predictors of utilization of services.ConclusionsHaving a regular source of dental care and having dental insurance are important predictors of immigrants' utilization of oral health care services in New York City.Clinical ImplicationsThe study results suggest the importance of establishing affordable, culturally appropriate, community-based oral health care services to improve the oral health of vulnerable populations.     

Characteristics of publicly insured children with high dental expenses

BACKGROUND: Dental coverage is provided for all children with Medicaid in Washington State. The goal of this study was to illuminate the characteristics of a sample of Medicaid-enrolled children with high dental expenses. METHODS: Dental care utilization data for a 33-month period were obtained from Washington State's Medicaid database. For children, 0 to 6 years, these data were linked with a parent survey addressing oral health behaviors, knowledge, family history of caries, snacking patterns, and access to dental care. Children with dental expenses of $1,000 or more were classified as the "high-expense" group. Risk factors for the high-expense group were evaluated using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: 345 children had at least one dental procedure including preventive and diagnostic care. Among these, 30 children (9 percent) incurred 64 percent of total dental expenses for the entire group. Parent perception of lack of dental coverage was associated with incurring high dental expenses. Children of Asian or Pacific Islander heritage were at disproportionately high risk compared to White children. Age of child and family history of caries were also associated with increased risk for high expenses. CONCLUSIONS: Not all low-income children on Medicaid are at high risk for caries. A combination of factors, including family history of caries and parent's perception of lack of dental insurance coverage, can potentially increase a child's likelihood for high-expense dental treatment. This study highlighted a small group of children with disproportionately high dental expenses. For some, earlier knowledge of coverage may have resulted in more timely access to preventive and diagnostic care, reducing the subsequent need for expensive restorative treatment.     

Prevention of early childhood caries in North Carolina medical practices: implications for research and practice

Early childhood caries is a significant public health problem in low-income children, with important negative consequences for the child and the family. The purpose of this paper is to describe the development, implementation, and preliminary outcomes of preventive dentistry programs in North Carolina that target low-income children from birth to thirty-five months of age. The focus is on Into the Mouths of Babes, a statewide program in which pediatricians, family physicians, and providers in community health clinics are reimbursed by Medicaid to provide preventive dental services for children (risk assessment, screening, referral, fluoride varnish application) and caregivers (counseling). The provider intervention includes continuing medical education lectures and interactive sessions, practice guidelines for the patient interventions, case-based problems, practical strategies for implementation, a toolkit with resource materials, and follow-up training. In the first two years of the statewide program, 1,595 medical providers have been trained. The number of providers billing for these services has steadily increased, and by the last quarter of 2002, the number of visits in which preventive dental services were provided in medical offices reached 10,875. A total of 38,056 preventive dental visits occurred in medical offices in 2002. By the end of 2002, only sixteen of the state's one hundred counties had no pediatrician, family physician, or local health department participating. The preliminary results from this program demonstrate that nondental professionals can integrate preventive dental services into their practices. The program has increased access to preventive dental services for young Medicaid children whose access to dentists is restricted. Assessments of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of both the provider and patient interventions are under way.