Dental Pilot Project #200

To train Expanded Practice Dental Hygienists (EPDHs) and demonstrate that EPDHs can successfully place “Interim Therapeutic Restorations" (ITRs) when directed to do so by a collaborating dentist. The ITR is an interim restoration designed to stop the progression of dental caries until the patient can receive treatment for that tooth by a dentist.

Oregon is in the midst of a dental health care crisis with more than 91 areas in the state designated as dental care health professional shortage areas (Kaiser Family Foundation study, April 28, 2014). This level of “deficiency" translates to more than 61% of Oregon residents not having their dental care needs met. One county where the need is particularly great is Polk County, and it is within this county - and the Polk County School District that a collaborative consisting of OHSU School of Dentistry, University of the Pacific Center for Special Care, and Capitol Dental Care (CDC) will implement its pilot project to train Expanded Dental Hygienists to place interim therapeutic restorations (ITR) within the context of a telehealth connected dental team.*

This OHSU project has been planned and developed in collaboration with the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry (UoP) and Capitol Dental Care (CDC).**

Under the dental pilot project program [Capitol Dental Care] CDC will build upon existing community outreach programs in Polk County by adding the telehealth model to existing preventive services, which include assessment, radiographs, intra-oral photographs, cleanings, sealants, fluorides, oral health instruction, and ITR if indicated. CDC's telehealth connected dental team of Expanded Practice Dental Hygienists, dental assistants, and supervising dentist, will visit three schools within the District, serving approximately 10 children per day~75 per month with a total expected population of 1200-1500 measurable encounters over the life of the 15-month project.

Those children with advanced disease in need of additional care will be referred for care either through CDC's mobile van operatory, or directed to a dental clinic for restorative care, as needed.

This Dental Workforce Pilot Project (DWPP) will add one new duty to those currently permitted for Expanded Practice Dental Hygienists (EPDHs) that are part of a community-based telehealth connected team system of care already under way.

The Oregon Health and Science University will train Expanded Practice Dental Hygienists (EPDH) to perform a new duty in community settings to improve the oral health of underserved populations and demonstrate their ability to carry out this duty.

• Abstract (pdf)

• Project Approval (pdf)

• Project Timeline (pdf)

• Project Sites and Locations (pdf)