Oral health is a right, not a privilege – @theU

Utah has some of the most favorable oral health policies in the nation. Residents who qualify for Medicaid will soon be able to receive comprehensive dental health care as early as next year. This is largely thanks to a collective commitment to serve under-resourced communities and make care more accessible.

In partnership with University of Utah Health, the University of Utah School of Dentistry is particularly innovative in its efforts to integrate oral health care into general medicine. New and exciting partnerships are forming between dentists and physicians, as well as other specialty care. More medical students are being trained to ask about and screen for oral conditions. In a single office visit, patients can receive medical and dental care.

Integrating dental and medical care increases the opportunity to address a patient’s oral health needs in a timelier way. Our research is showing that integrated oral health care may improve the management and care outcomes of conditions such as substance use disorder.

Forthcoming research focuses on the impact comprehensive oral health care under Medicaid has on management and cost of care for multiple chronic disease outcomes. The integration of medicine and dentistry at U of U Health creates a unique opportunity for collaborative research. This data contributes to health policies that address oral health inequities from childhood to adulthood and beyond.