Professor Danny Rosen is co-author on a paper that describes an interdisciplinary Infant Oral Health Education Program at the University of Pittsburgh bringing together trainees in social work, nursing, medicine, and dentistry.
Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in children yet most children living in vulnerable communities do not have access to dental professionals. Children in these communities often see their primary care practitioners more frequently than dentists and there is an opportunity for interprofessional teams to address this gap in care.
Key Findings:
- 78 trainees - 22 social work, 4 pediatric nurse practitioner, 38 pediatric medicine residents, and 14 pediatric dentistry residents.
- Four-fifths of the eligible trainees had fulfilled the State's requirements to receive Medicaid reimbursement for performing preventive oral health services.
- Three-fourths of trainees reported that they are likely to promote children's oral health in future clinical practice.