Something to Smile About: Preventive Dental Care Project for Garrett County

Topics	Dental health Networking and collaboration
States served	Maryland
Description	The Something to Smile About: Preventive Dental Care Project for Garrett County was established by the Garrett County Health Department, Garrett County Memorial Hospital, Garrett County Dental Society, and the Garrett County Community Action Committee to: • Provide dental health care to underserved individuals by utilizing existing private providers and providing additional dental care service through a community dental health center • Develop a sustainable dental network by coordinating community efforts to negotiate with managed care organizations (MCOs) and to recruit needed health providers to the area • Develop and conduct a comprehensive education campaign promoting preventive dental health care
Services offered	The Garrett County Health Department (GCHD) formed a network of community dentists to provide dental care in their offices or in the GCHD dental clinic. The network negotiated for higher reimbursement rates from MCOs. This, combined with GCHD guaranteeing payment and acting as "middle man" between MCOs and dentists, resulted in the number of dentists seeing MCHP and medical assistance (MA) patients increase from three to six in the County. A dental surgery center was established in the local hospital where a general dentist can perform dental surgery while the patient is under general anesthesia, thus eliminating 6-month waits for this service in a hospital that is over 50 miles away. The network also advocated for fluoridation of community water supplies. Three municipalities subsequently voted to fluoridate their water.
Results	Dental education was also increased in the public school using a dental hygienist, community outreach workers, and an AmeriCorps member. Other results of the program include: • Providing coordinated dental care to 2,365 patients (the goal was 1,500) • Providing community education directly to 11,996 individuals • Providing Continuing Medical Education (CME) to 30 health professionals • Successfully recruiting a dentist to provide full-time services in the public health dental clinic
Replication	This project could be replicated in other rural settings with several factors considered beforehand. Recruitment of dentists to a rural area is difficult. Some local dentists who rely heavily on MA patients in their practice may feel threatened by this type of program. Prior agreement is essential. Encouragement and direction from the State Office of Oral Health can greatly facilitate program efforts.
Source	Outreach Sourcebook, Vol. 9, 1999-2002, Office of Rural Health Policy
Contact person	Robert Stephens, M.S. Director, Community and Family Health Garrett County Health Department 1025 Memorial Drive Oakland, MD 21550 Phone: (301) 334-7739 Fax: (301) 334-7771 E-mail: rstephens@dhmh.state.md.us
Date added	July 11, 2005

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