New model includes oral health as part of routine medical care.
+ Technology/Innovation
Jamie Barrand | Jan 2, 2016

New model includes oral health as part of routine medical care

Many health care providers support the inclusion of preventative oral health as part of routine medical health services -- with backers including officials from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).

A recent white paper prepared by representatives of health care consulting company Qualis Health offers the Oral Health Delivery Framework, a new model that includes oral health in routine medical care and calls for better communication and cooperation between primary care physicians and dentists.

The model was developed by Dr. Mark Deutchman, professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus School of Medicine in Aurora, and family physicians Dr. Bruce Bagley and Dr. Russell Maier. They have each received resounding support from both medical doctors and oral care providers.

"Oral health is closely linked to overall health across the lifespan," Deutchman said. "As soon as physicians understand that dental caries is a vertically transmitted, infectious preventable disease, they understand that addressing it needs to be part of our care."

Dr. Jonathan Sugarman, Qualis Health president and CEO, agreed.

"Oral disease is largely preventable and can complicate the management of other chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease," he said. "Engaging primary care teams in oral health is a critical strategy for reducing the impact of oral diseases and improving population health."

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