Population Health Management Tools to Support School-Based Oral Health Partnerships and Address Disparities

Abstract

Background: Dental caries (cavities) experience is prevalent in US children, and national data show rates to be increasing among young children. Disparities are found for those in the low-income and non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic/Latinx groups. Use of caries prevention, specifically dental sealants, is low, even among school-based programs.

Contributions to theory: A population health management (PHM) framework may support targeted school-based case management to reduce oral health disparities. PHM-oriented tools were applied to a school-based oral health intervention and developed into a conceptual model. From 2014 to 2019, Chicago-based Oral Health Forum (OHF) developed a case management intervention in schools, utilizing PHM tools. Through programmatic and school-based partnerships, the PHM tools informed intervention to incorporate community-based organizations, case management staffing, oral health education, targeted community outreach, and Community Dental Health Coordinators' training.

Conclusions: Through a PHM framework, school-based oral health partnerships targeting high-need children was implemented. Use of PHM tools in school-based health programs should be considered in other high caries schools.

Keywords: chronic disease prevention and control; community health; data-driven decision-making in school health; oral health; population health; public health and public education partnerships.