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Evaluation of a dental society-based ABCD program in Washington state
Sonia I Nagahama1, Steven E Fuhriman, Carree S Moore
1Department of Dental Public Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
Background:
The authors present a two-year evaluation of a dental society-managed dental care program in Washington state. A variation of the Access to Baby and Child Dentistry, or ABDC, program, the Mom & Me program was initiated to increase access to dental care for Medicaid-enrolled children younger than age 6 years in Yakima County.
Methods:
This evaluation includes enrollment and visit data, first- and second-year cost data and results of a survey conducted with dental society members.
Results:
The number of dentists treating Medicaid-enrolled children on a regular basis more than doubled, from 15 to 38 general dentists. In the first two years of the program, 4,705 children were enrolled and approximately 51 percent visited a dentist.
Conclusions:
The responses of dentists surveyed were positive, and the authors suggest that a dental society-managed program under the ABCD program -umbrella is a unique strategy for improving access to dental care for Medicaid clients.
Clinical Implications:
ABCD programs provide an avenue for dentists to treat children who otherwise would not receive care.