Oral Health Problems and Solutions in High-Risk Children and Young Adults

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Healthcare
• Public Health
• Oral Health Research

Background:

• The Coordinated Healthcare for Complex Kids (CHECK) program serves publicly insured children and young adults with chronic diseases.
• CHECK integrates an oral health program across individual, family, and community levels.
• Understanding the baseline oral health status is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the baseline oral health status of patients enrolled in the CHECK program.
• To identify oral health problems and associated risk factors within this population.

Main Methods:

• Surveying CHECK patients over 18 and caretakers of younger patients regarding oral health.
• Utilizing Medicaid claims data to assess diagnoses and risk levels.
• Analyzing Chicago Public Schools attendance data to evaluate absenteeism.

Main Results:

• A total of 5,509 CHECK patients were included; 20.4% reported oral health problems in the past six months.
• Dental caries was the most frequent issue, affecting 13.7% of patients.
• Adolescents and young adults showed increased odds of oral health problems compared to children, as did individuals with worse general health. Males had lower odds than females.

Conclusions:

• The CHECK program is employing a comprehensive, multilevel strategy to address the oral health needs of its patient population.
• Findings highlight the importance of integrating oral health into chronic disease management for young people.