Impacting Vulnerable Populations Through Integrating Oral Health Care Into Nurse-managed Health Centers

• Vulnerable populations have increased oral health needs.
• Integrating oral health into primary care visits impacts patient outcomes.
• Oral health education addresses needs in vulnerable populations.

The purpose of this project was to establish an evidence-based integrated oral health care program for children in 3 nurse-managed health centers and to describe the vulnerable populations served by these clinics, their oral health needs, and the impact of the oral health integration program. This project used a mixed method, nonrandomized, cross-sectional design. All children received oral risk screening, oral examinations, oral health education, and appropriate dental referrals. Demographic data, oral health data, and program engagement and satisfaction data were collected. Results reveal unique population demographics, their unmet oral health needs, and the impact of basic oral health teaching on this vulnerable population.