Oral Health Needs and Experiences of Medicaid Enrollees With Serious Mental Illness

Medicaid dental benefits that cover only dental cleanings and low levels of oral health knowledge create barriers to utilizing needed preventive dental care. Lack of perceived need for preventive dental services and lack of contact with dentists necessitates the development of targeted oral health promotion efforts that speak to the specific needs of this group and are disseminated in locations of frequent contact. The Medicaid population with serious mental illness would be an ideal group to target for the integration of chronic oral, physical, and mental health prevention services and control.