Collaborative oral health and chronic disease integration interventions in six states improved education, screening, and referral outcomes for populations at risk of chronic disease.
Background
Poor oral health is closely linked with chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease as well as risk factors like tobacco use and high sugar consumption. Despite these connections, oral health and chronic disease systems remain largely separate. To address this gap, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched the Models of Collaboration pilot project, supporting states in integrating oral health and chronic disease efforts. This study examines the experiences of participating states to identify facilitators and barriers to collaboration and implementation.
Findings
State pilot projects included media campaigns, clinical education, and clinical workflows to improve chronic disease screening and address shared risk factors for oral health and chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, obesity, stroke, and tobacco use). These initiatives supported clinician training, patient education, and development of screening and referral systems across participating states. Insights were drawn from interviews with oral health and chronic disease program staff and review of project documents and reports. Common facilitators of integration included relationship building, consistent communication, championing medical-dental integration, partner support, and providing technical assistance to clinics. Reported barriers included the perception of oral health as separate from chronic disease, a lack of dedicated funding to support collaboration, limited provider buy-in, and difficulties building referral networks across historically siloed fields.
Program/Policy Takeaways
State agencies and providers can use the identified facilitators and barriers in this study to improve collaboration amongst oral health and chronic disease programs and better address shared risk factors among overlapping populations.
