Defining Quality in Oral Health Care

A critical factor in America's current health care crisis is that millions of people are unable to access or afford quality dental care. The dental industry needs to move forward in changing that by identifying ways to improve delivery and partner with all other health care stakeholders to ensure effective, patient-centered care.

In 2009, Institute for Oral Health took on this challenge, collaborating with experts in focus groups and our 4th annual National Conference that was held October 15 & 16, 2009 in San Jose, CA.

Key areas of focus have included:

• Best practices in evidence-based dentistry and dental data tracking
• Using outcomes in oral health quality assessments; and measures developed by Delta Dental
• Internationally recognized change models to transform healthcare outcomes
• VA Office of Dentistry's Oral Health Quality measures and prevention models

 

"The purpose of collecting data is to actually see what dentists do when they say a patient is high risk, and what services they provide. We can then build
plans that match what providers are doing –and hopefully help support better outcomes."

– Dr. Ron Inge
IOH Executive Director

"We absolutely must have standardized benchmarks so we can all compare what we’re doing. We have to be transparent and use the same metrics. Only then will we be able to move forward on really improving quality."

– Dr. Timothy Ward
Asst Under Secretary, VA Office of Dentistry

"In terms of measuring quality--  by adopting best practices and providing the kinds of resources that help clinicians do their best work, you’re going to have better overall care and better overall patient health."

– Dr. David Gesko
Dental Director, HealthPartners, Inc.