Bridging Gaps

In 2025, the FMEC is launching a project to explore how primary care providers (PCPs) within the family medicine academic system manage oral health care. This initiative, which emphasizes care for veterans due to their increased burden of dental disease along with behavioral health and other needs, is made possible by a generous grant from the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, Inc.

The FMEC will evaluate family medicine residency programs through surveys and interviews to understand current oral health and veteran services, the challenges in teaching about them, and ideas for improvement. Based on these insights, a Performance Improvement/Continuing Medical Education (PICME) project will be developed, focusing on training and enhancing collaboration between medical and dental care.

Veterans are an underserved population, and we can help them better access interdisciplinary care. Veterans are:

• Impacted by high rates of periodontitis and missing or filled teeth, even when controlling for factors like chronic medical conditions and smoking status

• 60% more likely than nonveterans to experience tooth decay, impacting daily functioning and productivity

• more likely than nonveterans to have health conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, which are associated with poor oral health and lead to higher out-of-pocket costs

• in need of innovative solutions that link behavioral health and oral health

This residency learning network project will enroll family medicine programs in March 2025. To join this collaborative, contact Rebecca Bouck at rebecca.bouck@fmec.net. 

For more information, visit https://www.fmec.net/medical-dental-integration.