Graphic of the week: Ohio dental related ED visits

Children and adults in Ohio turn to emergency departments for preventable dental issues at far higher rates than the national average.
 
In 2022, Ohio children on Medicaid were nearly twice as likely as children nationwide to visit the ED for dental caries. And Ohio adults experienced higher rates of ED visits for non-traumatic dental conditions than the rest of the country, as illustrated above.
 
These patterns highlight gaps in access to preventive oral health services and underscore the need for new approaches to address the issue. One of those approaches is the MORE Care® Ohio pilot, which brings medical and dental providers together to integrate oral health into pediatric primary care, expanding access and prevention for children across the state.
 
The pilot, which is highlighted in CareQuest Institute for Oral Health’s Partners in Progress report, demonstrates how collaboration, training and data-driven approaches can bridge gaps in care and reduce disparities, especially in rural areas. To advance this work, HPIO and Oral Health Ohio recently convened stakeholders from across Ohio to discuss findings, share perspectives and explore strategies for scaling integrated care models statewide.
 
For more evidence-informed strategies to improve oral health in Ohio, see the State Oral Health Plan 2023-2027.