In 2000, a report by the United States Surgeon General described poor oral health as a silent epidemic. Since then, there has been mounting evidence on uneven access to oral health services. Furthermore, those with the most limited access include children, older adults, racial/ethnic minorities, and low-income populations.
Oral health providers are using a variety of innovative strategies to expand access to oral health services in community-based settings, including federally qualified health centers, schools and nursing homes, among others. This web-based compilation summarizes best practices in innovative oral health service delivery programs drawn from over 40 case studies conducted by the Oral Health Workforce Research Center (OHWRC). Each summary will be presented in a standard 2-page format highlighting key program elements, with special attention to the organizations’ workforce strategies that have successfully expanded access to care for underserved populations.