Adding a Registered Dental Hygienist to our Pediatrics Clinic: A 2020 DTA Foundation Grant Project

The DTA Foundation pivoted its funding in 2020 to projects relating to the pandemic and its negative affect on oral health care or overall care. Oklahoma City Indian Clinic was one of six 2020 grant recipients. See below for a brief description of their 2020 DTA Foundation grant project: Adding a Registered Dental Hygienist to our Pediatrics Clinic

With the mission to provide excellent health care to American Indians, OKCIC serves an especially vulnerable population to both incidence and mortality related to COVID19. Since the onset of the pandemic, there has been a significant drop in well-child visits resulting in delays in vaccination, delays in appropriate screening and referrals, and delays in anticipatory guidance to assure optimal health.

Our project proposal includes integrating a Registered Dental Hygienist into the Pediatric Clinic. Therefore, increasing access to oral health care during COVID19 while limiting exposure by requiring less personnel and facility transport in order for our patients and their families to receive comprehensive health care services.