Transforming Pediatric Oral Health: BCBS Dental Program Success
The Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Pediatric Dental Program is designed to improve oral health outcomes and reduce dental costs for children aged 4-8 insured by BCBS Medicaid who have recently undergone dental surgery. Through innovative tools like connected electronic toothbrushes, engaging educational resources, and personalized caregiver support, the program fosters positive oral hygiene habits and enhances access to preventive dental care.
| PROGRAM OBJECTIVES: | PROGRAM OUTCOMES: |
|---|---|
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71% of program participants had a decrease in costs of care post-surgery, compared to 56% of the control group*46% lower cost of care per patient post-surgery than the control group*
74% increase in utilization of preventive services per patient pre- to post-surgery vs. the control group* |
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66% of participants attended at least one follow-up dental appointment post-surgery94% reported that their children remained cavity-free at follow-up dental visits
Average brushing duration among participants was 124 seconds, achieving the recommended minimum of 2 minutes for effective brushing 90% said that their child looks forward to brushing their teeth and finds it to be an enjoyable process |
*Children who had dental surgery but did not participate in the program
Program Components
Care Communications:
Upon enrollment, participants receive text messages to support their oral health journey, with some including links to a library of resources (see Care Companion). Topics include oral health habits, education on good oral hygiene, reminders for regular dental visits and information on electronic toothbrush set-up and use.
Care Companion:
This cloud-based learning management system (LMS) provides vetted educational content that is personalized by participants’ self-expressed priorities and interests, structured into easy-to-follow sections to promote independent education, learning and self-care management.
GoMo Chat:
Much like a typical text conversation, GoMo Chat allows (secure) live messaging between participants and their care team, enabling in the - moment, on demand conversations.
Secure Data Collection and Reporting:
Engagement and experience data is collected and analyzed and reported back to providers for ongoing quality, clinical delivery and service improvement.
