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. 2025 Mar 3;13(1):e230.
doi: 10.21142/2523-2754-1301-2025-230. eCollection 2025 Jan-Mar.

Periodontal maintenance care compliance at federal qualified health clinics: a pilot study on dental staff' experiences while serving underserved communities

Yessenia Valverde Ingersoll  1
Affiliations

Periodontal maintenance care compliance at federal qualified health clinics: a pilot study on dental staff' experiences while serving underserved communities

Yessenia Valverde Ingersoll. Rev Cient Odontol (Lima). .

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the patient compliance at Federal Qualified Health Centers and the dental staff actions and experiences in oral health promotion within underserved communities.

Material and methods: An online survey was distributed through email via the National Network of Oral Health Access, to professional dental staff, including dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistant, front desk receptionists. Questions covered about management skills on scaling and root planning, knowledge of methods used in periodontal maintenance care recalls, and comprehension of factors that can affect periodontal care compliance. Statistical analysis was done using proportion and frequency.

Results: Subjects responded that 66% of patients are irregular compliant to periodontal care. Dental staff use education in periodontal health (25-38%), and behavior management (50%) tools to instruct patients during scaling and root planning. Conversely, receptionists use education in periodontal disease (50%) among prompt check-in, and financial assistance. All dental staff in FQHC, including receptionists, explain benefits of periodontal care and acknowledge concerns to continue patients' maintenance care recalls. For non-compliant patients, all dental staff used actions as visual education and explanation of consequences of lack of care, and receptionists (66%) responded that transferring phone calls was the most effective tool as patients responded better when contacted by their providers.

Conclusion: In Federal Qualified Health Centers, active communication with patients and knowledge and education in periodontal disease, by dental staff and front desk receptionists have a favorable influence in patients periodontal care compliance.

Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio es determinar el cumplimiento de los pacientes en los Centros de Salud Federales Calificados y las experiencias y acciones del personal dental en la promoción de la salud bucal dentro de comunidades desatendidas.

Material y métodos: Se distribuyó una encuesta en línea por correo electrónico, a través de la Red Nacional de Acceso a la Salud Bucal, al personal dental profesional, incluidos dentistas, higienistas dentales, asistentes dentales y recepcionistas. Se cubrieron preguntas sobre habilidades de gestión en raspado y alisado radicular, conocimiento de los métodos utilizados en los retiros del cuidado de mantenimiento periodontal y comprensión de los factores que pueden afectar el cumplimiento del cuidado periodontal. El análisis estadístico se realizó mediante proporción y frecuencia.

Resultados: Los sujetos respondieron que el 66% de los pacientes tienen un cumplimiento irregular del cuidado periodontal. El personal dental utiliza herramientas de educación en salud periodontal (25-38%) y manejo del comportamiento (50%) para instruir a los pacientes durante el raspado y alisado radicular. Por el contrario, los recepcionistas utilizan la educación sobre la enfermedad periodontal (50%) entre el registro rápido y la asistencia financiera. Todo el personal dental de FQHC, incluidas las recepcionistas, explican los beneficios del cuidado periodontal y atienden las inquietudes de los pacientes. Para los pacientes que no cumplían, el personal dental utilizó acciones como educación visual y explicación de las consecuencias de la falta de atención, mientras que los recepcionistas (66%) respondieron que transferir llamadas telefónicas era la herramienta más efectiva, pues los pacientes respondían mejor cuando eran contactados por proveedores.

Conclusión: En los Centros de Salud Calificados Federales, la comunicación activa con los pacientes y el conocimiento y educación en enfermedad periodontal, por parte del personal odontológico y recepcionistas, tiene una influencia favorable en el cumplimiento del cuidado periodontal de los pacientes.

Keywords: federal qualified health centers; periodontal disease; periodontal maintenance; root planning; scaling; underserved communities.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: I declare that I have no financial conflicts of interest to disclose related to this manuscript

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Strategies used by all dental staff in FQHC with patients during initial Scaling Root Planning appointment.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Dental Staff 's actions that help patients in FQHC return to Periodontal maintenance after Scaling and Root Planning is completed.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Tools that help convey oral care to patients in FQHC
Figure 4
Figure 4. Perception from dental staff about patients’ ability to perceive severity of periodontal disease.
Figure 5
Figure 5. Reinforcement’s methods used by dental staff if patients discontinued periodontal care compliance in FQHC.
Figure 6
Figure 6. Patients’ classification in FQHC respective their compliance to periodontal care maintenance.
Figure 7
Figure 7. Techniques used to promote periodontal care compliance in FQHC patients.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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