The Rhode Island RIte Smiles program is committed to providing high-quality dental care to children across the state. To achieve this goal, the program closely monitors several key Dental Quality Alliance (DQA) measures. These measures help ensure children receive comprehensive, preventive and necessary dental services. The 5 DQA measures include:
- Oral Evaluation (OEV): Percentage of enrolled children under age 21 who receive a comprehensive or periodic oral evaluation within the reporting year
- Utilization of Services (UTL): Percentage of enrolled children under age 21 who receive at least 1 dental service within the reporting year
- Topical Fluoride (TFL): Percentage of children under age 21 who received at least 2 topical fluoride applications within the reporting year
- Sealants on First Molars (SFM): Percentage of enrolled children who have ever received sealants on permanent first molar teeth by the 10th birthdate: (1) at least 1 sealant and (2) all 4 molars sealed
- Sealants on Second Molars (SSM): Percentage of enrolled children who have ever received sealants on permanent second molar teeth by the 15th birthdate: (1) at least 1 sealant and (2) all 4 molars sealed
Strategies to help dental providers meet the DQA measures for the RIte Smiles program
- Patient education: Educate parents and caregivers about the importance of regular dental check-ups, preventive care and early detection of dental issues. Use brochures, videos and in-office discussions to reinforce these messages.
- Reminder systems: Implement reminder systems such as phone calls, texts and emails to ensure patients schedule and attend their dental appointments. Automated reminders can help reduce missed appointments and improve adherence to recommended care schedules.
- Collaboration with other healthcare providers: Partner with pediatricians, family doctors and other healthcare providers to refer children for dental evaluations and preventive treatments during routine medical visits. This collaboration can help identify children who need dental care and ensure they receive timely services.
- Flexible scheduling and extended hours: Offer flexible scheduling options and extended hours to accommodate families' busy schedules. This can help increase access to dental care and ensure that more children receive the services they need.
Together, we can help ensure every child has access to the dental services they need for a healthy and bright future. Thank you for your continued commitment to excellence in pediatric dental care. You can find detailed information about the DQA measures on the American Dental Association's website: DQA Dental Quality Measures.