The University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences will launch a virtual lecture series in January to train dental providers on primary care screenings.
The series aims to expand care for patients who see oral health providers more often than medical providers. It is the result of a partnership between the school's department of indigenous health, Centers for Rural Health and Project Echo, an educational model established by the University of New Mexico School of Medicine to train primary care physicians on specialty care services to expand care for underserved communities.
The one-hour lectures will be led by Timothy Ricks, DMD, assistant surgeon general and chief dental officer for the U.S. Public Health Service; and Natalia Chalmers, DDS, chief dental officer at CMS.
The sessions will provide free continuing education credits for providers.
"According to the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute, screening for chronic diseases in a dental setting may save $102.6 million each year in healthcare costs," said Shawnda Schroeder, PhD, assistant professor in the department of indigenous health. "Through these clinics, dental providers in the state will become more aware of the specific health concerns of their patients, especially those who are underserved and under-resourced."