The University of Minnesota is integrating dental hygienists into stroke care teams to provide early oral assessments, personalized hygiene plans, and ongoing support throughout recovery.

About the Program

The Integrated Stroke and Dental Hygiene Care Model embeds registered dental hygienists directly into hospital stroke teams.

Known as the Stroke and Oral Health Consortium – Care, Education and Research (SOCCER), the initiative integrates oral health assessment, individualized care, and education into inpatient stroke care and outpatient follow-up.

The model replaces reliance on reactive consultation with a proactive approach that makes oral health part of routine stroke care.

Who It Serves

The initiative serves patients experiencing cerebrovascular events and those receiving follow-up care who are at risk of recurrent events.

Its inpatient protocol includes patients with ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attacks, intracerebral hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage, as well as mechanically ventilated neurocritical care patients.

Organization: University of Minnesota School of Dentistry and Academic Medical Center
Sector: Workforce / Integrated Delivery Systems
Settings: Hospital stroke care and outpatient stroke clinic
Launched: 2026
Status: Active pilot with institutional support

The Gap It Addresses

A reactive consultation model can leave oral health needs unaddressed until a concern prompts a referral.

Following a stroke, changes in movement, coordination, and swallowing can also make everyday oral hygiene more difficult. Patients may need care plans and practical support adapted to these changes.

The initiative addresses these gaps by incorporating early dental hygiene assessment into the stroke care pathway and connecting oral care with rehabilitation and follow-up.

How the Approach Works

The model combines early assessment with individualized care and shared learning:

• Proactive assessment: A standardized pathway provides dental hygienist evaluations within 24 hours of admission to the stroke unit.
• Personalized oral care: Dental hygienists develop hygiene plans adapted to each patient’s neurological and functional needs.
• Team training: Nursing and rehabilitation staff receive training in oral care approaches for patients recovering from stroke.
• Patient and caregiver education: Practical guidance helps patients and caregivers manage oral hygiene during recovery.
• Outpatient follow-up: The stroke clinic provides targeted oral health education, screens for access to regular dental care, and supports continuity of care.

The initiative also promotes knowledge sharing between dental hygiene and stroke care professionals.

Early Implementation and Evidence

The submission reports that 100% of patients admitted to the stroke unit receive a dental hygienist evaluation within 24 hours of admission.

This is a measure of care delivery. Clinical outcome data are still emerging, and the submission does not yet provide findings on recurrent stroke, infection rates, or other patient outcomes.

Current Status

Launched in 2026, the model is an active pilot with institutional support.

Its current work focuses on integrating dental hygiene into inpatient stroke workflows, supporting patients and caregivers, and extending oral health education into outpatient stroke care.