Readings selected to deepen context before the conversation begins.
This collection brings together perspectives on prevention, oral-systemic integration, health equity, aging, and the changing structure of health care delivery. Together, these materials are meant to support a more informed and productive discussion across disciplines.
Oral health, integration, and prevention
These readings explore prevention, oral-systemic integration, and the broader clinical and public health case for more connected models of care.
Community Water Fluoridation: Changing Perceptions for the Public Good
A timely perspective on community water fluoridation, public understanding, and the communication challenges that shape policy and perception.
Financial Aid for Dental Students: Implications of Recent Legislation
An overview of how recent legislation may affect dental students, workforce development, and the future accessibility of the profession.
The Case for Oral-Systemic Integration: Is Dental Artificial Intelligence the Missing Link?
A forward-looking discussion of oral-systemic integration and the role artificial intelligence may play in closing longstanding gaps between dental and medical care.
Integration of oral health care within the healthcare system
A comprehensive review of global efforts and WHO recommendations for incorporating oral health into primary care.
A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial of Prenatal Oral Hygiene Education in Pregnancy-Associated Gingivitis
Clinical trial results demonstrating the impact of prenatal oral hygiene education on managing pregnancy-associated gingivitis.
Strategies for Medical-Dental Integration
These resources examine system-level interventions, operational frameworks, and outcomes related to scaling Medical-Dental Integration (MDI) across adult and whole-person care settings.
Strategies to integrate oral health into primary care: a systematic review
A systematic review evaluating the effectiveness of strategies to integrate oral health into primary care settings.
Commentary: What is the evidence on the effectiveness of strategies to integrate oral health into primary care?
A commentary reflecting on recent findings regarding the effectiveness of medical-dental integration strategies.
Scaling Medical Dental Integration Nationally: Outcomes from the MORE Care Initiative
An overview of the MORE Care Initiative's outcomes in scaling medical-dental integration across national platforms.
Medical-Dental-Behavioral Integration: Embracing Whole-Person Health
A special issue discussion on models that link oral, behavioral, and systemic health in integrated care systems.
System-Based Intervention for Medical Providers to Improve Dental Attendance in Adult Primary Care
Research detailing system-level interventions designed to boost adult dental attendance via primary care channels.
Delivery of Oral Health Services at Medical Visits through 3 Medical Dental Integration Models
An analysis of three distinct models for delivering oral health services during routine medical visits.
Healthcare Providers’ Oral Health Practices Participating in a Regional Oral Health Intervention
An evaluation of provider practices and adherence within a regional oral health integration intervention.
Medical–Dental Integration: Oral Health (OH-I-CAN®) Program
Insights from the OH-I-CAN program demonstrating practical applications of medical-dental integration.
Pediatric Preventive Care & Fluoride Integration
These readings focus on the specific workflows, training needs, and outcomes associated with integrating preventive pediatric dental care into routine medical visits.
Transforming the Primary Care Oral Health Landscape through Quality Improvement
A look at quality improvement initiatives aimed at transforming how oral health is delivered in primary pediatric care.
Increasing Dental Varnish Rates in a Large Pediatric Care Network: A Quality Improvement Effort
A quality improvement report on strategies that successfully increased dental varnish application rates within a large pediatric network.
Multilevel Interventions and Dental Attendance in Pediatric Primary Care: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial
A randomized clinical trial assessing how multilevel interventions in pediatric primary care impact dental attendance.
Barriers and Facilitators to Delivery of Fluoride Varnish Application in Pediatric Well-Child Visits
A post-implementation analysis identifying the key barriers and facilitators to applying fluoride varnish during well-child visits.
Integrating Fluoride Varnish Delivery in Primary Care: Insights from a Workflow and Cost Analysis
An examination of the operational workflows and cost implications of delivering fluoride varnish in primary care settings.
Changes in Children’s Receipt of Fluoride Varnish
Research tracking trends and changes in the administration of fluoride varnish to children over time.
Identifying training needs of healthcare providers to implement caries risk assessment
A study examining the specific training requirements for healthcare providers adopting caries risk assessment tools.
Health systems, corporatization, and equity
These articles examine structural forces shaping health care delivery and their implications for accountability and public health outcomes.
Private Equity’s Transformation of American Medicine: Implications for Health Equity
A concise examination of how private equity is reshaping American medicine and what that transformation may mean for health equity.
Defining Health Care “Corporatization”
A useful framing piece that clarifies what corporatization means in health care and why that definition matters in policy and practice.
To Improve US Life Expectancy, a New North Star Is Needed
A call to rethink the metrics and priorities that guide US health policy in light of persistent life expectancy challenges.
Advancing the Science and Scholarship of Health Equity
A perspective on strengthening the evidence base and scholarly infrastructure needed to move health equity from aspiration to action.
Aging and interdisciplinary care
This reading highlights the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to oral health in older adults, a critical lens for the Convening’s broader wellness and longevity focus.
Interdisciplinary Strategies for Improving Oral Health in Older Adults: A Comprehensive Review
A comprehensive review of interdisciplinary strategies for improving oral health in older adults, with relevance for integrated care and healthy aging.
