Section 2: Dental Partnership Activities

Clients Served

The number of clients receiving Dental Partnership services increased from 3,235 patients in 2004 (the first full year of operations) to 4,328 patients in 2006—a 34 percent increase (see table, p.10). There is considerable variation in the number of patients seen annually across programs, ranging from 120 to 629 individuals. This is attributable to several factors, including capacity, outreach, retention strategies, and needs within specific areas.

Patients are also getting more regular care as a result of the work of Dental Partnerships. In 2004, the average number of visits per patient per year was 4.2 but increased to 5.2 in 2006.

Beyond numbers served, the impact of the Dental Partnership is notable in terms of improved access to dental care at specific sites.

• In Colorado, the Partnership grantee the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center significantly increased utilization of oral health services. Only 15 percent of HIV persons in their rural service area had a dental visit in 2002, prior to start of the project, compared to 70 percent in 2006. During this same period, the program’s no-show rate at one of its supported clinics declined from 25 percent to 6 percent.
• The University of Medicine and Dentistry at New Jersey increased their utilization of oral health services to 629 patients in 2006, a sizable jump from their original goal of 242.

Client Demographics

Patients served by the Dental Partnership are highly varied by program site, reflecting local epidemics in their areas. Overall, however, the patient population is more likely to be male, between the ages of 25-44, White, and without resources to pay for needed dental care. In greater detail, according to 2006 data:

• Slightly over two-thirds of patients (75.7 percent) were male.
• Half (51.1 percent) were between the ages of 25-44; only 3.4 percent were under 25 years of age.
• When considering racial/ethnic characteristics, 34.2 percent were Black/African-American, 57.5 percent were White, and 19.7 percent were of Hispanic/Latino ethnicity.
• Generally, Partnership clients are without resources to pay for their care. Nearly half (46 percent or 1,564) had no third-party payer coverage or other source of payment for dental care.

Clients Served: Ryan White Community Based Dental Partnership Program, 2004-2006