Advancing value in oral health through meaningful measurement.

Central to all value-based purchasing (VBP) approaches are value metrics, the measurements used to drive improvement, facilitate payment, and evaluate results of VBP programs. This article outlines approaches for adopting meaningful measurement systems that can be used to support VBP in the near term and identifies systemic changes critical to developing more robust measurement systems to advance VBP in the future.

Feasibility and usability of measuring receipt of sealants in 2 states.

Background: The authors examined the reliability and validity of the Dental Quality Alliance childhood sealant measure under actual use conditions in Texas and Florida. The 2 states provide care for almost 20% of children in Medicaid nationally.

Methods: The authors used dental claims data to examine the reliability of the caries risk assessment component of the measure.

Dental Quality Measurement--A Practitioner Perspective.

This article reviews the HealthPartners Dental Group's experience with clinical quality measurement and provides information on the administrative infrastructure that supports measurement within the group. Some examples of the role measurement plays in operations and clinical practice are also reviewed.

Rubber dam use during routine operative dentistry procedures: findings from the dental PBRN.

Rubber dam use during operative dentistry procedures has been quantified based on questionnaires completed by dentists. However, based on the knowledge of the authors of the current study, there are no reports based on use during actual clinical procedures other than in dental materials studies and none based on routine care. The objectives of the current study were to: 1) quantify how commonly the rubber dam is used during operative dentistry procedures; 2) test the hypothesis that certain dentist, restoration and patient-level factors are associated with its use.

Rubber dam use during routine operative dentistry procedures: findings from the Dental PBRN.

Rubber dam use during operative dentistry procedures has been quantified based on questionnaires completed by dentists. However, based on the knowledge of the authors of the current study, there are no reports based on use during actual clinical procedures other than in dental materials studies and none based on routine care. The objectives of the current study were to: 1) quantify how commonly the rubber dam is used during operative dentistry procedures; 2) test the hypothesis that certain dentist, restoration and patient-level factors are associated with its use.