Evaluation of the Oral Health Knowledge Network's Impact on Pediatric Clinicians and Patient Care.

Purpose: Oral disease has a major impact on the overall health of US children, with dental caries being the most prevalent chronic disease in this age group. Given nationwide shortages of dental professionals, interprofessional clinicians and staff with proper training can influence oral health access. The American Academy of Pediatrics created the Oral Health Knowledge Network (OHKN) in 2018 to bring together pediatric clinicians via monthly virtual sessions to learn from experts, share resources, and network.

Safety-net dental clinics.

Background: Federal policy supports and funds community-based clinics to provide health care to low-income and underserved groups. This study examines the role of community dental safety-net clinics in providing dental care for these populations.

Methods: The authors administered a cross-sectional survey of all identified safety-net dental clinics in Illinois.