Pang J, Surdu S, Fernando T, Moore J. Key factors associated with oral health services at Federally Qualified Health Centers. J Public Health Dent. 2025;85(2):113-124. doi:10.1111/jphd.12659
Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jphd.12659
The dental safety net is a crucial component of the oral health care delivery system providing needed care for vulnerable populations. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are an important part of the dental safety net and serve underserved communities, delivering care to all patients, regardless of income or insurance status. Staffing levels, types of services reimbursed through Medicaid, and funding streams all impact oral health service provision at FQHCs. This article aims to investigate changes in oral health services from 2012 to 2021, using data from 2012-2021 Uniform Data System (UDS), to identify factors influencing the number of different types of services directly provided by FQHCs.