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Medical-Dental Integration Strategies for FQHCs: The CEO’s Perspective on Transformative Team-Based Preventive Care

  • Writer: Josh Gwinn
    Josh Gwinn
  • Aug 11
  • 4 min read

At OroMed, our mission is bold but simple: zero disruption, no cost, more access, better outcomes. That’s not just a slogan. It’s our operational North Star, and it guides how we partner with health centers and community clinics every single day. 


We know that the patients served by health centers face some of the most significant barriers to healthcare, especially when it comes to dental services. And yet, we also know the science is crystal clear: oral health is systemic health. That’s why we're so passionate about our mission of delivering integrated, preventive care and finding medical-dental integration strategies for FQHCs. Because closing the oral health gap doesn’t require building a dental clinic from the ground up. It requires rethinking what’s possible. 


At OroMed, we bring team-based dental preventive services directly into existing medical workflows. We do it with no construction, no additional overhead, and no disruption to how clinics operate day to day. We help health centers treat the whole patient, efficiently, affordably, and sustainably. 


Why Medical-Dental Integration Strategies for FQHCs Can’t Wait 

Here’s what I see far too often: 

  • A diabetic patient’s health spirals because untreated gum inflammation interferes with glucose control. 

  • A child misses weeks of school due to a preventable dental infection that could’ve been caught early. 

  • A pregnant woman experiences complications linked to undiagnosed periodontal disease. 

These aren’t isolated cases. They’re predictable, preventable outcomes of a siloed healthcare system. For health centers serving the most vulnerable populations, the cost of ignoring oral health is compounded every single day. 


We don’t have the luxury of treating dental as separate from primary care anymore. Medical-dental integration strategies for FQHCs allow us to bridge that gap, bring care into alignment, and prevent issues before they escalate. And with the right model, you don’t need more space, more staff, or more money to make it happen. 


medical-dental integration strategies for FQHCs
Let's end siloed healthcare with medical-dental integration strategies for FQHCs

What Integration Looks Like in Practice 

Let me walk you through how this works when an FQHC partners with OroMed: 

  • During a routine medical appointment, a nurse or MA uses a small, easy-to-use intraoral camera to capture images of the patient’s mouth. 

  • Those images are securely sent to a licensed, California-based dentist who reviews them asynchronously. 

  • We provide a complete evaluation, including clinical documentation, findings, and suggested next steps, all delivered back to the clinic and uploaded to the patient’s EHR. 

  • The clinic bills for a preventive dental code, unlocking new revenue for services that took just minutes and required no additional staff hours. 

This is the heart of team-based dental preventive services. We equip the existing care team to take the first step in oral health, no dental chair required. The model works because it's not disruptive, it’s scalable, and it delivers immediate value for patients and providers alike. 


The Evolution of the Care Team 

One of the most important mindset shifts we champion is this: dental care doesn’t have to begin with a dentist. In the OroMed model, nurses, MAs, and even health coaches play a vital role. They’re already trusted by patients. They already have the access. Now, they have the tools and the training to contribute to whole-person care by identifying oral health issues during routine visits. 

This shift makes care more accessible and more effective: 

  • Patients receive oral health assessments without needing a separate dental appointment 

  • Problems are detected early, before they require major interventions 

  • Compliance improves because patients don’t have to go anywhere else 

  • Trust is strengthened because care comes from a familiar team 

This is how medical-dental integration strategies for FQHCs redefine the idea of a care team, not just in theory, but in action. 


No Disruption. No Learning Curve. All Gain. 

When I talk to health center leaders, I often hear the same concern: “This sounds great, but we don’t have capacity for more.” And I get it. Your teams are stretched. Your schedules are packed. That’s exactly why we built OroMed to work with your existing systems, not in parallel to them. 

We provide: 

  • Lightweight, intuitive intraoral cameras 

  • HIPAA-compliant tools for sharing and documenting images 

  • A trusted network of licensed dentists ready to review cases 

  • Built-in billing support and revenue guidance 

  • Easy-to-follow training that takes minutes, not days 

We don’t ask clinics to invest in infrastructure. We ask them to invest in outcomes. And we make it simple to say yes. 


More Revenue. More Access. More Impact. 

Let’s talk numbers for a minute. Every evaluation captured through OroMed’s platform is a billable service. Our partner FQHCs are generating new revenue streams and increasing patient touchpoints, without adding shifts or square footage. 

But it’s not just about the line item. It’s about what that billing represents: 

  • A child who avoided a dental emergency 

  • A mom who safely completed her pregnancy 

  • A senior who maintained independence longer 

That’s impact. That’s health equity in action. And that’s what medical-dental integration strategies for FQHCs are built to deliver. 


Why I Lead OroMed and Why It Matters 

I stepped into this role because I believe the way we’ve done dental integration in the past hasn’t served health centers, or their patients. Too much complexity. Too much cost. Not enough reach. At OroMed, we flipped the script. 


We start with what you already have, an incredible team, trusted patient relationships, and a commitment to care and we layer in a smarter, faster, cost-free way to include oral health. That’s how we deliver on our mission: zero disruption, no cost, more access, better outcomes


We’re not just changing workflows. We’re changing outcomes. 


Request a Personalized Demo 

If you’re ready to transform the way your health center delivers care, let’s talk. 

We’ll show you how OroMed’s model works in real time, with your real patients, using your real staff. Our personalized demos are tailored to your clinic’s setup and goals, because integration shouldn’t be generic. 


Request your personalized demo today and see how easy it is to bring team-based dental preventive services to life through proven medical-dental integration strategies for FQHCs. 

Let’s close the oral health gap together and deliver the kind of care every patient deserves. 

 


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