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At OroMed, we believe that oral health is not an optional service, it’s a vital part of whole-person care. Yet for much of America’s history, dental access has lagged behind medical access, leaving millions without the preventive and restorative services they need. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and community health centers, designed to be the backbone of healthcare for underserved populations, have often struggled to fully incorporate dental care into their service models.  Understanding why this gap exists requires looking back at historical, financial, cultural, and systemic barriers. Only by recognizing these challenges can we move forward with solutions that truly integrate oral health into the broader healthcare system, solutions that align with the well-documented oral-systemic connection .  Through Seamless Integration of OroMed Services, the Barriers to Care are Coming Down The Historical Divide Between Medicine and Dentistry   One of the earliest barriers stems from the way medicine and dentistry evolved as separate professions. Unlike in many other countries, the United States trained doctors and dentists in different schools, governed them under different licensing systems, and funded their care through separate reimbursement pathways.  This structural separation meant that when community health centers emerged in the 1960s, their focus was squarely on medical care. Dental was not seen as part of “core health.” Instead, it was considered an add-on or specialty service. This historical divide created a mindset that persists in some ways today: body health on one side, mouth health on the other, even though science now tells us these systems are deeply interconnected.    Financial and Policy Barriers   Another major factor is the financing of dental care. Unlike primary medical care, dental care has historically received far less federal and state support. For FQHCs, which rely heavily on grant funding and Medicaid reimbursement, this lack of sustainable financing created a significant hurdle.  Adult dental benefits under Medicaid vary widely by state. In some states, there is little or no coverage for adults, leaving health centers with no clear pathway to recoup the costs of providing dental services. Even when coverage exists, reimbursement rates are often too low to sustain a robust program.  Without consistent financial support, many health centers hesitated to invest in the infrastructure, staffing, and equipment necessary to establish dental programs. As a result, dental access for low-income and underserved populations remained fragmented and uneven.    Workforce Challenges   Recruiting and retaining dental professionals has been another persistent barrier. Dentists, hygienists, and dental assistants are often in short supply, particularly in rural and underserved areas where FQHCs operate.  Unlike physicians, who may be incentivized to work in underserved areas through loan repayment programs or pipeline initiatives, dental professionals have historically had fewer opportunities to offset the financial burden of their training by serving in community-based clinics.  This workforce shortage created a vicious cycle: without available providers, health centers couldn’t build sustainable dental programs. Without those programs, communities continued to face limited access , further widening disparities.    Competing Priorities: Medicine First   When FQHCs were first established, the primary focus was on addressing medical shortages in underserved communities. Chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma were seen as urgent public health priorities. Dental care, by comparison, was labeled “secondary” or “elective.”  This prioritization meant limited resources—staffing, funding, facility space—were directed first to medical services. Dental was often deferred until a later phase, if it was added at all. The downstream effect was predictable: millions of patients at health centers continued to lack access to preventive and restorative oral healthcare, despite clear need.    Awareness Gaps and the Rise of the Oral-Systemic Connection   Perhaps the most significant shift in recent decades has been scientific evidence demonstrating the oral-systemic connection: the undeniable link between oral health and overall health. Poor oral health has been associated with worse outcomes in heart disease, diabetes, pregnancy, and even cognitive decline.  Yet, for much of the 20th century, this connection was under-recognized. Policymakers, funders, and even many healthcare leaders did not prioritize dental care because the broader system failed to recognize its role in preventing and managing systemic disease.  As awareness of the oral-systemic connection has grown, the urgency to integrate oral health into primary care has become clear. Today, the challenge is less about proving the need and more about overcoming the entrenched barriers that have kept dentistry siloed for so long.    Infrastructure and Capital Costs  Building dental programs requires more than providers and funding, it requires significant infrastructure investment. Unlike medical exam rooms, dental clinics need specialized chairs, X-ray machines, sterilization equipment, and more. For health centers operating on tight margins, these upfront costs have often been prohibitive.  Grant opportunities can help, but they are competitive and inconsistent. Many centers have had to delay or limit dental expansion because the capital costs simply outweighed their available resources.    Uneven Expansion Across the Country   The result of these combined barriers is an uneven landscape. Some health centers, supported by strong state Medicaid programs or visionary leadership, have successfully integrated dental services. Others have struggled to move beyond medical care, leaving large gaps in oral health access.  This patchwork approach has led to geographic disparities, with patients’ ability to receive dental care at their health center depending largely on where they live. In many rural or low-income urban areas, access remains minimal, perpetuating cycles of poor oral and overall health.    The Path Forward: Integration Guided by the Oral-Systemic Connection   At OroMed, we see integration as the path forward. Recognizing and acting upon the oral-systemic connection  means ensuring that oral health is not siloed or secondary, but rather a core part of every patient’s healthcare journey.  Practical strategies include:  Embedding dental providers within primary care teams.  Expanding teledentistry to reach rural patients.  Advocating for stronger Medicaid adult dental benefits and fair reimbursement rates.  Building workforce pipelines that support dentists and hygienists in choosing careers within community health.  Leveraging grants and partnerships to offset infrastructure costs and create sustainable programs.  The ultimate goal is equity: ensuring that every patient, regardless of geography or income, can access the oral healthcare they need as part of comprehensive health.    Healing the Barriers to Whole-Person Health  The barriers that have historically kept dental care out of health centers are real and complex, rooted in history, policy, workforce shortages, and funding gaps. But these barriers are not insurmountable.  By acknowledging the importance of the oral-systemic connection, health centers and their partners can chart a new course, one where oral health is fully integrated into primary care. At OroMed, we are committed to advancing that vision and ensuring that dental care is no longer treated as optional, but as essential to whole-person health.  If you would like to learn more about how OroMed integrates preventive dental evaluations into existing health center workflows without added cost to the health center, book your demo today to find out.

When a patient walks into a community health center, you’re not just managing a blood pressure reading or a sore tooth, you’re reading a map. Teeth, gums, blood sugar, stress, housing, food access: they all intersect. That’s the heart of the oral systemic connection, and it’s why preventive dental care is one of the most underused levers community health centers have to bend costs down while lifting outcomes up.  This isn’t a call to build more dental clinics inside medical buildings. On the contrary. ..it ’s a call to build a smarter system, one where preventive dental evaluations are embedded into routine medical visits, data is shared, and small upstream moves prevent downstream crises. That’s the difference between running on a treadmill of avoidable emergencies and building real, compounding value.  The Oral Systemic Connection The Cost Problem We Can Actually Solve   Emergency rooms (ERs) are flooded with dental problems that don’t need an emergency department. While non-traumatic dental ER visits have dipped since 2019, costs jumped by roughly $500 million, reaching about $3.9 billion, for palliative care that rarely fixes the underlying issue. That’s money burned without prevention, continuity, or follow-up. ( CareQuest Institute )  Zoom out, and the pattern is familiar: when adult dental benefits are cut or hard to access, ER visits for preventable dental conditions spike, costs shift to the most expensive, least effective setting. ( ADA ) The national data picture makes the case plain: dental issues accounted for an estimated $2+ billion in ER costs even before the pandemic . That’s avoidable spend in a system that’s already tight on dollars and staff. ( HCUP-US )  The fix isn’t complicated: invest earlier, not later. Preventive dental care, baked into existing medical visits, keeps problems from becoming crises, and it’s far cheaper than treating abscesses and advanced periodontal disease in the ER.  Why the Mouth Is a Budget Line (and a Crystal Ball)   The oral systemic connection isn’t a buzzword; it’s a predictive signal. Periodontal disease is associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes; shared risk factors (diet, tobacco, stress, low access) stack the deck. The science continues to evolve, but the clinical and economic signals are consistent: ignore the mouth, and you pay for it elsewhere. ( ADA )  Look at diabetes. Adults with diabetes are 40% more likely to have untreated cavities  than those without; they also experience more periodontal disease and tooth loss. Many have medical visits without a corresponding dental visit, an obvious gap where preventive dental evaluations could flag issues early and route people to care before the ER becomes the fallback. ( CDC )  In budget terms: every untreated cavity and unchecked periodontal pocket is a potential ER visit, a missed workday, a prescription loop, and, often, worsening metabolic control. You can pay a little earlier, or a lot later.  The Health Center Advantage: Where Integration Pays Off  Community health centers already operate at the intersection of medicine, behavior, and the social determinants of health. That’s exactly where preventive dental care belongs.  Embed preventive dental evaluations in medical visits.  You don’t need to build a dental wing to add value. Simple chair-side dental evaluations during primary care visits—bleeding gums, dry mouth, caries risk, pain—plus brief counseling and structured referral pathways create a low-friction funnel into definitive care. The workflow lift is minor; the upside is major.  Close the loop with data.  Dental findings documented in the same record as A1C, blood pressure, and medications unlock fast, intelligent follow-up. Now a provider treating hypertension can see active periodontal inflammation and counsel accordingly. When the chart shows uncontrolled diabetes plus periodontal disease, your care team knows to nudge both fronts, diet, meds, and oral hygiene, at once.  Target resources where they move the needle.  With shared data, HCs can spot patterns: neighborhoods with high caries risk and low visit completion, cohorts with frequent ER use for dental pain, patients whose diabetes control deteriorates alongside documented gum inflammation. That’s how you aim mobile clinics, health education, and care coordination where they’ll prevent the next crisis, not just react to it.  What the Numbers Say (and Why They Matter)  ER diversion = immediate savings.  The ADA has long noted that ER visits for dental pain typically cost $400–$1,500 per visit , compared with $90–$200  in a dental setting where definitive care actually happens. Every time your team prevents a dental ER visit, you protect both patient and payer, and free ER capacity for true emergencies. ( ADA )  Coverage stability lowers ER use.  When Medicaid dental benefits are maintained or restored, ER visits for dental conditions fall. When they’re cut, ER visits rise. Policy changes that stabilize access to preventive dental care create real-world utilization shifts—away from the ER, toward the right door at the right time. ( JAMA Network )  Chronic disease management improves.  Diabetes and periodontal disease feed each other. The CDC’s synthesis highlights both the association and the opportunity: more integrated periodontal care for people with diabetes can improve outcomes and avoid downstream costs over a lifetime. ( CDC )  Add these up for a health center, and the picture is clear: embed prevention, document it once, act on it together. You’ll cut high-cost, low-value ER use and strengthen chronic disease control, the two biggest cost drivers in safety-net care.  From Field Notes: How This Feels in Real Life  Case 1: The pressure check that saved a tooth (and an ER trip).    A patient comes in for a hypertension follow-up. During the routine preventive dental evaluation, the clinician notes bleeding on probing and localized swelling. The patient reports intermittent pain but hasn’t seen a dentist in years. The team logs the findings in the shared record, provides brief counseling (brushing/flossing refreshers, OTC pain guidance), and schedules a priority dental visit at a partner clinic the same week. No midnight ER visit. No IV antibiotics. No thousand-dollar bill that doesn’t fix the tooth.  Case 2: Diabetes management that finally “sticks.”    A patient’s A1C is wobbling. Their chart also shows active periodontal disease and xerostomia related to medications. Medical and dental teams align: periodontal therapy plus medication review, saliva substitutes, and dietary tweaks that help both mouth and glucose. Three months later, the A1C improves, and so do oral symptoms. That’s the oral systemic connection doing exactly what it does: revealing where to push to get better outcomes across the board.  A Practical Playbook for Health Centers  1) Make the mouth visible.    Train medical staff to perform a preventive dental evaluation in 6 – 10 minutes: check gums (color, bleeding), look for obvious caries, ask about pain, dry mouth, and eating difficulty. Add a one-click referral to your standard visit template.  2) Write it once: where everyone can see it.    Drop the findings into the shared record (not a separate system). Build simple flags: “gingival bleeding noted,” “suspicious caries,” “referred to dental.” Tie those flags to chronic disease dashboards so care teams can spot risk clusters.  3) Track and redirect ER volume.    Work with your local hospital ER to set up warm handoffs for dental pain, and capture how many redirected patients complete a dental appointment. Every completed referral is a prevented repeat ER visit and a proof point for payers.  4) Align policy and payment.   For Medicaid populations, advocate to maintain or expand adult dental benefits, the data show ER use falls when benefits are stable. Pair that with value-based arrangements that reward prevention and completed referrals, not just procedures. 5) Tell the story with your own data.   Report quarterly: dental ER visits diverted, days-to-definitive care after a medical-visit screen, changes in A1C/BP for patients receiving periodontal therapy, and no-show reductions for dental visits scheduled at the point of primary care. Your local numbers are your best policy brief.    The ROI Equation (Spoiler: It’s Not Just Dollars)   Yes, preventive dental care lowers spend. It also lifts capacity, morale, and trust.  Financial:  Fewer ER visits, earlier definitive treatment, smoother chronic disease control.  Operational:  Faster, more accurate handoffs; fewer avoidable urgent slots; better care coordination.  Human:  Less pain, fewer lost workdays, more confidence to eat, talk, and show up for life.  When you treat mouths and bodies together, patients feel seen and they keep coming back. That continuity is how safety-net care turns the corner from crisis response to real prevention.  The Oral Systemic Connection and What to Do Next The oral systemic connection gives your care team an edge: mouth clues help you manage heart, blood sugar, and more. ER use for dental problems is expensive and often avoidable; preventive dental evaluations during medical visits help you catch issues before they blow up. Stable dental benefits and integrated workflows reduce ER visits and strengthen outcomes—exactly the kind of change health centers are built to deliver. If you’re ready to reclaim dollars from low-value emergency care and reinvest them in upstream health, start now. Contact OroMed for a free demo  and see how our 6–10 minute preventive dental evaluations  fit seamlessly into your existing workflow, no added equipment, no extra personnel, no hidden costs. Just better care, earlier detection, and a fuller view of your patient’s health, mouth included.

I’ve been thinking about how often we treat medical care and oral care as though they exist in separate universes, yet the body doesn’t work that way. The sneeze you suppress, the gums you ignore, the sugar you casually ingest, they all ripple outward. That’s why I believe in medical-dental integration not as a convenience, but as a foundation for care that truly sees the whole person.  Today I want to lay out not just why  bringing that toothbrush into the same exam room as the stethoscope matters, but how , with real evidence, it can change lives and systems. Because when you lean into the oral systemic connection, the benefits for whole-person health are too big to ignore.  What Is Medical-Dental Integration and the Oral Systemic Connection?   At its heart, medical-dental integration means embedding dental (especially preventive dental) evaluations into primary care settings, without needing a full dental clinic, extra staff, or dramatic workflow overhauls. It means that during a regular medical exam, clinicians are equipped to notice signs in the mouth and take action or refer when needed.  The oral systemic connection is the science that supports this. It holds that oral health—gum disease, periodontal inflammation, tooth decay—is not merely a local issue. These oral problems correlate with, contribute to, or signal systemic conditions: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and more. One cannot care for someone’s health fully if you leave out their mouth.    Surprising Links Between Oral Health and Chronic Disease   Here are some of the findings that convinced me this integration is urgent:  Gum disease and heart disease : Studies show people with periodontal disease are at higher risk for coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, and hypertension. Inflammation from infected gums may spread or trigger immune responses that add stress to blood vessels. ( American Journal of Medicine )  Diabetes and the mouth : It works both ways. Poorly controlled diabetes increases chances of gum disease; gum disease can worsen glucose control. The American Diabetes Association notes that managing blood glucose lowers risk of oral complications. ( American Diabetes Association )  Diet, inflammation, and risk factors : For example, a recent study found that people following a Mediterranean-style diet had much lower odds of severe gum disease. That diet is also known to reduce systemic inflammation and risk of heart disease. ( New Atlas )  These examples make clear: our mouths are early warning systems. Signs there can be red flags elsewhere in the body.  Why Primary Care and Oral Health Should Share the Exam Room   If we accept that oral issues often co-exist with or even help predict systemic disease, then keeping oral care separate is leaving value, and lives, on the table. Here are the key reasons medical-dental integration isn’t optional if you care about whole-person health :  Earlier detection and prevention    A primary care clinician seeing bleeding gums, bad breath, loosened teeth, maybe elevated inflammatory markers—these are potential signals. Intervening earlier can avert complications or catch chronic disease sooner.  More equitable access    Many people see a primary care provider more regularly than a dentist, or perhaps their insurance or geography limits dental care access. If oral screening is embedded in medical visits, more people get these preventive checks.  System cost-savings    Early treatment of periodontal disease or dental decay is much cheaper than dealing with the downstream costs of unmanaged systemic illness: hospitalizations, complications, multiple specialists. Also, fewer emergency room visits for dental pain or infections burden systems heavily.  Better patient outcomes and experience    Patients no longer need to see two separate systems of care for what’s ultimately one body. This reduces friction, improves continuity, and builds trust. It helps people feel seen (mouth included).  What OroMed Is Doing Now   I want to share concretely what we’re doing at OroMed because seeing change in theory is one thing; making it real is another.  Embedding preventive dental evaluations in medical exams    We partner with community clinics and health centers to place screening tools for oral health into routine medical visits. No new dental clinic needed. Clinicians are trained to observe, flag, refer (not diagnose), and record basic oral health indicators.  Minimal disruption, maximal benefit    There’s no extra cost passed to the health center: no heavy infrastructure, no hiring of full dental teams, no major workflow rewrites. Screenings happen during medical check-ups, chronic management visits, etc.  Data-driven early prevention and revenue uptick    Clinics using the OroMed model are seeing more patients (including those who may have skipped dental care) and using oral screening data to identify risk early. That means earlier referrals or treatment, and increases in preventive service utilization. More patients + less emergency care = better margins and healthier populations.  Strengthening the oral systemic connection in practice   We’re collecting longitudinal data: not just “did the patient have gum disease,” but tracking systemic markers, chronic disease prevalence, related risk factors. This helps confirm patterns and build prediction models, so care centers don’t just react, they anticipate.  How This Looks in a Real Exam Room   Imagine this:  Maria visits her health center for a routine hypertension follow-up. As part of her appointment, she also receives a preventive dental evaluation, seamlessly integrated into her medical visit. During the screening, the clinician notes inflamed gums and asks a few questions. Maria shares that her gums bleed when she brushes and that she often has dry mouth.  Instead of ending there, her symptoms are documented directly into her shared medical record. The provider recommends a follow-up dental exam to determine the root cause: whether it’s inflammation related to gum disease, another oral health issue, or even a systemic factor connected to her hypertension. That follow-up could include enhanced oral care, x-rays, blood work, or a deep cleaning procedure.  In the best-case scenario, this is all captured in a unified chart, Maria’s medical team isn’t left guessing. Her physician can see the oral findings while managing her hypertension, connecting the dots between gum health and cardiovascular risk. That’s the power of integrated care: no silos, no blind spots, just a fuller picture of the patient.  That’s the “same exam room” philosophy in action.  Challenges, But Not Barriers   I won’t pretend it's easy. There are real challenges:  Training medical staff to recognize oral cues without over-diagnosing.  Aligning data systems, so oral health info is visible in medical records.  Ensuring referrals are accessible (insurance, transportation, cost).  Overcoming the mindset that oral health is optional.    But none of these are insurmountable. OroMed’s work is showing that with careful design, the costs of integration are low compared to the losses of fragmentation.    Looking Ahead: A Call to Systems & Policymakers   For medical-dental integration to become standard, I believe we need:  Incentive structures that reward preventive care (medical and dental together), not just procedures.  Policies that support unified health records, reimbursement models that include oral screening as part of medical benchmarks.  Educational curricula that train all health providers (medical, nursing, etc.) to understand the oral systemic connection.  Community health centers empowered with resources (training, minor subsidies) to adopt integrated screening without financial risk.    Final Word  When I consider why I do this work at OroMed, it’s because I’ve seen what a difference it makes when no part of someone’s body is relegated to “separate care.” The stethoscope and toothbrush aren’t rivals. They’re partners in noticing, preventing and healing.  Medical-dental integration isn’t just about convenience. It’s about bringing health care closer to how the body actually works. Recognizing that the mouth is not an afterthought, it’s a gateway to understanding heart disease, diabetes, and every condition in between.  If we lean in fully to this connection, and build systems that honor it, we’ll deepen the power of whole-person health. And in doing so, reduce suffering, reduce costs, and build care that finally sees people as single, integrated beings, not split into “medical” and “dental.” Let’s keep working toward exam rooms that don’t leave half of a person behind.

When a patient opens wide in the dental chair, there’s more going on than just the cleaning or filling. Embedded in that oral exam is a wealth of signals: biology, behavior, environment; that speak not only to dental health but to broader patterns of chronic disease, social inequities, and population wellness. At OroMed, we believe that leveraging these signals is essential for realizing whole-person health , and for understanding the oral systemic connection  at a public health scale.  The Oral Systemic Connection What is the Oral Systemic Connection?   The oral systemic connection  refers to the two-way relationship between oral health and overall health. Poor oral health (e.g. periodontal disease, dental caries, tooth loss) can exacerbate or even help predict systemic conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and other chronic illnesses. Conversely, systemic disease and its risk factors (e.g. obesity, smoking, diet, stress) often manifest in the mouth first, or influence how the mouth heals or responds to infection.  Understanding this connection isn’t just academic, it means every cavity, bleeding gum, or lost tooth is potentially a data point, a signal of what’s going on more broadly.  What Chronic Disease Patterns Do Smiles Reveal?   Here are some examples of what oral screening data has already told us (or is telling us) about chronic disease:  Diabetes : Patients with uncontrolled diabetes often show more severe periodontal disease. And conversely, periodontal inflammation complicates blood glucose contr ol  which exacerbates the disease and symptoms. Cardiovascular disease & Hypertension : Inflammation from oral disease has been implicated in pathways that worsen vascular health, perhaps contributing to hypertension or exacerbating heart disease risk. Comorbid Conditions : Many individuals have more than one chronic illness . For example, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease often co-occur, and all share risk factors with oral disease (diet, smoking, access to care).  These patterns suggest that dental settings are a kind of early warning system. If we gather the right data, we can catch trends earlier, intervene more holistically, and possibly lighten the downstream load on emergency care, hospitalizations, and chronic disease management. Preventive dental evaluations within community clinics have the potential to capture people who may not see a dentist regularly outside their access to a community health center.  The Role of Social Determinants in Oral Data   Oral health doesn’t exist in a vacuum. How people live, their neighborhoods, incomes, jobs, education, transportation access, shapes what shows up in their mouths. That’s where social determinants of health  (SDOH) come in, and how oral data becomes socially powerful.  Some findings:  A recent study using data from a nationally representative U.S. survey found that low income, lower education, housing instability, food insecurity, lack of transportation, and racial/ethnic disparities were strongly associated with worse self-reported oral health, more tooth loss, less frequent dental visits, and greater embarrassment about oral health. Rural communities are more likely to live in dental health professional shortage areas, with worse access, higher rates of untreated dental disease, and compounding factors like poverty, transportation limitations, and lower insurance coverage. aaphd.org   Mental health and emotional well-being also show up. Some people in studies report that stress, emotional distress or feeling socially marginalized (for instance due to discrimination) correlate with worse oral health outcomes . Because SDOH are upstream, they produce population-level trends that show up in oral screening data. For example: if a region has high food insecurity, you may see more dental caries; if a population lacks clean water or fluoridation, more enamel defects; if there are transportation deserts, fewer preventive visits and more advanced disease when people finally present. Gathering and analyzing this kind of data can alert health systems to where interventions are needed.  How Population Health Strategies Use Oral Data   Turning hidden signals into action means embedding oral screening and related data into broader population health strategies. Here are approaches that are emerging or could be scaled:  Integrating Oral Health into Medical Visits / Primary Care   Some programs are training medical providers to check for signs of oral disease (bleeding gums, poor hygiene, cavities) during routine checkups , or use dental visits to screen for systemic disease (diabetes, hypertension). It’s two sides of the same coin under the oral systemic connection. Co-location of dental and medical services, shared health records, and cross-training help.  Using Surveillance Systems   The National Oral Health Surveillance System (NOHSS) in the U.S. tracks incidence of oral disease, dental care utilization, and community water fluoridation. Periodic reports (e.g., the CDC’s Oral Health Surveillance Report ) monitor disparities by sociodemographic factors. Targeting Interventions Based on Data-Driven Needs   Deploy mobile clinics, outreach programs, or dental services in under-served or remote areas identified via data (rural shortage areas, lower income neighborhoods).  Policy interventions to address structural social determinants: ensuring dental coverage, reducing cost barriers, improving transportation, health literacy programs.  Cross-sector Partnerships   Health departments, dental associations, community health centers working together to align on risk factor reduction (diet, tobacco, sugar consumption), school-based interventions, water fluoridation, and community education.  Predictive Analytics & Early Warning Signals   Using dental screening data + SDOH indicators + systemic health metrics to fine-tune predictive models: which populations are likely to develop poorly controlled diabetes, or whose cardiovascular risk is going under-addressed.  Technology (machine learning, health informatics) can help spot clusters or trends earlier.  These strategies sound powerful in theory, but what happens when they’re put into practice? That’s where OroMed steps in, turning recommendations into reality inside community health centers.  Putting Strategies Into Action: The OroMed Approach   Population health strategies call for integration, data-driven prevention, and smarter use of community health resources. OroMed is actively delivering on that promise by embedding preventive dental evaluations directly into the medical side of community clinics and health centers .  Integration without disruption:  Unlike models that require a full dental clinic buildout, OroMed’s approach folds into existing medical visits. No new workflows, no extra staff burden.  Cost-neutral for centers:  Clinics don’t shoulder new expenses. Preventive evaluations are woven into what’s already happening.  More patients, more sustainability:  The streamlined integration means clinics can see more patients in less time, driving both access and revenue growth.  Earlier signals of chronic disease:  Each preventive evaluation generates data that strengthens the oral systemic connection: capturing risk factors and red flags sooner.  Smarter prevention data:  The model expands the information health centers can use to design targeted interventions and refine population health strategies.  This is whole-person health in practice: proactive, accessible, and equitable. OroMed turns what public health experts recommend into daily reality inside community clinics, reshaping prevention, revenue, and patient outcomes all at once.  Why This Matters for Whole-Person Health  “Whole-person health” isn’t just a slogan. It means acknowledging that physical health, mental/emotional well-being, social environment, and preventive care all interconnect. When we treat oral health as separate, we lose out:  We miss early markers of systemic disease.  We reinforce inequities: people with less access pay later, for example: downstream costs, worse outcomes.  We leave opportunities on the table: preventive interventions are almost always cheaper and more effective when deployed early, especially in community health center settings.  When health systems and community health centers capture and act on oral screening data, they begin to see patients more completely. Interventions that address oral disease (gum disease, decay, tooth loss) can ripple out: improved nutrition, better disease management, reduced infection risks, improved quality of life and self-esteem. That’s  whole-person health  in action.  Challenges & What Needs to Shift  Full disclosure: there are obstacles. Recognizing where they lie can help move us forward.  Data silos : Dental and medical records often don’t talk to each other. Systems are fragmented.  Lack of standardization : What constitutes a “screening” can vary. Measures, indicators, formats differ.  Resource limitations : Especially in under-served areas, shortage of dental providers, lack of insurance, transportation and financial barriers.  Awareness & training : Many clinicians outside dentistry may not have been trained to spot oral signs of systemic illness; vice versa.  The reason OroMed's approach is unique is because it sets a new standard: care that is preventive, integrated, cost-sensitive, and impactful for both patients and the health systems that serve them.   In Summary  Every smile tells a story. Not just about hygiene or cavities, but about lifestyle, access, systemic risk, and social conditions. Through oral screening data, we can see patterns of chronic disease, trace back social determinants of health, and build population health strategies that are anticipatory rather than reactive.  Capturing and acting on these signals helps move us from treating mouths in isolation toward practicing whole-person health . It strengthens the oral systemic connection, not just scientifically, but practically. Because when we understand what’s hidden in every smile, we can design care that meets people where they actually are.

For decades, the importance of the connection between oral health and systemic health have been quietly ignored in many hospitals, dental offices, community clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) across America. As a passionate advocate for whole-person care , I’ve seen firsthand how oral health and overall health are two sides of the same coin, a truth we now call the oral-systemic connection . Yet, many health centers have struggled to fully integrate dental into their medical workflows.  This isn’t because health centers or their dedicated teams lack compassion or commitment for those that they care for..... far from it. The barriers to integration are complex, deeply rooted, and frankly, not of their own making. This post isn’t about blame; it’s about understanding how we got here, and why the future holds real promise for seamless, equitable care. Changing how we approach the Oral-Systemic Connection The Historical Divide: Why “Whole-Person Care” Wasn’t Always the Norm  The story starts with a simple truth: medicine and dentistry have always existed in separate universes. For most of the last century, dental and medical education, policy, and practice were developed independently. Dentists and doctors trained in different buildings, spoke different “languages,” and used different record systems.  When the first wave of community health centers emerged in the 1960s and 70s, the focus was on urgent medical needs, maternal health, chronic disease, infectious disease, and other public health emergencies. At this time, we lacked the scientific understanding of how oral health is related to, and deeply affects, overall health. Dental health, despite its deep ties to these very issues, was often seen as less urgent, less visible, or simply “cosmetic.”  Think....if it don’t hurt, don’t fix it.  The result? Two well-intentioned but siloed systems , one for the mouth, one for the body. The oral-systemic connection  was simply not part of the original script, and whole-person care  was little more than an aspiration.    Funding Fumbles and the Oral-Systemic Connection Gap  If you want to know why something isn’t happening in healthcare, follow the money. Historically, funding streams for health centers prioritized medical services, with dental often treated as an optional extra. Medicaid and Medicare, the backbone of reimbursement for underserved communities, have long offered limited or inconsistent dental benefits, especially for adults.  This patchwork approach to dental funding created a reality where:  Health centers couldn’t afford to hire dentists or buy dental equipment.  Billing and reimbursement for dental care required separate, complicated systems.  Every dollar spent on dental was a dollar not spent on other urgent medical needs.  When dental care isn’t resourced, the oral-systemic connection  gets ignored and patients pay the price.    Policy Priorities: The Oral-Systemic Connection Takes a Back Seat  Policy has also played a starring role in this saga. For decades, the urgency of physical illnesses overshadowed the quieter but equally devastating effects of untreated dental disease. Public health policy prioritized fighting infectious diseases, managing chronic conditions, and providing urgent care for at-risk populations.  The oral-systemic connection, the scientifically proven links between oral health and conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and pregnancy outcomes, just didn’t get the attention it deserved. Oral health advocates fought valiantly for a seat at the table, but for too long, their voices were drowned out by louder, more immediate concerns.  This isn’t about a lack of compassion, it’s about how systems are designed to respond to what they see as “urgent.” Sadly, dental disease rarely shows up in the ER stats or public health headlines, until it’s too late.    The Practical Realities of Whole-Person Care Integration  Let’s say a health center does  decide to prioritize dental care . Now what? The next set of hurdles are practical but powerful and central to the promise of true whole-person care .  1. Workforce Shortages:    Recruiting and retaining dental professionals willing to work in community health settings, especially rural or underserved areas, has always been a challenge. Loan burdens, lower reimbursement rates, and professional isolation make these jobs less attractive.  2. Workflow Integration:    Medical and dental teams have traditionally operated independently, using different electronic health records (EHRs), scheduling systems, and clinical protocols. Integrating dental into the medical workflow often feels like forcing a square peg into a round hole.  How do you coordinate care between teams that rarely interact?  How do you share patient data securely and seamlessly?  How do you schedule preventive dental visits alongside primary care?  These are not trivial questions. They’re the daily realities that make or break whole-person care  in practice.    Overcoming Stigma and Misunderstandings Around the Oral-Systemic Connection  There’s also a cultural elephant in the room. For generations, dental care has been viewed as “less urgent,” “non-essential,” or even “cosmetic.” This misconception persists even as evidence mounts that the oral-systemic connection  is not just real, but critical to patient outcomes.  Patients, too, may avoid dental care due to fear, cost, or lack of awareness about its importance to their overall health. Health centers are often left battling not only structural barriers, but deep-seated stigma as well.    The Future: Whole-Person Care Fueled by Oral-Systemic Connection  Here’s the good news: things are changing, and fast. The concept of whole-person care  is gaining traction across the country, fueled by mounting evidence of the oral-systemic connection  and the tireless efforts of health center leaders and advocates.  Today, more and more health centers are:  Embedding dental teams directly into primary care settings.  Using shared EHRs to connect the dots between oral and systemic health.  Training medical and dental teams to collaborate around patient needs, not provider silos.  Advocating for policy changes that recognize dental care as essential, not optional.    At Oromed, we’ve seen firsthand how transformative it is when oral health is woven into the fabric of primary care. It’s not just about filling cavities, it’s about reducing emergency visits, improving chronic disease outcomes, supporting pregnant patients, and giving every patient the dignity of a healthy smile.    The Road Ahead: Compassion, Collaboration, and the Oral-Systemic Connection  If you’re a health center leader, staff member, or advocate reading this: you are not alone. The challenges you face are real, and the work you do is nothing short of heroic. The road to fully integrated dental care has been long and winding, but the destination, true whole-person care  fueled by the oral-systemic connection, is finally within sight.  At Oromed, we are honored to walk this road alongside you, bringing tools, support, and a fierce commitment to breaking down the barriers between oral and systemic health. Together, we can make sure every patient receives the care they deserve, from head to toe, and from smile to soul.  Ready to Transform Whole-Person Care at Your Health Center? Let’s Connect.  The journey toward true whole-person care, rooted in the science of the oral-systemic connection, doesn’t have to be overwhelming or lonely. At Oromed, we know the barriers you’re up against, because we’ve helped health centers like yours break through them.  If you’re ready to:   Eliminate the silos between medical and dental teams  Build practical, sustainable workflows for integrated care  Train your staff for collaboration and innovation  Improve patient outcomes and close equity gaps  Secure the resources and support you need to succeed  …then you don’t have to go it alone.   Our team specializes in helping health centers and community clinics seamlessly integrate preventive dental evaluations into existing medical workflows, making true whole-person care  not just possible, but practical. And we do it all without any heavy lift on your part and no added cost  to your infrastructure.   Let’s put your vision into action.   Schedule a Demo with our experts. Together, we can deliver the kind of care your community deserves. Oromed bridges the gap between oral and systemic health, empowering your health center to champion truly whole-person care.

A Seamless Way to Support the Oral Systemic Connection   As dental professionals and healthcare leaders, we understand that oral health isn’t optional, it’s foundational to total wellness. Yet, too often, the logistics of integrating dental screenings into medical workflows feel daunting. Oromed is changing all that.  We’ve created a truly seamless, no-cost system  that health centers can fold into their workflows without disrupting operations or adding staff. With Oromed, every patient touchpoint becomes an opportunity for a preventive dental evaluation.  But why does this matter so much? The answer lies in the science of the oral systemic connection .    What Is the Oral Systemic Connection?   The oral systemic connection  describes the two-way relationship between oral health and systemic health . In other words, the conditions of the mouth both reflect and influence conditions throughout the body.  Research confirms associations between oral disease and more than 28 noncommunicable diseases , including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancers, and neurodegenerative disorders.  The American Dental Association emphasizes: “You cannot be healthy without oral health.”   This connection isn’t theoretical, it’s measurable and visible in everyday clinical practice.  The Oral Systemic Connection and Inflammation  One of the most significant pathways linking oral and overall health is inflammation .  Periodontal disease  increases systemic inflammation, which raises risks for stroke, heart attack, hypertension, and even cognitive decline .  Gum inflammation releases cytokines and bacteria into the bloodstream, fueling disease far beyond the mouth.  When we talk about the oral systemic connection, inflammation is the common thread tying oral conditions to life-threatening systemic diseases.    Diabetes and the Oral Systemic Connection   The relationship between diabetes and oral health  is a textbook example of the oral systemic connection.  Diabetes worsens periodontal disease by impairing immune response.  In turn, untreated gum disease makes it harder for patients to control blood glucose levels.  This bidirectional cycle  highlights why preventive screenings at medical visits are so powerful. Identifying gum inflammation early can directly support diabetes management.    Cardiovascular Disease and the Oral Systemic Connection   Cardiovascular disease is one of the most well-researched examples of the oral systemic connection.  Patients with periodontal disease are two to three times more likely  to suffer a heart attack or stroke.  Oral bacteria have been found in atherosclerotic plaques , suggesting a direct role in cardiovascular pathology.  Poor oral health is linked to a 66% higher risk of death from cardiovascular causes .  For health centers already managing high rates of hypertension and heart disease, integrating preventive oral evaluations can be life-saving.    Pregnancy Outcomes and the Oral Systemic Connection   The oral systemic connection  also has serious implications for maternal health.  Women with periodontal disease are at significantly higher risk of preeclampsia.   Poor oral health has been associated with preterm birth and low birth weight .  Health centers serving women’s health and OB patients can protect both mothers and infants by embedding oral screenings into routine prenatal care.    The Oral Systemic Connection and Chronic Conditions  Beyond diabetes and heart disease, the oral systemic connection touches a wide range of chronic conditions :  Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD):  Oral bacteria can colonize the gut, worsening IBD symptoms.  Chronic Kidney Disease:  Shared inflammatory pathways link gum disease and kidney function decline.  Neurodegenerative Disorders:  Research suggests connections between periodontal pathogens and Alzheimer’s disease.  For community health centers, these insights reinforce that oral evaluations are not a “nice to have,” they’re central to chronic disease management.    How Oromed Makes the Oral Systemic Connection Actionable   Understanding the oral systemic connection is one thing, making it actionable inside a busy health center is another. Oromed removes the barriers with a simple, zero-cost solution:  Early Detection Without Disruption    Preventive dental evaluations are integrated into existing workflows, identifying oral-systemic risks without slowing down care.  No Added Staff Needed   There is no extra strain on your staff or infrastructure. We make whole-body health part of everyday medical visits. We hire, train, and integrate our staff into your facility. Our staff does all the work.  Whole-Person Health at Every Touchpoint    Patients experience care that treats them as a whole person, not in silos of medical vs. dental.    Case Examples of the Oral Systemic Connection in Action  Diabetes Management Improved    A patient flagged for gum inflammation during intake is referred for treatment. Three months later, their HbA₁c levels improve, underscoring the impact of oral health on diabetes.  Safer Pregnancy    During a routine prenatal visit, a patient is screened for gum disease. Early detection , vigilant monitoring, and appropriate management of preeclampsia can help to mitigate adverse outcomes for this patient. These are hypotheticals but they underscore how early detection can save thousands of dollars in care as well as create a healthier community and better patient outcomes.   Leading the Way with the Oral Systemic Connection   The evidence is overwhelming: oral health and systemic health are inseparable. By embracing the oral systemic connection , health centers not only elevate patient outcomes but also reinforce their mission of whole-person care.  With Oromed, integration is simple, seamless, and sustainable. There’s no cost, no disruption, and no added staff, just a smarter, healthier way forward.  Empower your team. Support your patients. Protect health from the ground up, with Oromed. Book your demo today and see for yourself how our integration works.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Integrated Dental Care Oral Health Is Finally Getting a Seat at the Primary Care Table For too long, dental care has lived in a silo, separated from the rest of healthcare, treated as optional, and often overlooked altogether. But times are changing. The connection between oral health and systemic health is no longer theoretical, it’s well-documented, urgent, and increasingly impossible to ignore. As health centers work to advance equity, reduce costs, and improve outcomes, integrated dental care is emerging as a revolutionary solution. And OroMed is proud to be at the forefront of that transformation. The Crisis: Dental Deserts and Disconnected Systems In many communities, especially underserved and rural areas, dental care is a luxury. Patients can go years without a cleaning, let alone a preventive evaluation. This lack of access isn’t just a cosmetic issue. It’s a public health crisis. Untreated oral disease contributes to: Heart disease and diabetes complications Adverse pregnancy outcomes Emergency room visits for preventable issues Missed school and work days Lower quality of life and increased healthcare costs The traditional solution of building full-service dental clinics inside every Federally Qualified Health Center ( FQHC ) or medical clinic, is costly, time-consuming, and, for many, unrealistic. The OroMed Revolution: Seamless Integration Without the Overhead OroMed isn’t just another dental program, it’s a care delivery innovation.  We integrate Preventive Dental Evaluations directly into the medical side of your health center. No dental chairs. No added staff. No workflow disruption. Here’s how integrated dental care works with OroMed: Trained Medical Assistants perform intraoral image-capture using compact cameras. Remote Dentists evaluate those images in real time, using secure two-way video technology. The result: a diagnostic-quality preventive dental evaluation, delivered during a standard medical visit. This model unlocks powerful benefits: New Reimbursement Streams Better Patient Compliance Early Detection and Prevention No Capital Investment in Dental Infrastructure We’re not just making dental care easier. We’re changing how it’s delivered. Why Integrated Dental Care Is an Equity Imperative OroMed’s mission is rooted in a bold belief: oral health is health , and access to it is a matter of equity. Communities served by health centers, immigrant families, low-income populations, communities of color, and the uninsured, are disproportionately affected by oral disease. The barriers are structural: lack of coverage, lack of providers, and the fragmentation of dental and medical care systems. By bringing preventive dental care into the same visit, same room, and same workflow as a primary care check-up, OroMed helps eliminate those barriers. Make no mistake. This isn’t a luxury, it’s a public health imperative. Using integrated dental care for better community health outcomes Integrated Dental Care: Benefits for Patients, Providers, and Health Systems For Patients: No need to schedule a second appointment or travel to another clinic Higher likelihood of receiving timely dental evaluation and education Less risk of untreated oral issues progressing into systemic problems For Providers: No disruption to the daily workflow Enhanced ability to treat the whole patient Greater professional satisfaction in delivering truly comprehensive care For Health Centers: Additional revenue opportunities through dental billing codes Reduced emergency room referrals and hospitalizations Improved patient retention and trust For Public Health Outcomes: Fewer missed diagnoses of oral infections and disease Lower long-term costs of care Real movement toward closing the equity gap in oral health A Model Built on Collaboration and Impact The integration OroMed offers isn’t just about convenience, it’s about reshaping the future of care delivery. Our model is grounded in these core values: 1. Collaborative Excellence We work hand-in-hand with your team, customizing implementation to fit your clinic’s unique needs and culture. You’re never just handed a system, we build it with you. 2. Patient-Centered Care From the equipment we use to the workflows we build, everything is designed to center the patient experience. Evaluations are quick, comfortable, and built into the visit they’re already attending. 3. Impact-Driven Innovation We believe in using technology not just for the sake of innovation, but to create meaningful impact. That’s why our remote dentists, digital imaging, and secure workflows are all optimized for real-world use in real clinics. 4. Flawless Execution We know healthcare teams don’t have time for guesswork. Our systems are plug-and-play, fully supported, and built for zero disruption. 5. Unbending Integrity We operate with complete transparency and dedication to patient outcomes, partner trust, and the highest ethical standards. Leading the Evolution, Together OroMed exists because we saw a gap and refused to accept it. We asked a simple question: What if dental care could be as accessible as a blood pressure check? And then we built the answer. But we’re not doing it alone. Every health center that partners with us becomes a co-architect of this new future. Together, we’re proving that integrated care  isn’t just possible, it’s better for everyone. Ready to Join the Movement? If you’re a health center leader, medical director, or innovator in community health, now is the time to act. Don’t wait for another grant cycle or a dream dental build out. Start improving access today, with the resources you already have. You have zero integration costs with no disruption for your staff. Let OroMed show you how. Schedule a free Demo Today: We’ll walk you through how OroMed could work in your clinic, no commitment, no disruption, just clarity. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) What is integrated dental care? Integrated dental care  brings dental evaluations and services into the primary care setting. Rather than requiring a separate dental visit, patients receive preventive dental evaluations during their regular medical appointments. How does OroMed provide integrated dental care? OroMed uses intraoral imaging, trained medical assistants, and secure video conferencing with remote dentists to deliver preventive dental evaluations within a standard medical workflow, without added staff or dental infrastructure. Why is integrated dental care important for health equity? Low-income and underserved communities often lack access to dental care. Integrating dental services into primary care helps eliminate barriers, improve health outcomes, and reduce long-term costs. How do OroMed’s preventive dental evaluations boost my revenue without adding workload or cost? OroMed’s integrated model generates new revenue streams  through existing medical workflows , without requiring new staff, dental infrastructure, or added appointments. Here’s how: Billable Dental Codes : The preventive dental evaluations delivered through OroMed can be billed using standard dental CPT/D0140 or D0120 codes, depending on payer requirements, creating an additional reimbursement opportunity during the same medical visit. No Capital Investment : There’s no need to invest in dental chairs, sterilization stations, or dedicated dental providers. Your existing medical team  captures intraoral images using compact tech, and remote dentists handle the diagnostics. Zero Workflow Disruption : Evaluations happen in real time, within the normal visit flow. This keeps your care team efficient and your schedule intact, while delivering more value per visit. In short: OroMed turns underused moments in a medical visit into a reimbursable dental service , improving care and increasing your bottom line, with no additional burden on your team. Would you like to schedule a demo to see how it works and find out more about OroMed? Schedule your demo today.

In the world of community-based care , every workflow, patient encounter, and staff role is a moving part of a much larger mission: delivering accessible, efficient, and comprehensive healthcare. At OroMed, we understand that introducing new services into an already complex ecosystem like a Health Center isn’t just about offering something clinically beneficial, it’s about ensuring operational harmony through integrated dental care .  A new model in integrated dental care for FQHCs A New Model for Whole-Person Care As Dental Director at OroMed, my role is to make sure our preventative dental evaluations  are not only clinically sound  but also operationally seamless . We’ve spent years building a model of integrated dental care for FQHCs  that fits directly into primary care workflows, without requiring an on-site dentist.  This model helps community health centers:  Meet UDS oral health reporting goals  Improve care coordination  Generate reimbursable services  Expand access without expanding infrastructure  It’s a scalable solution  designed for the real-world needs of health centers, enhancing whole-person care where it’s needed most.    Step 1: We Start by Listening   Every successful implementation starts with understanding. Before we introduce any tools, technology, or team members, we begin by listening carefully to your health center’s leadership, clinical staff, and operations team .  We want to know:  What does a typical patient encounter look like in your center?  Where are the pinch points or gaps in care delivery?  How are you currently managing oral health referrals?  What’s your staffing structure?  How do your patients move through the clinic?  These conversations inform everything that follows. We’re not here to drop in a system, we’re here to co-design integrated dental care for your FQHC  that fits naturally into your flow of care.    Step 2: We Analyze Your Workflows   Next, we conduct a workflow analysis  to map out ideal integration points for oral health services. This is where our approach to dental workflow optimization  really shines.  We look for logical places in your care model where preventative dental evaluations  can be layered into existing visits without slowing down your team, such as during:  Pediatric well visits  Annual checkups  Prenatal care  Chronic disease management appointments  This helps your FQHC expand services while preserving your current patient flow  and staffing model.    Step 3: We Identify the Least Disruptive Integration Point   From this analysis, we pinpoint the most efficient and least disruptive touchpoint for integrated dental care . This ensures that OroMed enhances — not complicates — your care model.  This step is where OroMed’s real value shines: we bring dental care into the primary care setting  in a way that works for your  operations, your  population, and your  goals.    Step 4: We Hire OroMed Staff Dedicated to Your Health Center   To make integration as smooth as possible, OroMed  hires and trains our own staff  to serve your health center directly. That means no additional burden  on your team, and no scrambling to reassign clinical staff.  Our team is equipped with cutting-edge screening tools to detect oral health issues early. These oral health screenings  are then tied into your EHR systems and follow-up processes.  This approach lets your team stay focused on their priorities, while OroMed  expands care access in the background .    Step 5: We Train Our Team and Collaborate With Yours  OroMed handles the clinical screenings, but we also collaborate with your team to ensure a smooth rollout. That includes:  Training your staff on how to refer patients  Aligning with your front desk on education scripts  Coordinating with care managers for referrals and documentation  This creates a shared understanding of how OroMed fits into your mission and strengthens your commitment to whole-person care .    Step 6: We Pilot the Workflow  Before full-scale implementation, we test the process in one location . This allows us to refine:  Clinical workflow integration  Data entry procedures  Technology and communication pathways  Staff roles and responsibilities  This pilot ensures your health center sees immediate benefits without unnecessary stress or disruption. It’s the first step toward scaling integrated dental care  across your network.    Step 7: We Launch the Full Protocol  After a successful pilot, we fully roll out the OroMed protocol  across the site. We manage the entire implementation process, from staffing and training to tech setup and ongoing optimization.  Because this model is built for health centers , it seamlessly supports your team without getting in the way, while improving access, compliance, and patient outcomes.    Step 8: We Scale Across Additional Locations   Once the first location is running smoothly, we work with you to expand OroMed to additional sites  in your health center network. The system is fully scalable, and we manage:  New staff onboarding  Workflow consistency  Protocol standardization  KPI tracking and reporting  This means you can offer scalable, integrated dental care for FQHCs  system-wide, without starting from scratch each time.    Why OroMed’s Integrated Model Works  OroMed was built specifically for the needs of FQHCs and community health centers. Our model works because it:  Doesn’t require hiring dentists  Fits into existing medical workflows  Supports UDS oral health reporting  Generates reimbursable encounters  Helps you deliver whole-person, preventative care   We don’t ask you to change what you do, we enhance what already works , and bring oral health directly into the primary care environment.  A Smarter Way Forward: Integrated Dental Care for FQHCs   At OroMed, we know that every community health center is different and that’s exactly why our approach works. By listening first and building around your unique workflows, we ensure our preventative dental evaluation model strengthens your operations rather than competes with them. From initial assessments to final rollout, we approach integration as a relationship, not a transaction. We bring the people, the protocols, and the technology, but we leave the ownership and control in your hands.  What we’ve developed isn’t just a screening program; it’s a strategic framework for delivering integrated dental care for FQHCs,  one that aligns with your priorities, supports your compliance goals, and respects the daily pressures your providers and patients face. It’s a model that enables you to scale oral health services efficiently, sustainably, and with measurable impact. And most importantly, it allows patients, many of whom would never otherwise access oral health care, to receive early intervention and education at the point of primary care.  In an era where care delivery must be smarter, more collaborative, and more accessible than ever, OroMed offers a solution that not only meets the moment, it leads it. We’re proud to be at the forefront of helping health centers bridge medical and dental care through seamless, preventative integration. And we’re ready to help you do the same.  Ready to Bring Integrated Dental Care to Your FQHC?   If you’re ready to explore how OroMed can help your health center expand access, improve reporting, and increase patient satisfaction, all without disrupting your team, we’d love to talk.  Let’s collaborate to design a solution that works for your workflow, your patients, and your mission.  Schedule Your Personalized Demo Today:

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.  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.

The passage of the Economic Opportunity Act in 1965 marked a watershed moment in U.S. healthcare history, giving life to the Community Health Center program and transforming care for millions in underserved areas. Six decades on, OroMed is proud to commemorate this milestone by launching the inaugural Health Center Employee Award , dedicated to celebrating the everyday heroes whose dedication fuels our community health centers.  This Year We Celebrate 60 Years of Service and Care A Legacy of Service: 60 Years Strong   Back in July 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed legislation that laid the groundwork for what would become the Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) program. From those early pilot sites to more than 1,400 health centers serving over 31 million patients today, the program’s growth reflects a steadfast belief that quality healthcare is a right, not a privilege. This anniversary isn’t just about looking back, it’s about honoring the compassion and resilience of the care teams who have faithfully carried forward that vision through every challenge and triumph.  Milestone Spotlight: Community Health by the Numbers   31.5 million patients  received care at community health centers in the past year, an increase from 30.5 million the year before ( KFF , TechTarget ).  41 percent  of those patients live in rural communities, bringing essential services to remote areas ( TechTarget ).  Providing care to approximately 1 in 5 uninsured individuals ( NACHC ). Health centers operated  over 15,600 service delivery sites , including school‑based and mobile units, delivering 132 million visits  in 2023, including 17.5 million telehealth visits  ( KFF , TechTarget ).  Since 2015, mobile health units have grown by 139 percent , and today there are roughly 655 mobile units  in operation, about 30 percent of which serve rural areas, bringing care directly to people where they live and work ( NACHC , NACHC ).  These figures underscore the scale and innovation of community health centers and the critical role each care worker plays.  How Oromed is Taking Part in Celebrations  While national recognition often highlights high‑profile institutions, the individuals delivering care on the ground—nurses, medical assistants, community health workers, dentists, physicians, technicians, and support staff—don’t always get their moment in the spotlight. OroMed’s  Health Center Worker Award  is our way of changing that narrative. By celebrating outstanding professionals, we aim to:  Amplify Awareness:  Share real stories of dedication and innovation in community health.  Inspire Excellence:  Encourage peers by showcasing how one person’s commitment can ripple out to benefit entire communities.  Build Support:  Highlighting these achievements can help attract attention from funders, local advocates, and the public at large.  Every patient interaction, from a preventive oral health check to managing chronic conditions, strengthens community well‑being. Our award shines a light on those efforts.  Introducing the Health Center Employee Award   This month, we're honoring one standout care professional whose work embodies service, creativity, and teamwork. Award criteria include:  Patient‑Centered Impact:  Excellence in serving marginalized or underserved populations.  Innovation in Practice:  Creative approaches that improve access, efficiency, or outcomes.  Collaborative Leadership:  Active engagement in interdisciplinary teams, mentoring, or community outreach.  Advocacy & Education:  Efforts to raise awareness, whether with patients, families, or local stakeholders, about community health needs.  Nominations were submitted in July and our deadline for submissions is now closed. Our panel is now reviewing each submission and will select an honoree whose story we’ll share across our channels on August 9th.  Driving Visibility for Community Health Heroes  Raising visibility is the first step toward broader understanding and support. Once we’ve selected a winner, we’ll highlight their journey and impact. We hope these authentic stories inspire policymakers, funders, and local communities to recognize and support the vital role of community health workers.  Celebrating a Milestone Year   This year isn’t just another anniversary, it’s an opportunity to recognize six decades of progress in community‑based care. At OroMed we share in the collective celebration of 60 years since the health center program began. Building this award program is our way of celebrating the tireless individuals who've made the last six decades a major success in healthcare. This award reflects our belief that every perspective matters and that community support strengthens our healthcare system.  The Ripple Effect: Benefits Beyond Recognition  Recognition can spark lasting impact. Programs like this have historically led to:  Expanded Funding:  Spotlighted professionals often secure grants to grow their programs.  Policy Influence:  Awardee stories have informed state and federal health policy decisions.  Loyalty & Retention:  Celebrated employees report higher morale and lower turnover.  With OroMed’s  Health Center Worker Award , we want to support this work, by fortifying the workforce that delivers this critical care and bring a spotlight to ways we can increase support, care and services for these communities in the future.   How to Get Involved  Submissions are now closed, however you can still check back for our announcement on our blog and in our socials . And we will be announcing this award again soon! We want to make this nomination process a regular part of our recognition of health center workers. When we open submissions again, we welcome all health center staff, partners, and patients to nominate a deserving professional, (including themselves!) for the Health Center Employee Award . Whether it’s a community health worker who transformed outreach or a dentist who championed preventive care, we want to elevate their story. We'll keep you posted for the next submission cycle! Join the Celebration   As we honor 60 years since the birth of the community health center movement, we recognize that our greatest achievements are driven by people. OroMed’s  Health Center Worker Award  is our way of expressing gratitude and sharing these inspiring stories. We hope that, together with our readers and supporters, we can spark wider appreciation for the heroes who dedicate their lives to serving underserved communities and encourage even more to join their ranks in the years ahead, while bringing attention, recognition and appreciation to this incredible American initiative and ingenuity.