Cost-efficiency of a community dental delivery program for migrant children.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to describe an economically efficient dental prevention and treatment program aimed at migrant children, using dental school students. This dental treatment program aimed to provide comprehensive dental care to migrant children and to provide a unique learning experience for dental students expanding their knowledge of community delivery systems.


METHODS
Twenty-four dental students treated 330 migrant children through a 6-week outreach treatment program sponsored by the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, as a part of the Northwest Michigan Migrant Health Program.


RESULTS
The program cost $39,907 and resulted in just over $16,000 of Medicaid reimbursements. Factoring in the Medicaid reimbursements, the program cost $71.58 to treat each child comprehensively.


CONCLUSIONS
In light of the reported oral health disparities throughout the United States, this program provides an alternative mechanism for efficient and cost-effective oral care in a group that has traditionally had poor oral health.
Chaffin
Jeffrey G
JG
US Army , Dental Command Ft. Sam Houston, Tex, USA.
Pai
Satishchandra
S
Bagramian
Robert A
RA
D002648:Child; D003149:Community Dentistry / Q000191:economics* / Q000193:education; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations / Q000191:economics; D003190:Comprehensive Dental Care / Q000191:economics; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics*; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000191:economics*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008484:Medicaid / Q000191:economics; D008824:Michigan; D011231:Preceptorship; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms / Q000191:economics; D013335:Students, Dental; D014171:Transients and Migrants; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce