A Collaborative Effort in New Hampshire to Educate Health Professionals about the Oral Health-Diabetes Connection

Objective: To describe collaboration between the Diabetes and Oral Health Programs in the New Hampshire Division of Public Health Services (DPHS) with external partners including community health centers, diabetes educators, and medical and dental providers. 

Methods: The Diabetes and Oral Health Programs within DPHS collaborated to 1) Create a poster for health professionals on the oral health-diabetes connection to be used at state and regional conferences; 2) Incorporate oral health recommendations into the NH Guidelines for Diabetes Care.  Collaborative activities external to DPHS were directed by the NH Diabetes Coalition.  Its Public Education Work Group convened monthly meetings to 1) Develop an oral health-diabetes curriculum; 2) Conduct trainings for dental and medical professionals; 3) Create a communication tool to facilitate transfer of patient information between dentists and physicians.

Results: Pilot training evaluations demonstrated increased awareness among medical and dental practices of the oral-health diabetes connection.  The communication tool was integrated into practice at a community dental center. The Diabetes Coalition is seeking additional funds to extend the pilot trainings to community health and dental centers that routinely care for high-risk patients.    

Conclusion: To educate providers about the oral health-diabetes connection for at-risk patients, the Oral Health and Diabetes programs within DPHS implemented a cross-bureau, cross-discipline collaboration that was enhanced by external collaborations with community partners.