Workplace Oral Health Wellness Program

Chronic oral infections can have an effect on an individual's quality of life, as well as having a significant economic impact on businesses and society, including increasing health care costs and loss of productivity in the workplace. Objectives: To improve the oral health of workers through educational interventions delivered in the context of workplace wellness. Methods: Creation Technologies, a manufacturing company located in Lexington, Kentucky employs about 300 workers. All employees are provided a group dental health insurance plan. A worksite oral health wellness program was implemented from June 2010-June 2011. The program consisted of an orientation, a dental screening, posted monthly dental tips, and four ‘lunch and learn' presentations. A dental health survey was completed by workers and a dental screening chart was completed by a licensed dental professional. At the end of one year, a program evaluation survey was completed by participants. Measurements of success were identified as increased use of dental benefits and development of novel effective program strategies to improve oral health literacy and change the culture from ‘reactive to proactive' dental care. Results: Forty-two percent of the workers participated for one year. Of the workers who participated in the dental screenings and completed dental histories, almost 40% reported brushing one time or less a day and 67% reported rarely or never flossing. Twenty-five percent reported needing dental work. The dental screening showed that 67% required “early care” and 2% required “urgent care”. At the end of one year, 79% of workers reported a dental visit after participating in the oral wellness program. Fifty-eight percent reported a change in behavior related to oral health after participating. The participants rated ‘lunch and learns' as the component of the program they liked the most (54%), learned the most from (63%), and motivated a behavior change (40.8%) as compared to dental tips and dental screenings. Thirty-five percent now brush longer after participating. Twenty-nine percent reported flossing more often after participating. The company's per member utilization rate, reported by the dental insurance company, went from 1.23 in 2009 prior to the beginning of the program to 1.37 in 2010 (midway through the program, 2011 has not been reported). Conclusion: Wellness programs that include a focus on oral health have the potential to improve oral health behaviors. Supported by a contract from the Kentucky Department of Public Health.