Purpose: 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 reimburse-ments. 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.

Cost-efficiency Migrant Children Community dental delivery program

education Preceptorship Reimbursement Mechanisms Cost benefit analysis economics Michigan community care human economic aspect reimbursement controlled study Comprehensive Dental Care Community Dentistry dental student Students, Dental Dental Care for Children United States health care cost Dental Care Health Care Costs health program Humans Adolescent male female Article manpower major clinical study migration medicaid Transients and Migrants Delivery of Health Care Community-Institutional Relations cost-benefit analysis public relations Learning cost effectiveness analysis health care delivery Child