This study identified the potential role that policy could play in increasing silver diamine fluoride (SDF) utilization among Medicaid enrollees. Researchers at the Ohio State University Colleges of Dentistry and Medicine examined relationships between seven policy dimensions of the Current Dental Terminology (CDT) code D1354 and SDF utilization rates in 14 states.
Reimbursement amount was the only policy dimension found to have a statistically significant association with SDF utilization, and only when accounting for the year. For example, reimbursement was associated with SDF utilization in 2022 but not in 2018.
The authors observe that SDF faces stricter policies, compared to fluoride varnish and dental sealants, that do not align with American Dental Association Guidelines, writing:
This gap limits SDF’s potential to improve oral health, especially for children and patients with special health care needs. Raising reimbursement rates and easing restrictions could boost provider adoption, ensuring better access for patients.”
Read the article in the Journal of Public Health Dentistry (open access)
Medicaid claims data for this analysis were made available by CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. Visit our Health Data Exchange to access similar dental, medical, and social data.
You may also be interested in:
- Medicaid Dental 360, a dashboard providing a clear, consolidated view of Medicaid dental coverage across states.
- Minimally Invasive Care in Dentistry: Healing Tooth Decay with Brush-On Therapies, a self-paced course exploring several therapies, including SDF.
- Answers to 17 of Your SDF Questions, a blog post covering the benefits, risks, and challenges of incorporating SDF into practice.