Correction: A revised version of the white paper was uploaded on October 7, 2025, in order to correct the in-text numbering of references #225–272.
Helping patients achieve optimal health and a high quality of life requires the full integration of oral health into health care systems. Such integration requires robust collaboration across disciplines, known as interprofessional practice (IPP).
This comprehensive white paper and accompanying use cases, a collaboration between CareQuest Institute and more than 15 authors, explores IPP as a strategy to enhance patient outcomes, strengthen chronic disease management, and advance public health.
By embracing interprofessional oral health practice as a foundation of whole-person care, we can redefine what it means to provide comprehensive, collaborative, and equitable health care for all across the lifespan.”
Key takeaways include:
- Sustaining effective IPP models requires rigorous program evaluation, interprofessional education, and supportive policy.
- IPP thrives in diverse care environments such as integrated care clinics, school-based health centers, long-term care facilities, and mobile clinics — settings that prioritize accessibility and person-centered care for underserved populations.
- Innovative payment models such as Medicaid pay-for-quality programs, accountable care organizations (ACOs), and targeted grants demonstrate that integrated care can yield better health outcomes and lower costs.
- The future of IPP lies in expanding integration beyond primary care, incorporating nursing, pharmacy, and behavioral health.
As this white paper shows, successful IPP will depend on policy coherence, sustainable payment models, stakeholder engagement, and a cultural shift toward collaborative, whole-person care.
You may also be interested in:
- Transforming Oral Health Care Through Interprofessional Education, a white paper and use cases investigating the critical role of interprofessional education to foster collaborative, patient-centered health care.
- Oral-Systemic Interactions and Medical-Dental Integration: A Life Course Approach, a report and infographic providing an overview of the connection between oral health and overall health across the lifespan.
- Partners in Progress: Pursuing Medical-Dental Integration in Ohio, an impact report and case study exploring results from a pilot program to integrate oral health into pediatric primary care.
