• The annual reported rate captures activity during the previous calendar year. 
• This is a Healthcare Effectiveness & Data Information Set (HEDIS) administrative measure.
• Based on the advice of their External Quality Review Organization (EQRO), DVHA’s rates include only Medicaid Primary beneficiaries in HEDIS administrative measures as of 2014.
• The red dashed trend line above is the 50th percentile national benchmark for Medicaid programs. The blue solid trend line is Vermont Medicaid's actual values.

• Medicaid beneficiaries
• Dentists
• Vermont Department of Health - Office of Oral Health

This measure looks at the percentage of Medicaid beneficiaries ages 2 through 20 with dental coverage who had a dental check-up during the past year. Guidelines set by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the first dental visit occur for children by one year of age. Regular visits to the dentist provide access to cleaning, early diagnosis and treatment, as well as education on how to prevent problems.

The data provided above is the DVHA’s Annual Dental Visit Total rate (all age groups combined). Separate visit rates for the various age group sub-sets are also tracked.

Pandemic-related reduction in dental office availability contributed to the steep decline in dental visits shown in the 2021 value above (for measurement year 2020).

Last updated: August 2021

Author: DVHA Quality Unit

For information on dental care and oral health in Vermont, please follow this link:

http://www.healthvermont.gov/wellness/oral-health