Positive impacts of oral health services provision by a student-led primary care clinic to an Australian rural indigenous community

Background

This study aimed to determine whether oral health services provision by a dental student clinical outplacement embedded within a Community Controlled Health Service positively impacted a rural Indigenous community and to explore the nature of these benefits.

Methods

Aggregated and de-identified 2017, 2018 and 2019 student-led clinic services provision data were retrospectively analysed. The change in services mix over time was measured. Rural outplacement clinic operational costs to the university were estimated. Government-funded local public dental clinic waiting list and services provision data were used to identify any student clinic establishment effect.

Results

The student-led clinic services mix shifted over time from mainly acute care for toothache towards prevention of disease and tooth restoration, indicating an improvement in patient oral health and correspondingly reduced system costs. Imputed value of 2017–2019 student-led clinic services provision totalled almost AUD$1 million. Government public clinic waiting list times decreased after full establishment of the student-led clinic, indicating decreased pressure on the public system.

Conclusion

The Community Controlled Health Service and university partnership improved community oral health care access, its timely delivery and simultaneously provided valuable human capital development from the student training experience. The student-led clinic's targeted Indigenous community showed oral health improvement over time. © 2023 Australian Dental Association.