Wisconsin Medical Dental Integration

Wisconsin Medical Dental Integration (WI MDI) is a care delivery model where dental hygienists are integrated into the primary care appointment to provide early dental prevention and intervention services. This model leverages the medical visit, the primary care team and integrated dental hygienists to more equitably address the maternal and child dental needs of Wisconsin.

This work is guided in part by the WI MDI Advisory Council, established in 2019 to provide oversight on medical dental integration efforts in Wisconsin. The council includes key stakeholders representing medical and dental professional associations, health systems and centers’ leadership, and from other supporting organizations.

The resources below aim to increase understanding of MDI opportunities and provide guidance on implementation of MDI efforts. Please check back regularly for updates.

WI MDI Implementation Guide

This guide will lead you though integrating dental hygienists into primary care teams.

Medical Dental Integration

Learn how Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers in Milwaukee has innovatively integrated dental hygienists into their primary care team – all within the framework of their existing medical visits.

WI MDI Infographic Series

This infographic series highlights the importance and value of medical dental integration.

Resources

Hear from professionals who are integrating medical and dental care in their practice.

Did you know in Wisconsin dental hygienists can independently practice in a variety of settings outside of a dental office? Hear from professionals who are integrating medical and dental care in their practice.

The opportunity for Wisconsin dental hygienists to work within the medical team was made possible due to years of legislative advocacy to expand settings that allow for direct access. Watch the videos below to follow the journey that lead to dental hygienists being able to practice in non-traditional settings, independent of dentists, to bring dental care to more locations and people statewide.

Expanded Practice Setting for Dental Hygienists

Learn how dental hygienists can work in non-traditional settings to bring dental care to more locations and people statewide.

Dental Hygienists and Medical Teams

Hear from two Wisconsin hygienists currently working in an integrated role within medical teams – learn more about why MDI is needed in our state, and how you can get involved!

Dental Hygienist Integration

Hear from hygienist, Collen Hogan, as she shares more about her role in medical dental integration at Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers.

Your Official ADHA Podcast

Stay connected by tuning in to Your Official American Dental Hygienist’s Association (ADHA) Podcast, hosted by the Alliance’s very own Executive Director, Matt Crespin. Join as relevant thoughts, ideas, and best practices for hygienists throughout the U.S. are discussed.

Wisconsin is pioneering a Medical Dental Integration (MDI) care delivery model where dental hygienists are integrated into the primary care appointment to provide early dental prevention and intervention services. Your Official ADHA Podcast (Ep 112), dives deeper into MDI with Thomas Huffer, MD, MS, FAAP, and Olivia Morzenti, RDH, CDHC, MS, of Prevea Health. Prevea is the first health system in Wisconsin to integrate a dental hygienist into their medical care teams. These two innovators share why multidisciplinary integration makes sense and how it works.

Interested in learning more? If you would like to schedule a one-on-one meeting for more information, please contact Lindsay Deinhammer or Jenna Linden.

Contact Our Staff

For more information about the Wisconsin Medical Dental Integration Project, please contact:

Matt Crespin, MPH, RDH
Executive Director
(414) 337-4562
mcrespin@childrenswi.org

Jenna Linden, BSDH, RDH, CDHC
Program Leader
(414) 337-4564
jlinden@childrenswi.org

Lindsay Deinhammer, RN, BSN
Program Manager
(414) 337-4563
ldeinhammer@childrenswi.org

Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Oral Health eBytes

Features state and national news, legislative updates, events and resources.

Sign Up

The Wisconsin Medical Dental Integration project is funded in part by a grant from Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

WAC Wisconsin ESMC Keeping Kids Alive Wisconsin Medical Home Oral Health