MetLife MetDental Accreditation Information

LGBTQ+ is an umbrella term representing the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community. Members of this community have historically faced discrimination, prejudice, and stigma, resulting in significant health disparities. These biases may further an unwelcome social environment or perception in healthcare settings, creating barriers to care. A culturally competent and inclusive oral health care provider can provide effective care to a diverse patient population by integrating an essential understanding of their culture, vocabulary, values, attitudes, and norms into the office environment. This Quality Resource Guide (QRG) discusses the challenges of the LGBTQ+ community accessing health care, the responsibilities of oral healthcare professionals to the LBTQ+ community, and ways to provide a welcoming environment and experience in the dental office for the LGBTQ+ community. An extensive listing of terms and culturally competent language to describe sexual attraction, romantic attraction, or gender identity (adapted from the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) is provided to assist the dental office team when communicating with LGBTQ+ patients. Access to a sample intake/registration form that provides relevant health information and supports a patient's identity is also included. This QRG will serve as an important resource for all office staff members and help ensure the office is providing a welcoming environment for the LBTQ+ community.

The dental record is the official document that houses all pertinent information about a patient receiving care in a dental practice. It archives historical and diagnostic information, as well as details diagnoses, treatment plans, consents to treatment, and the specifics of care provided. A properly constructed and maintained dental record allows concise and efficient communication between the dentist and the patient, as well as between the dentist and other health care professionals. A well-documented record may be the dentist’s best defense in a case of alleged malpractice and may serve as a key component of a forensic investigation. This Guide provides straightforward, concise guidance in constructing and maintaining a dental record that will meet contemporary standards of care, as well as federal patient privacy standards. Since general dentists often find it difficult to document occlusal status in an efficient manner, a helpful “Rapid Occlusal Assessment” template is provided as an appendix.

A musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) is an affliction of the soft tissues caused by repeated exertions and movements of the body and sustained static postures. MSDs, accompanied by musculoskelatal pain, often plague providers of dental care. This Quality Resource Guide (QRG) provides an evidence-based review of the: MSDs that are common among dental professionals; risk factors for MSDs; basic principles of ergonomics specific to the dental workplace; ideal body posture for a seated office workstation and the clinical dental station; modifications and techniques for minimizing risk factors and MSDs, and; suggestions to manage symptoms of MSDs. Ergonomic principles to protect the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, spine, hips, knees, and feet are provided, and ways to avoid static postures, repetition and mechanical stresses are discussed. A Self-Assessment form is included to allow the entire dental team to evaluate potential risks. The QRG will serve as an essential resource for practitioners and staff members as they strive to protect against musculoskeletal pain.

The availability of a current medical history is essential before undertaking dental treatment and helps insure the safe and effective management of the patient.  The increasing complexity of health care itself, patients living longer with chronic diseases, and the expanding numbers of available medications, contribute to the importance of having an up-to-date medical history and the challenge of obtaining one.  The seventh edition of this Guide takes a comprehensive approach to the topic and provides guidance in obtaining appropriate medical consultation. It also discusses prescription drugs and natural products that relate to oral health and/or complicate patient management.  Language barriers confronted during the obtainment of information are addressed with the introduction of a multi-language health history questionnaire.  Appended to the Guide are forms that the practitioner can duplicate for use in their office.  Regardless of who in the dental practice is responsible for obtaining the initial history or making sure health information is current, this Guide should facilitate completing this important aspect of patient care.

The modern Western diet is widely accepted as a key contributor to the development of dental caries and many noncommunicable chronic disorders (NCDs) affecting modern society.  In this QRG, the author describes the characteristics of the Western diet and its impact on both systemic and oral health. The characteristics of a healthy diet and the relevance of the growing market for dietary supplements will also be discussed. Finally, the role of the oral healthcare provider in identifying and educating patients on proper nutrition will be presented.

Value considerations are taking on growing importance in efforts to reform and improve the U.S. health care system, including oral health care. As a result, there is increasing interest in understanding the concept of value as it relates to dental care and its application to clinical practice and third-party benefits. This Quality Resource Guide (QRG) provides a foundation and overview of current major initiatives being pursued to advance increased value in health care, including oral health care. The dynamic and profound changes that are occurring throughout the U.S. health care system are discussed, “value” as it pertains to healthcare is defined, current understanding of consumer’s perspectives of value in their healthcare is considered and current efforts to increase value in healthcare are discussed in detail. The potential implications of current directions to dental practice and health care payment plans are explored. The QRG will serve as an important resource for members of the dental team as they consider the foundation of value decisions in health care and their potential impact on care delivery for their patients in the future.