TECHNICAL ABSTRACT
This project addresses the need for improved oral health for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through better self-management, smart toothbrushes, improved direct care support, team coordination, and person-centered planning. By developing the Person-Centered Oral Health Care System (PCOHS), individuals with IDD will have a more active role in their daily oral hygiene and improve their oral health. The goal of the project is to build on a validated Phase I PCOHS prototype to develop a model that facilitates enhanced self-managed oral health care while providing a platform for training, coaching, and coordinated care for individuals and their support teams. In consultation with dental practitioners, oral health supports can be customized to enhance better self-care using individualized routines to foster consistent training, prompting, and encouragement by direct support professionals (DSPs). Progress data for oral health care goals can be monitored and tracked remotely by support team members and health care providers to help individuals with IDD improve their ongoing oral hygiene. This web-based platform will also support individuals with IDD who experience anxiety about oral care procedures by using a personalized digital portfolio to communicate needs and preferences to DSPs and dental professionals.
SUMMARY OF THE ANTICIPATED RESULT, IMPLICATIONS, AND POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL APPLICATION
Phase I resulted in development of a prototype system with demonstrated feasibility, preliminary demonstration of effectiveness, and functional product-market fit for individuals with significant cognitive disabilities, DSPs, and dental professionals. The project met a priori benchmarks and established requirements for Phase II development. The Phase II project will build out the back-end architecture and complete the front-end framework needed to move from a prototype to a marketable product. The outcome will be a product to improve oral health for individuals with IDD, with commercial viability for that population and beyond, as oral health is a problem for individuals with a wide range of disabilities receiving Medicaid services as well as many older adults, including those living in supported and assisted living settings and those living with families. It can be marketed to individuals, families, support agencies, and dental practices.