Effects of a brief case management intervention linking people with HIV to oral health care: Project smile

Objectives: Although people with HIV experience significant oral health problems, many consistently identify oral health as an unmet health care need. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of a dental case management intervention on dental care use. Methods: We evaluated the intervention according to self-reported dental care use at 6-, 12-, and 18-month follow-ups. Multivariable logistic models with generalized estimating equations were used to assess the effects of the intervention over time. Results: The odds of having a dental care visit were about twice as high in the intervention group as in the standard care group at 6 months (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.52; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.58, 4.08) and 12 months (adjusted OR = 1.98; 95% CI = 1.17, 3.35), but the odds were comparable in the 2 groups by 18 months (adjusted OR = 1.07; 95% CI = 0.62, 1.86). Factors significantly associated with having a dental care visit included frequent physician visits and dental care referrals. Conclusions: We demonstrated that a dental case management intervention targeting people with HIV was efficacious but not sustainable over time. Barriers not addressed in the intervention must be considered to sustain its use over time.