Lack of access to oral health care contributes to profound and enduring oral health disparities in the United States. Millions of Americans lack access to basic oral health care. The 2011 Institute of Medicine (IOM) reports, Advancing Oral Health in America and Improving Access for Oral Health for Vulnerable and Underserved Populations, recommended that the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) address the need for improved access to oral health care through the development of oral health core competencies for health care professionals. In response, HRSA developed the Integration of Oral Health and Primary Care Practice (IOHPCP) initiative. The IOHPCP report (2014) describes the structured approach, processes and outcomes addressed in the three components of the IOHPCP initiative.
