Daily Summaries 

Tuesday – 02/03/2026

On this day, I reviewed existing literature regarding the frequency of recommended preventative care treatments. I researched this topic in order to include researched-backed guidelines on what treatments and procedures to include in the Dental Savings Plan to present to the UHC Core Operations stakeholders. I began by researching the recommendations for prophylaxis (cleaning) frequency, which primarily consisted of literature review articles. I then researched these referenced articles individually, focusing on the specific effect on progression of caries and periodontal disease according to prophylaxis frequency by 6-month, 12-month, and 24-month intervals. I then researched the recommendations and implications of recall frequency of oral examinations. 

Thursday – 

I began this day by continuing to order and organize the data in the best flow of information possible. I then began importing the data into the final slide show that will be used to present the Dental Savings Plan to the UHC financial board. I organized the information in the slides in the easiest way possible to understand without being overwhelming with content, in order for the committee to best interpret the information. I also used the data I had collected to create charts and tables to inlay in the slides to present the information in a clarified and simpler format. I then spent the rest of the day working on the citations for the information, ensuring that the citations were presented in a clear and concise format. I chose to do the references in the AMA citation format style, which is the most common formatting used in medical texts. 

Summary of Week 4 with Competencies 

• 1.2 Obtain primary data, secondary data, and other evidence-informed sources.
  • 1.2.1 Identify primary data, secondary data, and evidence-informed resources.
  • 1.2.3 Conduct a literature review.
  • 1.2.4 Procure secondary data.
    • I researched literature articles regarding recommendations and requirements for the frequency of preventative care. I specifically researched articles assessing the impact of preventative prophylaxis treatments and their respective frequency, according to 6-month, 12-month, and 24-month intervals. I also researched the frequency implications of comprehensive examinations, recall examinations, and x-rays. By researching the literature regarding the suggested preventative care guidelines and recommended frequencies, I was able to determine the preventative care treatments that will be included in the Dental Savings Plan. 
• 1.3 Analyze the data to determine the health of the priority population(s) and the factors that influence health.
  • 1.3.4 Assess existing and available resources, policies, programs, practices, and interventions.
  • 1.3.6 List the needs of the priority population(s).
    • I reviewed reports from tickets processed for patients with the UnitedHealthcare Student Dental insurance to determine the coverage and patient responsibility for students who choose this insurance option. Through determining the existing resources available to UGA students who do not have insurance, I am able to determine the current cost for an uninsured student to get insurance and get the necessary preventative care and procedures. Through this information, I can then start to determine the best cost for the DSP to benefit the patient more than the current insurance option. 
• 1.4 Synthesize assessment findings to inform the planning process.
  • 1.4.4 Develop recommendations based on findings.
  • 1.4.5 Report assessment findings.
    •  I continued to review, organize, and consolidate my current research into the order that I will present it in the presentation. Through analyzing all of the data I have collected thus far, I was able to determine the order of information to present to the UHC board. I determined that I should begin by explaining the problem we are aiming to address, the access gap in preventative dental care. I then explained this problem by elaborating on the current need for uninsured and underinsured patients to gain better access to dental care. I then evaluated the patient population data and added a section of the presentation addressing the priority population of who will primarily benefit from the plan. I then explained the extent of the two current payment options for patients without dental insurance, which are either paying completely out-of-pocket as an uninsured patient or getting the student dental plan through UnitedHealthcare through the university. 

Week 4 Summary 

During my fourth week with the UGA UHC Dental Clinic, I prioritized strengthening and consolidating the data I was collecting for the final presentation of the proposed Dental Savings Plan. I conducted a literature review targeted to evidence-based recommendations for preventative dental care, including the frequency of prophylaxis, comprehensive and recall examinations, and x-rays, particularly bitewings. By reading through previous literature review articles and the sources that had been cited throughout them, I evaluated how different intervals for preventative care procedures, such as 6-, 12-, and 24-months, impact the progression and diagnosis of dental caries and periodontal disease. Researching this literature allowed me to determine exactly which preventative services should be included in the Dental Savings Plan and how frequently they should be offered. This allowed me to ensure the DSP program aligns with the best current clinical guidelines and is most optimized towards the patient’s health and finances. 

In addition to conducting a literature review, I continued reviewing and consolidating the data I have been collecting throughout the internship to prepare for the presentation to the UHC financial board. I organized the content of the final slideshow to clearly communicate the access gap in preventive dental care, identify priority populations, and compare existing payment options for uninsured and underinsured patients. I then used this data to create easier to understand charts and tables to be used in the slideshow for the UHC Core Operations stakeholders. I then finalized references for all of the slideshow’s supporting evidence using AMA citation style to ensure clarity. 

Overall, Week 4 emphasized evidence-informed planning, data synthesis, and health communication through the creation of the final slideshow from my data collected. By integrating a combination of clinical literature, UHC patient insurance coverage data, and patient utilization trends from patient tickets throughout 2025, I used primary and secondary data to strengthen the explanation and significance of the Dental Savings Plan. This week prioritized the transition from data collection to final presentation preparation for effective stakeholder review regarding improving access to preventative dental care for the UGA community.