Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment in oral health settings: A scoping review

Objectives: Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is an effective
evidence-based
model to provide early intervention and treatment to people
with substance use disorders across diverse health settings. Yet, how SBIRT has been
implemented within oral health settings and its associated outcomes has not been explored.
This scoping review assessed how SBIRT has been implemented in oral health
settings in the U.S. and discusses the implications for SBIRT integration in dentistry
and oral health research, education and practice.
Methods: Five scholarly databases were searched using a scoping review methodology
for relevant literature, yielding seven articles that met inclusion criteria.
Results: Findings from seven U.S. studies show that SBIRT has been implemented into
oral health settings in three distinct ways: through education/training, as an intervention
and in one national survey. Findings of this scoping review support the inclusion
of SBIRT education for oral health professionals in both practice and clinical environments
and offer examples of existing models for future implementation and study.
Conclusions: The scant literature on SBIRT intervention effects in dental settings—both
within and outside of the U.S.—underscores
the need for more empirical work to
better understand how SBIRT impacts dental providers' knowledge, practices, referrals
and ultimately, patient outcomes.