Whether a SBHC is in the planning phase or well on its way to integrating sustainable comprehensive oral health services into primary care, assessing the environment in which the center operates is critical. Looking at the burden of oral disease among the target population, community readiness, local demographics, and existing school- or community-based oral health services enables SBHCs to identify their place within the community and complement rather than duplicate others' efforts. Assessing the financial environment encourages SBHCs to analyze their resources and understand what funding may be available now and in the future. Analyzing the political environment helps them navigate the political atmosphere within the community. Assessing the organizational environment (i.e., leadership, staffing, infrastructure) helps them more effectively integrate sustainable comprehensive oral health services into primary care.
