Case Study: Firstgrin
Firstgrin and DentaQuest Advance Pediatric Oral Health in Underserved Community
ACCELERATE pilot engages Medicaid population in pediatric preventive care, closing medical-dental gaps and delivering a 3.5x increase in early dental visits
Dental caries are the most common childhood chronic disease in the United States. By age 8, more than half of US children have been affected by dental caries in their primary teeth (source: CDC). And while caries are largely preventable, lack of education, access, and coverage remain obstacles to kids and parents receiving needed information and care.
Firstgrin is on a mission to overcome these obstacles and promote lifelong oral health, starting in pregnancy and infancy. Through introductory oral health kits, a companion educational app, and personalized support, Firstgrin meets families where they are to help make oral health simple and engaging.
CareQuest Innovation Partners Drives Strategic Connections, Market Insights
In 2025 Firstgrin joined SMILE Health, CareQuest Innovation Partners' accelerator for emerging startups driving innovation in oral and overall health. Using a nationally representative claims data set, CareQuest and Firstgrin found that 75% of US children miss their recommended age-one dental visit, putting them at an early disadvantage when it comes to oral health.
The first recommended dental visit is often missed due to a disconnect between medical and dental care and inconsistent messaging to families about when the first visit should happen. Our mission at Firstgrin is to overcome those challenges and ensure families have the right information to set their children up for a lifetime of better oral health.”
Dr. Ashley Lerman, Founder and CEO, Firstgrin
Through SMILE, CareQuest also connected Firstgrin to several industry partners, including DentaQuest, a Sun Life company and the largest dental benefits provider in the US by membership.
3.5X
Pilot has delivered a 3.5X increase in first dental visits before the age of one
To reach more families before oral health problems start, Firstgrin and DentaQuest developed a pilot targeting ~1,000 Medicaid families in Louisiana, a priority audience for Firstgrin and DentaQuest to advance whole-person care and equity. ACCELERATE, CareQuest's program to scale in-market companies working with industry partners, provided non-dilutive funds and guidance to drive the pilot’s success.
The pilot involved mailing Firstgrin oral care kits and providing app access to caregivers of ~1,000 infants approaching their first recommended dental visit. The targeted materials and education worked. To date, the pilot has delivered a 3.5x increase in first dental visits before the age of one, setting the stage for a lifetime of better oral health and cost savings: widely cited research shows every $1 invested in preventive dental care returns $8 to $50 in avoided restorative and emergency costs (source: University of Chicago).
Every $1 invested in preventive dental care returns $8 to $50 in avoided restorative and emergency costs.
It’s exciting to see what can happen when collaborations like our work with CareQuest and Firstgrin lead to meaningful success. We are always interested in finding new and improved ways to best serve our members, and Firstgrin’s unique approach clearly shows we’ve engaged some of our most vulnerable members at a critical time in their children’s lives, setting them up for a lifetime of better oral health.”
Todd Gray, Chief Dental Officer, DentaQuest
Looking ahead, Firstgrin and DentaQuest will complete a full outcomes analysis of engagement, digital app usage, preventive dental claims, and dental appointment timing. These insights will shape how DentaQuest and Firstgrin will continue to partner to reach millions of families, especially at-risk populations, creating more opportunities for families to engage in preventive care from the very beginning.