Oral Health Care

Oral Health

An examination of the oral cavity and dentition, and teaching about oral/dental health care should occur at every visit. Refer to dental home by 12 months or within 6 months of eruption of first tooth. Ask about dental home at every visit.

I-Smile Dental Home Initiative

Iowa law requires that children under the age of 12 years who receive Medicaid must have a dental home. The I-Smile Dental Home Initiative was created to assist with locating, training and matching children, particularly young children, with dental providers in Iowa. They use dental hygienist care coordinators to assist physicians and families find dental homes.

Medicaid Dental Periodicity Schedule for Children

Iowa’s Periodicity Schedule of Dental Services for Medicaid-enrolled children identifies the types of services recommended based upon the age of a child and risk for dental disease. The recommendations were developed using information from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and also Iowa’s definition of a dental home.

Download a pdf of the Medicaid Dental Periodicity Schedule for Children.

Fluoride Use

AAP recommends fluoride varnish. See AAP Dentistry Policies and Guidelines on the use of fluoride and prevention of early childhood caries. Once teeth are present, fluoride varnish may be applied to all children every 3-6 months, from 6 months to 21 years old, in the primary care or dental office. Indications for fluoride use are noted in Fluoride Use in Caries Prevention in the Primary Care Setting.

Iowa Medicaid reimburses physicians and nurse practitioners for application of fluoride varnish in conjunction with an EPSDT screening. This I-Smile flyer includes information about available training for providers and clinic staff, as well as guidelines, and billing and reimbursement information.

Find water system information for Iowa counties on the CDC My Water's Fluoride website.

Referral

Delta Dental

MCNA

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Referral

Delta Dental

MCNA

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