EPSDT is Medicaid's comprehensive children's health program. The program focuses on the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. The EPSDT is a mandatory service that must be provided under the state Medicaid program. Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping your mouth clean and disease-free.
It involves brushing and flossing your teeth, as well as visiting your dentist regularly for dental x-rays, exams, and cleanings. Dental schools (American Dental Association) can be a good source of quality, low-cost dental treatment. Most of these schools have clinics that allow dental students to gain experience treating patients while providing care at a reduced cost. Experienced and licensed dentists closely supervise students.
Graduate and teacher clinics are also available in most schools. It provides an overview of dental benefits for children in Medicaid, support for evidence-based policies at the state level, and details of successful strategies with state examples. Each state is required to develop a dental periodicity program in consultation with recognized dental organizations involved in child health care. If you have warning signs such as toothache, bleeding gums, loose teeth, or chronic bad breath, schedule a dental visit.
While most states provide at least emergency dental services for adults, fewer than half of the states provide comprehensive dental care. Schools of dental hygiene (American Association of Dental Hygienists) can also offer low-cost, supervised preventive dental care as part of the training experience for dental hygienists. This seal, awarded by the American Dental Association, means that the product has been rigorously tested and approved by scientists in fields such as microbiology, toxicology, pharmacology and chemistry. Thanks to modern dental technology, treating tooth decay, especially in the early stages, is often only mildly uncomfortable, at its worst.
The Office of Primary Health Care, a service of the Health Resources and Services Administration (1-888-ASK-HRSA), supports federally funded community health centers across the country that offer free or reduced-cost health services, including dental care. States must also publish a list of all participating Medicaid and CHIP dental providers and benefit packages on InsureKidsNow. Services should include, at a minimum, pain and infection relief, tooth restoration, and maintenance of dental health. Good dental health is a combination of proper daily maintenance (brushing and flossing) along with regular visits to your dental professional.
The Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services at the Centers for Medicaid Services & is hosting a series of webinars to help states and their collaborating partners improve access to dental services for children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP. A direct dental referral is required for each child according to the state's established periodicity schedule.
