Put your oral health first – Florida Dental Access Guide

Put your oral health first.

Oral health is a window to overall health and well-being.

The mouth is connected to the rest of the body. How the teeth and gums are treated can have lasting effects.

Poor oral health can affect one’s ability to speak, eat, and smile. It can also affect self-esteem, performance, and attendance in school. Poor oral health can cause pain, tooth decay, gum disease and contribute to other conditions and diseases in the body during a person’s lifetime.

What is Oral Health?

Oral health refers to the health of the teeth, gums, and the entire oral-facial system that allows us to smile, speak, and chew.

MORE THAN JUST A PRETTY SMILE

Oral Health’s Connection to Overall Health

Why is preventive dental care important?

Early and regular preventive dental care allows the dentist to maintain and monitor your teeth and gums. If any dental issues develop, the dentists can be proactive and treat these issues early, preventing major problems down the line.

Preventive dental care is one of the most important things you can do to protect your and your family’s overall health. It is recommended that adults see a dentists every six months and a child should see a dentist within six months of the eruption of the first tooth or by age one. As soon as a child gets teeth, they can get cavities. When you start early you can ensure a life of long-lasting oral health.

As a Florida Medicaid Dental Program beneficiary, you can access preventive dental care for free and without a referral. These services can include screenings and exams, teeth cleanings, and sealants.

What is Preventive Dentistry?

Preventive dentistry is dental care that helps maintain good oral health.

It is a combination of regular dental exams, cleanings and developing good habits such as brushing and flossing at home.

DID YOU KNOW?

Cavities are preventable.

Good oral hygiene at home and early and routine preventive dental visits can prevent and manage cavities.

Dental Home

A dental home is an important aspect of preventive dental care.

DID YOU KNOW?

As a Florida Medicaid beneficiary your child is eligible for a free dental check-up every 6 months.

“The dental home is an ongoing relationship between the dentist and a patient, inclusive of all aspects of oral health, delivered in a comprehensive, continuously accessible, coordinated and family-centered way.”

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD)

A dental home is a dentist a patient sees every six months. A dental home should be established no later than 12 months of age to help establish a lifetime of good oral health. Whether you are a child or an adult, establishing a dental home means:

Initiating early preventive dental care and maintaining routine check-ups with a trusted dental provider/dental practice;
Identifying dental issues early and preventing small dental problems from becoming more extensive;
Having access to comprehensive oral health including referrals to dental specialists when appropriate;
Having access to a dentist in case of an urgent need for dental care; and
Having access to educational resources about proper prevention and promotion of good oral health.